Arapahoe East to close doors
Once considered a potential bright spot in tapping and cultivating the Denver beginning skier market, the foothills area just ten miles west of the city instead has suffered rocky going with little natural snow and high temperatures unsuited for artificial snowmaking.
President Larry Jump had planned to sell the area to a buyer who would install more sophisticated snowmaking, contingent upon a permit being obtained for a summer Alpine slide.
But a late October decision by the suburban Jefferson County Commissioners denied the permit in the wake of homeowner objections, and the sale was off. Jump then indicated he would not attempt to operate the area with present equipment.
The commissioners’ decision may be appealed, but any reversal would be too late to save the season.
Indochinese refugees get Aspen employment
Facing an employee crunch unprecedented at a resort which usually turns away hordes of job seekers, Aspen Lodge operators have begun hiring Indochinese refugees as housekeepers and kitchen helpers.
Employers who have seen their advertisement for employees go begging have turned to refugees, who are among an estimated 4,000 which settled in Colorado following the 1975 South Vietnamese surrender.
It isn’t known how many of the refugees have settled in Aspen or other mountain resorts, but 15 recently registered for courses in English at nearby Colorado Mountain College.
Aspen Meadows lodge has hired six Vietnamese and the Gant Condominiums three.
Northstar taken off the market
Trimont Land Company, developer of Northstar-at-Tahoe, announced that a decision has been made by Louisiana-Pacific Corp. to retain ownership of the year-round resort near Lake Tahoe.
Northstar was acquired by Louisiana-Pacific Corp. during a recent merger of the resort’s parent company, Fibreboard Corp., San Francisco, California. Trimont was a wholly-owned subsidiary of that corporation.
During the three years prior to the merger, Fibreboard had been offering Northstar-at-Tahoe for sale. Although Fibreboard had entered into a number of negotiations for the ski and summer resort, no sale was ever finalized.
In commenting on the decision, Michael S. Leinbach, president of Trimont Land Company, said that “Northstar has enjoyed increased operations income, all lots in the current inventory have been sold, and the resort is looking forward to additional development.”
Colorado resorts buy cloud seeding
A dozen Colorado ski areas will help finance cloud seeding operations this winter after the state government decided to withdraw from a project it financed a year ago.
Although near-record snowfalls were recorded in many of the seeded areas a year ago, the official report on the effects of seeding has not yet been released by Colorado State University. However, the ski areas elected to join other Colorado water interests in providing $185,000 for two separate seeding operations.
A $145,000 project encompassing 37 generators in northern Colorado will be partially shared by Vail, Steamboat, Aspen Highlands, Crested Butte, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Winter Park.
In the Southwest, Purgatory, Tamarron, Telluride and Wolf Creek will help finance a $40,000 effort using twenty generators.
Trade deficit gap noted in ski equipment
The Department of Commerce has been challenged by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association to pump $1 million in promotional dollars into the sports and recreation industry to help shrink the estimated $33 billion national trade deficit for 1977.
The request cited figures for the sports field that showed a $1.4 billion deficit for 1977. In the ski field, the figures showed imports totaling $200 million and exports of $23 million.
People
Bahniuk receives Vener safety award
Dr. Eugene Bahniuk, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, has been honored with the 1978 Vener Ski Safety Award, for his work in developing safety standards for ski equipment in the United States. Dr. Bahniuk has been chairman of the ASTM committee on skiing safety ever since it was created in 1972. The American Society for Testing and Materials establishes safety and material standards for many U.S. industries.
Labatt Importers, Inc., U.S. Division of Labatt Breweries of Canada, Ltd. in Toronto, was given a Vener special merit award for its work and continued support of the Eastern division of the National Ski Patrol System in developing a binding checking program.
The awards which are determined by a panel of ski industry leaders outside the Vener organization, “express the concern of Frank B. Vener, Founder of Vener Associates, Inc., manufacturers, importers and distributors of ski wear and equipment of Norwalk, Conn., to emphasize sound safety practice as a necessary element in the continued growth of the sport.”
