Every Known Safety Sled Listed in NSPS Booklet
NSPS says the booklet is the result of over 50 hours or research on the part of its technical advisor, Tom Ludwig of Alexandria, Va. The object of such a study is to advise the area operator just what is available in the way of modern rescue sleds.
The address of the National Ski Patrol System is 430 American National Bank Building, Denver, Colo. 80202.
NSAA, Eastern Operators Set Program For National Ski Week Promotions
How to participate in National Ski Week was a key topic at both the National Ski Areas Association directors’ meeting and the Eastern Ski Area Operators’ meeting in New York this month.
A resolution passed by both groups calls for member areas to provide ski demonstrations and instruction clinics on both Saturday mornings encompassed by the National Ski Week dates. The industry has proclaimed January 23 to January 31, 1965, as National Ski Week.
Across the board, industry associations are backing National Ski Week. Along with NSAA and its regional affiliates are PSIA, USSA, National Ski Patrol System and SIA jointly cooperating in the promotion.
The main idea of NSW is to promote the sport to non-skiers and it is hoped that all activities will be directed to this end. SIA has printed billboard posters, available free from the SIA office (366 Madison Ave., New York 17, NY) promoting the sport as “Fun For Everyone.”
The operators meetings outlined several promotion plans which they felt could help areas to tie in with the national and industry-wide promotion. Among these are: special participation events for recreational skiers, publicized demonstrations at ski schools; and cooperation with the local school systems to get students out to see and participate in National Ski Week Activities.
Court Upholds Mt. Mansfield Right To Give Lower Rates to Area Assn.
In a precedent setting case, the U.S. District Court for Vermont has ruled against a local ski lodge who charged that Mt. Mansfield was violating the U.S. Constitution by providing lower rates for Learn-to-Ski Weeks to lodges who were members of the Stowe Area Association.
Topnotch, the plaintiff also named the State’s Director of Forests and Parks and the State Forester as co-defendants as a portion of Mt. Mansfield’s land lies on State land.
Attorney for the defendant argued that by discriminating between members and non-members of the area association, Mt. Mansfield was violating the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution; and that by offering lower rates to skiers staying at association lodges, Topnotch was forced to make up the difference to their guests, at a considerable financial loss.
Federal District Judge Ernest W. Gibson, in finding for the defendant, maintained that the Stowe Area Association was a promotional fund designed to help the area as a whole; that Topnotch had equal opportunity to join the association and has chosen not to; and that Mr. Mansfield’s rate differentiation was based on “reasonable consideration of over-all policy.”
D. D. B. Realty Corp., Topnotch’s owners, have indicated that they will file an appeal.
Legal Activities Expanded
NSAA’s directors have voted to broaden the association’s interest in legislation and law suits concerning ski areas.
The association is in the process of establishing a contact system with regional lawyers who are active in the fields of ski area legislation and case law. It is hoped that by keeping close tabs on ski jurisprudence NSAA will be in a better position to influence the establishment of fair and reasonable ski law in the future.
Coast Developer Buys Sun Valley, Sets $30 Million Development Plans
Sun Valley, one of the first posh ski resorts in the country, has been sold by the Union Pacific Railroad to Janss Corp., a Los Angeles real estate developer, for an undisclosed sum. A Janss spokesman said that the company would invest about $30 million in the resort as part of a long range redevelopment program. Initial plans call for improvement of existing facilities.
The spokesman went on to say that the present staffs of all existing facilities would be retained and that no interruption of the 1964-65 season would be forthcoming.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed but the railroad carried the property on its books at a depreciated value of $800,000 as of December 31, 1963. Sun Valley was originally developed in 1936 and 1937 by the railroad at a cost of about $5 million. The current transaction involves about 4800 acres of developed land. However, the land holdings of the railroad in the area are still considerable.
The Sun Valley purchase is the second of Janss’ recent ventures into the ski area industry. The corporation is currently developing Snowmass, a 3300-acre ski resort in Aspen, Colo. Janss also owns Kaanapali Beach, a 120-acre resort on the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands; and Lake Nacimiento, a 4200-acre, mountain resort near Paso Robles in California.
