Ski Safety Blog

This season, visitors to Vail Resorts ski areas can track how many days and runs they have enjoyed at the ski area, using technology embedded on lift tickets and passes. Radio-frequency scanners on every lift at Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Vail resorts in Colorado and at Heavenly in California will communicate with chips embedded on passes and tickets to automatically track guests' runs.

Continue reading "High Tech Comes to Vail Resorts and The Canyons" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SKI REX is not just a pre-season mega sale of ski and snowboard equioment. For the third consecutive year, the Colorado Ski & Golf and Boulder Ski Deals stores are offering ski and snowboard recycling on-site. Beginning Sept. 4 at the five SKI REX locations, skiers and riders can bring their unwanted skis, snowboards, cross-country skis, boots, poles and bindings to any of the SKI REX locations.

Continue reading "Ski and Snowboard Recycling" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Friday morning in Pakistan, Swedish mountaineer and professional skier Fredrik "Frippe" Ericsson fell to his death while attempting to summit K2, the world's second tallest peak. Ericsson, age 35, was attempting to become the first man to ski from the summit to base camp. Ericsson was climbing above camp four (8000 meters, the final push before the summit), near the crux of the climb called the Bottleneck, when he slipped and fell over 3,000 feet.

Continue reading "Attempt to Ski K2 Ends in Tragedy" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Freestyle athletes can hit the slopes in Colorado even in the summertime, thanks to Copper Mountain. The ski area has brought Colorado onto the summer training scene with Woodward, an indoor/outdoor ski-and-snowboard training center.

Continue reading "Summer Shredding at Copper" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Aspen Skiing Co. will try to attract more skiers this winter by renewing and expanding some of the discount packages it offered for the first time last season, Skico announced this month. The Skico will renew the Kids Stay, Ski Free package with lodges in Aspen-Snowmass. It offered the deal in March last season. It will be offered in March and April in 2011.

Continue reading "Aspen Offers Deals for Upcoming Season" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you noticed that ski season is becoming shorter with each year? The folks at Protect Our Winters have, and the nonprofit organization is working to spread awareness to winter sports enthusiasts worldwide.

Prior to this summer, Protect Our Winters, POW, which is based in the United States, has been focusing on educating and giving grants for clean energy to the mountain communities in the USA. This summer--or winter as it may be--the initiative has headed south.

Continue reading "Protect Our Winters Heads South" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A recent survey carried out by the Ski Club of Great Britain reports that almost half of skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes with ski insurance. The Association of Mountain Doctors in France dealt with 140,000 injuries last year, the most common being a sprained knee. Accidents not only put a major dampener on your holiday, but can incur huge medical costs to cover things like mountain rescue and transport back home. World First Travel Insurance reports the average claim for medical expenses for injuries while skiing is £684, or a little over $1,000.

Continue reading "Ski Insurance Common in Europe" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SInce the slopes are grassy rather than snow-packed, at least one Colorado ski town is embracing a different type of outdoor recreationists. While Black Hawk is banning bikes, Breckenridge is throwing out the welcome mat. Freshly painted bike lanes along Main Street and other roads reflect the town's efforts to become one of the state's most bicycle- and eco-friendly communities. Soon, the north and south Highway 9 entrances to Breckenridge will include large signs boasting the town's accessibility to cyclists. Smaller signs throughout the town are planned to help guide people to their destinations.

Continue reading "Breckenridge Embraces Bicyclists" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado candidates for governor and the U.S. Senate tried to woo Colorado's ski industry last week, with some targeting the industry's concerns and others sticking to their general campaign speeches.

Continue reading "Colorado Candidates Are Not Ski Bums" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Colorado ski industry experienced a slight uptick in skier visits despite what an industry leader described as a "strange" snow season. The state's ski resorts tallied 11.86 million skier visits, a 0.8 percent increase over the previous season, according to data released Thursday.

Continue reading "Colorado Ski Areas Did Alright" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 6:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Arapahoe Basin is the last Colorado ski resort to close this year. Yesterday was the final day of the season with what ski area officials say should be the area's third-best year for skier visits. A-Basin spokeswoman said skier visits will be down from last season, mainly due to a lack of snow from January to March. Heavier snow arrived in April and May. Last year was the second- best season for A-Basin, behind the record 430,897 skier visits in the 2007-08 season.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

American ski racing fans got big news yesterday when Vail-Beaver Creek was awarded the 2015 world alpine ski championships. Only on three previous occasions has the top international skiing event taken place in the United States. Vail previously hosted the biennial event in 1989 and 1999. Aspen hosted the event in 1950.

