OKANAGAN RESORTS ANNOUNCE DUAL MOUNTAIN SEASON PASS
Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada (July 26, 2000) - For the first time ever, Okanagan residents will be able to ski or snowboard at two resorts utilizing a common pass during the 2000-2001 winter season.
Apex Mountain Resort and Silver Star Mountain Resort announce the creation of The Okanagan Pass, available to skiers and snowboarders starting next week. The pass will give skiers and snowboarders unlimited access to both resorts for just a few dollars more than a regular season pass at any Okanagan ski resort.
“The Okanagan Pass will offer more lifts, more runs and more terrain than any other single-area pass in the interior of British Columbia, making it the best value in skiing in B.C., if not Canada”, says Jeff Putnam, Vice-President of Marketing for Silver Star Mountain Resort.
“We wanted to give Okanagan residents a broader choice in winter recreation at an affordable price”, added Jeff Plant, General Manager of Apex Mountain Resort. “The consumer has been asking for a dual-mountain pass for years. The Okanagan Pass meets that demand”, said Plant.
The Okanagan Pass is priced at $499.00 for an adult. Juniors pay just $279.00. A Family Pass sells for $1399.00.
The Okanagan Pass is available for purchase at Apex Mountain Resort or Silver Star Mountain Resort or at the following locations:
Kelowna: Fresh Air Experience
Vernon: Vernon Winter Carnival Office
Penticton: Ray’s Sports Den
Of course, passes may also be purchased on-line at either: skisilverstar.com or apexresort.com.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND SUGARBUSH EXCHANGE LAND
Warren, VT (July 26, 2000) – Following almost twenty years of research and discussion, the US Forest Service and Sugarbush Resort announced the completion of the Sugarbush Land Exchange today.
The Forest Service received 213 acres of forested private land owned by Sugarbush in exchange for 57.7 acres of public land that encompasses most of the base area of Lincoln Peak. Sugarbush will also pay the Forest Service $415,000 to purchase lands in the nearby area as desired by the town of Warren.
“This is a good exchange for all parties,” said Bruce McCloy, Managing Director of Sugarbush Resort. “The land the Forest Service acquired is more suited to national forest purposes than the land it traded.”
The Forest Service’s new 213-acre parcel is situated generally southeast of the resort’s Lincoln Peak. The 57.7-acre parcel that Sugarbush received was under long-term lease to the resort and is the site of two parking lots and numerous base area buildings.
The tract is one of two designated Growth Centers in the town of Warren, according to Warren’s Town Plan.
“The exchange enables the resort to begin to rebuild Lincoln Peak’s base area to better meet the needs of our guests in accordance with the Warren Town Plan and zoning regulations,” said McCloy. “We currently do not have a timeline for any specific projects, but increasing base lodge seating, skier services and our bed base remains part of our long-term plan, and a hotel project remains part of our vision.”
Sugarbush Resort and the Forest Service began discussing the land exchange in the early 1980s. An Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision was signed on June 19, 1998, after extensive analysis and public input.
The Sugarbush Land Exchange Act, passed by the United States Congress in 1996, directs the Forest Service to exchange the 57.7 acres of developed land and deposit the monies paid by Sugarbush into an escrow account for acquisition of additional land to become part of the Green Mountain National Forest.
Of the 213 acres acquired for public land, approximately 73 acres will be added to Sugarbush’s Special Use Permit. The remainder will be placed into land use category MA 9.2 of the Green Mountain National Forest Plan, which specifies the land not be developed.
BRECKENRIDGE SKI RESORT NAMES PAT CAMPBELL DIRECTOR OF SKIING SERVICES
Breckenridge, CO (July 26, 2000) - Breckenridge Ski Resort Chief Operating Officer Roger McCarthy announced today that he’s promoted Breckenridge Ski School Director Pat Campbell to the post of Director of Skier Services. Campbell takes over from Jim Kercher, who left the resort in June.
McCarthy said Campbell will oversee the resort’s ski and snowboard school, competition department, ticketing operations, group sales as well as guest services and childcare. Campbell has been the Ski School Director at Breckenridge since August of 1999. She came to Breckenridge after several years as the Ski School Director at Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming.
“Pat not only assures us a smooth transition with ski season three months away, but her track record of innovation and leadership within ski school are critical qualities for the Skier Services department,” McCarthy said.
Campbell managed nearly 600 ski and snowboard instructors this past season at Breckenridge; the resort’s ski school has been named Summit County’s best the last three years in The Summit Daily News’ Locals’ Poll. The department saw trainer and examiner Dave Tyrell named as a Colorado Ski Country Ski School Instructor of the Year this summer, and snowboard instructor Gregg Davis was one of only six instructors named to the American Association of Snowboard Instructors Demonstration Team for this coming season.
“While it will be a challenge to maintain the momentum of our record performances here over the past two years, I look forward to the opportunities provided by a new season with new responsibilities and a new chief operating officer in Roger McCarthy,” Campbell said.
McCarthy said Campbell will assume her new duties effective immediately. The ski resort is slated to open for the 2000-01 ski season October 27.
COLORADO BACKCOUNTRY HUT PLANS DELAYED BY LYNX LISTING
from First Tracks!! Online Contributing Writer Bob Berwyn
Summit County, CO (July 25, 2000) - Concerns over potential wildlife impacts have slowed plans for a proposed new backcountry ski hut in the vicinity of Vail Pass. The hut was planned for a parcel of private land owned by the Summit Huts Association, a few miles from I-70 near the head of Stafford Gulch, between Vail Pass and Copper Mountain. The Lewis Hut won’t be built this summer, and may be scratched altogether if recent efforts to find an alternative location prove fruitful.
"We’re definitely not going to do anything this summer," said Summit Huts Association executive director Leigh Girvin, explaining that a federal review of the project could take six months.
Girvin said the Summit Huts board of directors would likely be open to considering new locations if they meet certain criteria, including a sense of remoteness and access to good skiing. The new hut would be funded in part with a bequest from the family of Copper Mountain founder Chuck Lewis, who died this past winter. The family attached some stipulations to the donation, complicating efforts to find a suitable site.
Summit County conditionally approved construction of the hut last year, after several rounds of contentious testimony and plenty of hand-wringing in front of the Ten Mile Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. Besides the county go-ahead, Summit Huts also needed U.S. Forest Service permits, both for summer construction and winter access.
Opposition to the hut focused on its proposed location smack in the middle of an important wildlife corridor – a narrow "landbridge" of sorts that provides north-south connectivity between larger areas of forested habitat. Only a few such connections exist in the state, and all of them are being squeezed by development. The corridor between Copper Mountain and Vail Pass could prove important for lynx, wolverines, boreal owls, and other sensitive forest-interior species.
"There’s some strong science to show that these corridors really are important," said Currie Craven, a wilderness advocate with the Friends of the Eagles Nest.
