Ski News from First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine

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Bella Coola, Recco Partner for Heli-Skiing Giveaway

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:58:01 GMT

Bella Coola (BC), Canada (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Big Mountain Heliskiing, Bella Coola Heli Sports’ (BCHS) newest tours, and Recco Locator Systems have partnered to give away a free five day heli-skiing/heli-snowboarding trip for two...

Snowshoe Replacing Widowmaker Ski Lift

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:57:37 GMT

Snowshoe, WV (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Construction is underway this summer on Snowshoe Mountain’s new high-speed detachable quad lift that will service the ski and snowboard resort's Widowmaker slope system and adjoining trails for the 2006-2007 season...

New COO Post for Canadian Ski Team

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:57:14 GMT

Calgary, Canada (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) has announced a restructuring of leadership positions to prepare the organization for the major events coming to Canada over the next four years, including additional World Cup ski races and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Part of that restructuring involves creation of a chief operating officer post for Canada's national governing body for alpine ski racing...

Australian Ski Resort Deploys Wi-Fi Boundary to Boundary

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:56:51 GMT

Mt. Buller, Australia (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Australia's Mt. Buller Alpine Ski Resort has retained the firm SnowSports Interactive to provide multimedia Internet access to all visitors and skiers. Resort visitors using PDAs, Wi-Fi enabled phones, or laptops will be able to access a whispar wireless mesh network from almost anywhere within the 650-acre ski and snowboard resort...

Burton, Motorola Expand Audio-ready Snowboard Clothing Line

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:56:05 GMT

Burlington, VT (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Motorola and Burton Snowboards have announced the expansion of their joint Audex wearable electronics collection. Available at select Burton Authorized Retailers this month, the new 2007 Audex collection blends technology and snowboard function, enabling wireless communication and music entertainment through features built into snowboarding jackets and helmets...

Financial Results Positive for European Ski Resort Operator

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:55:28 GMT

Boulogne Billancourt, France (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Compagnie des Alpes (CDA), the operator of ski and snowboard resorts and leisure parks across Western Europe, has announced its third quarter financial results for fiscal year 2005-06. At the end of the third quarter, consolidated sales for Compagnie des Alpes Group amounted to €329.5 million, or an increase of 15.4% on a real basis. On a like-for-like scope, sales grew by 5.1%...

"Buy" a Chairlift Seat at Whaleback Mountain Ski Area

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 19:57:27 GMT

Enfield, NH - A year after former Olympic and World Cup mogul skier Evan Dybvig reopened New Hampshire's Whaleback Mountain, ski area officials have undertaken an effort to raise funds by "selling" chairlift seats...

$2,000 Grant for Maine Handicapped Skiing

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:50:52 GMT

Ellsworth, ME (Tuesday, August 1, 2006) - Maine Handicapped Skiing (MHS) recently received a $2000 grant from the Western Mountains Fund of the Maine Community Foundation (MCF) to fund the development of a community outreach program to schools and civic, health and veterans groups on the importance of adaptive recreation for adults and children with physical disabilities...

Michigan Ski Resort to be Auctioned

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:39:18 GMT

Gaylord, MI (Tuesday, August 1, 2006) - Keith Gornick, the second-generation owner of the Otsego Club Hotel & Resort, today announces his plans to retire by the end of 2006 and sell the Michigan ski, snowboard and golf resort, which was founded in 1939...

Vail Resorts' Skiing is Gone With the Wind

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:38:58 GMT

Vail, CO (Tuesday, August 1, 2006) - Vail Resorts Inc. announced today that the Company will offset 100 percent of its energy use by purchasing nearly 152,000 megawatt-hours of wind energy for its five ski and snowboard resorts, its lodging properties including RockResorts and Grand Teton Lodge Company, all of its 125 retail locations (operated through Specialty Sports Venture) and its new corporate headquarters in Broomfield, Colo. By purchasing renewable energy credits equal to the Company's entire electricity use, Vail Resorts becomes the second largest purchaser of wind power of all corporations in the United States...

International Ski Teams Train in New Zealand

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:21:18 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand (Tuesday, August 1, 2006) - World Cup ski racers are descending upon New Zealand's Treble Cone ski area to train on the mountain outside of Wanaka...

