Forging Excellence on Snow: Thunderstruck Adventures’ Blueprint for Team Success with its Heavy-Hitting “A-Team”

Adventure tourism is a burgeoning industry powered by thrill-seekers and nature enthusiasts who crave unique, adrenaline-filled experiences. However, as the industry expands, so too does the demand for a more sophisticated approach to service delivery.

The key to meeting this demand? A dynamic, diverse, and talented team. In an industry where every experience is a potential game-changer, it’s the people behind the scenes who truly make a difference. This is something that the young and charismatic Clay Hockel, a former professional snowmobile rider-turned-entrepreneur, recognized early on.

With Thunderstruck Adventures, he has endeavored to breathe new life into the concept of team dynamics within adventure tourism by putting together an A-team of immensely talented and passionate individuals driven by a desire to provide unparalleled and unforgettable snowmobiling experiences.

Composed of former C-suite executives, ex-pro athletes, X Games, and Olympic Games veterans, as well as die-hard winter sports aficionados, Thunderstruck Adventures’ A-team has brought not just unique skill sets but also refreshing perspectives and energy to the table. 

Hockel states that this specific composition has not just elevated the company’s ability to provide outstanding, personalized experiences but has also made Thunderstruck Adventures appealing to an even broader range of potential applicants, so much so that individuals from numerous countries around the world have shown interest in becoming part of the “dream team.”

But certainly, assembling a team of industry leaders is no small feat, requiring a distinct approach to recruitment. This is why Hockel has ensured that the process at Thunderstruck Adventures goes beyond traditional job descriptions and qualifications. As he explains, the focus is equally on passion as it is on expertise and a shared vision for excellence.

“Our process is both internal and external. Internally, we assess how well we communicate, get along, and meet our goals. Externally, we measure customer satisfaction by reviewing our online ratings as well as in-person feedback,” Hockel shares. “We also use a stoplight chart internally to evaluate each other – green signifies a pass, yellow indicates areas to improve, and red denotes a fail. This chart helps us identify our strengths and weaknesses.“

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. For Thunderstruck Adventures, the tangible outcomes of Hockel’s approach and the team’s impressive performance can best be seen in the high customer satisfaction scores. But beyond numbers and data, it’s the personal stories and successes of each individual A-team member that have truly resonated with clients and talent alike.

Clay elaborates, “Our reputation has grown organically. We’ve become a magnet for those seeking both a thrilling adventure and a chance to be part of something bigger. In fact, we’ve never had to actively advertise for positions. It’s all been word-of-mouth thanks to our standing and online presence.”

Once again, an A-team is indeed one that relentlessly pushes the bar higher and aims to stay within the “green zone.” But what happens when any one member of the team slips a bit too close to the red line?

Instead of letting setbacks define them, Hockel explains that any mistake is seen as a chance to shape who the team needs to become going forward. With an emphasis on continuous improvement, Thunderstruck Adventures has become a place where constructive criticism is welcomed and where learning from mistakes is integral to growth.

Furthermore, he adds that failures can often provide deeper insights than immediate success. So, whenever anyone from the team stumbles, it’s a cue to regroup, evaluate the missteps, and hold debriefing sessions to communicate and learn.

“It’s not just about analyzing what went wrong. It’s also about celebrating what went right and identifying opportunities for improvement. This is why we have worked so hard to put together a group of committed individuals who support each other and are capable of holding each other accountable,” Hockel says.

Speaking about one of the biggest reasons behind such a meticulous approach, Hockel reveals that the secret hides in the adventure tourism industry’s intrinsic potential for extraordinary team-building experiences.

He believes that nothing brings people together quite like being out in the backcountry and that the bonds created during such activities, whether with co-workers, colleagues, or employees, are phenomenal — and unbreakable.

As he says, “Some of my best friends in life have come from meeting them on the mountain and maintaining lifelong relationships through snowmobiling. Its ability to connect and bond individuals is unlike any other activity, and that’s why my team and I work tirelessly to make Thunderstruck Adventures a hub for such lifelong connections.”