Craven, an outspoken critic of the Lewis Hut proposal, has been imploring the organization to rethink its commitment to the Stafford Gulch location all along. He hopes the story will end with Summit Huts selling the parcel to Summit County’s open space program, to be protected as a roadless area.
Hut backers said the facility could be built and operated without any long-term negative impacts on wildlife, but opposition seemed widespread, with most public comments at a series of meetings running mostly against the hut. State and federal wildlife officials also questioned the location, with one Forest Service official stating that, if the hut had been proposed for national forest land, it would likely have been denied.
The recent listing of the lynx as a threatened species added a new factor to the equation. When it comes to managing listed species and their habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service holds a trump card. It can veto any proposed activity on federal land that might harm threatened or endangered species – including impacts to important habitat and movement corridors.
The Vail Pass area already hums with activity during the winter, with crosscountry skiers, snowmobilers and snowcat skiers all cruising the backcountry in search of powder. The trailhead already serves as the launching point for treks to other backcountry huts, including Janet’s Cabin and the Shrine Pass Inn.
The Forest Service may have to find ways to manage existing uses to comply with a series of proposed lynx conservation measures, including a policy that calls for no net gain in impacts to critical areas. Adding a new use, like an over-snow access trail to a new hut, could mean eliminating an existing use, Forest Service biologists say.
Winter use is of special concern since packed snow trails may allow competing predators like coyotes to access areas that would otherwise remain reserved for lynx.
The Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently in the process of reviewing thousands of permits for impacts on lynx, and a review for the Lewis Hut project could take as long as six months.
But since last winter, a task force comprised of interested citizens has been looking at some alternative sites in the region. That group recently compiled a list of eight potential locations and presented them to the Summit Huts board of directors in mid-July..
"We started with a list of 35 sites," said Robert Ray, one of the task force members. "We narrowed it down to eight that were suitable for further evaluation. Summit Huts will be looking at some of those sites in more detail. We’re happy that they’ll be doing some further evaluation," Ray said after the meeting.
The sites weren’t just pulled out of a hat, said Paul Semmer, another member of the task force and one of the founders of the Summit Huts Association. Semmer said the task force had done some preliminary consultations with state and federal wildlife biologists before completing its report for SHA.
Semmer said the task force has also made a "strong recommendation" that there should be some sort of public involvement in the process of selecting sites.
Wilderness Sports owner Tom Jones, who sits on the SHA board and also served on the task force, was optimistic about the outcome.
"I think we have found some possible sites that would eliminate the need for using the Stafford Gulch site," Jones said after the mid-July between the board and the task force.
A-BASIN LOOKING FOR SNOWMAKING GO-AHEAD
A-Basin targeting Peru Creek cleanup
Ski area, Forest Service explores mitigation options for heavy metal pollution
from First Tracks!! Online Contributing Writer Bob Berwyn
Summit County, CO (July 25, 2000) - Even though plans for snowmaking at A-Basin are still on hold, ski area officials say they are exploring the possibility of doing some cleanup work at abandoned mines in the Peru Creek drainage. If successful, those efforts could help mitigate water quality impacts to the Snake River resulting from A-Basin’s proposed snowmaking diversions from the North Fork, a relatively pure tributary of the Snake River.
At issue are concentrations of several toxic heavy metals that exceed state-set limits for the Snake. The metals seep into the river from abandoned mines high along the Peru Creek tributary, and while A-Basin’s snowmaking plan wouldn’t add any pollutants, it would cut down on the amount of clean water available for dilution.
Based on that indirect impact, environmental groups have challenged the ski area’s plan in federal court. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has continued to express concern about impacts to aquatic resources.
The snowmaking scheme is part of an updated master plan for A-Basin, approved by the Forest Service last year. The Legend, as it’s often called, is one of the few ski areas in Colorado without snowmaking. The lack of machine-made snow hinders the area from fixing a firm opening date, which puts it at a disadvantage in an increasingly competitive market, ski area officials say.
Even as the Forest Service OK is being challenged in court, A-Basin is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its snowmaking diversion. And that permit must subsequently be certified by state water quality officials.
In a May 22 letter to the Corps, a state regulator wrote that "… any increase in metals concentrations is a concern relative to 401 certification."
"We’re aware that the diversion may cause an increase in concentrations of metals downstream, and we’re considering the options," said Greg Parsons, with the Colorado Water Quality Control Division.
But any regulatory measures could be forestalled if A-Basin can come up with a way to mitigate for that impact.
"We’re in the process of working with the state and the Forest Service to do some modeling to see if we can offset the minimal 2 percent increase in metal concentrations in the Snake River," said A-Basin boss Jim Gentling.
The hope is to do some relatively low-cost, low-tech remedial work by re-routing small streams around some tailing piles high in Cinnamon Gulch. Engineers recently performed an on-site test with some dye to try and gauge the potential efficiency of the plan.
The groundwork was laid last summer, when a Forest Service geologist compiled some baseline data on some the pollution sources in the Peru Creek drainage – including in Cinnamon Gulch.
Now the question is whether it’s possible to measure the results of the remedial work in a meaningful way, Parson said, noting that those results could be important if A-Basin moves forward with the second phase of the snowmaking plan, when the stakes would be even higher.
There’s also a question of whether the pending lawsuit against the Forest Service can be resolved. Gentling said the ski area has no intention of paying to fight the lawsuit and paying for the remediation at the same time.
BRECK'S PEAK 7 EXPANSION MOVING TO FRONT BURNER
from First Tracks!! Online Contributing Writer Bob Berwyn
Breckenridge, CO (July 22, 2000) - Vail Resorts appears to be ready to forge ahead with plans for a modest terrain expansion on Peak 7 in Breckenridge, as well as with the development of private land it owns at the base of the country’s busiest ski area.
Dillon District Ranger Jamie Connell said ski area officials requested a meeting with the Forest Service to discuss the Peak 7 plan.
Breckenridge Resort Vice President of Mountain Operations Rick Sramek said the resort would like to move ahead with the Peak 7 terrain expansion next year, and added that he requested the meeting with Forest Service to show the agency where the resort stands with its planning.
Vail Resorts Development Company, the corporate real estate arm, has been working with the town to coordinate planning efforts for the private land at the base.
White River Forest Supervisor Martha Ketelle approved a slate of upgrades for Breckenridge in August 1998, including a new quad lift and about 165 acres of new , mostly lower-intermediate terrain on Peak 7. Upgrades at Peak 9 were also approved, and parts of the plan, including construction of the new Briar Rose trail and a new restaurant, were implemented that year.
But the terrain expansion was delayed by concerns over cumulative impacts from the on-mountain project at Peak 7 – on Forest Service land – and from base area development on adjacent private land.
Additionally, the proximity of an ecologically valuable wetlands complex in Cucumber Gulch – just below peaks 7 and 8 – prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ask for an extensive hydro-geological study to analyze potential impacts from the development on groundwater flows.
