National Ski Council Federation Newsbeat
June-July 2015
Snowboard Big Air Lands in 2018 Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee on Monday adopted four new sports for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018. The IOC also approved a mass start in speedskating, mixed doubles in curling and a team skiing event that will pair men and women ski racers. To make room for snowboard big air, the IOC dropped the snowboard parallel slalom event, the dual racing contest that made its Olympic debut last year in Sochi, Russia. More. The Denver Post via Google Alerts
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Looks to Its 50th Ski Season. This winter, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. And while things look mighty different than when the mountain first opened in 1965, Resort President Jerry Blann and Chief Marketing Officer Adam Sutner told the Jackson Hole News & Guide that the spirit and excitement that founded the resort is just as strong today as it was years ago. In fact, the resort is pulling out all the stops this winter, with new lifts, new terrain, and new restaurants on tap. More. Ski Curbed via Destimetrics
Whistler Blackcomb to Test Snowmaking on Horstman Glacier. This coming winter, Whistler Blackcomb will conduct a snowmaking pilot project aimed at preserving the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Mountain. The area will operate four low-energy guns in the Horstman Hut area to determine if a full-scale snowmaking system is an option to prevent further recession of the glacier.
This coming winter, Whistler Blackcomb will conduct a snowmaking pilot project aimed at preserving the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Mountain. The area will operate four low-energy guns in the Horstman Hut area to determine if a full-scale snowmaking system is an option to prevent further recession of the glacier. More. SAM
Japan’s Hakuba Valley Latest to Join Mountain Collective. Hakuba Valley in the Japanese Alps has joined the Mountain Collective for the 2015-16 season. The Collective now provides access to 18 mountains in five countries that combined have more than 41,000 skiable acres of terrain and 244 lifts. Hakuba Valley is comprised of 10 distinct areas that encompass a huge variety of terrain, from beginner areas to glades, guided off-piste tours, terrain parks, and expert terrain. More. SAM
Mountain Creek (NJ) Partner Assumes Full Ownership. The Koffman family, one of four partners that purchased New Jersey’s Mountain Creek from Intrawest in 2010, became the sole owner of the resort on June 4. The Koffman family was also a partner in the original Great Gorge ski area in the 1970s. The transaction provides for improvement and expansion capital as the resort enters its 50th anniversary year. More. SAM
Committee Seeks to Run Mt. Ascutney (VT) as Non-Profit. An eight-member committee is working to form a non-profit organization that would manage and maintain the assets of the West Windsor Town Forest, including reopening Mt. Ascutney ski area. A newly formed non-profit, Mt. Ascutney Outdoors, plans to form a board composed of a representative from the town’s select board and from the Mt. Ascutney Property Owners Association. Committees would be focused on activities such as skiing, mountain biking, events, and an equine group. More. SAM
Summer Action at Ski Areas Heats Up. Ski areas across the country are ramping up their summer operations with new aerial adventure parks, zip lines, canopy tours, water parks, mountain bike parks and more. With the slew of new year-round activities being offered (too many to report on here) it’s clear that ski areas have a bullish outlook on summer’s potential to significantly add to their overall revenue. More. SAM
Vermont Ski Areas Sets New Visitation Record. Ski areas in Vermont tallied a record-breaking 4,670,903 million visits during the 2014-15 season. Early openings at ski areas, recent capital investments in new snowmaking equipment, and a series of snowstorms that left Vermont leading continental U.S. in total snowfall were all credited for boosting overall skier and snowboarder visitation. More. SAM
Foundation to Purchase Antelope Butte. The board of directors of the Antelope Butte Foundation (ABF) signed a purchase and sale agreement with the U. S. Forest Service on June 19, paving the way for the purchase of the ski area located in the Bighorn Mountains near Dayton, Wyo. The Foundation is purchasing the property, lifts, lodge, and outbuildings for $275,000. More.
Resorts for Sale: Spout Springs, Marshall Mountain. The listings of ski areas for sale recently grew by two, as Spout Springs, Ore., went on the market for $1.25 million and Marshall Mountain, located seven miles northeast of Missoula, Mont., is also for sale for $2.95 million. The 1,400-acre area has 800 vertical feet with a base elevation of about 5,000 feet. The business runs on a lease with the Umatilla National Forest, and includes two double chairlifts, a lodge and restaurant, rental shop, and ski patrol building. Marshall Mountain has been closed for more than a decade. The ski area began operation in 1941 and continued until 2003, when the property was seized by the Internal Revenue Service due to financial difficulties. More. SAM
