Ski Safety Blog

Breckenridge officials are discussing a tax on lift tickets to help the town pay for parking and transportation. One councilman argues that the town is interested in the tax because other communities have it and Breckenridge's budget is hurting. But Breckenridge resort CEO Lucy Kay says the resort currently funds transportation and parking services, even though some municipalities cover those in other ski communities. Breckenridge Resort does not favor the proposal, given the economic conditions. A tax on lift tickets would have to be put on the ballot and be approved by voters. Breckenridge officials have discussed such a tax in previous years.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today Vail Resorts announced that all its employees will be required to wear helmets while skiing or snowboarding on the job starting with the 2009-2010 season. Vail also will require helmets for all children age 12 and under who take group lessons through its schools, and helmets will be part of the resort's children's rental packages unless parents or guardians sign a waiver.

Vail Resorts, based in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, owns the Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone resorts in Colorado and Heavenly in California. The policy will be in force at all five of its resorts in Colorado as well as Heavenly. The company says it strongly recommends helmets for skiers of all ages

Posted by Linda Chalat at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Unless you are an experienced, skilled skier, taking a ski or snowboard lesson is always a good idea and for beginners it is essential to learning the basics of either sport. Beginners should learn the basics from a professional, not a well-meaning friend. Attempting to ski or snowboard with little or no instruction increases your risk of injury and can result in an unfavorable or disappointing first experience.

Taking several lessons with a certified instructor who is familiar with the mountain can be rewarding for the novice as well as those who wish to brush up on their skills. Every resort offers a variety of programs and packages tailored to ski levels. You can find adult packages, kids programs, private lessons, camps, and masters programs for more advanced skiers and riders.

Some resorts offer more specific programs such as Alpine Meadow's "For Women, By Women" which includes three full days of skiing with the resort's top female instructors, video analysis, advice on choosing and fitting equipment, lunch, and apres ski fun.

There are plenty of resort value packages, particularly this late in the season. Many offer rental gear, lessons, and a day-lift ticket. These kinds of offers provide the beginner with all the necessary tools to learn at introductory prices. A list of Colorado ski schools is provided by OntheSnow.com at: http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/4429/

Posted by Linda Chalat at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

CLIF® BAR presents the first iPhone application to combine ski resort snow conditions with environmental steps the resorts are taking to combat global warming. CLIF BAR Save Our Snow (SOS) iPhone App can be downloaded free from your iPhone or iTouch App Store (search "Save Our Snow") or from www.clifbar.com/sosiphone. U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and snowcountry.com are providing weather reports and other snow-related data. The NSAA is also participating by providing environmental information and statistics.

CLIF BAR has, for the past three years, helped raise the awareness of winter athletes and enthusiasts about global warming's impact on the ski industry. From mounting veggie-fueled mobile tours with top skiers like Alison Gannett and riders like Jeremy Jones to providing carbon offsets for chairlift energy use, the CLIF BAR SOS campaign has informed thousands of winter resort-goers about the need to quickly address global warming if they want to continue to enjoy outdoor winter activities. The CLIF BAR SOS iPhone app was designed by Raven Zachary in conjunction with Cobra Creative and Darknoon.

Skier, Rider License Plate Looks Good In Colorado

A bill to create a ski license plate for Colorado vehicles is on its way to the Senate, thanks in part to nearly 4,500 locals who petitioned for the ode to their favorite pastime. Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) has instigated a petition and gathered signatures to take to the Department of Revenue to move forward with a ski plate over the past several years. Officials at CSCUSA say that, for decades, their supporters have called requesting a ski license plate to brandish their passion for Colorado's signature sport and now they soon may get their wish.

The state Department of Revenue requires a minimum of 3,000 signatures in order to give its consent for authorizing specialized plates. CSCUSA's signature-collecting efforts busted that threshold and now CSCUSA and the Department have been working together to design a plate depicting a skier and snowboarder under a bluebird Colorado sky. Colorado will be the only state in the nation with a license plate depicting both a snowboarder and a skier if the bill passes.

The Bill must go through the Senate and House but in a recent press release, Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Dillon) who sponsors the bill, explained that making a ski plate is a no brainer. "Skiing is not only Colorado's best-known winter sport, it is what Colorado is known for all year-round," he said. "We should encourage Coloradans to show their pride for the sport with a special license plate."

The state could expect about $30,000 in revenue from the $50 plates in the first year. The money would go to better Colorado roads and bridges. The Senate has passed the Bill and it is now in the House for approval.

New York and Idaho both offer a specialized ski license plate, and Utah residents can pick up a "Greatest Snow On Earth" plate for free when they register their vehicles. CSCUSA says their plate will help spread exposure for Colorado skiing.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good snow does not always a great ski season make. Skier visits, overnight lodging occupancy and room rates have all taken a downhill plunge this year, prompting the industry to examine how to win back travelers when the economy improves.

Skier visits nationally are expected to be down for the 2008-09 season. Early estimates by Mountain Travel Research Program are for between 54 million and 57 million skier visits, at least a 5 percent drop from the 2007-08 season record of 60.5 million. The latest report released by MTRP showed the national average daily lodging rate was down 8.6 percent in February compared with the same period last year. And the total occupancy for the 2008-09 season is expected to be down 16.3 percent. Statewide estimates aren't yet available.

More than 900 ski-industry leaders are gathered in Keystone this week for the 2009 Mountain Travel Symposium.

Perhaps in response to the slow season, Aspen Skiing Co. on Wednesday said it will reopen Aspen Highlands for two bonus weekends later this month. Highlands, which will close this Sunday, will reopen April 18-19 and April 25-26. A series of spring storms has pushed the base depth in Highland Bowl to more than 100 inches -- the deepest it has been all season.

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