FIS Ski Racing at Treble Cone

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:20:29 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand (Tuesday, August 1, 2006) - Treble Cone made New Zealand ski history this past weekend by hosting the first ever Entry League FIS event to be held in that country. More than 49 participants from across the globe took part in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events at the Wanaka ski field, run in conjunction with the Wanaka Ski Club. Competitors had two runs each over the Slalom and GS courses, which were based on Treble Cone’s new, super-wide Big Skite trail...

Ski Writers Honor ORDA's Caligiore

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 04:39:31 GMT

Lake Placid, NY (Sunday, July 30, 2006) - Sandy Caligiore, director of communications for the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority, is the 2006 recipient of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association's (NASJA) Bob Gillen Memorial Award. Caligiore was presented with the award by the ski writers' group at a special event in Lake Placid last week...

Pete Swenson and Rick Knowles Join Wasatch Ski Distribution

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 04:39:10 GMT

Salt Lake City, UT (Sunday, July 30, 2006) - Pete Swenson and Rick Knowles have joined Wasatch Ski Distribution LLC as independent representatives to help market Ski Trab products...

Quiksilver to Expand Dynastar Ski Brand

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 04:38:48 GMT

Sallanches, France (Sunday, July 30, 2006) - As Dynastar Skis pursues its worldwide brand strategy to focus on the performance segment of the global ski market, the company has just unveiled a plan that calls for aggressive investment in its factory, its technology and in its Research and Development and marketing teams...

Women's Ski Jumping Continues in Calgary

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 04:38:25 GMT

Calgary, Canada (Thursday, July 27, 2006) - U.S. women ski jumpers grabbed two more Continental Cup top-5 finishes and four other top-10s as the tour finished its annual visit to North America with a lightning-interrupted night competition and then an afternoon competition the next day at Canada Olympic Park...

Summer Skiing Exhibitions Continue in Lake Placid

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:50:17 GMT

Lake Placid, NY (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - When summer hits its stride in Lake Placid, world-class skiers come out and play at the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex and the Kodak Sports Park for Soaring Saturdays and Wet and Wild Wednesdays, respectively...

New Chapter for Whistler Ski Festival

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:49:57 GMT

Whistler (BC), Canada (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - The Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival is entering a new chapter of ownership and production with the announcement that Tourism Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb have purchased the 25% ownership stake held by event founder Doug Perry. The transaction was concluded this past Friday...

Treble Cone Hosts Ski Academy

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:49:33 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - New Zealand's Treble Cone ski area is hosting the Kristin School of Snow Sports for the fourth year in a row. The Auckland international school, located on the North Shore, has brought 55 children to the Wanaka ski field to train with the Treble Cone Race Academy...

US Airways to Reinstate Ski Flights to Telluride

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:49:13 GMT

Tempe, AZ (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - US Airways has announced that the airline will once again be flying to Telluride, Colorado, reinstating seasonal ski flights from its Phoenix hub to the popular Colorado ski destination. Effective Dec. 15 through March 31, 2007, US Airways will provide two daily flights operated by US Airways Express carrier Mesa Airlines...

Top Ski Racers To Train At Coronet Peak

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:48:51 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - Some of the world’s top World Cup ski racers including Winter Olympics medalists will be returning to train in New Zealand at Coronet Peak this year...

Golf Course Debuts at Jay Peak Ski Resort

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:48:31 GMT

Jay, VT (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - It's been a long time coming, but on Friday, June 30th, as stormy skies parted, pipers from the Catamount Pipe Band played Northland the Brave as they marched their way from the first green toward the tee decks of the new Jay Peak Championship Golf Course. New England's newest ski resort mountain golf course officially opened to the public with its front nine on Saturday, July 1...

Vermont Ski Area Expanding Trails

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:48:09 GMT

Middlebury Gap, VT (Tuesday, July 25, 2006) - Central Vermont's Middlebury College Snow Bowl ski and snowboard area is completing its first major trail work in 20 years this summer...

Women Wrap Up Ski Jumping in Park City

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:47:28 GMT

Kimball Junction, UT (Saturday, July 22, 2006) - Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT) was fourth for the second straight night Saturday, leading four U.S. women into the top 10 of the VISA Women's Ski Jumping Festival at Utah Olympic Park...