That study is now complete, and the Corps is in the process of issuing a permit, said Mike Claffey, with agency’s Northwestern Colorado Regulatory Office. Claffey said a permit, which would cover both the on-mountain project and the base area work, could be issue by the end of the summer.
Sramek said the resort would like to build a service road on Peak 7 this year. That would enable crews to begin work early during next year’s construction season.
Breckenridge Resort revealed its plans for development of a residential and commercial complex at the base of Peak 7, along with a redevelopment at Peak 8, in March 1999. Vail Resorts owns about 280 acres of land along County Road 3, near the base of peaks 7 and 8. Development was proposed on about 72 acres of that land.
Subsequently, the Forest Service put implementation of the Peak 7 on-mountain expanion on hold, citing potential new information that could affect the agency’s previously completed environmental analysis.
The base area development plans revealed a "potential need for additional analysis at Peak 7, depending on what the town approves," according to Michael Liu, the Dillon Ranger District’s NEPA specialist.
"We told Vail that, upon resolution of the base area issues, we would review Peak 7," Liu said in a 1999 interview.
As presented, Vail’s base area plans included a relocation of the Peak 7 lift terminal from public to private land, a move that could result in a "changed condition," requiring some unspecified level of supplemental review. That was one of the biggest issues identified by Liu and a Forest Service review team, which looked at Vail’s Breck plans from a NEPA standpoint on March 12, 1999.
A proposed density transfer from Vail-owned lots in town up to ski area base, as well as plans for a town-to-ski area gondola could also require additional analysis by the Forest Service, Liu said at the time.
So far, the town has not approved the plans for Vail’s base area land, nor has the Forest Service done a new analysis based on potentially changed conditions.
"To the best of my knowledge, we have not done any additional analysis of potential cumulative impacts," Forest Supervisor Martha Ketelle said Monday.
Sramek said the upcoming meeting would enable the Forest Service to "contrast and compare" the current version of the resort’s proposal with what the agency analyzed in the 1998 EA. That could help determine what additional analysis might be needed.
Growth in skier visits at Breckenridge has outpaced terrain expansions in recent years, and resort officials say they need some new intermediate runs to accommodate the increased demand.
And development of the Vail-owned land at the base should pay off handsomely for the resort company, with the latest version of the plans showing 80 new residential units, along with several lodges at Peak 7, and 450 new lodging units at Peak 8, along with conference and retail space.
Some in-town merchants have expressed concern that the new retail complex at the base could divert business away from Breck’s main drag, and any ski resort expansion is likely to exacerbate Summit County’s existing traffic and affordable housing woes.
The proposed expansion has been dogged by criticism and controversy on the environmental front, too. Some groups, including ski industry watchdog Colorado Wild, have said the Peak 7 project is the classic case of expanding the mountain to boost the value of adjacent real estate. And government agencies that reviewed the project also have given it less than glowing grades.
In an April 20, 1998 comment letter on the Draft EA for the Peak 7 project, for example, the Colorado Division of Wildlife expressed concerns about the level of analysis and the protection of instream flow values associated with additional snowmaking withdrawals. The letter noted that diversions from the Blue would increase by more than 150 acre feet per year – with the depletions occurring during the low-flow season, when aquatic ecosystems are already stressed.
In a letter dated April 27, 1998, another Division of Wildlife official expressed concern about potential impacts to a breeding population of boreal toads in nearby Cucumber Gulch and called on the Forest Service to do a more in-depth environmental study – an Environmental Impact Statement rather than the more superficial EA.
The EPA also expressed concern with the level of analysis throughout the process, questioning the adequacy of the EA and whether the ultimate finding of "No Significant Impact" was warranted.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, responding to requests for comments on the pending U.S. Army Corps wetland permit, also offered comments with regards to sensitive species, including boreal toads, Penland alpine fen mustard and lynx, and cautioned against premature approval of the project.
At least some of the environmental issues have now been addressed. The Town of Breckenridge has moved to guard the Cucumber Gulch wetlands with a protective ordinance, and the listing of lynx as a threatened species should enable the ski area and the Forest Service to plan with more certainty.
There is certainly little question that Breckenridge could use some additional terrain to spread out the crowds during busy times. The real challenge for the Forest Service and the resort is to find a way to meet that goal while adequately addressing all the concerns.
DELTA TO OFFER VAIL FLIGHTS FOR 2000-2001 SKI SEASON
Atlanta, GA (July 21, 2000) - Delta Air Lines will operate daily round-trip flights from Atlanta to Vail, Colorado, during the 2000-2001 ski season.
Service to Vail will begin December 22, 2000, and operate through March 31, 2001. All Delta flights to Vail will be aboard the 183-seat Boeing 757 aircraft. The B-757’s fully-automated flight management system permits all-weather, hands-off operations from departure to touchdown. This feature helps provide a smooth, more comfortable ride and produces many advantages for schedule reliability.
Delta’s seasonal service to Vail:
| FROM | TO | FLIGHT | DEPARTS | ARRIVES |
| Atlanta | Vail | 215 | 10:25 am | 12 Noon |
| Vail | Atlanta | 214 | 1:00 pm | 6:05 pm |
Delta will offer Delta Vacations packages to Vail that include air transportation via Delta; hotel accommodations, including tax; and ground transportation consisting of airport transfers or an intermediate “skierized” rental car with unlimited mileage. Also included in the packages is one-day free equipment rental with paid rental of two or more days. For hotel accommodations, travelers have a choice of six carefully-selected properties across a full spectrum of pricing including the Vail Cascade, Vail Marriott and the Lodge at Vail. An optional Travel Protection Plan allows travelers to cancel their trips for whatever reason -- no snow, illness, poor weather or a sudden change of plans -- with the guarantee of a full refund of the package price.
In addition to the seasonal service to Vail, throughout the year, Delta operates daily nonstop service to Denver and Colorado Springs from its hubs in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Fort Worth and Cincinnati. Tickets for these and all other flights to snow country may be browsed or purchased at the First Tracks!! Online Discount Travel Center.
BRETTON WOODS' WILCOX NAMED MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT MARKETING DIRECTOR
Bretton Woods, NH (July 20, 2000) - Ben Wilcox, 36, of North Conway, NH has been promoted from Ski Area Marketing Director and Assistant Director of Ski Operations of Bretton Woods Ski Area to Resort Marketing Director of The Mount Washington Resort, located in Bretton Woods, NH.
As Resort Marketing Director, Wilcox will oversee and direct the marketing effort at the Mount Washington Resort which includes The Mount Washington Hotel, The Bretton Arms Country Inn, The Bretton Woods Motor Inn, The Townhomes at Bretton Woods, the Mount Washington Golf and Tennis Club, the Bretton Woods Alpine and Nordic Ski Areas, and the Mount Washington Cog Railway.
