Ski Safety Blog

The U.S. Forest Service refuses to consider the Crested Butte Snodgrass Mountain expansion proposal with public involvement. Last November, the US Forest Service had rejected a Crested Butte Mountain Resort plan to expand the resort and add terrain to nearby Snodgrass Mountain, blocking its application for an environmental review of the area. Now the Forest Service has denied the appeal of CBMR to enter the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to request public input on the proposal despite working with the resort for the past five years.

Crested Butte maintains that it had received clear indications from the Forest Service that all requirements for entering the NEPA process had been met. However, a letter signed by Charles Richmond, Supervisor of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, cites a lack of community support for the project, increased public demands upon the forest, and unstable soil and hydrology of the site as the basis for his decision. Richmond's letter also indicates that his decision is not subject to an administrative appeals process, leaving Crested Butte without many options.

In the past few years several Colorado resorts have proposed similar public land terrain expansions, such as Vail, Copper Mountain, Steamboat and Telluride, and in each case the proposed expansions received support and opposition from the community, but the Forest Service made its decision only after conducting a public NEPA process.

The plan was to open three new lifts and a gondola to serve what would be much gentler terrain than what is currently available at Crested Butte, known for its steep and gnarly runs and extreme in-bounds skiing. Because the most marketable target audience for ski resorts happens to be those who ski intermediate blue runs, the idea was to ease the reputation of Crested Butte and open the resort to an entirely new demographic.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:46 PM | Permalink

The final results are in for the 2009-10 ski and snowboard season and the retail equipment and apparel market finished up 4% over last season in totals sales according to data released Wednesday by the trade association SnowSports Industries America (SIA). Snow sport retailers sold $2.94 billion this season compared to $2.82 billion a year ago. Although sales were up in dollars, fewer units were sold this season.

The most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression was felt as early as pre-season. Before the start of the season, orders were down 10% to 40% and inventories, made smaller due to heavy carryover sales last season, stayed small. In fact, inventories started out this season 9% leaner than they were at the beginning of the 2008-09 season.

Skis with fat waists moved faster than skinny skis this season. Fat ski sales increased more than 30% in units and in dollars sold. Although rocker snowboards had a good run again this season all snowboard sales were down in units and in dollars sold this season. More than 1.1 million helmets sold through February this season for record sales.

Snowboard equipment finished the 2009-10 season in decline at specialty retailers with unit sales down 7% and dollars sold down 4%. Many snowboard buyers are still looking for bargains and snowboard carryover sales have increased 16% in units and 19% in dollars. In fact, snowboard and telemark were the only equipment categories that have brought in fewer dollars this season compared to last season at specialty stores.

Looking at the data region by region, western states followed the overall market pattern with declines in unit sales but an increase in dollars sold. In fact, unit sales were down 4% while dollar sales increased 4%, representing $23.5 million more dollars sold in the region. Fewer skis, snowboards and apparel sold at higher prices, driving up margins and overall revenue in the Western states this season.

Sales in the Northeastern specialty shops accounted for 29% of all specialty sales this season. Sales were down 8% in units sold and up 1% in dollars sold to $502 million for the season.

El Niño conditions, which left the Midwest with higher than average temperatures and lower than average snowfall, led to lower than average sales. In the Midwest, sales were down 10% in units and 3% in dollars to $311 million. But El Niño drove sales up in the South, with record snow in places like Houston and lower than average temperatures all winter. Sales in Southern snow sports specialty shops finished the 2009-10 season up 15% in units sold and up 17% in dollars sold to $274 million, an increase of $46.5 million.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:39 AM | Permalink

The family of a 51-year-old man killed in a chairlift accident last summer has sued Heavenly Mountain Resort for unspecified damages. See Tragic Freak Summer Lift Accident.

In the case of Dickson, et al vs. Heavenly et al, filed late last week in the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado, family members Rebecca, Patrick and Bryan Dickson have sued the ski resort as well as zip line maker Terra Nova LLC and Sampson Rope Technologies for the Aug. 31, 2009 death. The husband and wife were injured when the retrieval line from the ski area's zip line ride tangled with the Tamarack Express chairlift, knocking Mark Dickson from the lift. Dickson's 47-year-old wife of one month, plaintiff Rebecca Dickson, was also seriously injured in the incident.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:40 PM | Permalink

Snow sports gained more than 1.5 million participants during the 2008.09 season, including 573,000 alpine skiers, 309,000 Nordic skiers and 262,000 snowboarders. More than 20,500,000 participated in at least one snow sport during the 2008.09 season. About 9,400,000 identified themselves as skiers, riders or snowshoers but did not participate during the 2008.09 season for a variety of reasons. Many said they didn't have time due to family and work commitments, but surprisingly the next most popular answer was that they had "no one to go with." That's about 884,000 who didn't head to trails or slopes just because they didn't want to go alone. Overall, the study indicates that the total size of the U.S. snow sports market, in terms of participation, has reached 30,000,000, close to 10% of the total population.

More than 20.5 million Americans are active participants in snow sports. The SIA report just released last week summarizes data for the 2008-2009 season. The report provides a comprehensive view of 6 different snow sports disciplines including alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic, telemark, freestyle, and snowshoeing. The report includes overall headcounts, cross-over activities including 117 sports and leisure activities (such as 43% of snowboarders are also runners), geographic density (Colorado is fourth in density of skiers per capita), income, education, age, frequency of participation, and more.

For the past three seasons, SIA has been working with six other major governing bodies and trade associations in the sports, fitness, outdoor and leisure industry to form a research partnership -- The Physical Activity Council (PAC). The overview of participation in 117 different sports and leisure activities in the U.S. is available, copies of the Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Participation Overview (2010 edition) can be downloaded from PhysicalActivityCouncil.com.

