Browse Our Archives

• Area Management
• Disability Issues
• Regulation

It's been called an "Emancipation Proclamation" for the disabled, but because of its fuzzy compliance wording it's also been called a manager's nightmare and a lawyer's dream. A comprehensive look at the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Topics covered include: who is protected, employment, public accommodations and conclusions. Add...

• Lift Maintenance

Lift management at Sunshine Village, Alberta, Canada, thought a lot of time and money could be saved by putting their gondola maintenance scheduling on a "cycles-of-use" basis. This Cabin Monitoring System works with a bar code that is read off of the side of each gondola cabin relating its last maintenance check and scheduled next check. A program...

• Snowmaking

How Dave and Gary McCoy were able to complete a major snowmaking system, covering over 200 acres, in under five months and under budget. Mammoth Mountain, Calif., beat the odds with a strong, dedicated, diverse and skilled construction crew. ...

• Tools

Cutting steel sheet stock becomes manageable and precise when the correct nibbler is selected from a variety of machines available. Reviews each model with photos. ...

• Area Management
• Business
• Resort Development

Problems, opportunities and challenges can be anticipated through strategic business planning. It requires, time, discipline and commitment by top management. An outline of the process of strategic business planning. This is the first of a two-part series. ...

• Lifts

A review by the designer and manufacturer of the new Bubble enclosed detachable quads at Whistler, B.C. Includes a look at the design requirements and installation logistics, plus photos, chart of specifications and comparative design sketches of the lifts. ...

• Lifts
• Research

A review of lift construction in1991. Unfortunately, another record low season was set with only 48 new installations. Includes tables of new constructions, regions and increases in VTFH. ...

• Resort Development
• USFS

A look into two land exchanges that were engineered by the Western Land Group. The swaps involved privately-owned pristine land for USFS-owned land that already contained golf courses and parking lots. The deals were brokered with Summit County, Colo., and the Forest Service. Includes site plans and background information. ...

• Resort Development
• USFS

A look into the land exchange between Purgatory-Durango, Colo., and the USFS. At stake was 810 acres of undeveloped land surrounded by wilderness area and a tract of 423 acres adjacent to the ski area along U.S. Highway 550. The innovative deal was seen as a win-win situation for all involved. ...

• Ski Area Profiles

Ski resorts on the Pacific Rim are skipping past the present to become models for the 21st century. Here is a review of what they are building for skiers. The bottom line is that Asia's resort community is not aging,k but is taking a leadership role in the design and construction of ski resorts that reflect state-of-the-art technology. Includes min...

• Lift Maintenance

Basic examination of gear ratios. Includes step-by-step instructions on how to derive final gear ratios and what they mean and an explanation of three system types for gear reduction and their specifications, schematics and a chart detailing design ratios. ...

• Racing

Ski-V is a different kind of closed circuit broadcasting network made up of state-of-the-art hardware and simple software. The television system, which debuted at Blackcomb, B.C., in March, provides information and entertainment to skiers in cafeterias, liftlines and other high-traffic spots. ...

• Racing

A complete review of a software system known as Ski-Profit, marketed by Sports Select for ski area rental shops. The program was first installed at Snow Summit, Calif., and has run without a problem for two years. ...

A look at the use of snowmobiles in ski resorts and how better to manage the inherent risks . The author describes actions that can result in costly accidents and identifies ways to reduce accidents and resulting liability. ...

A look into the causes for the increase in foreign skiers coming to America. The author indentifies the weak dollar, Vail's World Cup and poor European snow conditions as the catalysts and credits the groundwork of Ski U.S.A. for making it possible. The author looks at the future and what it holds for the United States as a major international ski ...

• Activities
• Resort Development
• New Ideas
• Business
• New Products

Signage log by Mountain Management Services, high traffic ski surfaces by Tenax, snow quality analysis from Snow Sensors Unlimited, erosion control by North American Green, free ski surface by Reliable Racing Supplies. ...

• Marketing
• Summer

A look at the business of summer sports and activities at ski areas. Depending on the region, summer business varies from non-existent to a dominant source for annual revenues. The events range from biking to golf to rock concerts and the general feeling seems to be "Catch as catch can." ...

• Marketing
• Ticketing

A critique of the numerous operations outside the ski industry that are selling discounted packages to ski consumers. Don McKay, general manager of Tyrol Basin, Wisc., asks whether this marketing strategy is providing a service or just taking away from ski area revenues. ...

• Consumer Equipment
• Marketing

A controversial editorial on the technological level of equipment and how it affects the novice consumer asking whether the complexity of today's equipment take the fun out of the sport. This editorial is followed in the March issue with responses from six leading experts in the ski business and related industries. ...

• Research

A look at the first part in a two-part series of market research programs being conducted by the Leisure Trends/ Gallup organization. The research, comissioned by the USIA, will ask detailed questions of self-identified skiers at the beginning of the season, then return to those same people at the end of the season to identify current perceived and...