“I am proud to have been affiliated with Bretton Woods over the past seven years and I am truly looking forward to my new resort-wide focus,” stated Ben Wilcox. “Our marketing effort will continue to aggressively position the Resort as a premiere resort destination, both nationally and internationally.”
Wilcox brings over 12 years of ski resort experience to his new position. Most recently, he has focused on the Resort’s expansion which includes the winter opening of The Mount Washington Hotel and a large ski area expansion that has positioned Bretton Woods as New Hampshire’s largest ski area. He currently serves on the Ski New Hampshire Board of Directors and is president of the Eastern Slope Ski Club.
THRILL SLED RAISES SUMMER EXCITEMENT LEVEL AT VAIL
Vail, CO (July 19, 2000) - Starting today, adrenaline junkies will find a new adventure at Vail—the Thrill Sled. This unique device trades in its skis from the winter for wheels in the summer so the guests can experience the thrill of riding down the mountain head first. And, Vail is one of three places in the world where people can experience this exhilarating, guided adventure.
“The Thrill Sled is unlike anything else we offer in the summertime,” said Andy Buckley, general manager of summer operations. “Vail also offers the longest Thrill Sledding course in the world taking riders all the way down the front side of the mountain from Eagle’s Nest to the bottom of the gondola—it’s is a 6.8 mile course.”
People lie face first on the sled and control their speed and direction by using the steering device and four-wheel braking system on the front of the sled. Riders have reached speeds of more than 25 mph.
Tours leave from Adventure Ridge at the top of the mountain three times daily at 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Each tour lasts approximately an hour and a half and is limited to five sleds. The cost is $35 per person and riders must be at least 12 years old. All tours include a guide, helmet and goggles.
MARMOT BASIN ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS
Jasper (AB), Canada (July 18, 2000) - Marmot Basin, in Jasper National Park, has announced improvements for the 2000/2001 season and plans for beyond.
A new transportation service to Jasper is available for the 2000-01 season. The "Snow Train to Jasper" will alleviate some of the transfer issues guests sometimes encounter when travelling to Canada's largest Rocky Mountain National Park. Travellers can catch Via Rail Canada's transcontinental anywhere from Vancouver through to Winnipeg, and enjoy the relaxing train ride into Jasper.
Several improvements will be made this summer to assist guests of Marmot Basin in accessing on-mountain services. A new computerized lift-ticket window will open in the 4th parking lot to alleviate congestion at the lower chalet ticket windows. Guests not requiring rentals can ski directly out of the 3rd or 4th parking lots and onto any of the lower area lifts. Stairwells have been constructed between the 3rd and 4th parking lots, and from the 4th parking lot directly up to the Caribou Chair.
A full service satellite rental shop has been constructed in the 1st parking lot. This rental shop will alleviate congestion on busy weekends, and will service buses and large groups requiring rental equipment. Again, guests can get rental equipment and ski directly out of the 1st parking lot onto the lifts. Marmot Basin's Guest Services Centre has expanded to include bag storage, overnight ski storage, lost and found, and will act as the central information centre for guests. A new cafeteria kitchen will greet guests this coming season in the Caribou Chalet, and direct-to-lift ticket centers at several locations from Edmonton to Jasper will add a new level of convenience.
The Marmot Basin Terrain Park has been built in the upper area, the permanent location for all future terrain parks at the resort. Marmot Basin experimented with different types of features over the past season to determine which worked best in the Park. As well, Marmot Basin created a sub-department to maintain the Terrain Park. This area was used over the past season for competitions such as Boardercross Events, Slope Style Events, Banked Slalom Events, and a Freestyle Competition, as well as being open for the public to enjoy.
Finally, Marmot Basin is currently awaiting approval to commence construction on the proposed Eagle Ridge project. Realization of this project will see a fixed-grip quad chairlift built from mid-mountain up Eagle Ridge, and will allow skiers and snowboarders to access open alpine bowls, glades, steeps, and several new intermediate and beginner runs. The new lift would take guests of Marmot Basin to terrain that was previously only accessible by the High Traverse or a 15-minute hike. We at First Tracks!! Online suspect that the moratorium on ski area expansion imposed by Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, and the resultant lawsuit by ski resort operators in the province of Alberta, including Marmot Basin, will have a tremendous impact on the resort's ability to realize this expansion.
GERMANY AND CANADA NECK AND NECK AS THE COMPAQ 50K OF CORONET ENDURANCE RACE CONCLUDES
Queenstown, New Zealand (July 18, 2000) - A shoot out between Germany and Canada went down to the wire with Germany just taking out the honors in the inaugural Compaq 50K of Coronet downhill ski endurance race at Queenstown today.
The two teams were neck and neck throughout the event which started at 7.00pm on Monday (July 17) night and finished at 10.00a.m today. Eight teams, six from overseas and two from New Zealand, entered the race which raised $70,000 for the Cure Kids Charity.
Teams had hoped to achieve the 50k or 50,000 vertical feet mark but Event Director Wayne Cafe said the elements were against them. Fog and white out conditions late on Monday night caused some timing problems and the race was delayed for two hours until the weather cleared. However, Mr Cafe said it was all part of ski racing and the racers themselves were relaxed about the hold up.
Once back on the course which was hard and fast, and at times very slick, there was no holding the competitors back.
World class competitors such as Chris "Superman " Kent from Canada, Martin Fiala from Germany and Australia's Steve Lee put on a spectacular skiing display along with the teams from New Zealand, Slovenia and the all-women Swedish team.
At 51 laps the Germans and Canadians were on the same time but the Germans edged away and held a slender lead to win the event after 1 hour 25.44 secs on snow. The Canadians had a time of 1.26.01 and Australia finished in third place with 1.26.47.
Team Spain and Team New Zealand tussled for several hours with Spain just beating New Zealand into fourth place by one second in 1.28.34. New Zealand had 1.28.35 and Slovenia was sixth in 1.29.53. All six teams skied 101 laps while Sweden in seventh place made 98 laps in 1.30.43.
Team Kiwi pulled out of the event after one of its members, Geoff Small, injured his knee. He withdrew after 35 laps and team mates Cameron Wilson and Guy Davies continued on for a couple of hours but found the going too tough.
The fastest lap of the event, 48.24 seconds, was recorded early in the evening by Canada. Average times for most of the race ranged between 50 and 53 seconds. The German team was clocked by police radar at speeds up to 130 kmh.
The racers said the Compaq 50K, which required almost 200 volunteers to run, was an outstanding one.
Hans Zehentner, leader of the winning German team, said it was an exciting world class event and he hoped his team would be back to defend the Janey Blair Trophy donated by her family. The former New Zealand skier died tragically in an a helicopter accident in Fiordland earlier this year.
Mr. Cafe said he was very proud to hold such a successful event and it provided "knife edge spectator excitement."
Cure Kids marketing director Kaye Parker said the money donated to the charity was quite overwhelming. The young children who accepted the check on behalf of the charity were the face of Cure Kids and she said the organization was all about hope.
