Waterville gets Nordic training center
The team will have available to it 50 miles of trails, of which 16 are groomed and patrolled on a daily basis. January 15-21 has been earmarked for Team training at Waterville. According to Bower, the team “will join the Center’s staff in conducting a series of cross-country clinics, on both the weekend and mid-week, that are available to the public. If any skier or competitor is interested in our training methods we’d be glad to share our knowledge and have them train with us” at that time.
Bower added that “the staff of the Ski Touring Center under Joe McNulty, an Olympian himself, has the know-how and equipment to groom the trail system the way the Team likes it and the way most ski tourers like it.”
Exclusively a U.S. Ski Team activity, the official training center concept was introduced this year and can be considered to be in the research and development stage. Bower foresees success for the idea since it enables the nation’s finest Nordic skiers to train on the nation’s finest facilities in a spirit of mutual exchange. The courses and terrain of the regional training center offer the necessary challenges to the skiers while the presence of U.S. Team members contributes added exposure to a given area and increases public interest in the rapidly expanding sport of cross-country skiing.
The East gets early start
The East got off to one of its earliest, coldest and snowiest starts in memory. In fact, there was a little man-bites-dog flavor when the U.S. Ski Team switched its mid-November training from the drought-stricken West to Killington, Vt., which had begun its season on October 27.
The western New York State snow belt also outdid itself. Holiday Valley got a foot of snow in less than ten hours on October 21 and was open for business the next day. November blizzards in the Buffalo region were almost too much in that four-foot drifts made it hard for skiers to get to the slopes.
Hunter Mt., always an early starter, opened up November 10 and enjoyed excellent business all month; and Waterville Valley, N.H. had its earliest opening ever on November 22.
So far, the long-range forecast by meteorologist, Gordon Barnes in Fall SAM appeared to be holding up.
Snowmaking payoff for Winter Park
“Not many years ago I wouldn’t have believed anyone who told me I would see snowmaking installations in Colorado,” said Steve Bradley of Winter Park, Colo., “but you really have to have it if you want to open in November, and this was certainly a good year for us to go in with our system.” In fact, the only Colorado areas that were open as of December 1 were the 10 with snowmaking.
Winter Park opened November 13 as promised. Just. An incredibly mild November posed a real challenge for the brand new $1.2 million system, but they made it.
The system, which covers 71 “critical acres,” was designed by P.B. Alford & Assoc. The total project, from contract approval to final system checkout was completed between February 9 and October 16. “I think much credit should go to John Graves, the project manager,” says Peter Alford, “for seeing the general construction program through some tight schedules and difficult problems.”
Vail completes gondola renovation
The rebuilding of the LionsHead gondola proceeded on schedule under the direction of the VSL Corp. The redesign included: 1) articulating carriage grips; 2) modified haul rope roller batteries; 3) T-shaped carriages; 4) an improved launching system; and 5) installation of an Avtek solid state drive control.
In addition, Enduratek, a Salt Lake electronics firm, is installing an electronic safety monitoring system for the gondola. When completed, the operators will be able to determine if a loaded gondola cabin is within weight specifications prior to launching, if a cabin was launched properly, if any one cabin is exceeding lateral sway limits, or if a carriage has derailed from the track rope or slipped on the haul rope. The operators will also be able to tell the exact location of any malfunction.
Trade Show Calendar
- Eastern Canada: January 10-11 at Talisman Resort, Ontario.
- Stratton Mt., Vt.: January 17-18. The NSAA Stratton Show will be run in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Eastern Ski Areas Association. Snowmaking and snow grooming demonstrations, plus exhibits and meetings. Room reservations: Stratton Mountain Inn (802-297-2500).
- Park City, Utah: January 24-25. The Park City event is the NSAA Western Regional Trade Show, and will feature vehicle testing and slope grooming demonstrations. No snowmaking. Indoor supplier exhibits. Probably NSAA Board Meeting. Room reservations: Tom Hansen, Box 1060, Park City, UT 84060 (801-649-8226).
- Afton Alps, MN: January 26-27. Midwest Ski Areas Association Mid Winter Trade Show.
- Rib Mt., Wisc: February 1-2. Central Ski Areas Association Trade Show
- NSAA Convention & Trade Show: May 15-18, The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va.
Professional freestyle circuit richest ever
Belying earlier predictions, the 1977 Professional Freestyle Associates tour will be the richest ever, according to the released schedule.
Dripping with sarcasm, the release added, “To those competitors that were planning to take the winter off as Ski Business suggested, we regret to inform you that the 1977 tour not only exists, but on a larger scale than ever before. PFA, in fact, will be giving away its millionth dollar in prize money this year.”
A $700,000 total purse is in the offing, divided equally between the men and women. On the women’s side, Colgate is sponsoring the majority of the tour, including two $65,000 events in the U.S. Midas is back as the top men’s events sponsor with two $65,000 competitions and two others as co-sponsor.
At presstime, the schedule referred to above was still up in the air. Of the eight fixtures on the tour, the two European events were cancelled, and the dates of the Montreal event were being changed. The $65,000 event at Stratton, Vt., January 22-23 seemed firm. This, together with a $65,000 event at Heavenly Valley in the Spring, are scheduled for TV coverage by ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
Seminar on wire rope testing held
A seminar on the electromagnetic non-destructive testing of wire rope and track cable was held recently in Denver, Colorado. At the first session Professor Juliusz Stachurski of Krakow, Poland, was the principal speaker. On October 13, Ernst Kundig of Lucerne, Switzerland, and Jack Lang of Scarborough, Canada, described their procedures and equipment. The meetings and field demonstrations were jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Interior, Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration.