More Snow Boosts New Zealand Ski Season

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:47:00 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Saturday, July 22, 2006) - New Zealand South Island ski fields say near record amounts of snow have fallen in the past 36 hours, adding to their best season in a decade or more...

Women Ski Jumpers Open 2007 Season

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:46:39 GMT

Kimball Junction, UT (Friday, July 21, 2006) - In the first international jumping meet since women's ski jumping was approved for the 2009 World Nordic Ski Championships, U.S. women took two of the top five spots, five of the top 12. Germany's Juliane Seyfahrt overcame blistering heat and jet lag to win the VISA Women's Ski Jumping Festival which opened Continental Cup competition for the 2007 season...

Free Ski Open NZ Confirms International Field

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 23:10:22 GMT

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (Wednesday, July 19, 2006) - New Zealand's free skiers will once again have the opportunity to take on some of the world's best, this time on their own turf, when the international Free Ski Open NZ hits Lake Wanaka August 15-25...

Ski Trab Sponsors Mountain Guides

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 23:09:54 GMT

Salt Lake City, UT (Wednesday, July 19, 2006) - Ski Trab announced today its sponsorship of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The backcountry ski manufacturer and its U.S. distributor, Wasatch Ski Distribution, will help supply skis for training purposes as part of their sponsorship of the AMGA...

U.S. Women Ski Jumpers Ready for Debut

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 17:32:37 GMT

Park City, UT (Wednesday, July 19, 2006) - U.S. women ski jumpers are temporarily shelving their excitement about gaining International Ski Federation approval to be included in the 2009 World Championships in favor of the opening of the Continental Cup season Friday and Saturday night...

Ski Area Real Estate Booming at Northstar

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:34:40 GMT

Truckee, CA (Wednesday, July 19, 2006) - Amidst the official groundbreaking ceremonies today for the new luxury Ritz-Carlton resort property at California's Northstar-at-Tahoe ski and snowboard resort, sales of resort residences at other area properties continue to boom, according to the hotel's developers...

US Airways to Resume Direct Ski Flight Service to Vail

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:33:29 GMT

Tempe, AZ (Wednesday, July 19, 2006) - Skiers and snowboarders from the East Coast markets of Philadelphia and Charlotte will again have a direct route to ski and ride the slopes of Vail. This winter, US Airways will resume Saturday-only seasonal service from its Philadelphia and Charlotte hubs to Eagle/Vail, Colorado. The flights will utilize 193-seat Boeing 757 aircraft and are now available for booking...

San Francisco Inner-City Skiing Event to Avoid Controversy This Year

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:37:18 GMT

San Francisco, CA (Tuesday, July 18, 2006) - Icer Air, an inner-city skiing and snowboarding jam session, will return to San Francisco in November...just not to the city's streets...

Russian Skiers Flip for Lake Placid

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:52:40 GMT

Lake Placid, NY (Tuesday, July 18, 2006) - When summer hits its stride in Lake Placid, world-class skiers come out and play at the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex and the Kodak Sports Park for Soaring Saturdays and Wet and Wild Wednesdays, respectively...

Las Leñas: A Ski Resort Guide

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:34:30 GMT

Las Leñas, Argentina (Tuesday, July 18, 2006) - Las Leñas is the largest but perhaps most controversial ski area in the Southern Hemisphere. Advocates compare its scale to Vail and Snowbird combined, though the long and steep off-piste ski terrain is perhaps more analogous to low density European areas like Alagna or La Grave. Detractors point out that 80% of this terrain is dependent upon the Marte double chair, which is closed at least a quarter of the time due to weather or less diligent ski area management than we expect in North America. When open, Marte’s skiing can also be limited by substantial lift lines and by the other slow lifts needed to return to it.

The polarized opinion above, plus my favorable impression of Extremely Canadian’s clinic at Whistler, convinced me to sign up for one of their World Tour weeks. Extremely Canadian has been coming to Las Leñas since 2002, and lead guide Joe Lammers has over 200 days of lifetime skiing at Las Leñas.

Some skiers put a premium on skiing anything in the Southern Hemisphere, just to break up the typical six to eight months between northern ski seasons, so it’s worthwhile to analyze Las Leñas relative to Southern Hemisphere alternatives, as well as on an absolute scale vs. European and North American skiing. ...