"Our hope is that cures will be found for children's incurable diseases."
A check for $18,000 was also presented to the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team which provided the main bulk of the volunteers.
Managing Director of Compaq Computers New Zealand Ltd Russell Hewitt said it was incredible to think that 1200 laps had been skied, mostly through the night. He said the event was an outstanding success.
"The feedback from everyone involved, from the racers to the volunteers, organizsers and spectators has been overwhelming. This has been made even more worthwhile by the $70,000 contribution to the Cure Kids charity," he said. "Compaq is very proud as lead sponsor to be associated with an international event where being crazy is a definite competitive advantage on the slopes and being generous is common off the slopes."
A charity auction raised most of the money for the charity along with $6000 from the BMW 5K children's endurance race also held at Coronet Peak.
Mr. Hewitt signalled that his company would be back next year to support the 50K of Coronet because of the success of the inaugural event.
ENDURANCE RACE TROPHY HONORS SKIER'S CONTRIBUTION
Queenstown, New Zealand (July 15, 2000) - The legendary exploits of a young Queenstown skier will live on with the establishment of a trophy in her name for the inaugural Compaq 50K of Coronet downhill endurance race at Coronet Peak on July 17 and July 18.
Twenty eight year old Janey Blair was tragically killed when the helicopter she was piloting crashed at Manapouri in Fiordland in March this year. The death of the young woman who had done so much to profile New Zealand ski racing on the international scene was devastating. As a young schoolgirl she was on the New Zealand Ski team and at the age of 18 captured her first major title, the US Women's Junior Championship. She was also highly ranked in Downhill and Super G producing some of the best results ever achieved by a New Zealand skier.
Janey's passion was for speed and downhill was her favourite discipline. Her claim to fame at Coronet Peak is the downhill record of 58 seconds which no-one, male or female, has been able to better.
It was this downhill expertise which prompted Janey to decide, just a few weeks before her death, to enter the Compaq 50K of Coronet. "It was her sort of event and the organizers were really excited about Janey competing," says COMPAQ 50K Director Wayne Cafe. "She was such a committed skier who had a huge following locally."
Janey's death devastated everyone who knew her and her family have been searching for something which would recognize her contribution.
"We wanted to put her name to something significant and this race seemed to be entirely appropriate," says her father, Queenstown architect John Blair.
The Compaq 50K of Coronet is a downhill event involving eight teams , six international and two New Zealand entries. The proceeds from the event are earmarked for the Cure Kids charity and for the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team. Several years ago Janey suffered from cancer, successfully recovering from her battle with the illness.
"For this reason we like the idea of the Cure Kids charity and the whole event, particularly because it is a downhill race, is really made to measure for us to support."
Added to this mix, John Blair was personally involved in the establishment of the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team, which is now New Zealand's leading ski racing program and is providing much of the 200 volunteer workforce for the race.
"We are delighted that Janey's name will appear on the winner's trophy," he says. "It will mean a lot to us."
John Blair has designed the trophy, which is a mix of greenstone and totara. It has been handcrafted by well-known Queenstown sculptor Rob Lynes. The choice of materials for the imposing trophy is deliberate and significant. "They represent the environment Janey lived and worked in and loved."
The large pieces of greenstone are from Fiordland while a totara tree has been planted at the Manapouri crash site in memory of Janey and the four people who died with her.
The trophy reflects the shape of Coronet Peak and depicts a downhill course highlighted in silver. The Blairs say it is apt that it has been made locally by such a reputed craftsman as Rob Lynes.
The trophy will be awarded to the winning team and will be retained in Queenstown. Three miniatures, also in greenstone and totara, will be presented to the team members to keep.
For the organizers of the Compaq 50K of Coronet the Janey Blair Trophy is entirely fitting. " We all know in Queenstown what an ambassador Janey was for her sport," says Wayne Cafe. "We will make sure the international racers are aware of the significance and importance of the trophy they are competing for."
JACKSON HOLE SIGNS NEW AMERICAN AIRLINES SERVICE
Jackson Hole, WY (July 12, 2000) - Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) announced today that American Airlines would operate a new daily flight from Dallas, Texas to Jackson Hole, Wyoming beginning December 15, 2000. The route will be serviced by a Boeing 757 (176 seats) complementing the existing daily winter service from Chicago. This represents an increase from the previous winter season of 11% for inbound air seats into Jackson Hole from 107,343 to 119,113.
"For 34 years Jackson Hole has been considered a favorite resort by the advanced skiers and snowboarders around the world", stated Jerry Blann president, JHMR, "but throughout the years, accessibility has been an issue. With recent on-mountain lift and facility improvements we are seeing an increase in demand by intermediate skiers and snowboarders which has resulted in a need for additional jet service. With this increase in seats and an airport just 10 miles from the Town of Jackson we can now be considered more accessible than most U.S winter destination resorts", concluded Blann.
The daily flight includes a departure from Dallas of 10:50 a.m., arriving in Jackson Hole approximately 12:40 p.m. The return flight will depart Jackson Hole at 2:10 p.m., arriving in Dallas at 5:50 p.m., meeting the connecting flights to the northeast, southeast and western destinations.
"Demand for Jackson Hole has been growing at a pace which exceeded the existing flights", continued Blann. "With the decision by the Florida Ski Council to recognize Jackson Hole as their Resort of choice for season 2000/1, we knew we needed to take the steps necessary to meet the demand. Our long-term relationship with American, which has included a history of five record-breaking winter seasons, ensured a willingness by both parties to reach an agreement for the 757 jet service", concluded Blann.
OKEMO ANNOUNCES SEASON PASS RATES FOR THE 2000/2001 WINTER SEASON
Ludlow, VT (July 12, 2000) - Okemo Mountain Resort has announced Season Pass rates for the upcoming 2000/2001-winter season. As an added bonus, passholders who purchase Okemo Unlimited Season Passes can ski or ride at nearby Mount Sunapee Resort for free any time their pass is valid.
Okemo Unlimited Passes are valid every day of the week with no restrictions. If purchased on or before 8/15/2000, an Adult Unlimited Pass (age 19-64) is priced at $1045; a Young Adult Unlimited Pass (age 13-18) costs $845; and a Junior Unlimited Pass (age 7-12) is $645. A Senior Unlimited Pass (age 65-69) carries a ticket of $515 and a Super Senior Unlimited Pass (age 70+) is stickered $250. Children six and under ski free. All Okemo Unlimited Passes are valid at Mount Sunapee and are subject to VT sales tax.
Okemo/Stratton Unlimited Season Passes are available again this season. For a little more than an Okemo Unlimited Pass, skiers and riders can enjoy two Vermont resorts with no restrictions. An Adult Okemo/Stratton Unlimited season pass is $1165; Young Adult Unlimited season pass is $905; and a Junior Unlimited season pass is priced at $685. The deadline for the early season discount on the Okemo/Stratton Unlimited Pass is prior to 9/15/2000. All Okemo/Stratton Unlimited Passes are subject to VT sales tax.
