Browse Our Archives

• Marketing

Results from the study and appraisal of197 ski resort brochures, including a look at the art of producing an effective brochure and explanation of why the ten best brochures are so good. General advice on how to form a brochure. ...

• Buildings & Grounds
• Energy
• Safety

Deep Sierra snows in California this winter meant a surge in propane explosions and resultant fires, including serious ones at Kirkwood and Mammoth. A step-by-step look at what you should know about propane storage and system maintenance. Includes photos, charts,and bulletins. ...

Ski area lift buyers can create lists and charts to compare manufacturers' lifts. A checklist for potential lift buyers to use in forming a comprehensive picture of a lift and its capabilities as well as basic guidelines to establish the quality of a lift. ...

The law requires that the Forest Service(USFS), as a landlord to a ski area, receive a fair return on the fair market value of the public land. What is that market value and how can it be determined? A two-part presentation of a landmark study, including details of the process, charts and tables with hypothetical parameters, as well as a definition...

• People

A profile of Burt Mills of Sunday River, Maine. Mills, considered one of the more knowledgeable area managers in the industry, is currently vice-president of mountain operations. ...

Utility companies across the country are offering money to commercial customers who save energy. Article includes a listing of energy-efficient incentive programs and a look at several success stories of utility/resort deals that increased efficiency and reduced costs. ...

• Lifts
• Regulation
• Safety

A commentary on proposals before the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board (CPTSB) on quality assurance for lifts. Authors appeal to the board to follow guidelines set forth by the ANSI B77 committee. ...

• Lift Maintenance
• Safety

A basic look at the fundamental attitude and outlook required to produce a quality product. Psychological in nature, this argument implies that any product made with pride has a certain level of quality already instilled in it. ...

• Lift Maintenance
• Safety

A commentary on the motion to adopt the ISO 9000 standards here in America. This author says that it is irrelevant as long as present efforts are centered on learning from the past and producing a safe, quality product. ...

• Lift Maintenance
• Safety

This author looks at the economic implications of the cost of retroactively documenting used and new lifts such that they may conform to the ISO 9000 standards. The topic of a suitable quality assurance program is reduced to one of economics. ...

An investment group led by an ex-congressman and one of Logan Manufacturing Company's preeminent engineers has purchased the the grooming vehicle manufacturing company for an estimated $13 million. It is hoped that improved financial commitment will be directed to technical advancements. ...

• Marketing

In a marketing positioning move, Killington has claimed the number one ranking in total ski trail count by adding 48 trails to their ski report overnight, making the area the biggest resort in the east. ...

• Racing

A look at the applications of computer monitoring and control in the context of a small ski area. Author examines the cost vs. savings and the problem of finding qualified technicians. A quick look at the people who will need to be computer-literate and the problems associated with automation. Topics include snowmaking, lift and vehicle maintenance...

• Racing

A call to arms for small to mid-sized ski areas that have not embraced technology available in the computer age. A list of all the benefits that have proven effective in the management of a small resort. ...

A look at how some friendly boasting by politicians led to a great publicity coup when the governors and their staff teamed up for races against neighboring states. The end result was goodwill and a positive image for skiing. ...

• International
• Resort Development

A realistic look at the future of skiing in the next millenium. An international arena is used for a discussion of the direction of our industry around the world. Topics covered include: lifts,access,summer business, lifestyle residences, snow grooming, snowmaking, trails and environmental regulations. ...

• Ski Area Profiles

Record numbers for the Martin Luther King Day weekend have swept the industry. Across the country areas were fully booked, in particular, Wachussett Mountain, Mass., which sold out for five days straight. ...

• Marketing

A look at possible solutions to the incompatibility of ski condition reporting. It is clear that the system is out of line and public confidence is at an all-time low. It is imperative that the industry come up with a voluntary system of bipartisan management that would be trusted by the public. ...

A call to members of the ski industry to back the newly-reorganized NSAA. ...

• Environment
• Regulation

Using Appalachian Ski Mountain of North Carolina as an example, the author cites the benefits of having a smoke-free base lodge. Includes references to investigations by OSHA and the EPA which seem to be moving against tobacco usage in public places. ...

• Environment
• Politics
• Snowmaking

A commentary on disinformation being set forth by the sport fisherman's lobby against snowmaking. It is their contention that water used for snowmaking is detrimental to mountain waterways. The author feels that the ski industry must and defend themselves against this campaign. ...