Continue reading "Vail to Host 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vail Resorts, Inc., parent company of five ski resorts, several luxury hotel properties and other companies, has purchased Mountain News Corp., parent company of the website On the Snow.com.

Continue reading "Vail Purchases OnTheSnow.com" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Continue reading "Ski Retail Market up 4%" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Continue reading "Snow Sports Participation Continues to Increase" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Continue reading "Ski Trends: Fat Skis and Helmets!" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Continue reading "U.S. Ski Industry Strong" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Western ski resorts enjoyed a modest 1.3% gain in guest occupancy this season, although it came at the cost of inducing visitors with cheaper room rates, according to a report released Tuesday. With expectations of an improving national economy, it appears that ski resorts have weathered the worst of the recession.

Continue reading "Skiing Still Good Business" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The ski industry is planning to adapt to the graying of the slopes - and not from lack of snow but from the aging of the ski enthusiast population. Resorts have planned for at least a decade for a dramatic decline of visits from baby boomers who helped build the industry but who will likely cut back as aching knees, hips and backs set in.

Continue reading "Slopes Turning Grey" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The snowpack level for the northwest corner of Colorado has increased in the last week -- good news for ski areas and water suppliers. As local ski areas begin to shutter the ski operations, with some closing up shop after Sunday, skiers and riders are enjoying some of this season's most outstanding conditions.

Continue reading "Hurry Before the Season Is Gone!" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The North Face Apparel Co. has settled its trademark infringement suit against The South Butt, a clothing line with the tagline "never stop relaxing." The North Face website provides the history of the company, concluding with "The North Face will maintain an unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of design, so that you can push your limits outdoors. Never Stop Exploring."

Continue reading "South Butt Conquers The North Face" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Breckenridge Ski Resort hopes to offer a new way to get down the hill. The resort has proposed to build an "alpine coaster," a 2,500-foot-long ride on rails that could be used both summer and winter, possibly even at night.

Continue reading "Breckenridge Adds Alpine Coaster Proposal" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over 400 ski racers competed in Winter Park this past weekend for the 35th annual Wells Fargo Ski Cup, a benefit for the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Saturday's race teamed professional disabled skiers with able-bodied amateurs, and included a celebrity fun event. Disabled skiers will tested their skills against one another, while the three-day event raised more than $200,000 for the center's disabled- sports programs.

Continue reading "Ski Race Day Benefits Disabled Skiers" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado has added The Ski County USA special license plates to the gallery of plates available to passenger cars, trucks that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight, noncommercial or recreation vehicles, motor homes and motorcycles.

Continue reading "Colorado License for Ski Country USA" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When skiers shuffle through lift lines at many Colorado resorts these days, all they need to do is point to the pocket holding their lift ticket or pass. New technology -- radio-chipped "smart cards" -- have done away with the antiquated hole punch and the visual scan.

Continue reading "More Ski Pass-fraud Busts in Colorado, Now After Renegade Instructors" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The company attempting to revive the Denver-to-Winter Park ski train was derailed the week of New Year's Day. The week before, a U.S. District Court judge in Denver refused to issue a temporary restraining order that would have forced Amtrak to operate the Rio Grande Scenic ski train for Iowa Pacific Holdings. Iowa Pacific claimed in court it had what amounted to a contract with Amtrak to operate the ski train with Amtrak crews from Dec. 27 to late March.

Continue reading "Colorado Ski Train Derailed by Federal Court Track" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend a Summit County deputy reported a woman was caught at Keystone Resort trying to use the ski pass of a man named Daniel. The woman claimed to be in the middle of a sex change. The deputy asked for the parents' phone number and the woman gave it to them. The boyfriend's father answered and said he knew nothing of a sex change. An hour later, the Keystone supervisor told the deputy there was a phone number on the ski-pass file. The deputy called the number and the boyfriend answered, informing the deputy that he had given the pass to his girlfriend. The woman then spoke with her boyfriend, then told the deputy that she was actually the girlfriend. She was arrested and booked on charges of theft of more than $500 and criminal impersonation.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The new Rio Grande Scenic Ski Train hopes to run winter excursion trains to Winter Park as a successor to the Anschutz Co.'s Ski Train. The new ski train service is expected to operate between Dec. 27 and March 28, running as many as 50 round trips between Denver's Union Station and the ski town on weekends, holidays and other select days. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad company also runs excursion trains in southern Colorado.

