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A dozen industry leaders examine the issues to be addressed at the national convention in Charleston, providing a broad mix of solutions and forecasts. Contributors include: Michael Berry, Bill Jensen, Bill Kane, Brad Moretz, Andy Daly, Les Otten, Jim Bartlett, Richard Kun, Rick Shoup, Charles Culp and Tim Petrick. ...

• Risk Management
• Safety
• Terrain

An examination of the avalanche-control program at Alyeska, Alaska, one of the biggest and most aggressive in North America. ...

Taos, New Mexico, came up with a new teaching system to combat the problems of too little space and too much pitch in the beginner area. ...

With 35 vehicles, 50 operators and 17 mechanics, Squaw Valley, Calif., gets more out of their machines by using preventive maintenance and good communication. ...

• Grooming
• Terrain

Guidelines to make skiers and mountain crews happier with the necessity of cat tracks, making descents easier and safer as well as reducing wear and tear on snow. ...

• Lift Maintenance

By installing variable frequency control systems on lifts, Breckenridge reduced maintenance costs on DC motors. ...

• Research

Overall, skier visits were down, but economic results across the country paralleled regional snow conditions. ...

New products include: the LapMap (Treeline Design), course marking flags (Reliable Racing Supply), Tanner brackers for evacuation ropes (Rapid Lift-Evac Systems), Everslide artificial slopes (CE Lindgren), ticketing systems (Lasergate), new signage techniques (Pannier Graphics), grip lubricators (Poma), the Soloski (Evans Marketing Group), Borvig s...

• Miscellaneous

Examines industry reaction to the purchase of Pres Smith's S-K-I by longtime rival Les Otten's LBO Resort Enterprises. A cross-section of comments from across the industry. ...

• Miscellaneous

A compilation of topics on the minds of area operators across the country in the weeks leading up to the "Future of the Industry" summit in Charleston, including the environment, operational efficiency, risk management, and advancing technology. ...

Definitions of common terms used in Internet language. ...

Other options for winter fun are out there besides skiing and snowboarding: in Vermont, Bromley introduces the Devalkart, and Killington opens the winter High Country Touring Center. ...

A review of Glenn Parkinson's "documentary" presentation of eight short stories from Maine skiing heritage. ...

A review of John Jerome's examination of the remarkable life of Dick Durrance: his skiing career, his filmmaking career and further adventures. ...

• Miscellaneous

A hilarious review of snowboarder Frederick Lenz's book "Surfing the Himalayas," as told by his "agent," on the prowl for a movie deal. ...

How Whakapapa Ski Area in New Zealand coped with the eruption of nearby Mt. Ruapehu volcano. ...

• Ski School
• Snowboarding
• Terrain

Suggestions for a sample learning park for beginning snowboarders. ...

• Safety

How Sandia Peak, N.M., dealt with the tragedy of a death resulting from a collision between a teenage skier and snowboarder. ...

• Conferences / Trade Shows
• International

Courchevel, in the French Alps, hosts an international conference of ski resort managers on its 50th birthday to address issues currently facing the ski industry. ...

• Miscellaneous

Les Otten and Skip King, in typical breezy fashion, apply "STEEP" analysis--considering the social, technical, environmental, economic and political aspects of the marketplace--to the ski/snowboard industry. ...

• Marketing

Cathy Robbins, a longtime industry insider, writes from her current point of view as a member of the public with two small children, pointing out the gap between the image the ski industry has of itself and what the consumer all too often encounters. ...

• Obituary

A tribute to Perry Williams, Hans Hagemeister and Bob Bourdon, all of whom turned their love of skiing into a lifetime commitment to the sport and business until their deaths at the end of 1995. ...