College Student Pass rates are available at savings with no restrictions this yea, and include reciprocal skiing and riding at nearby Stratton Mountain or Mount Sunapee Resort, depending upon which pass option is chosen, for just $299 ($359 if purchased after 12/10/00). College students must provide documentation of full-time status from the Registrar’s Office and indicate which pass option they would like to purchase the Okemo/Stratton College Pass or the Okemo/Mount Sunapee College Pass.
New this coming winter is the Midweek Super Pass, tailor-made for skiers and riders who have the freedom to get out on the slopes midweek. This new midweek season pass offers unlimited access Monday-Friday (holidays are excluded), starting at $249. As an added bonus, Okemo/Mount Sunapee Super Senior Passes starting at $119 are valid Sunday-Friday. Holiday periods of December 25, 2000-January 1, 2001; January 13-14, 2001; February 17-23, 2001 are excluded and the purchase price of the new Okemo/Mount Sunapee Midweek Super Pass is subject to VT sales tax.
Purchase the Okemo/Stratton Midweek Super Pass (ages 19 and over) prior to 9/15/2000 and it’s only $249 ($399 after 9/15/00). Holiday periods of December 25, 2000-January 1, 2001; January 13-14, 2001; February 17-23, 2001 are excluded and the purchase price of the Okemo/Stratton Midweek Super Pass is subject to VT sales tax.
For more information on season pass rates or to obtain a season pass application form, call 802-228-4041, or apply online at www.okemo.com.
BARRIERS' DONATE SKI MEMORABILIA TO BIG MOUNTAIN
Whitefish, MT. (July 11, 2000) - On Saturday, August 12, 2000 the Barrier family will dedicate ski-racing memorabilia to the Big Mountain Ski & Summer Resort. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony to be held in Moguls’ Bar & Grill.
In celebration of the achievements of athletes around the Flathead Valley, the Barrier family will donate Jim and Bill Barriers’ skiing trophies, medals & ribbons, scrapbooks, plaques, pictures and other memorabilia (including Jim’s Olympic race uniforms) to Big Mountain Ski Resort. The memorabilia will be kept in a permanent display case at Mogul’s Bar & Grille.
“We are honored to display the gifts and to commemorate achievements of these two athletes that call Big Mountain home” said Michael Collins, President of Winter Sports Inc. (WSI), owners and operators of Big Mountain Ski & Summer Resort. “The Barriers’ dedication is a testimony of trust and pride for Big Mountain. We want people here to call Big Mountain home!”
In 1953 the Barrier family moved to Kalispell. Big Mountain became the ski hill, the two boys, would train hard on for the next 12 years while competing in National and International events. At the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, California Jim finished 16th in the giant slalom unfortunately, he fell in the slalom event. Bill, the younger of the two, competed in various events and became top skier on the National training squad.
The dedication will take place from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. Mr. George Ostrom will serve as Master of Ceremonies and additional entertainment will be provided.
BIG MOUNTAIN FREESTYLERS ATTEND AERIAL CAMP IN UTAH OLYMPIC PARK
Whitefish, MT. (July 11, 2000) - Under the supervision of Big Mountain Freestyle Team Aerial Coach Steve Knox, 4 team members, Lucas Constenius, Jimmy Peterson, Erik Johnson and Andrew Johnson and assistant coach Topher Logan, spent 2 weeks at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City Utah training inverted aerial jumping alongside the U. S. Freestyle Ski Team. The 3 million dollar facility is one of only 2 in the USA, where aspiring aerialists can train at a state of the art facility with trampolines, spotting rigs and water ramps complete with a underwater bubble system to soften impact.
“The process to become qualified to jump inverted aerials on snow is a long one”, explains Steve Knox “Jumpers must first execute 200 jumps of each maneuver on the water ramp and then go through a qualification test”. Qualifying during the camp were Topher Logan, Jimmy Peterson and Lucas Constinius. “Inverted aerials are not for everyone,” continues Knox, some progress faster than others, injuries, weather conditions and the difficulty of the maneuver jumpers are attempting are all factors in becoming qualified to jump on snow.” “I was very proud of all the jumpers who attended the camp, inverted aerials are something that not too many people would ever even attempt to do, and they all went after it.”
Constenius, Logan and Peterson join an exclusive list of qualified Inverted aerialists from Montana, which include Olympic Gold Medallist Eric Bergoust, his brothers Dan and Arlan, Michael Stevenson, Tanner Hall, Chris Daley, and Todd Maiden. Steve Knox is one of only 3 active licensed coaches of inverted aerials who can coach jumpers up through double flips on water and snow. All the team members look forward to the upcoming ski season where they will be able to execute their newly learned maneuvers on the Freestyle Jump Hill on the Big Mountain, which was built 3 years ago with funds from WSI and the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation.
TELLURIDE SPENDS OVER $10 MILLION ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Telluride, CO (July 11, 2000) - Increased snowmaking capacity across the mountain and the completion of a fine dining establishment located at Station St. Sophia at the top of the gondola, top the Telluride Ski & Golf Company’s (Telski’s) list of capital improvements for the 2000 summer season. These, combined with golf course enhancements, a complete website redesign and infrastructure development for the upcoming ski area expansion bring Telski’s total summer capital investment to over $10 million. Bucking industry trends, Telski continues with major on-mountain improvements and mountain-related infrastructure plans for the fifth year in a row, injecting over $50 million from 1996-2000.
“This year we are laying the foundation for the highest quality guest experience during the summer and winter with improved golf amenities, new snowmaking facilities for great season-long snow conditions, a new ridgeline private club by day and fine-dining option by night, and a state-of-the-art website redesign,” said Ron Allred, chief executive officer of Telski. “Last season we unveiled three new lifts to provide skiers and snowboarders with a faster, more convenient way to access terrain across the mountain.” Since 1996, Telski has built the three-stage gondola and the Mountain Village Activity Center, renovated the golf course, installed three new lifts including two high-speed quads, made trail improvements and enhanced the snowmaking infrastructure. Telski also has created the Telluride Teaching System, Dynastar Ski Right Center and the Air Garden terrain park.
On-mountain improvements slated for this summer include expanded snowmaking facilities to make snow on at least one run in the Lift 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 pods. This significant increase in snowmaking capabilities will enable the resort to open more top-to-bottom terrain earlier in the season and provide a better base late in the season.
Telski will complete the construction of an up-scale, on-mountain dining establishment that will serve as a private club during the day and fine dining experience at night. The new 140-seat restaurant, Allred’s, is scheduled to open in December 2000.
This summer’s golf course enhancements include remodeling the golf clubhouse to accommodate more guests and create a better social environment. Also on the project list are new chipping and sand practice areas, the addition of numerous cart paths, and a fleet of 80 new golf carts.
