1. Michael R. Smith
February 5, 2015

2.  Operators/Practitioners
 Owners
 Vendors/Suppliers
 Regulators
 Investors
 Other

3. MICHAEL R. SMITH
 21 years experience designing, developing, and
operating aerial adventure parks and outdoor
adventure programs
 Managing partner of AdventureSmith, Inc.,
ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, LLC and
ArborTrek/ZIPStream, LLC
 Toured more than 300 commercial zip line canopy
tours and aerial adventure parks in U.S. and Canada
 Tend to share too much information
 ACCT Board of Director Member

4. 1. EXAMINE
Current Trends and Statistics
2. LEADING PRACTICES
What are other operations doing
3. TIPS & TRICKS
Mitigating risk & making money

6. 0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
<05
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
ZIP RIDE
AERIAL TREKKING
ZIPLINE/ CANOPY TOUR

7. < 2013

8. < 2013
2013-15

9. <06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
ZIPLINE/
CANOPY TOUR
18 23 43 72 147 234 380 480 515 580
AERIAL
TREKKING
9 12 15 19 31 60 85 125 180 252
ZIP RIDE 4 5 6 10 18 29 70 120 200 325
* Figures are based on information pulled from www.ziplinenirvana.com
and personal market research. Margin of error is estimated at 15-25%

10. SAMPLE LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN HIGH
ZIPLINE/
CANOPY TOUR
213 $ 39.00 $ 87.43 $ 80.00 $ 499.00
AERIAL TREKKING 58 $ 14.00 $ 34.66 $ 39.95 $ 75.00
ZIP RIDE 71 $ 6.00 $ 21.18 $ 20.00 $ 120.00
* Estimated margin of error is increased because many operations offer a
variety of packages and tour options. In cases where multiple packages
were offered the most popular package was used.

11. #
ANNUAL
VOLUME
AVG.
TICKET
ANCILLARY
REVENUES
ESTIMATE
ZIPLINE/
CANOPY TOUR
580 9,500 $ 87.43 6% $511 M
AERIAL
TREKKING
252 13,500 $ 34.66 7.5% $127 M
ZIP RIDE 325 14,200 $ 21.18 5% $ 104 M
$742 M* Annual volumes and ancillary revenues have been
estimated. Margin of error is estimated at 10-25%

12.  Land Grab
 Growing of Big Brands
 Big Money Enters
 Amenity Add
 Technology
 Regulation & Standards
 New User Experiences
 Increased Costs & Competition

13. Based on probability, the most commonly landed on Monopoly square
(not counting Jail) is Illinois Avenue. It's followed by Go, New York
Avenue, B&O Railroad

15.  Ski Areas, Hotel Chains, Resorts
 Private Investors
 Investment Groups
 Big Brands
 Government Agencies

16.  Resorts and Lodges
 Family Entertainment Center
 Amusement Parks
 State and Federal Parks/Lands
 Events and Festivals

17.  Continuous Belay Systems
 Smart Belay Systems
 Trolleys and Brake Systems
 Rides and Attractions
 PPE

18.  ASTM F2959 Standards
 ACCT 8th edition/ANSI Update
 Aerial Adventure Park Operator
Standard Task Force
 Local jurisdiction requirements

19.  Aerial Trekking [mega parks]
 Crazy long zip lines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEZIaN9LfWs
 Zip Line Coasters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwagzrk45iw , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8MMRWtbmDY&feature=youtu.be
 Via Feratta - http://youtu.be/iEDrK-rIY68?t=16s
 Add-on activities
 Jumps - http://headrushtech.com/quickjump-free-fall-device/ , http://youtu.be/VmaAsHIreQM?t=2m
 Mazes - http://www.amazenmazes.com/#!lost-safari-splash-adventure/c1pen’
 Stunts
 Jaguar’s Mascot http://youtu.be/35AFrS1sQVA
 Big Air Bag http://youtu.be/A5IJ6sLh-AM?t=14s
 Zip Line Pinata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGpivqDio8
The links included on this page are representative samples of new types of activities
I have encountered on the web or participated in at adventure parks. I have no
investment of business interest in any of these companies nor should their inclusion
here represent an endorsement of any such product.

