SAMIS introduced
Connected to existing or new lifts, SAMIS will give an automatic, written record of the cause, number and length of each lift stoppage, according to William F. Pearson, president. It can also report on the precise number of skiers loaded per lift, per hour, per day.
Snow at 75 degrees?
John Loveless has done what even the Almighty has shied away from: he has made snow when the thermometer read in the 60’s and 70’s.
Loveless is a refrigeration expert and manufactures a device used in that industry. He has patented the application of this device to snowmaking.
In making small quantities of snow at a recent demonstration with a small experimental model, the air reached the water at temperatures below minus 45 degrees.
New Sullair compressors
The Sullair 24KT series compressors is a new range of air compressors which will never require an oil change, according to the manufacturer.
The newly developed compound being poured (see photo) in at the factory is a non-petroleum based coolant-sealant-lubricant which, it is claimed, retains lubricity indefinitely and which never needs replacement. A 10-year warranty goes with this claim.
The 24KT range is available in capacities from 100 cfm to 3,000 cfm. Sullair also offers the 24KT change-out kit which will allow standard Sullair machines to be converted in the field.
Movie medium
Gary B. Ewing, president, of Sports World Cinema (Box 17022, Salt Lake City, Ut. 84117) estimates that over 600,000 individual skiers were entertained last season by ski films his firm provided for showing at the 52 destination resorts under contract with his firm. Three years ago (then Ski World Cinema) there were just Park City and Snowbird.
Areas interested in having this ski entertainment capability can either lease or purchase the Super 8 mm cassette projection equipment. The films—there will be 16 of them by fall—are leased to the area.
Sports World Cinema films range from 12 to 27 minutes in length, the average being 20 minutes. A number of sponsors have been acquired, including Air Canada, Beconta, Chevrolet, Pepsico, Salomon N.A., and Snowbird, Jackson Hole and Snowmass resorts. “We insist the commercials be low key,” says Ewing, “and they are mostly corporate image.”
Doppelmayr Ski-sleigh
Doppelmayr Lifts, of Wolfurt, Austria, will introduce their ski sleigh to the North American market.
The sleighs are 1½ seaters — one adult and one child or two youngsters.
A simple automatic coupling device is attached to existing T-bar and platter lifts.
According to Reinhold Zauner, Doppelmayr project engineer for North America, “The most practical slope for fun and safety range from 10-20 per cent. The ski sleigh and ski tow will prove valuable to ski areas and snow play areas as it will involve new people in winter fun. Three seasons experience in Austria and Germany show immediate increase in profit for existing surface lifts with ski sleighing.”
Avalanche rescue unit available
Cascade Toboggan and Rescue Equipment Co., 25802 W. Valley Hi-Way, Kent, WA, 98031, has announced they are distributing the Austrian-made Pieps 1 electronic detector for persons buried by avalanche. The small, battery-operated device is carried in the breast pocket of each member of a party skiing in avalanche country. In case of an avalanche burial, the victim can be located by homing in to the beeps from the victim’s unit.
The 8-oz, solid state, self-contained unit operates with four alkaline penlight 1.5 volt batteries, for which 700 hours of life without recharging are claimed. The unit transmits on the 2275 Hz frequency, which is endorsed by both the U.S. Forest Service and the International Commission of Alpine Rescue because it eliminates interference of most radio systems.
Observation binoculars
For ski areas with a good view and good summer business, coin-operated binoculars can provide good extra revenue. Kowa coin-operated observation binoculars are available in two models. The mechanically operated Model BL-8A2 provides two minutes of viewing for each coin. Model BL-12A4 is set for 1½ minutes of viewing and is offered for either electrical or mechanical operation. Any denomination of coin can be specified to operate the binoculars.
The unit is completely sealed to be impervious to temperature extremes and climatic conditions.
Kowa Optical Division, 480 Clinton Avenue So., Rochester, N.Y. 14620 is the distributor for the units.
