Vail Wins in Court Again
The decision reaffirmed that the Forest Service properly analyzed and addressed the projected impacts that the expansion may have on Canada lynx and that the Forest Service also properly followed the process for review and approval of the project.
“The decision once again reaffirms Category III as an environmentally viable project that should go ahead,” said Andy Daly, president of Vail Associates. “It’s time to put these legal wranglings behind us and move forward.”
There was no word at presstime whether protesters were planning to return to the construction site to set up blockades as they did in early July.
Death at SLC Show
An F2 tornado ripped through downtown Salt Lake City on August 11 destroying tents set up for the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market and claiming the life of Allen Crandy, a Las Vegas man who worked for Renaissance Management, an exhibitor at the show. Crandy, 38, was struck in the head with flying debris. Dozens of other exhibitors setting up for the show under the tents were also injured.
Miller Freeman, organizer of the show, opened the industry gathering a day late on August 13. Many of the suppliers who had booths under the demolished tents were offered booth space by the larger exhibitors housed in the Salt Palace convention center.
Despite the disaster, attendance was down by only 5.5 percent and many of the smaller, displaced exhibitors reported a better-than-ever show because they were inside the convention center with the “big guys.” In addition, the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America raised $65,000 at the show to help exhibitors and Crandy’s family.
ASC Finds Investor
American Skiing Company (ASC) found an investor in Oak Hill Capital Partners, L.P., a private equity investment group. Oak Hill purchased $150 million of convertible preferred stock in ASC, giving the investor a 48.5 percent stake in the company on a fully diluted basis.
Proceeds from the transaction will be used to reduce indebtedness and provide ASC significant capital to continue pursuing its growth plans, including the development of its resort villages.
According to Skip King, ASC’s VP of communications, the ski company will continue to divest previously-announced non-strategic assets.
In addition, King said, “There will be no changes in titles and positions of upper management.” American Skiing Company’s senior management will control 26.7 percent of the restructured entity. See story on page 50.
La Nina Persists
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported recently that a “weak cold episode throughout the tropical Pacific,” a.k.a. La Nina, has persisted this summer and should spell wetter-than-normal conditions in the Pacific West this winter. Once again, La Nina will affect North America’s weather into early 2000, say NOAA forecasters.
Although experts at NOAA say La Nina typically means southern states will be warm and dry, while northern states will be colder than normal, there’s some room for more specific predictions. Other areas expected to be wetter than normal from December 1999 through February 2000, include northern Idaho, western Montana and parts of the Midwest (Michigan, southern Illinois, Ohio and Indiana). According to NOAA, the Rockies, the Northeast and the Southeast should have normal amounts of precipitation.
Temperatures, however, spell a different story. While Maine and the northern sections of Vermont and New Hampshire are expected to have normal temperatures, the rest of the Northeast is expected to be warmer than normal. Moving west, warmer temperatures will be found up to the western shore of Lake Michigan, giving Wisconsin and most of Minnesota normal temperatures. The upper reaches of Minnesota will experience colder-than-normal temperatures. In the Rockies, normal temperatures will prevail in most areas, but they are expected to get warmer than normal from the southwest corner of Colorado into southern Utah and the rest of the Southwest. The Pacific West is expected to also have normal temperatures.
RCR Purchases Mont-Sainte-Anne
The Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), which owns and operates eight resorts across Canada, has purchased Mont-Sainte-Anne Resort from Texas-based ClubCorp Resorts. The acquisition is a consolidation of sorts for RCR, with the resort joining Stoneham, located 20 minutes north of Quebec City, as the newest member of the RCR family.
Mont-Sainte Anne, which boasts more than 460,000 skier visits each winter and includes Canada’s largest cross-country facility, two golf courses and the province’s largest network of mountain bike trails, makes RCR the largest privately owned ski operator in Quebec.
Charles Locke, the owner of RCR, says his company’s goal “is to set the standards of excellence for resort operations and development, not only in North America, but in the world.”
As for immediate plans, the new owners say they are going to spend the next season studying the mountain before instituting any changes. “It’s time to learn about what we bought,” says John Shea, RCR VP of business development. “We’re not looking at any immediate changes at the resort and will look at the existing master plan.” Shea says he and Locke will visit the resort during the winter in order to discover “where we can go with it in the future.”
RCR bought the Quebec resort from Texas-based ClubCorp Resorts in July and now owns and operates eight resorts across Canada, including Lake Louise, Nakiska, Fortress and Wintergreen in Alberta, Fernie and Kimberly in British Columbia and Stoneham.