Karl Pfeiffer forms distribution company
Karl Pfeiffer, a prominent ski school director associated with Killington and Big Bromley, and more recently the president of Alpine Slide Corp., has left to form Karl Pfeiffer Sports, Inc., a distribution company geared to ski area and ski shop needs. Initially there will be rental skis, boots and poles, plus clothing and accessories. Pfeiffer will also be marketing a plastic tennis court floor.
The address of the new company is Ways Lane, Manchester Center, Vermont 05255.
Pioneer lift builder dies
Sam Goforth, who with his brother Joe build some sixty ski lifts, died at the age of 57 in North Carolina. Goforth Industries manufactured the first portable chairlifts, some of which were exported to Europe.
Special USSA Dannon offer for Nordic ski areas
The United States Ski Association and Dannon Yogurt are offering a special cross-country race kit, including all race materials and a “How To” manual for race organization and operation, to USSA clubs and ski touring center operators who belong to the National Ski Touring Operators Association. Each kit sells for only $75.00, which, according to a spokesperson, is less than half the cost clubs and operators would have if purchasing the kit materials anywhere else.
Besides the manual, each USSA/Dannon Race Kit contains 100 racer bibs, which may be customized with a club or touring center name; start banner; finish banner; fifty trail markers; 15 kilometer markers; forty degree-of-difficulty markers; 100 registration and timing cards; twenty timing sheets; five finish order and checklist sheets; twenty race official badges; and a scoreboard with 100 slots.
“As a major sponsor of cross-country skiing in America, we receive many requests from clubs and operators seeking advice on race production,” says Juan E. Metzger, chairman of the board of Dannon Yogurt. “This kit, which contains material not available anywhere else, enables a ski area to run a successful cross-country race efficiently and economically. It’s a great way to take part in the amazing growth of Nordic skiing in recent years.”
The USSA/Dannon Race Kits are available by mail from USSA, P.O. Box 777, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301. Kits with customized racer bibs are $25.00 in addition to kit price.
National standards for touring adopted
New national standards for ski touring trail design and marking have been adopted by the United States Ski Association. The design criteria included specific standards for grade, width, and length for each difficulty class. This means that designations such as “Easiest” will have the same meaning nationwide, instead of just “easiest at this resort.”
Also new are the trail marking signs. Three difficulty level signs were adopted, “Easiest,” “More Difficult,” and “Most Difficult.” All of the sign boards are colored geometric figures, and each has a white trail profile across the middle which indicates visually the kind of grades to be expected.
The “Easiest” sign is a green circle with a smooth, wavy white line across it, while the “More Difficult” sign is a blue square with a larger amplitude wave across it, and the “Most Difficult” is a black diamond with a jagged white line across it.
These signs were adopted because they show graphically what kind of terrain to expect. Jack Maloney, chairman of the USSA Touring Trails Committee and one of the designers of the signs, commented, “I think that these signs communicate their message effectively, and I hope that skiers around the country make an effort to request that the touring centers they ski at use them.”
These trail standards and signs were developed at a Conference on Ski Touring Trails organized by USSA and held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May, 1978. Participants in the conference included the U.S. Forest Service and the National Ski Touring Operators Association, which have also officially adopted the trail standards.
The conference participants addressed a long list of topics, including planning objectives, location criteria, trailhead facilities, and trail operation. The standards adopted were somewhat technical and abbreviated but have been expanded into a trail construction handbook by the USSA Touring Trails Committee. This book will be published in late 1978 and will be available from USSA for $4.50.
Associations
Prendergast appointed as “our man in Washington”
Joseph T. Prendergast has been appointed director of government relations for the American Ski Federation. “In his post Mr. Prendergast will represent all elements of the sport of skiing,” according to ASF president Alex Schuster.