20.  Insurance Costs
 Payroll Expenses
 Affordable Care Act
 Minimum Wage Increases
 Entitlement Programs
 Design and Development Costs
 Regulatory Expenses
 Other

22.  Tools or Strategies that
 Add value
 Mitigate risk
 Save time
 Increase revenues
 Reduce expenses
 Improve the quality of life
 Better serve our clients

23.  Operations & Program Management
 Design & Construction
 Marketing
 Staffing Solutions

24.  Waivers, Releases & Risk Mitigation
 Workers’ Compensation
 PPE
 Training
 Program Review

25.  Weight limits

26.  Waivers & Release Agreements
 Legal review
 Digital vs. printed
 Time to sign
 Proof of who signed

27.  Course signage
 Video Intros
 Preparatory
Materials
 Documentation

28.  NCCI ruled 9180 over 9016

29.  Alligator exhibition
 Amusement device operation NOC-not
traveling
 Clubs-shooting
 Dolphin training, feeding and care
 Fireworks exhibition
 Hunting guides-club-
 Merry-go-round operation-not traveling
 Mountain climbing instructors and
guides
 Pony rides-
 Race car drivers; separately rate race
car team as Code 8380
 Recreational or amusement devices:
pony rides--excluding track
maintenance
 Scenic railroad at amusement park
 Serpentarium
 Shooting gallery
 Ski instructors
 Skiing operations-tows, instructors,
patrols, cable chair sky rides
 Train operation - miniature at
amusement park
 Water skiing exhibitions
 Water slides
 Wave pools

30.  Amusement park or exhibition operation
 Archery range
 Arena or stadium for boxing or wrestling matches
 Arena or stadium for ice shows, boat shows, automobile shows
 Arena or stadium for rodeos, circuses, dolphin exhibitions
 Auditoriums or exhibition hall
 Baseball batting range
 Boat rental in parks(not boat liveries)
 Caves or caverns-operation for exhibition purposes-including
guides, ticket sellers, gate attendants, maintenance
employees
 Concessions-boats in parks-
 Dog show-operation by owner or lessee
 Drag strip operation
 Golf driving range
 Horse show-operation by owner or lessee-
 Ice skating rink
 Miniature golf course
 Racetrack operation - horse or dog: all other employees-
including starters & assistants
 Recreational or amusement devices: archery ranges
 Recreational or amusement devices: ball or dart throwing
 Recreational or amusement devices: baseball batting ranges
 Recreational or amusement devices: golf courses-miniature
 Recreational or amusement devices: golf driving ranges
 Recreational or amusement devices: kiddie rides at
permanent locations
 Recreational or amusement devices: pony rides-care &
maintenance of track
 Recreational or amusement devices: shooting galleries (air
rifles)
 Recreational or amusement devices: tennis courts-public-
operation
 Rodeos-facilities maintenance
 Speedways-auto mobile races
 Tracks-stock car, jalopy races

31. FL15 TN14 VT14
9016 2.85 3.85 6.66
9180 3.57 11.25 19.02
% CHANGE +25% +192% +186%

32.  Interchange of Labor
 Some employees may perform duties directly related to more
than one classification. An example is an employee who from
time to time interchanges between operations subject to more
than one classification. When there is such an interchange of
labor, the entire payroll of employees who interchange shall be
assigned to the highest rated classification representing any
part of their work, unless separate records are kept.
 Standard Exception
 8810 – Clerical, Drafting; 8871 – Clerical Telecomumuter;
8742 – Salespersons; 7380 - Drivers

33.  Total WC hours: 1428
 Estimated Payroll: $16,422
 WC NO interchange (all 9180): $2,775
 WC STANDARD interchange (8810): $2,580
 WC PLUS GUIDE interchange (9016): $2,213
Breaking down offers 20% reduction

34.  employees
 participants
 observers

35.  seat
 seat/chest combo
 full-body

36.  track/continuous-belay systems
 smart belay
 traditional, participant transfer
 traditional, guide transfer

37. BORNACK
SSB
EDELRID
SMART
CLIC-IT
BELAY
ISC SMART
SNAP
TRADITIONAL
LANYARD $310 $ 574 $ 469 $ 310 $85
CONNECTOR $25-40 $0 $0 $ 25 $0
PETZL TRAC W/
AT’TRAC
$140 $0 $140 $140 $140
KEYS $85 $0 NA $85 $0
ROUGH COST
PER UNIT
$560-$575 $574 $609 $560 $225

38.  Aerial adventure courses
 Zip line canopy tour
 Guides