Continue reading "All Aboard Rio Grande Scenic Ski Train" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For those who can't resist pushing the limits of their respective discipline, only a fool denies that a devastating injury may result. If you avoid a deadly accident you may still be faced an accident that is not only career-ending, but life-changing.

Continue reading "Insurance For Extreme Snow Sports Ethusiasts" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado Discover Ability, an adaptive sports program for people with disabilities enables physically handicapped skiers to learn to ski independently. Last winter 107 volunteers helped CDA clients ranging in ages, 4 to 75, learn how to ski, snowboard or snowshoe using adaptive equipment. Many volunteers return year after year. Last winter 161 clients participated in winter sports with CDA.

Continue reading "Winter Adaptive Skiing Program Needs You" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

British insurance company AA Travel Insurance is urging millions of Brits who will hit the slopes this season to purchase winter sports holiday insurance. With an increase in the numbers of severe ski and board accidents, it is absolutely vital to have winter sports insurance, warns Europe's biggest ski magazine, the Good Ski Guide.

Continue reading "Brits Encouraged to Pack Insurance With Ski Gear" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This year's 18th Annual Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo will be held at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver from November 13-15. The event is billed as Colorado's biggest temporary ski shop, with over 20,000 square feet of gear, clothing, and accessories. Discounts range from 40 to 75 percent on last season's gear and the 09-10 models. In addition, all Colorado ski resorts will be on site selling their season passes and lift tickets. With the Winter Games in Vancouver approaching, many Olympians will be at the Expo to sign autographs and meet with fans. Tickets are $12, Children 12 and under are FREE (cash only)- Included with your ticket is a one year subscription to Ski, Skiing or Transworld Snowboarding Magazine. Save $2 by printing out a coupon or buying your ticket in advance.

For more information on the Expo, visit www.skisnowboardexpo.com .

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Earlier this month a lawsuit brought by more than 20 lifetime passholders filed against Vail Resorts was settled. It appeared to be a net loss for the passholders, who previously had sold the use of the passes to the tune of thousands of dollars a year. See Vail Sued Over Lifetime Passes

Continue reading "Vail Settles Pass Lawsuit" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Christy Sports and Eldora Mountain Resort have teamed up to provide families discounted children's ski rentals and passes for the upcoming season. Gear and Grow is a program which allows for families to exchange equipment as children grow out of for gear that fits, anytime during the season. Package includes upgrades as they become better skiers. The Gear & Grow program includes an Eldora Child Season Pass and Christy Sports Season Ski Rentals for only $189. This offer ends October 25th, 2009.

Continue reading "Early Ski Season Deals in Colorado" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado's Loveland Ski Area wins the race for first ski area opened for the 2009/2010 season. Chair 1 launched the North American ski and snowboard season on Oct 7, Wednesday at 9am. They began making snow on Sep 21, allowing the earliest opening for Loveland in 40 years. Loveland currently has a base of 18 inches and access to trails spanning over a mile with 1,000 foot vertical. Early season adult lift tickets are $44.

Continue reading "2009/2010 Ski Season Launched This Week!" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Aspen will be a safer ski town this season. After years of alleged bad behavior that allegedly includes a history of biting, a "vicious" dog has been banned from Aspen by a municipal court judge. Gizmo, who is reportedly a Pomeranian, will be seized by animal control officers and euthanized if he returns to the resort town, Judge Brooke Peterson told his owner, Melinda Goldrich, at a hearing earlier this week. Goldrich had admittedly violated an earlier court order by leaving the dog unattended in public, reports the Aspen Times.

Continue reading "'Vicious' Pomeranian is Banned from Aspen" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The season's first widespread snowfall is expected to hit the mountains and high valleys today with accumulations of up to four inches at elevations above 7,500 feet, according to the National Weather Service. And that's good news in the high country of Colorado today, particularly for ski areas concerned about the upcoming ski season in the face of the economic hard-times. A recent study conducted for the National Association of Ski Areas by Boulder-based RRC Associates, a market research company, found that bad snow is worse for the ski business than a bad economy.