The duties of Mr. Prendergast include monitoring and analyzing legislation and the activities of regulatory agencies as they may affect the sport, and advising and assisting the member organizations of ADF in coordinating political involvement. The member companies of ASF are National Ski Areas Association, National Ski Patrol Systems, Professional Ski Instructors of America, Ski Industries America, Ski Retailers Council, Ski Retailers International, and United States Ski Association.
Prior to his selection, Mr. Prendergast worked for three years as counsel/administrative assistant to Congressman John Young of Texas, representing the Congressman and constituent groups on legal matters before the various committees, government agencies and courts. His professional affiliations include the Virginia and Federal Bars.
The new offices of ASF are at 1200 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.; (202) 857-0665.
Law/Liability
Vail may ask for European liability share
Vail Associates has won court approval to ask two European firms to share in the liability resulting from the March, 1976, gondola crash which killed four skiers and injured eight others. But the firm’s attorneys have not decided what action, if any, it should take in the matter.
In an October 23 decision, the Colorado Supreme Court opened the door for Vail to file suit against Bell Maschinenfabrik, the Swiss firm which manufactured the gondola, and St. Egydyer Stahl & Drathwerke, the Austrian company which made the haul cable which frayed in the accident.
Thus far, nine of 11 possible civil suits have been filed and settled out of court for an unannounced sum. The remaining two are expected to be filed at a later date.
The court ruling concerned whether a Colorado law instated July 1, 1977, could be applied to the settlements. The court held that the statute was valid in this case since claims for joint liability could not be made until a judgment or settlement had been reached. None of the Vail claims had been settled prior to the July 1, 1977, date when the statute went into effect.
Accident investigation firm is formed
In response to the increasing number of negligence suits arising from recreational accidents, a firm called Sports Accident Analysis, Inc. (Box 1800, North Conway, N.H. 03860) has been formed by Clint Rand, a former FBI investigator, N.S.P.S. member and recently, Director of News at Waterville Valley.
Rand reports that his company will be putting on seminars at ski areas on accident investigation. Intended for persons who may be designated to administer or conduct preliminary accident investigation, the seminars will examine the sources of information available, methods for gathering information and the preparation of that information for possible presentation.
Drawing on his experience as a photographer, Rand will teach ski and recreation areas how to photograph the scene of an accident for use in court.
The second function of the service will be investigative. Rand said he will serve as an information fact finder and will reconstruct the circumstances of an accident and organize information for a legal defense.
Marketing
X-Country racing film wins film festival award
“Cross Country Ski Racing” took top honors for producers, Oak Creek Films, and sponsors, Standard Brands, as winner of the “Silver Ski Award” in the Fifth Annual Samsonite International Ski Film Festival.
The winning film also took first prize in the “Ski Instruction and Technique” category in the week-long festival. Designed for the growing numbers of serious cross-country ski racers, the film examines the off-season training and ski technique practiced by the U.S. Ski Team and features U.S.A. Coach Marty Hall and team members Bill Koch, Tim Caldwell and Allison Spencer.
Winning film in the “Ski Resort and Travel” category was “Heli-Skiing,” a Dick Barrymore production for Canadian Mountain Holidays.
Ogden signs up three major resorts
Ogden Food Service has been awarded three major ski area food service contracts: Heavenly Valley and Kirkwood Meadows in the Tahoe region of California, and Sugarbush in Vermont.
At each resort Ogden has redesigned and expanded eating facilities, with major renovation involved at Heavenly Valley. At the base lodge on the California side of the huge complex, Ogden has designed a “Smokehouse” for deck service, where beer, smoked beef items and superdogs will be served. On the Nevada side the current food service facilities will be replaced by facilities in the Stagecoach Base Lodge, the Boulder Base Lodge and the mid-mountain East Peak Lodge.
The Heavenly Valley food and beverage facilities will total 1,500 seats for indoor and outdoor service.
Equitable Family Ski Challenge dates set
The Equitable Family Ski Challenge, now in its third season, will be conducted at 53 areas this winter in 23 states. The program features parent/children teams (Father/Daughter, Mother/Son etc.) which compete with each other in a modified GS.