Vans Acquires High Cascade Snowboard Camp
Vans, Inc. traded stock to pick up High Cascade Snowboard Camp, the largest snowboard or ski camp on Mount Hood’s Palmer Glacier. The camp, one of about seven currently operating on the glacial snow, is based in Government Camp, Ore., operates from June through August and hosts an average 150 campers in each of seven summer sessions. The camp sessions last 8 or 10 days with 20 percent of campers coming from Japan.
So far, Vans management is keeping a low profile at the glacier. “If you didn’t know Vans bought us,” says camp administrator Jill Hari, “you’d never figure it out.” The High Cascade Snowboard Camp also has adult camps at the end of the summer season before moving its winter operation to Mount Bachelor. At one time, the glacier was home to 18 ski and snowboard camps.
Cable Car Accident
A single reversible ropeway fell 262 feet to the ground on July 1 killing all 21 passengers in Saint-Etienne en Devoluy, France. Most of the victims were employees of a mountaintop observatory and on their way to work in the morning when the car fell due to what was described as a severed cable.
Pomagalski, manufacturer of the lift, released an announcement expressing deepest regrets to the families of the victims. The company also stated that the ropeway was operated and maintained by its owner and that Pomagalski “greatly desires that all circumstances related to the accident are brought to light.”
Oregon Ski Areas Bought
Hoodoo Ski Area, located on U.S. Forest Service land has a new owner as of May this year. Chuck Shepard of Umbrella Properties has purchased the operation, which includes seven campground concessions. The ski area purchase comes with a recently-approved master plan that authorizes a terrain expansion to be implemented this year. It will include a new triple and six new runs.
Spout Springs, which has not operated for the last two years, has also been purchased. At presstime, the Forest Service could not release the name of the new owner until the required final financial statements were in.
By Kirby Gilbert
OR Moves On-Snow Demo
Outdoor Retailer announced that the 2000 Winter Market On-Snow Demo will move from the Canyons to Park City, Utah. The move is intended to give exhibitors and attendees better slopeside access with lifts that take testers up runs that spill back out at the demo area. In addition, Park City has access to groomed cross-country trails at the nearby White Pines Touring Center. The demo, which takes place from January 27 to 28, 2000, precedes the Winter Market which runs from January 29 to February 2.
New Hall of Famers
The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame announced the selection of seven new members to be inducted September 25. The new members are: John Henry Auran, Mezzy Barber, Webb Moffett, Lee Sosman, Emile Alais, Fritz Mittelstadt and Ed Scott.
People
The Vermont Ski Areas Association appointed Tom Richardson to its board of directors. Richardson is managing director of Sugarbush Resort and also serves as chairman of the Economic Committee of the National Ski Areas Association and is on the advisory board of Johnson State College.
Mountain Creek, N.J., announced that Charles Blier will become vice president and general manager of winter operations. He moves to Mountain Creek from a position as general manager of Mont Ste. Marie. Also at Mountain Creek, Marc Tremblay was appointed to the position of vice president and general manager of summer operations and business development. ..Maureen Bliss was appointed executive director of New England Winter Sports Representatives. Bliss, who has experience in association management and sports marketing comes to the trade organization from the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Hidden Valley Resort, Pa., promoted John Scanlan to president of the resort from vice president and managing director. Scanlan, who has been with the company since 1989, has been credited with guiding the growth and long-term planning of the resort. His promotion was designed to give him greater flexibility in improving the resort’s business. . . Camelback Ski Corporation, Pa., appointed Bill Toye as mountain manager and assistant vice president.
Snowshoe Mountain, WV., hired Bruce Pittet as its new vice president of lodging. Pittet, who has spent seven years working for Snowshoe owners Intrawest, was most recently the general manager of the Residence Inn in Vancouver, B.C. Michel Lartigue has joined the Snowshoe staff as director of food and beverage.
John Murphy has left his post as general manager of Boston Mills/Brandywine, Ohio, for Acordia Resort Services. Shanty Creek, Mich., Mountain Manager Barry Smith left and is being replaced by Brent Nelson. Nelson will oversee the resort’s winter and summer activities.
Chris Anderson, lift maintenance manager for Deer Valley Resort, Utah, was appointed to the Accredited Standards Committee B77 for Aerial Passenger Ropeways. Anderson, who has worked at Deer Valley since 1981, will help the committee revise and update the national code specifying aerial ropeway operation and maintenance.