Continue reading "Snow More Powerful Than Economy" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A Denver ski season tradition may not go the way of the steam engine. In April, a company operated by Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz said it would no longer run Ski Train excursions to Winter Park from downtown Denver, potentially ending a 69-year tradition. Anschutz's firm sold its Ski Train railcars to a Canadian railroad company.

Continue reading "All Aboard for Ski Season" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Back in 1969 when the very first people invested in Keystone Ski Resort, a special enticement for the investment was offered. Along with their shares of Keystone stock, the 33 investors were each given five lifetime ski passes for their $25,000 investments. And the lifetime passes weren't just for the person whose names were on them -- they could be loaned to other people or sold and permanently reassigned, though they would still only be valid for the lifetime of the original owner.

Continue reading "Vail Sued Over Lifetime Passes" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Paper is out, and high-tech tickets resembling credit cards are in for the 2009-10 season at Aspen Ski Area, according to Skico. The new lift tickets will be similar in size and firmness to a credit card. They will be read by the Skico's radio frequency (RF) gates, which will be in extensive use throughout the four ski areas.

Continue reading "Scan and Ski at Aspen" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rescuers say an 80-year-old veteran skier is lucky to have escaped with only a broken leg after attempting a two-meter jump at Mount Buller, in Australia. The man was flown to a hospital in Melbourne for treatment after the accident on an advanced ski run yesterday afternoon. Intensive care flight paramedics said the man was given pain relief during the flight. When asked about the attempted jump, the octogenarian replied "Life is too short."

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Five years ago, Stefan Ytterborn , a Swedish industrial designer, who has worked for Volvo and Ikea, brought his concerns about ski safety to Dr. Claes Hultling, an M.D. who devoted his practice to spinal cord injuries after a diving accident paralyzed three of his limbs. Ytterborn, 42, had one simple question: "How do we build a safer ski helmet?"

Continue reading "High-tech Protection from POC" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At 17,388 feet above sea level, Chacaltaya, an 18,000 year-old glacier that delighted thousands of visitors for decades, is gone, completely melted away as of some sad, undetermined moment early this year. According to Yale Environment 360 report the world's highest ski area Chacaltaya (which means "cold road" in Aymara) situated in Bolivia has ceased to function due to global warming. The snowcap where the ski area lays has melted down and now the area is barren and desolate.

Chacaltaya ski area was founded in 1939. A road built by courageous locals in the 1930's links Bolivian capital La Paz and Chacaltaya. The head of that construction perished in an avalanche in 1945 and is believed by Bolivians to be a victim of the snow gods disturbed by works.

Continue reading "Bolivia's Chacaltaya Glacier is Gone" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Folks in ski towns are accustomed to "mud season" but this was one for the record books. A mudslide blew through a cinder block wall of a vehicle maintenance facility at Buttermilk ski area last week, triggering an oil spill and an untold amount of damage.

Continue reading "Mud Season Hits Hard at Buttermilk" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you want to do some late spring skiing in Colorado, you have a single choice - Arapahoe Basin is the last ski resort open for the season. With Loveland, Wolf Creek and Echo Mountain closing this past weekend, the A-Basin's spring-early summer skiing is all that's left. The resort still enjoys a 61-inch base and will remain open seven days a week through June 7. Lifts are starting at 8 a.m. on the weekends, and Montezuma Bowl is still open.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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)

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.

Continue reading "iPhone Ski App and Colorado Ski License Plate Update" »

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.

Continue reading "Great Snow, Not-so-great Season" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado Ski Country USA says skier visits so far this season are down 5.9 percent from the same time last season at its member resorts. The figure released last Thursday doesn't include visits to four Colorado resorts owned by Vail Resorts Inc., which said Wednesday that skier visits so far are holding steady. Colorado Ski Country USA has said skier visits at its 22 member resorts were down 7.7 percent for the early season, from Oct. 15 through Dec. 31. Colroado Ski Country USA said visits were down 5.8 percent for January and February, but no exact numbers were released.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For many of us, the thought of being stuck high above the runs, dangling from a lift chair is a possibility which one wishes to ignore. But for nearly 90 skiers, it became a reality on Wednesday when wind gusts caused a mechanical problem at Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah.