Beat the Heat: Summer Skiing on Oregon's Mount Hood

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:33:26 GMT

Government Camp, OR (Monday, July 17, 2006) - The hazy, hot and humid days of summer are here, and there are many ways to cool off. You could head to the mountains to camp in cooler and drier air. Maybe you’ll venture to the beach for a dip in the ocean, or hang out by the pool with a piña colada in hand.

Some folks beat the heat another way: they’re going skiing.

Since the early 1980s Timberline Resort on Oregon’s Mount Hood has fired up a chairlift on the Palmer Snowfield, a permanent pseudo-glacier on the mountain’s southern slopes for summer skiers and snowboarders. During the months of June, July and August, the mountain is teeming with young ski racers slapping gates and snowboarders going big amongst a massive collection of terrain park hits. ...

New Marketing Director for Mt. Washington Hotel and Bretton Woods Ski Area

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:17:37 GMT

Bretton Woods, NH (Monday, July 17, 2006) - Pat Corso, President and CEO of The Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods, announced today that Candra Canning has been appointed the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods. The Resort is home of the historic Mount Washington Hotel and New Hampshire’s largest ski area, Bretton Woods Mountain Resort...

Changes Afoot for Australian Ski Areas

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:17:15 GMT

Melbourne, Australia (Monday, July 17, 2006) - Australian ski areas are working hard to stay ahead of the curve, according to officials at the Australian Ski Areas Association. Following is a summary of what's new at ski and snowboard resorts across the country...

Coronet Peak's Inaugural Sunday Grand Prix Ski Race Sees Strong Field

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:16:47 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Monday, July 17, 2006) - A field of nearly 50 competitors turned out yesterday for the season’s first io Sunday Grand Prix ski race at Coronet Peak...

Skiing in Kashmir

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:16:12 GMT

Gulmarg, India (Monday, July 17, 2006) - After three decades of planning and under construction since 1991, officials in Gulmarg last year finally completed construction of a big new gondola with a mind-numbing vertical rise of 1,330 meters (4,364 feet) that ascends to 4390-meter (13,400-foot) Afarwat Peak. Gulmarg is now the only alpine resort in the Himalayas with big lift infrastructure, and the resort’s gondola has more vertical than any lift in the USA. The Australian company Skihimalaya.com is now taking bookings for the 2006/07 winter at very enviable prices...

History Buffs Chronicle Colorado Ski Lift Changes

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:15:46 GMT

Boulder, CO (Monday, July 17, 2006) - ColoradoSkiHistory.com has for five years been documenting ski lift installations, removals, and modifications throughout Colorado, and has released its survey for 2006. Since 2002, the number of new chairlifts installed annually in Colorado has increased by 78 percent. This year resorts are reaching deep in their financial pockets, building expensive projects that reflect last winter’s record skier numbers...

Ski Maker Fischer Promotes U.S. Staff

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:14:55 GMT

Auburn, NH (Monday, July 17, 2006) - Fischer US President David Auer has announced several key promotions within the ski distributor's staff...

New Women-Only Snowboard Program at The Remarkables

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:14:32 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Monday, July 17, 2006) - The Remarkables ski area in Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand has introduced a new women’s only snowboarding program designed to encourage female snowboarders to improve their skills...

American Skiing Considers Selling Steamboat Ski Resort

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:51:01 GMT

Steamboat Springs, CO (Friday, July 14, 2006) - American Skiing Company (ASC), owner of several alpine ski and snowboard resorts across the United States, today announced that it is "initiating a strategic review of business options" for Colorado's Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, including selling the popular ski area...

Snowboarding Stars White, Teter Take Home ESPYs

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:49:03 GMT

New York, NY (Friday, July 14, 2006) - You never know if Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) is smiling or not behind his trademark “masked-bandit” black bandana he wears while competing, but there was no covering up that toothy grin when White suited up in chocolate pinstripes for the 2006 ESPY awards show...

N.H. Ski Area to Upgrade Snowmaking, Night Lighting

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:48:22 GMT

Henniker, NH (Friday, July 14, 2006) - New Hampshire's Pats Peak ski area has announced its capital improvement plan for the 2006-07 winter season, including snowmaking upgrades, increased night lighting, a new 500-foot carpet lift, and a completely reconfigured beginner's area...

