mSnow Bumper Tubing creates green
season revenue without disrupting snow
season.
What are Bumper Tubes? ­ They are
patent­pending air­filled guard rails that
keep users within the tubing lanes while
travelling down the lane. They are soft to
contact, yet structurally­designed to be
able to keep the users within the lane.
They make summer tubing more inviting to
kids. They also keep users’ shoes or
hands from coming into contact with guard
rails made of bristles or carpet. We have
seen shoes come flying off from contact
with dry slope material on guard walls!
Most importantly, they are lightweight, quick
to setup, cheaper to install than permanent
structures, and can quickly be removed for converting the slope to winter operations, if desired.
Tube Wax ­ Our special rub­on wax lubricant is an absolute must
for tubing lubrication, user enjoyment (speed), and to minimize the
burn rate on the tubes and mSnow. Typically, green season tubing
requires water irrigation. With Tube Wax, watering the lanes is not
necessary. Not only is Tube Wax a better lubricant than water, but
also no water means that there is no mud and that the mSnow
stays much cleaner longer. Also, irrigation systems are known for
getting users wet, which can be a big problem on windy, cloudy, or
cool Summer or Fall days. Use of liquid lubricants (jellies, silicone,
WD­40) is not recommended because the base of the tubes and
the mSnow will become slimy and will attract dirt. Ultimately, this
will cause customer dissatisfaction as they come into contact with
the dirty buildup, which readily stains clothing. Additionally, these
liquid lubricants can build up on conveyor lifts and cause them to slip in the winter months.
Burn Rate ­ With Tube Wax, the wear out on the tubes and on the mSnow has been proven in
controlled testing to be minimized to almost nothing. Plastic­on­plastic frictional heat buildup is
substantial. As the base of the tube rises to over 115 degrees, the rate of base degradation
increases substantially. Our testing has shown that little or no lubrication is used, 115 degrees
is achieved in a matter of 15 seconds or less, which can be achieved in one run down the lane.
If Tube Wax is used, not only does the rate of temperature rise slow, but also the maximum
temperature never gets above 90 degrees, even in warm, dry weather. Tube Wax has excellent
heat dissipation qualities and also has excellent durability. For lightweight users, one application
per day is enough. For very heavy or aggressive users, Tube Wax may be used every run if the
customer desires maximum speed.
People Per Hour (PPH) ­ 180 to 240 per lane can easily be achieved, depending on length,
slope, and operational efficiency.
Number of Operators ­ The number of required lane
operators depends on how busy the lanes are. A
minimum of one starting operator can support up to 2­4
lanes if the user load is under 200 PPH. As the load
increases, another operator at the bottom is necessary to
quickly direct users safely off to the side to clear the
lanes. Typically, the top operator would apply the Tube
Wax, but for maximum loading efficiency and for periods
of heavy use, another operator is recommended for
waxing and customer interaction at the top of the lanes.
Electrical Requirements ­ Simple 120VAC single­phase
blowers are required to keep the bumpers inflated. These
are the same blowers used for bouncy structures and airbags.
Options ­ mSnow and tube colors, delivery, install team, operator training at your site can all be
discussed.
Specs ­ Slope grade is vitally­important. A gentle slope of 8­10% with a 4­6% runout of carpet is
a good starter slope, but may not have enough excitement factor to really drive home the
experience. 10­20% grade with a 30% drop in provides speeds of 20­30mph, which instantly
brings a smile to users’ faces. Runout is important, especially for higher sloped lanes. A runout
of 150 feet of durable outdoor carpet is sufficient for the steeper slopes.
Best Use of Space & Time ­ Starting with a minimum amount of lanes (2 is recommended as
users typically go down the lanes in pairs) a simple Bumper Tubing installation can make use of
unused space at an unused time of year for most ski areas. With Summer Operations, more
than one attraction is highly recommended as was taught at SAM Summer Ops Camp, Fall
2013. Give people a reason to stay on property longer and to experience more than one activity
when they arrive. Offer multiple­activity discounts. If they have good customer experience and
are exposed to other fun­looking activities, a repeat visit potentially with more friends is
guaranteed.
ROI ­ A simple payback calculation of 2 Bumper Tubing lanes of 500 feet long is shown below. It
is based on 8hr days, 7 days/wk, 2 lane operators, 2 lift operators, and average ticket sales of
150 people per day @ $10 lift ticket. The addition of more lanes in the future is important as the
user load rises. Ultimately, the uphill capacity of your lift will dictate the maximum Op Income
possible from Bumper Tubing operations.
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Initial Investment ­ $150k
○ $100k for Bumper Tubing
○ $20k site prep
○ $20k for sub­structure
○ $10k labor and other related expenses
Op Expenses ­ $16k/mo
○ $13,440 for $15/hr employee cost X 4
○ $1,568 for Estimated Electrical cost (lift, lights, and blowers)
○ $420 for Tube Wax (2 packages per day consumption)
○ Minimal Slope Maintenance Costs during payback period
○ Insurance costs are important, but are not included in this example because of
variability in cost being absorbed in other operations.
Marketing Expenses ­ $6k/mo
○ Local marketing will be important initially to communicate the new activity
○ Repeat customers should be your number one goal with employee/customer
interactions
○ Cost of new customer acquisition can be minimized through positive customer
reviews, word of mouth sales, appropriate amount of social media coverage, and
through group and corporate discounts and bring­a­friend and multiple­activity
specials
○ Remember, every new customer is a chance to create a repeat customer that
brings back another new customer.
Income from Ticket Sales ­ $56k/mo
Op Income (Sales minus direct operation costs) ­ $56k ­ $16k = $40k
Profit ­ $56k ­ $2k = $34k
With a profit of $34k per month, payback of initial investment of $150k occurs in 5th
month (1st green season) if the above goals are set and numbers are achieved.
Summer Operations Lesson Learned­ mSnow and Bumper Tubing was proudly
demonstrated at SAM Summer Ops Camp at Attitash, NH in the fall of 2013. Dozens of area
operators and managers tried the Bumper Tubing and had a blast. Evidence of the attendee’s
interest is spreading as at least 2 new ski areas per month have contacted us about Bumper
Tubing since we demonstrated its use the Summer Ops.
After attending all the classes, activities, and seminars at SAM Summer Ops Camp, we learned
some very important things. High­margin improvements like alpine coasters and thrill rides are
great for large crowds and big budgets. But the real excitement comes when a ski area is
considering transitioning into green season operations. Many small attractions at low investment
cost is the key. ROI and profitability matter, even if it is a small home­made ropes course for the
younger kids, while the older kids enjoy summer tubing and the adults have a meal in your
restaurant. We learned that Mom is the decision­maker in the majority if activity­seeking
households. Treat her right and you will have a repeat family. She will be happy if she can bring
all her kids and their friends and your area has activities that they can all do.
The most interesting result from Summer Ops Camp came from the teachings of the guest
speakers. SAM Magazine invited many successful summer operations managers from various
ski areas to share their knowledge in hour­long speaking sessions filled with stories of customer
interactions, tales of big profit in unexpected areas, and lessons learned. The most important
lesson learned for ski areas is that your winter customers are not going to be your primary
summer customers. Many areas mistakenly advertised during winter months to their normal
customers with very poor results. One successful area manager/owner spoke that her
winter­to­summer crossover/conversion rate was less than 5%! As you develop your marketing
plan for summer operations and the possibility of mSnow Bumper Tubing, your winter
customers are a good place to start, but make sure you spend adequate time developing a new
marketing plan for your new green season clientele.