National Ski Council Federation Newsbeat
October 2016
Outside Magazine Article Questions Aging Lift Infrastructure, SAM Release Critiques. Ed. Note: An article in Outside Magazine provided an in depth look at the aging of ski lifts, particularly those at smaller resorts frequented by locals. Ski Area Management’s news service released a critique of the article. Links to the SAM release and the Outside article follow. SAM News Release. Is Your Local Chairlift a Death Trap? Outside
Investigators Pinpoint Cause of Sunday River Chairlift Failure. Engineers hired by an insurance company have identified the cause of a lift failure that was discovered in July, when it was observed that the top terminal of Sunday River’s Spruce Peak triple chairlift had detached from the ground. More. First Tracks!!
The End Could Be Near for K2, Marker and Marmot, Among Others. Newell Brands on Tuesday announced the company’s intention to sell or abandon its entire stable of winter sports brands by January 1, including K2, Völkl, Marker, Full-Tilt, Marmot, Line Skis and Ride Snowboards. The company, which acquired some of snow sports’ most iconic brands in a merger of Newell Rubbermaid and Jarden earlier this year, has given itself only a few months to sell its portfolio of Winter Sports businesses within its Outdoor Solutions Segment, which also includes brands such as Coleman, AeroBed and Abu Garcia, which Newell will retain. More. First Tracks!!
Ski Train from Denver to Winter Park Returns. The Ski Train was popular with Denverites for nearly 70 years, but negotiations over track use halted the service seven years ago, aside from two weekends of sold-out trips in 2015. That’s apparently built some pent-up demand, for more than 3,300 tickets were sold in the first day that they went on sale this month. More. First Tracks
Snowmass Base Village Sold. East West Partners (East West), an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) and Aspen Skiing Company (ASC), announced today that they have formed a joint venture to acquire the Snowmass Base Village project from Snowmass Acquisition Company, an affiliate of the Related Companies (Related). The acquisition includes all remaining development parcels, all commercial spaces in Base Village, the Snowmass Hospitality property management company and the Viceroy Hotel, including the unsold condominium units within the hotel. More. First Tracks
Plans Drawn to Reconfigure Canyons Village at Park City. Developers have proposed re configuring the resort village at the base of what once was Canyons Resort, now part of Park City Mountain Resort in Utah, and they’re receiving very little resistance from the community over their efforts. More. First Tracks
Epic Pass Adds Ski Resorts in France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Vail Resorts has added Les 3 Vallées, Paradiski and Tignes-Val d’Isere in France, Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta in Italy, 4 Vallees in Switzerland, and Arlberg in Austria to the 2016-2017 lineup of the Epic Pass, which offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing access at the company’s 13 ski resorts in the U.S. and Australia. More. First Tracks
New Blackfoot Lift at Grand Targhee. This summer, Grand Targhee Resort replaced its old Blackfoot double chairlift with a new Doppelmayr fixed grip quad. More. First Tracks!!
Vail Replaces Sun Up Chairlift. The new Sun Up Express, which will be designated lift #9 in its new incarnation, will reduce wait times and improve skier and snowboarder circulation, resort officials indicate. The construction marks the ninth chair replacement in the last 10 years at Vail, a period that also saw the addition of The 10th restaurant and major summer activity expansion. It also makes all of the major lifts at Vail high-speed. More. First Tracks
New High-Speed Six Rises at Arizona Snowbowl. High above Flagstaff, Arizona Snowbowl is installing its first high-speed lift, and the first six-seater in the state: the Grand Canyon Express. More. First Tracks
Mt. Abram ME Expands Terrain, Snowmaking. Mt. Abram in western Maine will open six new trails this winter, and each trail will be covered with snowmaking. The new terrain consists of two expert trails, two terrain parks, one race trail, and a short connector trail. More. SAM
New Lifts Highlight New Winter in Italy’s Dolomites. For winter 2016-17 resorts in the region focused on replacing aging lifts at Kronplatz, Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa/Carezza, Arabba/Marmolada, Val di Fiemme/Obereggen, Valle Isarco and Alpe Lusia/San Pellegrino ski areas. Runs in all 12 valleys comprising Dolomiti Superski have upgraded snowmaking infrastructure as well. In total, more than 80 million Euros have been invested in on-mountain improvements this year. More. First Tracks!!
Minnesota Ski Area Introduces Year-Round Skiing. Making turns all year is typically the wheelhouse of high-altitude mountain ranges with semi-permanent snowfields or glaciers, not a diminutive hillside on the side of an Interstate highway in suburban Minneapolis. But the new owners of Buck Hill, who acquired the Minnesota ski area a year ago, have other ideas. They’ve now opened the first phase of a new dry slope experience for ski racers, “snow” tubers, terrain park jibbers, and the general skiing public. More. First Tracks!!
YouTube Star Buys Pebble Creek ID Ski Area. Shay Butler is acquiring Pebble Creek Ski Area in Idaho. Butler is the man behind the popular YouTube channel called “Shaytards,” which has nearly five million subscribers. Butler grew up in the area and learned to ski at Pebble Creek in elementary school. He and his family recently moved back to the area. More. SAM
Cannon Mountain Aims to Cut Energy Consumption, Improve Snowmaking Efficiency. A series of energy efficiency initiatives now wrapping up at Cannon Mountain is expected to reduce energy consumption at the New Hampshire ski area by about 30 percent, while significantly increasing snowmaking capabilities. More. First Tracks
PA Ski Areas Association First-Time Ski/Snowboard Program Returns for 2016-17. Nearly 20 member ski areas are again participating in the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association First-Time Ski and Snowboard Program, which offers $49 advance-purchase learn-to packages valid any day—including weekends and holidays—during the 2016-17 season. The package includes a beginner lift ticket, beginner group lesson, and rental equipment. PSAA also offers the 4th & 5th Grade Snow Pass, good for a max of three free days at 19 participating ski areas when the passholder is accompanied by a ticketed adult. More. SAM
New Museum Exhibit Honors Skiing Legend Stein Eriksen. The Alf Engen Ski Museum, located inside the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, has unveiled an exhibit filled with artifacts loaned by Stein Eriksen’s son Bjorn Eriksen, honoring the life of late ski legend. More. First Tracks
SIA Office Opens in Park City, Adds New Staff. SnowSports Industries America (SIA) has made some big moves as of late—both physically and organizationally. The move from its office outside Washington, D.C., to its new home in Park City is complete, and the non-profit trade association recently added four new staff members. More. Sam
