Browse Our Archives

• Miscellaneous

Headlines from this installment: N.Y. Areas Protest state's competition; Ax falls at Head, SIA appoints interim chair; ASC puts a hold on two projects in Vermont; IOC reaches agreement on anti-doping measures; Schweitzer Mountain sold to Harbor Properties; NSAA postpones marketing initiative; Vermont area (Maple Valley) reopens; Intrawest invests i...

Iseult's roundup explores all the alpine ski gear available for rental operations for the 99-00 season. A trend in better equipment for beginners is discovered. ...

Iseult's roundup explores rental snowboard equipment for the 1999-2000 season. ...

This is the story of Vail's efforts to rebuild and open on time after the arson fires of October 19, 1998 burned four lifts, two restaurants and two patrol buildings. The resort, industry and community came together to make the opening happen. ...

• Lifts

Janet's story is about the replacement of the tram at Masada, Israel. The historic location got a new Von Roll to replace a 25-year-old Brandle. ...

• Snowmaking

There's an amazing selection of air-water snowmaking guns available. This is a breakdown of what's out there and compares all the specifications in table format. ...

• Ski Area Profiles

Two family-owned ski areas in Switzerland have been on the cutting edge of trends and technology since 1962.This profile is a report on how the resorts have succeeded and how they are continuing to be profitable today. ...

• Lifts

People movers are the latest developments from some old names in chair lift and gondola circles. Companies are moving into intra-area transportation and branching out to include shuttle opportunities at airports and casinos. ...

• Lifts

An overcrowded beginner hill at Glen Eden Ski Area,Ontario, was transformed by a powerful conveyor lift manufactured by Barrie Welding and Machine, which doubled capacity and thinned crowds. ...

• Personnel Issues

The author, with the PR departnment at Crystal Mountain, Mich., writes about tips and ideas to build and retain good staffs. ...

Needham looks back at Ski magazine's (January 1990 issue) predictions for the new decade, made when he was editor. His fun look backs points up all the misses from the "FutureSki" issue and a couple of good predictions. ...

• Conferences / Trade Shows

Heidi's article previews the subjects planned for the 8th International Congress for Transportation by Wire Rope in San Francisco. It will coincide with the National Ski Areas Association national trade show and seminars. ...

This article explores the possibility of a resort offering its location for print and television advertising. Early snow and easy access are two keys to making a public relations coup. ...

This article was adapted from a letter to Skiing Heritage on the subject of a jigback surface lift constructed at McGee Mountain in the Sierras in 1936-1937. ...

This is a review of Claire Walter's book, "Snowshoeing Colorado," describing trails and backcountry sites. It also has pointers on equipment and technique. ...

Seth explores the multi-tiered pricing structure of ski equipment and how ski-area shops compete with big-city shops in the retail end of things. ...

This column deals with math shortcuts for figuring appropriate amounts and dimensions of materials used in construction projects. Some of the subjects are rebar sizes; concrete estimates and welding needs. ...

The two experts answer the questions: How do I create a snowboard bench made out of old snowboards?When is the best time to cut a halfpipe? and More and more people coming to work at resorts are snowboarders, why and what are they looking for? ...

Freeze-Zyme from Nutricepts; Boot Jaws by MasterFit; Atlas Copco compact compressors; Kryptonite ski and snowboard locks; Hyline mountain boards (wheels); InfoInteractive U-Tellus survey system; ASV rubber-tracked compact dozer/loader/tractor; Johnson Technologies EZ Stock inventory system; Lumastrobe flashing traffic batons; DuPont pocket ski car...

To see our special pull-out section, "1999-2000 Rental Roundup," contact donna@saminfo.com.   ...

• Miscellaneous

The Worldwide Ski Corp-Ski magazine partnership ends leaving NASTAR without an administrator; Earl Holding victim of IOC Scandal; Yellowstone Club Gets an Icon (Warren Miller) As Member; Vail World Championships Score a 10; National Uphill Capacity Remains Stable; ASC Rumors Abound; No Website at Vailresortssuck.com; Forest Service Pushes Pelican B...

• Miscellaneous

Inspection of Mt. Washington, B.C.'s new quad au naturel; NYT item tells of Squaw Valley locals mourning the loss of the Ganjola; Lawyer buddies who sued each other for a collision; Clear, Inventive Signs; Harry Shearer's satire of the "World Olympic Bribery Championships." ...

Ettlinger's letter to the editor comments on an earlier Seth Says column about the short-sighted design of non-releasable bindings on skiboards.As Seth Says: Bad Idea! And so underscored by Carl Ettlinger. ...

• Legal

This editorial endorses the NSAA position that individuals should be able to choose whether to wear helmets and objects to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's rush to judgement on the matter and the inaccuracies portrayed in a Wall Street Journal article on the safety of skiing and snowboarding. ...

This opinion piece examines how the snowboarding industry has become a victim of its own success by having to soften its image to appeal to more mainstream consumers. Deep down, however, Kreitman says the effort to inject excitement into a soft industry reveals the same bunch of fringe players playing on a different backdrop. ...

• Obituary

This short obituary profiles the dean of ski journalists and ski historians, William Banks Berry, who died on January 23, 1999. ...