SIA to produce radio programs
“We’ll air the show starting in late November,” reports Ingemie. “It will be generic in tone and will run in as many as 60 top U.S. markets.” Sno Country Reports will be national in scope, although individual scripts will be prepared for each station so as to best serve their programming needs. According to Ingemie, information will be collected twice daily from over 600 ski centers throughout the country, blended with the latest localized weather date and forwarded to stations in time for morning and evening “drive-time” broadcasts.
The program will be produced by Phillip Camp Associates, using a data base to script and feed the shows to each network station twice daily. Stations have the option of airing the shows several times a day at no additional cost to them.
ASF seeks to build membership
The American Ski Federation, once a coordinating organization composed of the seven basic ski world organizations (NSAA, SIA, NSPS, PSIA, SRI, SCA, USSA) is now going to solicit memberships from all individuals and firms which have an interest in the well-being of the ski industry.
Individual memberships will be $25, and firms will pay $100. Basic funding will continue to come from the treasuries of SIA and NSAA, but the additional funding necessary to expand the role of ASF’s Washington office will come from the membership dues of individuals and commercial organizations whose livelihoods depend, in whole or in part, on a healthy ski industry.
Steamboat Springs Ski Resort Purchased
The Northwest Colorado Ski Corporation has purchased the Steamboat Springs Ski Resort properties from the LTV Corporation of Dallas, it was announced by Martin T. Hart, Chairman of the Board of the new owners, and by Paul Thayer, Chairman of the Board of the LTV Corporation. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
The Steamboat Springs property includes the Steamboat Ski Area, 1,200 acres of land surrounding the base area of the mountain, 15 ski lifts, the Steamboat Village Inn and Plaza, and the Steamboat Village golf course.
The purchasers, mostly from Denver, said Glen Paulk, current president and chief operating officer of the Steamboat properties, would assume a similar role under the new ownership, and that members of Steamboat’s present management team would remain in their positions.
Hart said their plans include a $2.2 million expansion program for 1979, which would include installation of two new triple-chair lifts and a pony lift as well as a 30 percent expansion of the Thunderhead Restaurant midway up the mountain.
Stowe trims expansion plans
Mount Mansfield Co. is proceeding with the $4.4 million first phase of an anticipated $10 million expansion and development program but the rest of the project may be scrapped. The modification of the program follows legislative problems; a proposal to enable non-industrial comanies to take advantage of bonding powers of the state-backed Vermont Industrial Development Authority (VIDA) passed the House but was withdrawn after running into heavy opposition in the Senate. Opponents had claimed the bill, which survived the House on a tie-breaking vote by the House speaker, was a special interest proposal and began calling it “The Stowe Relief Act.” Fearful that a legislative defeat this session might endanger the bill in the future, ski officials — reportedly headed by Stowe President Vern Johnson — requested the Senate Finance Committee to withdraw the proposal while they tried to rally support for next session.
Stowe’s development plan, which is proceeding, includes a 2,350-foot Alpine Slide to be built this summer on Little Spruce; a 5,000-foot double chairlift; snowmaking will be installed for the first time on Mount Mansfield, base-to-summit and covering eight trails; two new trails will be cut; and minor refurbishing will take place at two base lodges plus improvements to parking areas.
Put on “Hold” are a $3.6-million renovation of the luxurious Lodge at Smugglers’ Notch and about $2-million in other projects, including a townhouse village to be built near the Toll House Slope.
Brehmer says the resort had expected to use VIDA funds to underwrite the mountain improvements and would have used its own capital to finance the overhaul and expansion of the Lodge at Smugglers’ Notch plus the Condo-Townhouse Village. When the VIDA dollars disappeared, the private bucks had to be shifted to the priority item: the mountain, especially the snowmaking, double chair and Alpine Slide.
Plans for European trip announced
Sepp Gmuender, General Manager of Ski Roundtop in Pennsylvania, announced details of the trip planned for ski area operators to visit the Intermontec 79 trade show in Munich this September.
Highlights of the 10-day trip include three days in Munich attending the trade show and seminars, visits to the Doppelmayr, Kassbohrer and Kissling plans, and excursions to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, and a twilight cruise on Lake Constance.
The trip starts on a Swissair flight on September 6 from JFK airport in New York to Zurich, Switzerland, where a Kassbohrer bus will transport the group to Munich.
The cost is estimated at between $1,200 and $1,300 per person, which includes roundtrip airfare New York/Zurich, all bed/breakfast hotel accommodations (based on full occupancy), private motor coach land transportation, three special banquet dinners and admission fees to the Intermontec Trade Show.
For more information, call Trans-World Agencies (a division of Ski Roundtop) 717-432-9631.
French trade show announces dates
SAM 80 (1980 Salon International de l’amenagement en montagne), the huge biennial trade fair and colloquium covering all aspects of mountain life, will be held April 23-27 in Grenoble, France.
Exhibits at this fair range from virtually every skilift, oversnow vehicle and other ski area equipment to mountain agricultural equipment and even Tarentaise cattle, a special breed for mountain environments.
The seminars cover many subjects including environmental impact and ski area safety and law.
For information on attending or exhibiting, write SAM 80 — Alpexpo, 38029 Grenoble-Cedex, France.
Adam’s Rib again a bone of contention
The status of the sometimes controversial Colorado Joint Review Process drifted off into limbo in March following an abrupt decision by the U.S. Forest Service to proceed with a study of the Adam’s Rib ski report.