Continue reading "High Winds Drifting" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sugarloaf operators felt the power of the Internet chat community when they yanked the season pass of a longtime 'Loafer for a comment he posted about a tragic ski accident. A 16-year-old student at the Stratton Mountain School had skied off a Sugarloaf run and hit a tree Jan. 20. She died the next day.

Continue reading "Free Speech Muzzling Backfires for Sugarloaf" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The start of the second annual VAC Vail Mountain Winter Uphill kicks off at 7 a.m. Feb. 21. Runners, skiers, and snowshoers will head up the race course which includes 2,000 feet of vertical gain from the 8,000-foot-base to the summit of Vail Mountain at Eagle's Nest at over 10,000 feet. The approximately two-mile course is on groomed ski trails.

Continue reading "Up the Downhill Ski Slope" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An event backcountry skiers and riders should not miss with lots of fun and information all in support of a very worthy cause. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center benefit is an avalanche transceiver competition in which contestants race the clock in a search for buried beacons. The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and features free clinics with A-Basin Ski Patrol and Backcountry Access (BCA) until noon, followed by avalanche dog and snow pit demonstrations at the base of the Lenawee Mountain lift at 1 p.m. Telemark instruction also is offered at 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. for $55.

Continue reading "7th Annual Beacon Bowl and Avalanche Awareness Day" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Apple's latest iPhone television and Web commercial touts the new app which provides Snow Reports provided by OnTheSnow.com. The app costs $1.99 and you can purchase it by clicking the Mobile OnTheSnow tab on the top right of the home page or directly from the Apple iPhone Apps Store. The app offers the ability to create a personalized report of your favorite ski resorts worldwide. Select from among more than 2,000 resorts and track up to 16 of your favorite resorts. The report will include information on whether the resort is open or closed, surface conditions, new snow, and base depths. A full report, weather conditions and forecasts and cams are one click away. It doesn't matter what language you speak, either. The reports are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Norwegian, and Swedish.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The SnowSports Industries America trade show ends today in Las Vegas for the last time, wrapping up a 37-year run there. The annual show attracts 17,000 manufacturers and retail buyers of everything from skis and snowboards to long underwear and outer gear to show and sell. But next year the extravaganza will begin an 11-year run in Denver.

Continue reading "SnowSports Relocating to Where the Snow Is" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado Ski Country USA announced that the skier visits for the early season were down 7.7 per cent over last year. The group did not release actual numbers of skiers, a departure from previous years. The decrease was not unexpected, based on early season bookings reported by the ski resorts. However, Colorado Ski Country did also note that for the four days of the 2009 New Year week, some Colorado resorts experienced record numbers of guests.

Vail Resorts, no longer a member of Colorado Ski Country USA, reports that its five resorts were down 5.8 per cent . Lift ticket revenue booked a decline of 7.5 percent. Vail said the difference was due in part to increased visits from season pass holders. This year's ski season began in November for Vail Resorts and the results were recorded through Jan. 4.

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

No surprise for those of us in the metro area, Denver tops the list in a new ranking of the "Country's Most Ski Happy Metros," and Colorado Springs also made the top ten. The ranking, released Tuesday by Pitney Bowes MapInfo, indicates that people in metro Denver are the most likely to buy ski equipment and take a domestic ski vacation this year.

With such a strong Colorado ski industry, close proximity to world-class resorts and falling gas prices it is a natural that folks are heading up I-70 to the ski towns. And Visit Denver, the city's convention and visitor's bureau, will bring SnowSports Industries America annual trade show to Denver next year. The show is expected to attract 15,000 people to town every year and generate $30 million in annual spending.

"Country's Most Ski Happy Metros:"

1. Denver


2. Washington


3. Boston


4. Phoenix


5. Minneapolis


6. Fairbanks, Alaska


7. Colorado Springs


8. Las Vegas


9. Baltimore


10. Chicago

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Telluride Colorado is great place to ski and a a beautiful place to live, particularly for creatures who appreciate mountain landscaping without few permanent residents. The Mountain Village above Telluride has under siege by an invasion of porcupines that take to the upscale surroundings of the log-and-rock mansions.