The seminar was intended to acquaint aerial tramway and mining interests with new technology and equipment available for the non-destructive testing of wire rope and track cable. Further, it was to develop recommendations regarding the mandatory use of these techniques and equipment in periodic checking and inspection of ropes and cables used for personnel transport.
Further studies and a dissemination of information available on the subject, particularly from European sources, are planned.
Copper reduces prices for frequent skier
The Copper Card, a new concept in lift ticket programs designed especially for the local Colorado skier, has recently been launched by Copper Mountain. “Due to the proximity of Copper Mountain to Denver (70 miles) and other major Colorado cities (70-120 miles), Colorado skiers have the opportunity to ski at Copper Mountain frequently,” a spokesman said. “The Copper Card will give those frequent skiers a break on lift ticket costs.”
A Card holder is entitled to 20 per cent off Copper Mountain’s daily adult lift ticket any day of the ski season, except December 25, 1976 to January 1, 1977. Although there is a purchase price for the Copper Card, the skier who uses the Card four times or more comes out ahead.
In anticipation of a good winter season, Copper Mountain plans to distribute over 5,000 Copper Cards throughout the state of Colorado.
Camelback helps Scouts earn ski merit badges
The Sundays of January 23 and February 27 at Pennsylvania’s Camelback Ski Area will see swarms of kids trying to earn their ski merit badges in the Boy Scout Program.
Marilyn Hertz, ski school director, and her husband, Dan, a former Scoutmaster, donate their time for the program in which Scouts from eastern Pennsylvania and nearby New Jersey are invited to try to earn their badges. Camelback lops 20 per cent off the lift ticket, and the small clerical costs are absorbed by the ski school.
The Scout badge is aimed at the beginning intermediate skier, although one requirement demands parallel skiing and a successful slalom run or four good-form jumps on a junior hill. A flubbed performance can be redeemed by a second chance. Those who still aren’t up to performance standards are encouraged to practice and return at a later date. In a typical session, Hertz qualified 51 out of 71.
National BSA records indicate that 3,769 skiing merit badges were earned in 1972, and that by 1975 the figure had jumped to 6,004.
“By making examinations convenient for Scouts we seek to encourage more boys to enjoy the sport,” explains Mrs. Hertz. “Sure we sell a few more lift tickets, but what really counts is the good will. The satisfaction comes from hearing the kids say, ‘Thanks, because we don’t know where else we could have gotten this done.’”
Hood Yogurt promo set for Ski 93
Ski 93, a grouping of five large New Hampshire areas, has joined forces with H.P. Hood, Inc. in a joint promotion to help increase midweek, non-holiday week skiing and lodging.
Similar in approach to a program of two winters ago with Habitant soups, the areas will get the benefit of high visibility through postings in supermarkets throughout the east. There will also be a special campus effort as well as media visibility through radio and newspaper advertising bought by Hood.
The skier gets a $1 discount on his lift ticket from Monday through Friday starting January 10 (excepting Washington’s Birthday week) on redeeming two Hood Yogurt tops. During this same period many of Ski 93’s lodges will offer twofers Sunday night through Thursday. The offers are all on a double occupancy basis. The first night for two is full price. With two Hood Yogurt tops per person, the next night is free. Maximum of one free night per stay.
Ski 93 also has a joint promotion with I.G.A. stores.
PEOPLE
Ferrara to NSAA Board
James V. Ferrara, Director of Marketing for Thiokol’s Logan Division, was appointed to fill the supplier member vacancy on the NSAA Board caused by the resignation of Dick Crighton.
Whittier names Whittier to marketing post
The headline was inevitable when Robert P. King, President of Mt. Whittier in N.H. named Rick Whittier to the post of Director of Marketing for the year-round resort.
Whittier was previously at Saddleback Mt., Maine, where he held a similar position. He was also active in the Maine racing scene as both a coach and a competitor.
Aspen remembers Spider Sabich
The Aspen Skiing Corporation announced recently that they will donate annually two trophies to the Aspen Ski Club youngsters (one for junior racers under 14 years of age and the other for 14 and older) who best represent the late Vladimir “Spider” Sabich’s leadership and challenge “keep on charging”. Selection of the recipients will be determined by the Aspen Ski Club junior coaches, and the awards will be called the “Spider” Sabich Memorial Trophies.
George Madsen, marketing vice president of the Aspen Skiing Corporation, stated that the awards were to honor Sabich, who had represented the company on the world pro skiing circuit and was involved in Aspen public relations across the country. He was also Aspen’s NASTAR pacesetter and foreran many of the amateur races here.
“Perhaps the trophies will help perpetuate his memory in youngsters to whom he set a fine example of leadership, sportsmanship and camaraderie,” Madsen stated.
SUPPLIER NEWS
Timmerman named VP at Hall Ski-Lift
Rand R. Timmerman was elected a vice president of Hall Ski-Lift Co. at the annual board of directors meeting. In addition to his responsibilities as assistant secretary, Mr. Timmerman’s new position makes him responsible for the overall operation of the sales and service operations of the company. In addition, he will continue to co-ordinate the activities of the production and planning staff.
A member of the N.Y. State Bar, Mr. Timmerman first started working for Hall on a part-time basis in May of 1974 while a full-time law student at Syracuse.
CTEC opens two offices
Jan C. Leonard, President CTEC Inc., announced the opening of two new offices in Salt Lake City, Utah and Sacramento, California. CTEC provides ski lift consulting engineering and equipment supplying services. The Sacramento Office will be managed by Mark Ballantyne.
After years of experience in lift design, service, and construction, attention is being focused on the reengineering of existing equipment. Because of the rapidly growing number of older lifts and lifts whose manufacturers are no longer in business it was felt by CTEC that a consulting group was needed to solve individual, specific chairlift problems.