Treble Cone Ski Area Plans Gondola

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:47:48 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand (Friday, July 14, 2006) - Treble Cone Ski Area in Wanaka yesterday announced plans for a new gondola to provide access from the valley floor to the alpine ski and snowboard resort. A resource consent application has recently been lodged to provide for the ski lift link and its associated buildings...

Koznick Retires from Ski Racing

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:47:16 GMT

Eagan, MN (Friday, July 14, 2006) - Three-time Olympian and six-time World Cup slalom winner Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN) has announced her retirement after more than a decade of World Cup ski racing...

Winter Visits Up at N.Y.'s Gore and Whiteface Ski Areas

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:46:56 GMT

Lake Placid, NY (Friday, July 14, 2006) - An independent economic impact statement has concluded that the events and activities of the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in Lake Placid, including ski and snowboard operations at ORDA-operated Gore and Whiteface Mountain Ski Areas generated over $356 million statewide in 2004-05. Approximately $323.7 million of that total was felt directly and indirectly in Essex, Franklin, Clinton and Warren counties...

Automated Snowmaking Expansion a Monumental Task for Wisp Ski Resort

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:46:21 GMT

McHenry, MD (Friday, July 14, 2006) - By any standards, a 40% expansion in skiable acreage is an aggressive undertaking. Coupled with a 50% increase in snowmaking capacity and plans for extensive automation to integrate ski area operation and control, it presents a monumental challenge to even the most experienced resort managers...

Ferry Company to Sell Self-Drive Ski Packages to Britons

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:45:25 GMT

Plymouth, UK (Friday, July 14, 2006) - Brittany Ferries, which offers car ferry service between the U.K., Ireland, France and Spain, will offer self-drive ski vacations to eight resorts in the French Alps for the 2006-07 ski and snowboard season...

Hight Wins Summer Snowboarding Halfpipe Event

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:44:57 GMT

Government Camp, OR (Sunday, July 9, 2006) - Fresh off her first Olympics and a month of surfing, Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA) stomped a summertime snowboarding halfpipe victory Sunday at the 3rd Annual Abominable Snow Jam at Timberline Resort on Oregon's Mt. Hood. The $5,000 payday was Hight's first major pipe win in the U.S. thanks to big method, back-to-back fives and smooth frontside sevens on the 22-foot pipe...

New U.S. Women Ski Jumpers Train in Utah

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:43:12 GMT

Park City, UT (Sunday, July 9, 2006) - More than two-dozen young women ski jumpers are participating in a mini-training camp at Utah Olympic Park with the majority of the coaching coming from the nation's top women jumpers...

Bear Valley Ski Area Selling Lift Chairs

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 02:50:44 GMT

Bear Valley, CA (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - Are you looking for a unique patio swing this summer? Or a special welcome for guests at your ski chalet? If so, Bear Valley Ski Area in California is selling a piece of its history...

Heli Skiing Pioneer Hans Gmoser Dies in Cycling Accident

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 02:50:04 GMT

Banff (AB), Canada (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - Hans Gmoser, the founding father of helicopter skiing in the Canadian Rockies since founding Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) in 1957, died yesterday from injuries sustained in a fall Monday while cycling the 1A highway near its intersection with the Trans-Canada Highway in Lake Louise...

Gay Ski Week to Boost New Zealand Tourism

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 02:49:23 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - The team at 42BELOW Gay Ski Week NZ have announced that Australia and the UK's largest gay lifestyle and online dating website Gaydar.com.au will take the role of presenting sponsor of the week-long festival, scheduled to take place in Queenstown September 2-9. Festival organizers will benefit from advertising on Gaydar's numerous websites...

Bode Miller Non-Profit Raises $9500 for Adaptive Skiing Program

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 18:10:58 GMT

Bretton Woods, NH (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - At the BodeFest Ski and Golf Challenge 2006 at the Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods, past World Cup alpine skiing champion and U.S. Ski Team racer Bode Miller and Bretton Woods' BodeFest raised $9,500 at the annual event this past spring. All proceeds raised at the event benefiting Bode's own charity, The Turtle Ridge Foundation, were donated by Miller to the Bretton Woods Adaptive Program, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing sports and recreation to people with disabilities...

