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  • Construction Site
    Ski area construction innovations in the works at: Mount Snow, Vt.; Waterville Valley, N.H.; Cascade Mountain, Wisc.; Crystal Mountain, Mich.; Mt. Holly, Mich.; and Telluride, Colo.
  • On Government Patrol
    NSAA's new director of public policy, Geraldine Hughes, tackles a full plate of political and governmental issues on behalf of the ski industry.
  • Free Your Mind
    Freeriding, the newest evolution of 'extreme' for both skiing and snowboarding, is coming to the slopes. With certain accomodations for new events, terrain and equipment, willing ski area operators can take this new energy and exuberance to the bank. Sidebar on 'The Evolution of Extreme,' by Skip King.
  • Rental Ski Roundup 1998-99
    The market is heating up, with increased resort investment and a boom in demo programs tempting new suppliers into the rental arena. Here's a rundown of next season's offerings from the major manufacturers.
  • The Deaths of Two Celebrities
    An analysis of how ski resort personnel, NSAA and other industry spokespeople coordinated a crisis management plan to effectively handle the deaths of two celebrities on the slopes: Michael Kennedy at Aspen, Colo., and Sonny Bono at Heavenly, Calif., in early 1998.
  • SAM Idea Files
    New ideas at ski areas: a carriage travel gauge at Shawnee Mountain, Pa., a safety gate at Jiminy Peak, Mass., and juice barrels used as padding at Massanutten, Va., and Toggenburg Ski Center, N.Y.
  • How Keystone Got It Right
    Keystone, Colo., had a pre-established crisis management plan in place when the Teller Lift accident occurred in 1985. The medical, management and media procedures in the plan prevented a tragedy from becoming a total disaster.
  • X Games Draw Crowds, Cameras to Crested Butte
    ESPN's Winter X Games transformed Crested Butte, Colo., into the ultimate playground for alternative winter sports. Though the event required a great deal of preparation, the resort benefited from significant media exposure.
  • How to Write a Crisis Manual
    Instructions on how to write a crisis management plan that will prepare your ski area for any eventuality.
  • Hiker Sues Ski Area
    A New York appellate court held in favor of Hunter Mountain, N.Y., after a suit was brought by an injured hiker. The court stated that hikers are barred from suit by both statute and common law as long as they do not pay to hike, even if they pay for other activities on the mountain.
  • Reaching a New Peak On Time
    An analysis of how Jackson Hole, Wyo., completed its largest expansion ever within a severely compressed timeline by coordinating crews and equipment on a critical path timeline.
  • Update from Down Under
    A quick rundown of what's up at Australian ski resorts: Thredbo, Mt. Buller, Mt. Hotham, Falls Creek and Perisher Blue.
  • Testing Equipment: Keep It Simple
    Part 2 of a two-part series introduced in the January issue of SAM outlines simple procedures for testing equipment to mitigate the many variables in the snowmaking process.
  • Ice Storm of the Century
    On January 8, 1998, what has since been dubbed the 'Ice Storm of the Century' swept across Maine, New Hampshire, northern New York, northern Vermont and southern Quebec. Ski areas suffered power outages and extensive tree damage but, a month later, most areas were fully recovered. Sidebar details the massive glade recovery effort at Jay Peak, Vermont.
  • What's New
    New products include: the Huskie HD from Haul Master, Inc.; hospitality products from IHM Systems; a new snowboard binding from Mein Mountain; the Miko and PowerPhone from King Products; Softpave from Carlisle Tire and Wheel Co.; Ski Giant Low Energy Snow Guns from Ratnik Industries; SOUP-4P dispenser from Cecilware; a Polarfleece mattress pad from Dakotah, Inc.; the Boardwalk from Magic Carpet; a snowmobile/ATV lift from Lif-Track; an unmanned, tracked vehicle from II-Tracker, Inc.; the SkimBat and SnowBat Wingsail; Mini-Mum Wall-It from Bike Track; two new AC motors from Boston Fincor and the Tracker DTS digital avalanche beacon from Backcountry Access.
  • Do-It-Yourself Evaluation of Night Lighting Systems
    A detailed explanation of how to evaluate night lighting systems on ski slopes, according to the standard written in 1989 by NSAA and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
  • 1996-1997 Economic Analysis
    The '1996-1997 Economic Analysis of United States Ski Areas' reports essentially steady performance, but with geographical weather patterns negatively affecting Northeastern and Southeastern ski resorts. Tables detail ski area profitability and key factors by geographic regions.
  • Demos Driving Rentals
    SAM interviews Bill Irwin of Elan Ski and Snowboards to evaluate the changing nature of the rental market.
  • Thoughts on Cross Country
    Author speculates that XC is suffering from an identity crisis and that the opportunity afforded by today's demographics is being missed, both by alpine areas and the XC establishment.
  • What's Hot in the Rental Shop
    A survey of rental shops across the country indicates that demand for snowboards continue to rise, but that shaped skis, snowblades and helmets are also hot items.
  • Accident Liability Questions
    Author calls for the enactment of a law protecting the owners of land used for skiing.
  • Skiing Needs Lower Costs
    Author says that the cost of all aspects of skiing needs to be lowered in order to keep from losing skiers who are the backbone of the sport.
  • Well Done, NSAA
    Kudos to NSAA for their effective handling of public relations for the industry following the deaths of Sonny Bono and Michael Kennedy.
  • A Plea for Better Research
    The author calls for the industry to roll up its collective sleeves and conduct some baseline research to establish what the market really is.
  • Publisher's Memo
    David Rowan muses on knees and recent knee surgery. Jennifer welcomes Sharon Walsh, new advertising manager, and outlines some other changes happening at SAM.