The Telski marketing team will completely redesign the resort’s website www.telski.com for the coming winter, transforming it into a new interactive and informative, one-stop shop site. Telski.com will include full-service online booking for air, ground transportation, lodging, lift tickets, ski and snowboard school lessons, and rentals. It will feature virtual tours of the resort, on-mountain cameras for a day-to-day look at the slopes, daily updated images of Telluride, information about weekly activities, dining and nightlife options, ski tips and snow reports, last-minute lodging deals, discounts on advance purchase lift tickets and sweepstake offers. Telski also will launch an interactive section solely for kids.
The ski company also will begin constructing access roads and developing the proper infrastructure to prepare for the installation of lifts in the 733-acre Gold Hill and Prospect Basin expansion area on Telluride Mountain. Telski predicts that the area will be ready for the installation of a minimum of two lifts in the summer of 2001. A major portion of the terrain is slated to open for the 2001-2002 winter season.
Finally, Telluride is increasing airline service to the resort with daily flights on American Airlines from Dallas/Forth Worth (DFW) to Montrose. This winter season, four major air carriers will offer daily service into the Telluride and Montrose airports from Phoenix, Dallas, Newark, Houston and Denver, and convenient connections from around the country. “The new service from Dallas reinforces the increasing ease of access for guests who are planning to visit Telluride,” said Steve Swenson, v.p. of sales, marketing and air services for Telski. “The air service program into both airports now provides guests with a greater selection of carriers and departure times from five of the largest hub cities in the country.”
KEYSTONE TO REPLACE RUBY LIFT WITH SIX-SEATER
from First Tracks!! Online Contributing Writer Bob Berwyn
Keystone, CO (June 11, 2000) - The trip from Keystone's Outback and North Peak terrain back to the base area on the front of the mountain will be speeded up substantially next season. Construction crews are already at work on the mountain, preparing to install Colorado's second six-seat chair. Copper Mountain's Super Bee, built last year, was the state's first.
The $3.1 million "six-pack" will replace the slow-moving Ruby lift, easing access to the steeps of the recently opened Windows area by cutting the ride time in half. The old triple, with a ride time of 12 minutes, was also a bottleneck for skiers and boarders returning the River Run and Mountain House base areas at the end of the day.
The resort hasn't decided if the new lift will get a new name, said Keystone spokeswoman Amy Kemp.
The new lift also serves some fine, south-facing terrain on the backside of Keystone Mountain. With the ride time cut in half to six minutes, more skiers and boarders may choose to explore black diamond runs like Mineshaft and Diamond Back. In good snow years, there's also some challenging tree skiing in between the cut trails.
According to U.S. Forest Service snow ranger Sue Miller crews are already hard at work taking down the old chairlift. Some trees will be removed at the bottom of the lift to make way for a larger loading area, and the lift-line cut will also be widened, Miller said. The resort has mapped some wetlands in that area, but crews will be able to avoid them during construction, she added. Additionally, the top terminal of the lift will raised a little bit to make egress a little easier.
The resort's master plan included provisions for two side-by-side triple chairs, Miller added. But Forest Service planners decided that the six-seater is consistent with the master plan, and would result in fewer impacts to forest resources.
"It's a pretty low-impact project," Miller said.
The new lift will double the uphill capacity of the Ruby chair, from 1,763 per hour to 3,600 per hour, according to Kemp. It will also cut the uphill ride time in half.
The ski area will also get some new gladed terrain on the front side, in the large tree island between Wild Irishman and Paymaster, Miller said. Additionally, the Forest Service did an Environmental Assessment for the widening of Schoolmarm, a busy top-to-bottom beginner run that also is used for night skiing. Miller said part of that widening would take place this summer.
Together, the improvements could help ease some of the congestion that skiers and boarders experience on Keystone's busy days. A planned terrain expansion into Jones Gulch, east of the existing runs on the front side, is on hold, pending resolution of some environmental issues.
LIGHTNING SEVERELY DAMAGES WATERVILLE VALLEY CHAIRLIFT
by First Tracks!! Online Special Correspondent Christopher Bradford
Waterville Valley, NH (July 6, 2000) - As reported last week at First Tracks!! Online, on the night of June 25th the Waterville Valley fire department was alerted to a possible fire in the base lodge of the Waterville Valley ski area, ignited by a lightning strike. When officials arrived, they quickly saw the flames burning not from the base lodge, but from one of the chairlifts' loading terminals near the base area. Firefighters acted quickly to extinguish the flames, but were unsuccessful in saving the lift. Damage to the World Cup Triple chair was immense, the base terminal in ruin.
While the fire itself caused substantial damage, still more resulted from the violent snapping of the cable during the burn, sending chairs hurling uphill. The Waterville Valley Ski Area posted pictures online at its website, depicting the charred terminal and chairs laying on the ground. Posting these pictures was certainly not a marketing ploy, especially when anticipating one of largest tourist weekends during mid summer, the 4th of July weekend. Perhaps they posted the pictures for curious ski lift geeks like myself ... an open invitation for a personal visit.
I arrived at Waterville Valley on Sunday, July 2nd, with cameras in hand to archive the rare event of a chairlift destroyed by lightning. My first visual inspection of the lift was overwhelming. The online photos were no preparation for the sight of a slope littered with mangled chairs and a burned terminal. There were other tourists gawking at the remains, all speculating whether the lift could be saved or not. A good discussion topic for lift geeks! The World Cup Triple Chair was built by Stadeli AG - a fairly rare lift manufacturer in the Eastern US.
Once I had my fill of the terminal remains, I started to hike up the lift line to view any damage at the upper terminal. The best viewing was directly along the lift line, straight up Lower White Caps (an intermediate trail) and The Chute (advanced). While this hike was steep and tiring, the triple chairs on the ground were enough to maintain one's interest. Surprisingly, there was no visual damage at the upper terminal. Things appeared quite normal for a change here, almost like nothing had happened. There was enough weight hanging below the upper terminal to keep the cable fairly taught. Not too far below the upper terminal, however, the cable was sagging and nearly touching the ground.
We here at First Tracks!! Online hope that Waterville Valley is able reconcile this unfortunate situation in time for the 2000-2001 ski season.
PANORAMA SPRINGS OFFICIALLY OPENS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Panorama, BC (July 6, 2000) - New home owners, and guests gathered over the weekend at Panorama Mountain Village today to celebrate the official opening of the Panorama Springs hot pools, and 82 unit Panorama Springs Lodge.
The official ribbon cutting held at 4:00pm was preceded by a private reception for owners followed by a general reception featuring a jazz band playing on the lobby balcony over looking the pools.
"Panorama Spring Lodge is another step in the continued development of Panorama Mountain Village as a year-round destination," said Chris Hartman, Director of Real Estate Development at Panorama. "Outdoor, slope side hot pools of this size are a one-of-a-kind in the Intrawest family.
