National Ski Council Federation Newsbeat
November 2020
Alterra Mountain Company: Ikon Pass holders will not need reservations at most destinations this winter. This winter, Alterra will provide Ikon Pass holders priority access to its mountains and, instead of requring reservations will “temporarily regulate or eliminate a number of day ticket products,” to help avoid overcrowding. More. Freeskier
Judge’s Forceful Rejection of Trump’s Ban on Visa Workers May Come Too Late for Colorado ski Resorts. A district court ruling suspends a ban on J-1 and H-2B visa workers, opening doors for ski areas that rely on the seasonal immigrant workers. But resorts that typically have visa employees on deck by fall are seeing surging applications from locals. More. The Colorado Sun
U.S. Airlines Eliminating Change Fees: What You Need to Know. At long last, there’s good news regarding fees: Some of the major U.S. airlines have recently announced that they are getting rid of change fees. More. TripIt
Varied Conditions and Operating Plans as More Resorts Open. The 2020-21 ski season has begun, with more resorts confirming opening dates even as COVID-19 cases surge across the U.S. SAM has been tracking the virus. This week, we spoke to several operators, and all are confident in the operating plans they’ve developed in accordance with local, state, and federal guidance. More. SAM
Aspen Mountain Chairlift-Gondola Hybrid on West Side of Ski Area Approved by Tramway Board. The lift has yet to be named but is being referred to as ‘Lift 1,’ after the first ski lift built on Aspen Mountain in 1946, according to the Aspen Times. At that time in 1946, it was the longest chairlift in the world. More. SnowBrains
Forest Service Approves Snow King Mountain Resort, WY Expansion Plan. The Bridger-Teton National Forest gave Snow King Mountain Resort the go ahead to implement several proposals of their master development plan starting in 2021. More. SnowBrains Ed. Note. Those who attended the 2019 NSCF Annual Meeting in Jackson enjoyed dinner at Snow King Resort Hotel.
US Resorts Adapt to New Normal of Skiing Amid Pandemic. Preparing for this winter, resorts are trying to avoid a repeat of last spring, when many mountain communities were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. More. WXIA Atlanta
U.S. Ski Resorts Look To La Niña For Plentiful Snow This Ski Season. As this year’s ski season fast approaches, resorts are working hard to ensure that guests can stay safe, while closely watching forecasts to see how much snow the winter will bring. More. Forbes
Resorts Spend Big on Fight with the Virus. Usually at this time of year ski resorts are telling us how much they’ve spent over the summer on new lifts and new snowmaking systems, this autumn the talk is on just how much they’re having to invest on measures to increase safety for skiers and snowboarders during the coronavirus pandemic. More. InTheSnow
How Snow Guns Work. The idea behind snowmaking is simple; you spray water into cold air and it freezes into snow as it falls to the ground. But there’s more to it than that. Engineers have spent nearly 70 years developing snow machines, and as a result, modern snowmaking is really good. Let’s take a look at what goes into it. More. Snowbrains
VIDEO: Check out How Ski and Snowboard Fashion has Evolved over the Last 100-Years. Cool through the ages video of how ski and snowboard fashion, and equipment, have changed over the last century. Watching this, one could even say not for the better in some cases! More. SnowBrains
