As we wrap up this January edition and send it off to the printer, we are also cleaning up after our second Nor’easter—and it’s only mid-December! Mother Nature has been generous in the East and we have been reading about her generosity elsewhere. Someday we’re going to give that girl a SAMMY award, once she gets that consistency thing worked out.
In the meantime, we turn to you, our readers, to help us find some fresh, new candidates for the 2004 SAMMY Future Leadership Awards. Every year, we honor those that will lead us into the future and, so far, we feel we are in pretty good hands. Take a look at previous winners on page 17 and 18 and we think you’ll agree.
Now look around your own organization. Is there a future leader whose qualities of leadership are already clear? If so, let us know by filling out the nomination form in this issue. By recognizing these people in mid-career, before their full potentials are realized, we give them the tools and the motivation to carry us forward.
On another front, as the industry enters another season with continued determination to see the Model for Growth succeed, we feel that 2004 will be a year when rental will shine, really shine. As we have for the past seven years, we acknowledge this less glamorous, but no less important, side of equipment with our Rental Handbook, which arrives with this issue.
We will also again be sponsoring Rental World (formerly Rental Alley) at SIA’s Vegas show from January 26 to 29. This is the largest preview of rental equipment anywhere, and has proven to be a hugely successful program for both rental buyers and suppliers alike. We hope you’ll be able to check it out.
Even with all of that, we still feel that the importance of rental cannot be overestimated, so we are excited to announce that we have partnered with PSIA-E to assist them in hosting the first annual industry-wide on-snow demo program for rental and entry-level equipment. This program is also designed to help bridge the gap between the ski school and rental shop.
The event is at Hunter Mountain, N.Y., one of the industry’s leaders in the beginner experience and will have the support of NSAA. We are all in agreement that something like this is long overdue as the industry strives to convert more potential riders into lifelong enthusiasts. For more information, see page 13 and 14.
And now we must get back to shoveling our walks before the delivery folks start to complain. We are loathe to do it, preferring instead to tunnel through the snow to the office door, laughing giddily, but believe it or not, there are some people who simply don’t like the stuff.
Have a great season!