Alpine Canada Alpin Supports Plan to Save Alberta Ski Area

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:51:01 GMT

Banff (AB), Canada (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) announced today its full support for plans to keep alive the historic Mount Norquay ski area in Banff National Park...

Mt. Ruapehu Prepares for Ski and Snowboard Mini X Games

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:54:10 GMT

Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - As up to half a meter of snow piled up on the slopes of Mt. Ruapehu today, officials at Whakapapa were preparing for The Fruit Hitz Mt. Ruapehu Mini X Games kick of at Whakapapa next week. Now in its sixth year, the Mini X Games are the biggest kids on snow freestyle ski and snowboard event in New Zealand...

Ski Show Promoter Goes to the Mall

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:53:27 GMT

Waltham, MA (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - Two new mall Snowfests in New England and the New England Youth Sports Festival have been added to the ski and snowboard show calendar of popular BEWI Productions sports expos that has long included four well-established annual SnowSports Expos staged in exhibition halls in Denver, Portland (OR), Seattle and Boston...

New CEO for Academy Snowboards Parent

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:53:08 GMT

San Diego, CA (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - Execute Sports, Inc., the parent company of Academy Snowboards, has added Todd Hahn to its roster as CEO. Hahn comes to Execute Sports from the Familie, a leading action sports agency owned by Wasserman Media...

Snowboarder Named Top Colorado Ski Patroller

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:52:50 GMT

Steamboat Springs, CO (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - Dean "Cody" St. John was honored by Colorado Ski Country USA as it named the first snowboarder ever as "2005-2006 Colorado Ski Patroller of the Year" at its annual meeting in Steamboat Springs last month...

Bode Races in Americas Cup

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:52:30 GMT

Valencia, Spain (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - American World Cup ski racing champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) received a first hand look at the highest level of sailing last month as the former World Cup champion served as the "18th man" on the American crewed USA 87 in the 12th stop of the 32nd Americas Cup...

City of Montreal Invests in Ski Resort

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:52:06 GMT

Bromont (QC), Canada (Thursday, July 6, 2006) - The city of Montréal has made a long term investment of C$1 million in Ski Bromont to support the Eastern Townships ski and snowboard resort's already announced investments of C$15 million over the next three years...

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Athletes Balance Training and Education

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 13:46:20 GMT

Salt Lake City, UT (Wednesday, July 5, 2006) - Juggling training and travel along with the pursuit of higher education is a tough pairing for any elite athlete. Yet through a unique partnership between the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and Westminster College, qualified USSA athletes are able to enroll in a college plan that fits both their educational and their athletic pursuits, and they receive full tuition scholarships...

Utah City Targets Ski Companies

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 06:11:01 GMT

Ogden, UT (Wednesday, July 5, 2006) - In its effort to rebuild itself, the city of Ogden, home to nearly 80,000 residents some 35 miles north of Salt Lake City, is once again extending an invitation to the world much like it did during the Winter Olympic Games in 2002. But while the welcome in 2002 was extended to athletes and Olympic spectators, in 2006 Ogden is hoping to attract European ski companies to headquarter their operations at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains...

Ski Camp to Benefit New Zealand's Ski and Snowboard Athletes

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 06:10:06 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand (Wednesday, July 5, 2006) - New Zealand's first major national ski camp this winter, held later this month, will play a major role in helping fund the country's future snow sports athletes...

Jones Sweeps Lake Placid SuperTour Ski Jumping

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 06:09:41 GMT

Lake Placid, NY (Tuesday, July 4, 2006) - Two-time Olympian Clint Jones (Steamboat Springs, CO) had the longest jump of the final round Tuesday to complete a sweep of the first two USSA Ski Jumping SuperTour events - but a couple of unheralded juniors nearly stole the show at the New York Ski Education Foundation's (NYSEF) annual holiday meet...

New Joint Lift Pass to Ski Wanaka

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:35:30 GMT

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (Tuesday, July 4, 2006) - Two of New Zealand's more popular ski areas, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone, have joined forces for 2006 to produce the Wanaka Pass. This five-day anytime pass will give visitors to Lake Wanaka the opportunity to enjoy both ski areas with the convenience of one lift pass...

