ASF Establishes Washington Office
The American Ski Federation’s Director of Government Relations, attorney Joe Prendergast, has opened up the new ASF office in Washington D.C. and has begun working for the Skisport, monitoring the activities of Congress and federal regulatory agencies. In this position, Prendergast will develop skiing’s involvement in the Washington political process and direct ASF member organizations in responding to federal actions. NSAA is a member of ASF, along with SIA, USSA, PSIA, SRI, NSPS and SRC. Said Prendergast in a conversation with NSAA, “Getting a person in Washington is a sign you are interested. It affords you an opportunity to get more involved. It’s going to be a joint effort and we all have to pull together to achieve our objectives.”
Where Does RARE II Go From Here
When the 96th Congress opens in January, one item on the agenda will be RARE II — the U.S. Forest Service’s Roadless Area Review Evaluation. The USFS will have made recommendations to Congress on which portions of the 65 million federal acres ought to be placed in wilderness, multiple use or in a further study category. NSAA has been deeply involved in the review process because skiing has a significant interest in the final outcome. Most of the lands left in this country suitable for ski area development are included in this review. Should promising ski terrain end up in the wilderness category, it will be lost for skiing forever. It will take an industry-wide effort contacting your Senators and Congressmen in the months ahead to assure that this does not happen.
Extensive Ski Injury Study Underway
Fourteen NSAA member ski areas are participating in a three-year Alpine Ski Injury Statistics study being conducted under the auspices of the American Society Testing Materials (ASTM). NSAA’s Ski Safety Committee is supervising the long-term study which gets underway this season. “When this study is completed,” remarked NSAA’s executive director Cal Conniff, “we think it will provide the most reliable figures on ski injuries that have been collected thus far in this country.” Areas participating in the program are: Bristol Mt., N.Y.; Crystal Mt., Wash.; Sugarbush North, Vt.; Hidden Valley, Colo.; Indianhead, Mich.; Jiminy Peak, Mass.; Loon Mt., N.H.; Mammoth Mt., Calif.; Sierra Blanca, N.M.; Showdown, Mont.; Ski Roundtop, Pa.; Snowmass, Colo.; Waterville Valley, N.H. and Vail, Colo.
NSAA Develops Seasonal Employees Hiring Guidelines
NSAA has developed a set of guidelines designed to reduce the cost and simplify the procedure for hiring seasonal employees. The consulting firm which developed the guidelines, Lau-Whitteron of Park City, Utah, made a pilot study last winter and found these guidelines could reduce employee turnover by more than 20 percent. Conservative industry estimates, say the researchers, place turnover costs at $95/person, so the guidelines could offer substantial savings. For more information on this unique program, contact the NSAA office.
Economic Study Highlights
Last season was “the best in history all across the continent” — that’s the summary of the latest NSAA Economic Analysis of North American Ski Areas. The summary points out, “The profitability levels posted are the most healthy and illustrate an industry-wide ability to earn returns commensurate with the risk.” It also shows, says Charles Goeldner of the University of Colorado Business Research Division which conducted the study, it takes a good year like last year to make up for previous poor winters. New features in this year’s study of value to all operators, the financial community, consultants and department heads include many more details on various services such as food and beverage and ski school. “These are important,” said Goeldner, “because if an area doesn’t get revenue from these departments, lift tickets would have to be much higher.” The new study also includes charts depicting where the ski area dollar goes. Copies may be ordered through NSAA after Jan. 1, 1979.
National Convention and Trade Show Dates
NSAA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show, the nation’s only major gathering of ski area operators and suppliers of ski area equipment, is set for May 14-18, 1979 at the Playboy Club/Hotel, Lake Geneva, Wis. The Playboy’s exhibit hall will house the largest NSAA trade show ever. Exhibit space is being rapidly reserved and NSAA expects the show to be a sell out. A company must be an NSAA associate member in order to exhibit. The Central Winter Regional Trade Show will be held in Alpine Valley, Wis., Jan. 29-31. Snowmaking demonstrations and snow vehicle test driving highlight the winter show. Important industry seminars will also be on the Alpine Valley agenda.
Alpine Skier’s Guide Distributed
One million copies of NSAA’s “Alpine Skier’s Guide to Greater Skiing Enjoyment” are being distributed by NSAA member areas this month. The four-color, pocket-sized brochures contain a wealth of handy information to make a skier’s day more enjoyable, and safer. NSAA will reprint this important information piece when sufficient additional orders and reorders are received. The project is part of the association’s on-going skier education programs.