The giant outdoor hot pools facility is situated at the heart of the playground - right at the base of the mountain. The state-of-the-art facility features over 6,000 sq. ft. of pools, a sauna house, swimming pool, two 141 ft. waterslides and three hotpools.
Panorama Springs lodge is condo/hotel style featuring Intrawest style and designer décor. It is situated in one of the most prime locations in new upper village center. The lodge was a 12 million dollar development and is virtually sold with only a few units available by completion.
SIERRA-AT-TAHOE SELLING DISCOUNTED SEASON PASSES
South Lake Tahoe, CA (July 5, 2000) – Sierra-at-Tahoe is selling 2000-2001 season passes at last year’s rates. The midweek season pass is on sale for $199. As an added bonus, the midweek pass is good seven days a week from opening day to December 17, 2000, then again from March 17, 2001 through closing day.
A full 2000-2001 season pass, valid seven days a week, is $399. John Rice, Sierra’s general manager commented that, "our guests are thrilled to see season pass prices become affordable again. It’s all part of our commitment towards great service, great value, and big fun!" Additional passes for sale include a child (ages 6-12) full season pass for $99 and a new, young adult (ages 13-22) full season pass for $329. There are limited supplies, so interested skiers and riders should make their purchase now.
Frequent snowsporters who may not want to purchase a season pass, but want a break on daily lift ticket prices should think about purchasing a Vertical Plus membership. Vertical Plus is a fun and exciting frequent skier and rider program that makes skiing and riding more affordable. The program costs $59 to join and saves members $7 on a weekend/holiday ticket and $21 on a midweek ticket! In addition to lower ticket prices, Vertical Plus offers the convenience of electronic ticketing and members’ only lift lines. Vertical Plus also calculates the amount of vertical feet one skis or rides and rewards them with prizes, and discounts.
Interested skiers and riders can purchase Sierra season passes and Vertical Plus memberships at the resort web-site at www.sierratahoe.com, by calling (530) 659-7453 ext. 208, or visiting the resort Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm.
SUN PEAKS RECORDS 15% INCREASE
Sun Peaks, BC (July 4, 2000) - Sun Peaks Resort experienced impressive growth over the past year. The destination resort, located near Kamloops, British Columbia recorded a 15% increase in guest nights over the last 12 month period.
"We have seen significant growth from the Washington State market as well as the Australian and Ontario markets in the winter," says Christopher Nicolson, Director of Marketing for the Sun Peaks Resort Association. "But in the summer we are seeing new business and some interesting trends."
Group tour traffic has continued to hold strong, but a new opportunity appears to be the individual traveler. "We are seeing an increasing number of mature couples traveling by themselves, rather than on a scheduled group tour," continues Nicolson. "These people are originating from some of our traditional markets like B.C., Australia and Germany, but also some new markets like the Netherlands."
Nicolson reports a sharp increase in the corporate retreat and weddings market. Sun Peaks has joined with several other properties in the Thompson / Nicola region to promote meeting and convention facilities. "We expect these two sectors to grow significantly. At Sun Peaks alone the number of weddings booked has doubled over the past year."
JUNIOR RACERS IN NEW ZEALAND ENDURANCE SKI CHALLENGE
Queenstown, New Zealand (July 3, 2000) - Young Queenstown skiers and snowboarders are competing in their own endurance race, the BMW Junior Racers 5K, as part of the COMPAQ 50K of Coronet which is raising money for the CureKids charity.
While the senior event will see six international teams and two New Zealand entries competing for 16 gruelling hours in a head to head downhill race down Coronet Peak - the young juniors will be just as competitive about completing their two-hour event.
The BMW Junior Racers 5K will involve up to 100 young skiers and snowboarders collecting individual sponsors to help them raise money for CureKids.
"This is something very special for the youngsters in Queenstown," says Event Director Wayne Cafe. "Skiing and boarding are very much family sports and the kids want to do their bit to help us raise money."
"Some of those who have registered have already committed a lot of money after working hard to collect sponsors around the town. Their involvement will add another dimension to the COMPAQ 50K."
The young skiers and riders will ski for two hours non-stop on the slopes accessed by the Meadows chairlift and as well as raising money they will be eligible for some exciting prizes.
The BMW 5K is being held between 4.00pm and 6.00pm on July 16, the day before the COMPAQ 50K.
The COMPAQ 50K is modelled on the 24 Hours of Aspen and teams from Canada, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand will provide some spectacular action with speeds up to 130kmh expected to be reached.
The winning team will be the one clocking the most laps between 6.00pm on July 17 and 10.00am on July 18. All the teams will be aiming to pass the 50K or 50,000 vertical metre mark.
An exclusive dinner and charity auction is being held as part of the race to raise funds for CureKids and for the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team.
BRENDAN DORAN CLAIMS TITLE IN CHEVY TRUCKS 90M SUMMER SKI JUMP
Lake Placid, NY (July 3, 2000) – Current United States Ski Team member Brendan Doran (Steamboat Springs, CO) won the open division of the Chevy Trucks 90M Summer Ski Jump presented by I Love NY at the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jump Complex while Adam Schwall (Steamboat, CO) claimed the title in the junior division and Lindsey Van (Park City, UT) earned top honors in the women’s division.
Doran, 21, had jumps of 96 meters and 94.5 meters for a total of 245 points under cloudy skies and wet conditions on the 90-meter hill to earn the gold medal. Vladimir Hlyvka (Ukraine), a 1998 Olympian currently living in Chicago, Ill. and seeking American citizenship in an attempt to ski for the United States, earned second place with jumps of 94.5 meters and 95 meters for 240.5 points. Canadian Chris Holland (Banff, Alberta) finished third with two 91 meter jumps for 227 points.
“It was a great day. Lake Placid is like my second home. I’ve been coming here for ten years training so it feels more like home on this hill than I do on my own hill,” said Doran, another Nagano Olympian who is the current U.S. national champion. “The conditions were great, despite a little bit of rain. The wind conditions were favorable and it wasn’t really hot so it was kind of nice for us in our jumpsuits. I love coming here and I love the community.”
Schwall, who turned 17 years of age one week ago, had the day’s two longest jumps. His first one measured 96.5 meters and the second 97.5 meters, earning him 250 points and the gold medal in the junior division. Canadian Paul Lebel (Calgary, Alberta) took the silver with jumps of 91 meters and 93.5 meters for 229.5 points, edging third place winner Nathan Gerhart (Steamboat Springs, CO) by one point. Gerhart rounded out the top three with jumps of 90.5 meters and 92.0 meters, earning 228.5 points.
On the women’s side, Van, 15, had jumps of 83.5 meters and 81 meters to win the gold with 195.5 points. Liz Szotyori (Saugerties, NY) took second place with jumps of 75 meters and 77 meters for 160.5 points. Blair Tomten (Eau Claire, WI) finished third, with jumps of 64 meters and 58.5 meters and a total of 90 points.