The prickly critters have done more than $100,000 in damage to landscaping by gnawing bark off spruce trees. They have completely stripped some 12-foot-tall aspens. They have eaten enough bark from 50-foot-high native trees to kill them.

Continue reading "Prickly Porcupine Population Explosion" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What is being described as a "lift mishap" has elicited an OMG from just about everyone who has seen the photos. A skier at Vail Resorts on January 2nd somehow became unseated from a lift and was left dangling for fifteen minutes - this is not unusual, though in Colorado ski areas must operate their ski lifts under the highest duty of care. What has caught the attention of the blogosphere, as well as the local Denver news programs, is the fact that the poor skier was "depantsed" in the process and left hanging without cover during the unpleasant incident. Photos and a more complete description of the incident are provided on the website The Smoking Gun.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the New Year upon us, winter break vacationers have returned home and Colorado ski resorts are again focusing on locl folk. Colorado Ski Country USA is encouraging Coloradans to take up skiing as a new sport. January is "Learn to Ski and Ride Month" in Colorado, and CSCUSA member resorts will offer the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard at reduced prices. For a complete list of Learn to Ski and Ride Month offerings, log on to the CSCUSA site at www.coloradoski.com.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 9:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In spite of the recent econonic slalom, many North American ski areas and resorts are upgrading and expanding. Read about the recent improvements:

Continue reading "Expanded Ski Choices for 2008-2009 Season" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Downhill racing was once the glamour image for alpine sports, but freeskiing has definitely overtaken the sport. Some 75,000 pairs of twin-tip skis sold in North America last year, qualifying it as the fastest-growing sector in skiing. While other categories (i.e., race skis) remain flat, twin tips are up 90 percent over the previous season despite an aging skier demographic. Where once the World Cup tour arguably inspired any cutting-edge ski design, these days the concepts are considered limited in scope and application. North America's market leader in ski manufacturing, K2, doesn't sponsor a single racer or offer a single race ski in its entire collection.

Many modern day skiers got their start learning to turn a gate, but the action quickly becomes too limited for most accomplished skiers. And of course snowboarders, who comprise about 30 percent of the "skiing" market, generally skip the whole two-ski-thing altogether. World Cup and Olympic events are casually watched by a few, but the Winter X Games and the like are drawing ever-growing crowds. Warren Miller has spawned a whole genre of extreme ski films, with nowhere a downhill race to be seen.

Continue reading "Trends on the Slopes" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

People who live near ski resorts use the phrase "skinning up" to describe the early-morning exercise of slapping the equivalent of carpets on their skis and slogging up a ski run to squeeze in a run or two before the chairlifts open. In Breckenridge you are likely to meet a town councilman, the mayor or even a newly-elected state representative according to yesterday's Denver Post

Continue reading ""Skinning up" on the Slopes" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A new cable channel will debut this holiday season. The Ski Channel plans to launch Christmas Day, with on-demand mountain sports programming available to more than 15 million homes.

Chairman and CEO Steve Bellamy also launched the Tennis Channel in 2003, and parallel website Tennis Week. For the Ski Channel, the website is simply www.theskichannel.com. The website has a few bugs, but if the content is added to the various menu pages, it could become a valuable tool for skiers, snowboarders and the industry.

The Ski Channel had originally been scheduled for launching earlier this year, but was delayed for additional content. One recent deal allows the channel to offer famous ski films from the Warren Miller Entertainment library.

The Ski Channel has long-term broadcast rights to The Freeskiing World Tour, The World Freeskiing Championships, The Subaru US Freeskiing Series, the North Face Masters Series of snowboarding and the World Heli Championships in Mt. Cook, New Zealand.

Its programming will be available free to certain Verizon's FiOS TV, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and DirecTV customers.

Olympic gold medal skier Jonny Moseley is an investor, advisory staff member and on-air talent for The Ski Channel. Moseley has plenty of on-air experience, having hosted MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge for 3 years and acted as guest host of Saturday Night Live. Alpine and Nordic Ski Commentator Steve Schlanger will publish an exclusive blog for The Ski Channel website.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For the past 11 years, Colorado Ski Country has offered Colorado 5th Graders the chance to ski at Colorado resorts for free. This year, 21 Colorado ski resorts are participating, with each offering 3 days of free skiing and snowboarding. Do the math - that's 63 days of hitting the slopes. See Colorado Ski Country Passports.