Local area competition ends Sunday, February 18, and winning teams from each local area will advance to one of nine regional finals scheduled across the country in March.
The 36 regional team finalists will receive all-expense paid trips to the National Finals at Snowbird, Utah, April 7-11.
Suppliers
Thiokol Galactica in outer space
Viewers of the ABC-TV series “Battlestar Galactica” may spot a slightly familiar profile—an extensively modified Model 1200 Thiokol Landram oversnow vehicle.
For outer space work, the vehicle comes equipped with laser gun turret, electonic control panels and other options not always seen on ski-area-based Thiokols.
Nuova Agudio appoints Monti North American GM
Enrico Monti, formerly president of the Gryphon Corporation, the exclusive representative in North America for Nuova Agudio of Milan, Italy, has recently been named general manager and executive vice president of the company’s newly-expanded operation.
Nuova Agudio S.P.A. has formed a North American corporation offering direct technical and engineering services, as well as the manufacture, sale and service of wire rope transportation systems. The Corporation manufactures all types of passenger and materials systems for recreational and industrial purposes such as aerial tramways, gondola systems, chairlifts and surface lifts, funicular railway systems, interurban transportation systems, ropeways and cableways.
Nuova Agudio, through the efforts of Mr. Monti and the Gryphon Corporation, was recently awarded the Cannon Mountain Tramway Replacement Project in Franconia, N.H.
Main offices of Nuova Agudio of North America, Inc. are located in Rutland, Vermont.
Hall announces staff promotions
At a recent board meeting, Rand R. Timmerman was elected president of Hall Ski-Lift Company. Victor E. Hall, the father-in-law of Timmerman, remains chairman and chief executive officer.
At the same meeting Palmer Lockhart was voted in as a director and VP Manufacturing—a new position within the company. The Canadian-trained engineer originally joined Hall in April of 1978.
American Zephyr buys Mt. Whittier
Bernard P. Shannon, president of American Zephyr Corporation, has announced the recent purchase of Mt. Whittier in Ossipee. N.H.
“The primary purpose for acquiring the mountain,” said Shannon, “is a home base of operations for the American Zephyr Corporation to merchandise its unique monorail system. We felt it essential, for both marketing and product development purposes, that the company acquire its own mountain.”
The primary reason that the purchase of Mt. Whittier was pursued is its strategic location at the junction of Route 16, northern New Hampshire, and Route 25, a main east-west highway.
No immediate changes are planned for the winter ski operations for 1978-79. Reorganization will be concentrated on turning Mt. Whittier, in the summer of 1979, into a major summer mountain amusement area. Plans are for two Zephyr slides, two water slides, and various other summer attractions. A new chairlift will be installed in the fall of 1979.
Elia named president of Alpine Slide Corp.
Claudio Elia, who has had a wide range of management and planning experience in Europe and the U.S., has been named president of Alpine Slide Corporation. Elia succeeds Stig Albertsson, who will remain as chairman. Albertsson introduced Alpine Slide to North America in June 1976.
Born and educated in Italy, Elia is a graduate of the Politechnico University in Milan. He attended INSEAD, an international business school in France sponsored by Harvard, and Stanford business schools and is fluent in French and Italian.
In 1973, he joined General Electric Co. as a marketing consultant and was marketing manager of GE’s Small Appliance Division before accepting the presidency of Alpine Slide.
CTEC acquires Thiokol Chairlift product line
Jan Leonard, president of CTEC Inc., has announced that CTEC has acquired the chairlift product line from the Logan Division of Thiokol Corporation. Thiokol, which has provided ski lifts to the industry over the past seven years, is discontinuing any further production of new lifts.
CTEC built their first lift this year at Seven Springs Resort in Pennsylvania and has also supplied a new drive terminal for Snow Trails in Ohio. CTEC plans to build a limited number of lifts next season in addition to their normal consulting engineering services.
“By limiting the equipment sales,” said Leonard, “we plan to uphold delivery commitments and maintain close project contact, as we have with our engineering projects.”