The full-scale proposed resort, located some 25 miles west and south of Vail, has been kicked around for years in debate among various state and federal agencies. Last year it was effectively shelved when the state filed an objection under the Joint Review Process.
The Joint Review Process evolved in 1975 out of the state-federal quarrel over Vail/Beaver Creek. It provides that those two entities, plus the involved county, jointly decide the fate of proposed ski area development or any other significant enterprise on federal land.
The decision by Regional Forester Craig Rupp to bypass joint review and proceed with the site specific phase of the Adam’s Rib study effectively abrogates the joint process.
Rupp said he does not feel halting the study can be justified either administratively or legally. But he reiterated that this does not mean the project will be approved — although it is generally known that the Forest Service views it favorably.
In fact, the regional forester interjected a new and perhaps revolutionary element into the procedure.
“Even if we agree that the development is desirable, we may not be able to continue because we don’t have the personnel to administrate it,” he said.
While everyone was pondering that one, Colorado Governor Richard Lamm reacted angrily to the unilateral action of the Forest Service and indicated the state would use its resources to oppose the resort.
All of which casts a shadow not only over Adam’s Rib, but the principle of the Joint Review Process as well.
Airlines back off ski marketing
At the fourth annual Ski Travel Symposium, held in Aspen, ski resort marketing executives got a blunt message from the key airlines: “The party’s over!”
One after the other, spokesmen for United, TWA, Delta and Western spoke to the issue of how they would continue to promote ski travel along with any other type of travel, but that they could no longer justify the time and money committed in previous years to handle lodging reservations and maintain elaborate ski tour desks.
Nikki Nestor of Western Airlines pointed out that the average ski booking call handled by them this past season took 19 minutes, which was far longer than even a booking for Mexico, the language difference notwithstanding.
The United Airlines spokesman made a comparison between the smooth, computerized booking system they had for their booming Hawaii business with the “exasperations and delays” of ski bookings.
The airlines and travel agents also were critical of the Saturday-to-Saturday ski package, long the backbone of much of the Colorado business. What was once a creation of the airlines overtaxes and sometimes overwhelms the capabilities of the gateway-to-resort transportation companies (bus and air) and even the resorts themselves. United Airlines alone is reported to handle 10-12,000 passengers — mostly skiers — on a ski-season Saturday.
Bill Alsup Okay after Indy crash
On the last day of qualifying runs for the Indianapolis 500, television viewers held their breath as a car hit the wall and spun out of control. After two laps averaging 189.4 mph, and needing only a 183.9 average to qualify, Bill Alsup, wire rope splicer and Poma Aerial Tramways executive, was in great position to qualify for the Indy 500. And then came the crash, from which he emerged with only minor injuries.
Alsup had, in fact, qualified earlier with a 187.7 in Bobby Unser’s back-up car after he had had to scratch his own car for mechanical reasons. But this car — not the driver — was disqualified for a technical violation. (“A little like being electrocuted for exceeding the speed limit,” says Alsup.) It may have been a bi-product of the hassles between the rival associations, USAC and CART.
Following this set-back, Alsup got one more chance to qualify when Spike Gehlhausen offered him his back-up car, and it was this one that “up and bit me.”
And what about the ski business? “It’s pretty steady, and I’ve got some good people,” says Alsup. “I still do some splicing,” he adds.
Avalanche studies now available
A 355-page report on the proceedings of the 2nd International Meeting on Snow and Avalanches is now available in French and English. It consists of the 34 papers presented at the meeting in April 1978, which are principally on the properties of snow, avalanche prediction and mountain safety and protection.
Copies may be ordered from ANENA, 46 avenue Felix Viallet, 3800 Grenoble, France. Cost is 100 francs (approximately $25) plus postage.
Hall Ski-Lift makes personnel changes
Everett “Bud” Mayhew and Ted Schneider, both regional sales managers for Hall Ski-Lift, have exchanged territories, with Mayhew becoming Western Regional Sales Manager, and Schneider taking on that responsibility for Central Atlantic and Southeastern states.
According to Sales Manager, Kenneth O. Charlebois, the move will facilitate Schneider in his handling of Hall’s Specialty Division sales.
Vail switches to Doppelmayr
One of the juicier lift contracts in recent years — a probable three triple chairlifts and three doubles for Vail’s Beaver Creek development — has been awarded to Doppelmayr, the pioneer Austrian lift builder. The new area is scheduled to open in 1980.
In addition, Doppelmayr will be building a triple chair this summer at Vail itself to service the back bowls. The new 1,400/hour triple will replace the current Lift No. 5 — a double, with 800/hour capacity, and the last of Vail’s original 1962 lifts.
Christie establishes area representatives
Christie Products, Inc., of Scottdale, Pa., is now establishing area reps to install and service their glove/boot warmer units at ski areas. The warmers, which have passed the 10-year mark on the market, are available through purchase as well as through lease. The units come with a 5-year warranty on all parts.
James G. Schenck Jr. has been appointed VP-Operations of the company, and David Patterson as Manager, Field Operations. James G. Schenck Sr. remains as president.
Jim Ellis forms consulting firm
After 16 years with Riblet Tramway, Jim Ellis has started Aerial Engineering Company, with offices at 15501 Lantern Lane, Spokane, WA 99208.
Services offered by the new company include lift location consulting, surveys, construction engineering, inspections, field service, specialized training and maintenance schools.