Continue reading "Colorado Ski Country Offers Tweens Passes" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 6:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the Colorado high country expecting a foot of new snow over the next 24 hours, it is the perfect prelude to the 17th Annual Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo set to begin on Friday.

The three-day conference in downtown Denver is being held Friday through Sunday at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St.) Doors will open at noon Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12 at the door, cash only, $9 in advance. Children under 12 get in free.

Continue reading "Ski Expo In Denver" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The downward spiral of the U.S. economy is beginning to be felt in the Colorado ski mountain communities. Estimates for the holiday bookings in Vail, Colorado place the decline somewhere between 9% and 20%.

So, Vail has decided on an unprecedented move. For the first time, the world-renowned town will use $500,000 from its reserve funds and spend it on winter advertising. This is in addition to the $1 million in marketing invested by Vail Resorts.

Continue reading "New Love Affair With Locals" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado ski season officially began yesterday when both Arapahoe Basin and the Loveland ski resorts opened Wednesday, albeit with only one run each and an 18-inch base of manufactured snow.

Arapahoe Basin announced Monday that it would open with one lift running at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Loveland responded with an announced opening time of 8:30 for Wednesday morning. In good spirits, the two resorts agreed to both open at 8:30 a.m. to share the title of being the first in the nation to open this season.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ski season is on the way in Colorado - This past Sunday Arapahoe basin fired up its snow guns and Loveland Ski Ares began making snow last weekend as well. But the season is a little behind last year when A-Basin opened for guests on October 10th. With snow predicted for this coming weekend, it won't be long before the runs are open for business!

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally, a feel-good reason to replace your ski/snowboard equipment. Colorado Ski & Golf, owned by Denver-based Specialty Sports Venture, has initiated a recycling program for ski equipment including bindings, poles, boots and other ski accessories. Specialty Sports Venture teamed up with Snowsports Industries of America, a trade group, to create and offer the recycling program, the first of its kind in the nation. The collaboration is a good match for the ski market, most outdoor sports enthusiasts support environmental-friendly projects.

The five Colo. Ski & Golf retail locations are currently hosting Ski Rex, the chain’s mega pre-season sale, and anyone can bring in equipment to be recycled. Equipment in good condition may be donated to charities, and the rest will be recycled. The outdated gear will be turned into furniture, composite decking and other items.

The program is funded by a recycling fee added to all new purchases - $5 for skis and snowboards and $3 for boots. Those who do not want to pay can opt out of the fees. There is no fee for those who recycle but do not purchase.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Colorado ski season has officially ended – though snow was falling in the high country this weekend, and even last night!, the traditional hold-out, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area closed after the last day of skiing on June 8, 2008. Having opened in October, A-Basin provided eight months of skiing to the devoted adherents to old school ski hospitality.

Continue reading "End of the 2007-2008 Season" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For forty-five years, Colorado Ski Country USA has been the public face for Colorado ski resorts – marketing the state’s wold-class snow. It has also been one of the most effective lobbyist on behalf of a specific industry in Colorado history. CSCUSA is self-described as “a modern trade association with expertise in the departments of public policy, governmental affairs, marketing, communications and international marketing.”

Continue reading "Vail Leaves Colorado Ski Country" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone thrills at an 'epic' season. Now, Vail Resorts is offering the Epic Season Pass, a new unlimited, unrestricted season pass that's valid for the entire 2008-2009 ski and snowboard season at five of the arguably top-rated resorts in the world: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly, all for an initial price of only $579.

Continue reading "EPIC in All Ways" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 2:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It has been a good ski season in Colorado! Record snowfall helped boost the number of visits to Colorado ski areas to about 5.54 million visits in January and February. Ski areas have enjoyed a 6.7 percent increase from the same period a year ago and puts Colorado on track to exceed last year's record for skier visits.

The season got off to a slow start because of a dry spell in November, but since then, the mountains have been hit by storms that have dumped several feet of snow. The falling value of the dollar and favorable exchange rate has also attracted international visitors, particularly from Europe where natural snow is difficult to find on the ski slopes.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A young female coyote that wildlife officials believe was being fed by people was shot and killed near a Copper Mountain ski run last weekend after it became increasingly aggressive toward skiers.

Continue reading "Snowboarders Not Only Animals On Slopes" »

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)