The Oregon Snowsport Industries Association elected Jon Tullis, director of public affairs for Timberline Ski Area, to his second term as president. Melody Johnson, owner of Falcon’s Crest B&B in Government Camp, was elected vice president and Steve Coxen, with the Portland Area Ski Club Council, was elected secretary-treasurer.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Nev., formally appointed Ed Youmans as its general manager after he had been serving in the position on an interim basis since last season. Mike Bandelin, who had been serving as interim mountain operations manager, was also permanently appointed to his position.
Fritz Vallant, former Austrian Men’s World Cup and U.S. Women’s World Cup team coach, accepted the head coaching job for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team, Calif. Vallant will be working with his wife, Kristin Krone Vallant, who has also been appointed a coaching spot. The two will also work with Jim Hudson, formerly with the Squaw Valley Ski Team, who was named new executive director of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team.
Mountain High Resort, Calif., named Michele Roy its new chief financial officer and director of finance. Most recently Roy, who has the distinction of being the first woman ever to win back-to-back motorcycle road-racing championships in 1988, was CFO and assistant general manager at Snow Valley, Calif. .. Professional rider Neal Drake has agreed to design the terrain parks for Big Bear Mountain Resort, Calif., for the 1999-2000 season. . .Connie Blair has been promoted to director of lodging at Northstar-at-Tahoe. .. At Kirkwood, Tristan Cochrane has returned to the resort as marketing director.
Supplier News
K2 acquired Ride, Inc. snowboards in an exchange of stock. See story on p. 50.
BSA Architects, founded by noted mountain and resort architect Henrik Bull, announced the opening of its new Intermountain Office in Salt Lake City. Bull’s partners in the firm include, John Ashworth and Paul Beamer.
Immergluck Enterprises announced a reorganization to form Passenger Ropeway Associates to provide clients with consulting services in ropeway transportation projects. The new company will offer services from design to construction of new lifts as well as periodic inspections of existing systems.
Kneissl/Deeluxe/Raichle Group, the U.S. distributor for Raichle boots, DEELUXE snowboard boots and Kneissl skis, has opened new offices and a warehouse in Denver off I-70 after moving from Brewster, NY., in July. The move to the new location near the Denver airport is one of many changes for the company as it maneuvers to regain market share under the direction of Peter Martini.
Intrawest and Swix Sport USA inked a multi-year deal that makes Swix/Montana the resort company’s exclusive supplier of snowboard and ski tuning machines and ABS its supplier of storage-rack systems. New tuning equipment will be installed at many Intrawest resorts and rental-retail locations and will provide the companies the opportunity for some joint marketing… Also at Intrawest, Telus Communications has signed a $6.5 million agreement with the resort company to jointly fund the development of state-of-the-art Internet services as Intrawest overhauls its 11 resort Websites.
Wintersteiger announced the hiring of Tom Parks, formerly of Volkl, to become product manager for Toko wax. Wintersteiger also announced it will take over sales and service of SKID snowboard and ski tuning machines. Wintersteiger bought the French company earlier this year and says it will keep the SKID brand a distinct entity.
Rick Sceery has joined Elan-Monark as vice president of marketing and sales in North America. Sceery, who comes from the NASCAR world, replaces Bruce Barrows.
Gotcha Glacier, the first indoor snowboard and surf park in the U.S., hired Ogden Venue Management to run the Anaheim, Calif., site when it opens in January 2001.
Resort Sports Network (RSN) joined ranks with Pilot House Associates to “aggressively position itself to fully exploit the convergence of web and TV, and the rapid growth of broadband distribution,” says RSN President Rory Strunk. The strategic partnership means RSN will benefit from the expertise of a Pilot House team that helped develop Continental Cablevision, the Boston-based cable firm started by Amos Hostetter that merged with US West to become Media One in 1996.
Ski Butternut, Mass., will get publicity help from Mountain Marketing to raise the profile of the resort’s ski and snowboard product.
The Internet travel reservations company, Destinations.com, announced its purchase of the Toronto-based Terren Corporation. The merger combines Terren’s latest reservations software with Destinations.com’s Internet expertise.
Bruckschlogl Ltd. has purchased SunKid and will continue to offer the SunKid conveyor system as a separate brand. Distribution and service for both lifts will continue as before the sale.
Boulder-based R. John Siewierski has purchased Sports Gear Direct, a catalogue and Internet-based sporting goods company, and has renamed it GearDirect.com. The company will continue selling skis, snowboards and other sporting goods on the Web from an expanded and redesigned Website.
