National Ski Council Federation Newsbeat
December 2024 – January 2025
Forest Service Budget Challenges Threaten Avalanche Center Operations Nationwide. Looming federal budget cuts have forced the Forest Service to institute a hiring freeze this fall for seasonal employees right as many avalanche centers are getting ready to bring on their winter workforce of experts. More. SnowBrains
Park City Mountain Resort Ski Patrol Goes on Strike. Nearly 200 members of the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association went on strike over wages and benefits. Vail Resorts says wages have increased for ski patrollers by over 50% over the past four seasons. The Park City resort remains open with patrol leaders from Park City Mountain and other resorts. More. Deseret News
The Remaking of Deer Valley Begins with Lifts, Terrain, Second Village. This winter, the Wasatch Range resort will sneak-peek the new East Village area by opening three new chairlifts and 300 acres of terrain just off U.S. 40 below Park City. The new base will offer a second entrance to Deer Valley’s slopes and trails, hopefully reducing traffic around downtown Park City where the original base area is located. More. SnoCountry
Powder Mountain Begins Transformation into Public-Private Resort. The grand experiment is underway at Powder Mountain in northern Utah, as the 2024-2025 season opens with four new chairlifts, a portion of the mountain roped off for homeowners only, a longtime season pass cap lifted, and February weekends restricted to season pass holders. More. SnoCountry
Alterra Mountain Company Closes on Arapahoe Basin. Alterra Mountain Company closed the purchase of Arapahoe Basin in Colorado in November, expanding Alterra’s portfolio to 18 mountain destinations. A-Basin president and COO Alan Henceroth, who has been with the resort for 36 years, will continue to lead the resort and oversee daily operations with his longtime team. More. SAM
Red River, Ski Santa Fe Debut New Lifts On New Mexico Mountains. Two of northern New Mexico’s winter mountains put in chairlifts this summer to replace a pair of workhorses that had been hauling skiers and riders out of the base areas for decades. More. SnoCountry
9 Ski Areas Seniors Can Ski for Free. If there is one perk to aging, it‘s got to be free skiing. Growing older certainly is proving to have its benefits, with some resorts across North America offering free ski passes to those who meet their definitions of “Senior” or “Super Senior.” Ed. Note: Palisades Tahoe also offers free skiing to 80+ skiers. More. SnowBrains
The World’s First 100% Aluminum Skis are Here and the Benefits are Substantial. Ski design has undergone a remarkable evolution, from early hickory planks to the advanced composite technologies of today. The latest innovation, however, comes in the form of skis milled entirely from aerospace-grade aluminum. More. SnowBrains
Industry Legend Klaus Obermeyer Just Turned 105 and He Looks Better Than Ever. “The longer you ski, the longer you live” is the motto of Klaus Obermeyer, a legend in the skiing world who embodies both the pioneering spirit and the heartfelt passion that defines the sport. More. SnowBrains
Did You Know There Used to Be an Unconventional Ski Area in the Suburbs of Atlanta, GA? For a few years in the late 1970s, Atlanta, Georgia, offered an unexpected twist for thrill-seekers: the Vinings Ridge Ski Area. Far from the powdery peaks of traditional ski resorts, Vinings Ridge operated on a synthetic surface due to the warm climate, making it a unique, year-round attraction. More. SnowBrains