A Few Points of Interest:

• Nearly 60% of the alpine skiers (59%) and snowboarders (58%) are concentrated in ten states.


• Snowboarders participate, on average 40% more days (11.4) than alpine skiers (8.1). Participation rates range from 9.8 days for cross country to 8.5 days for snowshoeing.


• Snowboarding is a young man's game. 70% of the participants are males and 74% fall between 13 and 34 years of age. Males make-up 64% of alpine skiers and 46% fall between 13 and 34 years of age.


• Californians make up almost 1/5 of all snowboard participants nationwide. California's economy has suffered significantly in the current economic downturn and the effects are showing up in snowboard equipment sales that declined 7% in units and 4 % in dollars sold this season

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:19 PM | Permalink

The two big trends in snowsports equipment sales this season have been fat skis, with their increased stability at higher speeds, and ski helmets, to offer some protaction at those higher speeds.

According to a report just released by the Snowsports Industries America (SIA), total sales through all channels this season did not top the record breaking 2007/2008 season, but it comes in second highest in history for dollars sold. Apparel led sales this season with $1.1 billion, with accessories sales totals close behind at $1 billion. Equipment has been outsold by both apparel and accessories categories since the 2006/2007 season. This year, alpine, Nordic, and AT/Randonee equipment sales were up, while telemark and snowboard equipment sales slipped.

• Fat Skis - Skis with fat waists moved faster than skinny skis this season. Fat ski sales increased more than 30% in units and in dollars sold

• Snowboards - Although rocker snowboard had a good run again this season all snowboard sales were down in units and in dollars sold this season

• Backcountry - AT/Randonee ski sales up 57% in units and 57% in dollars sold

• Helmets - More than 1.1 million helmets sold through February this season

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:55 PM | Permalink

Canadian researchers have analyzed a decade's worth of accidents involving snowboarders and skiers in Quebec, concluding that helmets do not increase neck injuries. In slightly more than a quarter of nearly 3,000 neck injuries, the injured person had worn a helmet during the mishap. By contrast, only about one-fifth of those who had sustained injuries below the neck had worn one.

But after accounting for other factors such as skill, terrain and weather conditions, the increased risk of wearing a helmet disappeared. This held true even in young children, whose disproportionately large heads would make them extra susceptible to neck injuries. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, online April 20, 2010.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:59 AM | Permalink

In a dramatic, if surprising, rebound from the previous season, the U.S. ski industry recorded 59.7 million visits, the second best season ever, according to the preliminary 2009/10 Kottke National End of Season Survey. In spite of continued pressures from a weak economy and without the benefit of a strong snow year, skier visits this season increased by 4.2 percent, only 1.2 percent below the all time record of 60.5 million visits achieved in 2007/08.

According to the study, all regions except the Northeast achieved substantial gains in total visits. The Pacific Southwest had a 15.0 percent increase in skier visits, and the Midwest and Southeast also experienced notable gains of 7.2 percent and 6.7 percent respectively. The Rocky Mountain region continued its dominant overall position in terms of total visitation, increasing by 3.4 percent over last year, and again exceeding the 20 millions visit threshold. The Pacific Northwest also rose from 2008/09, growing by 3.2 percent. The Northeast decreased by a projected 2.7 percent.

In an indication of widespread solid performance, the industry as a whole exceeded its 10-season average by 3.9 percent in the 2009/10 season, a pattern echoed by all regions, including the Northeast (up 1.1 percent from its 10-season average), Southeast (up 9.9 percent), Midwest (up 2.1 percent), Rocky Mountains (up 4.3 percent), Pacific Southwest (up 4.7 percent), and Pacific Northwest (up 5.7 percent). On an individual basis, 69 percent of responding areas reported increased annual visits.

Visitation gains occurred despite a 14 percent decrease in overall snowfall among ski areas nationwide. Regionally, snowfall totals were mixed, with substantially greater snowfall in the Southeast, up 98 percent; and to a lesser extent in the Pacific Southwest, up 8 percent. However, decreased snowfall was reported in all other regions, including the Northeast (-21 percent), Midwest (-32 percent), Rocky Mountains (-20 percent) and Pacific Northwest (-25 percent).

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:26 PM | Permalink

Prosecutors Friday lost an attempt to reinstate misdemeanor assault and reckless endangerment charges against Dominic Galasso of Lancaster, PA, who seriously injured a Kissing Bridge ski instructor when he slammed into him on an intermediate slope. The judge upheld the dismissal of charges.

The instructor, Carl Hensler, 65, of Fort Erie, Ont., suffered a broken arm, leg and nose, and Galasso suffered a minor facial injury in the collision, which occurred at about 5 p. m. March 4, 2009.

The court found that Hensler only assumed Galasso, now 26, of Lancaster was "going too fast" and out of control when Galasso slammed into him about 800 feet from the end of the 3,000-foot-long Mistletoe slope. Hensler was admittedly "skiing slowly" when he turned left to get to another slope and did not see Galasso coming in a "full tuck" position. The skiers' views of each other were obscured by a knoll in the slope.

The allegation that Galasso was skiing out of control was found to be conjecture since no one witnessed the collision. The judge cited Galasso's claim to state troopers 14 months ago that he was "stone sober" and "not out of control" while skiing.

The judge acknowledged that skiing fast downhill creates the possibility of a collision, but that, without eyewitness accounts that Galasso was out of control, it cannot be proved that he caused or contributed to the accident. No civil suits were generated by the incident. For a more detailed report of the accident, see Skiing Collision Brings Criminal Charge.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:20 PM | Permalink