More Than 20 Areas Seek NSAA Insurance Coverage
To date, more than 20 ski areas have asked for inspections to qualify them for the NSAA Insurance Plan, according to Ann Hasper, the association’s executive secretary. Prerequisite for inclusion in the members-only plan is an inspection by Robert Kinney, of Kinney, Turner Associates, New Jersey lift consulting firm. (See story page 44.)
Kinney, reporting to the NSAA board of directors following an inspection itinerary in the Rocky Mountain Region, said that he has a complete collection of data on over 31 lifts in that area. Although the individual inspection reports are confidential, the accumulated general data will be invaluable as a general reference file for the industry.
In his report, Kinney drew attention to the importance of keeping a detailed record on the maintenance and operation of lift equipment. Such a record expedites repairs and modifications of the equipment and can also serve as a valuable aid in obtaining depreciation allowances from the IRS, he said.
Kinney’s next inspection tour will be to the Eastern area-members who have applied for the insurance.
Canadian Associations Meet, Elect Officers, Set Agendas
The first general meeting of the season was held this month by the National Ski Industries Association. New officers elected to round out the slate were: Colin Lax, Colin Lax Ltd., elected vice president, administration; Ragnar Hvoslef, of Gresvig, in the post of vice president, customs and tariffs; and Fred Mitchel, Igloo, secretary.
At the meeting, the group agreed to set up a retail seminar to be held in conjunction with the Spring Trade Show in Montreal. Plans for a proposed survey of the skier market were tabled.
The first annual general meeting of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance was highlighted by talks on area ski school direction, promotion and remuneration. President of the Alliance is Ernie McCulloch of Mt. Tremblant.
The fourth annual Ontario Ski Show will be held November 1 through 3 at the Tam O’Shanter Golf Club. Feature of this year’s show is Stein Eriksen who will ski on Canada’s longest indoor ski run.
Bill Parke Named to Position With Pacific Northwest Group
Bill Parke has retired from the U.S Forest Service after 33 years of government service to take the position of executive secretary of the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association.
He was formerly head of the USFS Department of Land Recreation Uses and Concessions. His headquarters with the West Coast association will be in Portland, Ore.
Mellon Gives Laurel Mt. To Pennsylvania As Gift
Announcement was made this month that Mrs. Alan M. Scaife and Lt. Gen. and Mrs. Richard K. Mellon have given Laurel Mountain Ski Slopes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The outright gift follows leasing of the ski area’s 493 acres, 10 buildings, T-bar and rope tows to the State’s Department of Forests and Waters last year for a token rental. The Department, in turn, sub-leased the area to private operators, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Patterson, during the past season.
State officials have indicated that Laurel will continue to operate under its project 70, designed to create new American vacationlands in non-urban counties. A long-range program of improvements and enlargement of facilities, initiated last year, will continue, according to Maurice K. Goddard, Secretary of Forests and Waters for the Commonwealth.
NSAA Third Annual Convention
June 10-13 Mt. Snow, Vermont (in conjunction with Ski Area Management Trade Show & Clinic)
Smith Heads Vermont Area Assn., Bailey New Camelback Manager
Preston Leete Smith, president of the Sherburne Corp., owner and operator of Killington Ski Area, has been elected president of the Vermont Area Operators Association. The association is made up of 36 Vermont areas.
John Bailey has been appointed general manager of Camelback, the Pennsylvania ski area. He replaces Walter Foeger who left the area because of adidtional duties. Foeger is continuing as manager at Jay Peak, and he has been made a consultant of Sports Capital, Inc., a winter sports consulting firm. Foeger will also head an association to promote the Natur-Teknik of ski instruction.
Keith Lummis, is the new manager at Sugarbowl, Norden, Calif. He was formerly manager of the Sierra Club at Donner Pass, Calif.
Carl Baber, formerly at Boyne Mountain, Michigan has been appointed manager of Sugar Loaf Mountain, now under construction in Traverse City. Baber at 23 is probably one of the youngest area managers in the business.
Marvin Crawford is the general manager of Storm Mountain, Steamboat Springs, Colo. Skeeter Werner will be ski school director and head of the ski shop.
