• 107 reads
  • Giving Beginners a Lift
    Paoli Peaks, Ind., moved a used Hall lift and reengineered it to create a hydraulic drive to service a beginner hill. The result is a quiet, efficient, low-speed lift that cost $150,000.
  • cover shot
    Nathan Bilow's cover shot illustrates a feature article, "Converting to the Core" by Chris Brink and Maggie Loring. The feature begins on page 44.
  • Industry Reports
    Sugarbush completes and Vail pursues land exchanges; Canada/U.S. to co-host Olympics?; Intrawest to build village in France; Burke goes to auction; Goggle thieves contact merchants; The Skiing Co. on the block; Development partner for The Canyons; Killington University; Ski Plattekill expects to sign partner; Vermont XC ski areas joins VSAA; People; Supplier News.
  • Insuring Seasonal Employees
    The article explores the possibilities of offering temporary and seasonal health plans to workers as added incentive for taking resort jobs.
  • Enigmas of Growth-or Sniffing for Glue
    This article explores the problems facing the industry in terms of participant levels. It also points out that certain small segments of skiing and sliding are growing and requires smart marketing and a willingness to change and adpapt to capture those segments. The author also points out that no amount of hand-wringing and complaining about the weather is going to help matters. An accompanying article on page 40 shows how careful fifnancial balancing will help.
  • Web Portals
    The article describes the use of Web portals (gateway sites) as links to drive visits on the Web to individual resort Websites. Portals offer general wintersport information, retail sales opportunities and advertising space in the form of banners and sponsorship logos that can act as links directly to resort sites.
  • There is Certainly Room to Grow
    Farwell's piece accompanys Jim Springs piece on page 39. Farwell explains that good financial balancing and smart operational strategies leads to growth in the business. His proposal looks at the business designs of successful ski resorts.
  • Letters
    Don't Bite the Hand That Feeds You is a letter that supports John Jacobs letter in July 2000 that points to small ski areas as lifelines for the future of the industry. O'Neill's letter takes the CSCUSA ad campaign aimed at Midwestern skiers to task for portraying Midwest resorts as little more than haystacks covered with snow.
  • Think Small to Sell Big
    This article explores how successful retail and rental operations earn extra income from selling basic accessories by stocking deep and using smart pricing.
  • Construction Site
    Ski Plattekill, N.Y., installs a used Hall double; Mt Buller, Australia, builds hotel complex; Killington, Vt., increase snowmaking with a new water main; Heavenly, Calif., starts construction of a gondola that will connect the ski area to South Lake Tahoe's downtown and a new two-hotel complex; Steeplechase, Minn., installs lifts and finishes a lodge in preparation for opening this season; Spring Mountain, Pa., replaces snowmaking system; Kicking Horse, B.C., begins an estimated seven-year project to become a major destination resort.
  • Into the Glades
    Whistler/Blackcomb found that gladed trails increased options for guests, improved accessibility and also improved skier and snowboarder safety.
  • SAM Idea Files
    Mad River Glen, Vt., uses pig-warming mats to keep lift ops' feet warm; Mountain Meadows, Vt. uses a changeable trail map sign to indicate changing conditions and degrees of difficulty depending on the day; Sugarloaf, Maine, created a snowmobile sled to move small children up the beginner hill.
  • Testing...1,2,3...Testing
    The article describes methods to use to test lift evacuation plans. National Ski Patrol regional director Mary Davis's insight shows resorts how the entire staff should be included when running through evac plans to make sure they work and each individual knows exactly what's expected of them.
  • Blue Pages
    OK Corral-style stand off in Alberta (feds imposing skier-number limits on Canadian National Forest Land); Other No-growth confrontations (Wachusett Mountain, Mass. and Mountain Creek, N.J. under fire from local environmentalists); Oak Hill now controls ASC board; David Perry New head of CSCUSA; Thoughts on becoming an asset (re: ski conglomerates, Disney and Times Mirror Magazines sale and what it means for the future); Team NSAA proves its mettle (the lighter side: hats off to the women triathletes in the Danskin Denver Triathlon); Rival Bids to develop Colorado area (re: Silverton "backcountry" project; Obits: William Riskey and Robert Lange.
  • Converting to the Core
    This article explores the American Skiing Co.'s recipe for converting first-time skiers and snowboarders into life-long fans. It's a combination of physical attributes of meeting areas and making customers comfortable before ever getting on the snow. The article is the firstin a series on ski schools.
  • The End Page
    Winter Sports Hits the Motherlode of National Attention (Advertising: Thule and Planetpoint.com); And a Snowshoe, W.V. ski instructor makes the People Magazine top 100 Most Eligible Bachelor List.
  • Make Room for Kids
    Casner's piece shows that careful planning when remodeling or building new child-care facilities will make the little ones happy. And that, he says, is the key to keeping parents happy and willing to return.
  • Fall Consumer Ski Show Schedule
    the dates and locations for the 2000 fall shows aimed at consumers.
  • A Blast from the Past--XC Style
    The article describes a plan to reclaim the and revitalize the 1960 Olympic nordic trails on Lake Tahoe. The low-key approach will not create a commercial X-C area, but will involve some grooming and maintenance on at least 22 miles of trails. It includes a sidebar on The new Maine Winter Sports Center.
  • NSAA's Model For Growth: What It Is, and What It Is Not
    This speak out is an explanation of the Model for Growth presented in Orlando at the annual NSAA Convention and describes the research underlying it. It was written in response to a Speak-Out piece that appeared in the July 2000 issue.
  • New Nordic Training Center Aims to Become the Athlete's Choice
    This article appears as a sidebar to one on revitalizing the 1960 nordic Olympic trails. This article describes a U.S. Biathlon Association plan to create the Maine Winter Sports Center for athlete training and civilian cross-country use. It hinged on a grant from an organization aimed at improving the quality of life for Maine residents.
  • NSAA's Model For Growth: What It Is, and What It Is Not
    This speak out is an explanation of the Model for Growth presented in Orlando at the annual NSAA Convention and describes the research underlying it. It was written in response to a Speak-Out piece that appeared in the July 2000 issue.
  • 1920-John Mathewson-2000, An Appreciation by David Rowan
    This remembrance of John Mathewson quotes some colleagues who remembered an honorable man who was a tireless snowmaking pioneer, designer and salesman.
  • Watch the Competition Plan Ahead
    Janet's opinion piece points out the cruise and golf industry's smart marketing and timely advertising to get vacationers to take to the water and links, and the advance scheduling of Christmas catalogues and asks, why can't the ski industry get on the ball? Resorts are notoriously late with brochures and notices about vacations in their summer and winter seasons and Janet explores the problems.
  • Stop. Pause. Renew...Then Go Do Your Best!
    Hector has good advice for managers and workers as they prepare for a new season. Passion for the work translates well to guests. Get it back and make sure it serves customers well!