Coronet Peak Night Skiing Begins

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:35:07 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Tuesday, July 4, 2006) - Queenstown has a variety of nightlife, and one more option for visiting skiers and snowboarders kicks off this Friday with night skiing at Coronet Peak, when skiers and riders will be able to get their snow fix from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights for most of the season...

Ski Season Underway at Treble Cone

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:34:38 GMT

Wanaka, New Zealand (Monday, July 3, 2006) - Treble Cone resort celebrated record numbers and strong early-season ski conditions late last week with champagne and musical entertainment, welcoming the new ski and snowboard season for 2006...

Seven U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Athletes Nominated for ESPY Awards

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:34:09 GMT

New York, NY (Monday, July 3, 2006) - An unprecedented seven U.S. Ski and Snowboarding athletes have been nominated for the 14th Annual ESPY Awards highlighting sports top moments and performances in the past year. Those nominated are Olympic snowboarders Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) and Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO), Olympic skiers Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) and Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), plus Paralympians Steve Cook (Salt Lake City, UT) and Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA)...

Ski Mountaineer Andrew McLean to Tour U.S.

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:33:32 GMT

(Monday, July 3, 2006) - This month, Mountain Hardwear athletes Andrew McLean and Mike Libecki will embark on The Sharp End Tour, a series of eight multimedia presentations featuring outdoor athletic accomplishments, raffle prizes and parties...

Golf Tourney to Support Freestyle Skiing Program

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:33:03 GMT

Midway, UT (Monday, July 3, 2006) - Olympic silver medalist, Joe Pack will host the 2nd annual golf tournament on Thursday, July 27 to support the FLY Freestyle skiing program at the Utah Olympic Park. The FLY Freestyle Golf Tournament will be held at the Wasatch Mountain State Park Golf Course in Midway, Utah...

New See-Through Plastic Formulated for Ski Boots

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:47:14 GMT

Leverkusen, Germany (Friday, June 30, 2006) - Skiers may remember the Lange Banshee, the first alpine ski boot to be manufactured utilizing transparent plastic. Here in Leverkusen, the epicenter of the German chemical industry, Bayer MaterialScience AG has created a new generation of transparent plastic materials for use in ski boots. With the introduction of these new Desmopan aromatic ether thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), the company is promising skiers even better performance...

New Chairman Elected for National Ski Patrol

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:46:22 GMT

Lakewood, CO (Friday, June 30, 2006) - The National Ski Patrol's board of directors elected Dr. James DeWeerd Jr. as National Chairman at the annual board meeting held June 23-24 in Lakewood, Colorado. DeWeerd is one of five new board members seated March 1, 2006, as a result of the special election held in February. DeWeerd hails from the North Central Region of the Central Division where he has been an NSP member for 34 years. He replaces outgoing chairman Dick Everett...

Rossignol Hires Soft Goods Sales Veep

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 23:50:59 GMT

Park City, UT (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - The Quiksilver Rossignol Group announced today that Canice Harte will join the ski and snowboard equipment and clothing maker's management team in Park City to fill the position of VP of Sales and Marketing, Soft Goods Division. Harte will be directly responsible for sales activities and will oversee the adaptation of Rossignol’s global marketing strategies related to the apparel, accessories and footwear divisions of the Rossignol brand for the US market...

B.C. Ski Resort Turns French Fries Into Fuel

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:17:06 GMT

Fernie (BC), Canada (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - The plaza at Fernie Alpine Resort was recently filled with the unlikely combination of high school students, french fries and biodiesel. Local students from Fernie Secondary have developed a way of turning waste fryer oil into biodiesel, which they will now use to fuel the ski and snowboard resort's front end loader...

Burton Announces Dates for Global Snowboarding Open

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:16:46 GMT

Burlington, VT (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Burton Snowboards has confirmed the dates and locations for the upcoming Burton Global Open Snowboarding Championships, the international event series that gives local, amateur and pro snowboarders an equal shot at a world class title. This season, the contest series will crown its first male and female Global Open Champions at the Burton U.S. Open, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2007...

Quiksilver and Roxy to Bring Ski and Snowboard Gear to Russia

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:16:28 GMT

Huntington Beach, CA (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Quiksilver, Inc. on Tuesday announced that, in partnership with Sprandi International Ltd., it has created a joint venture with the exclusive rights to design, manufacture, market and distribute Quiksilver and Roxy branded products in Russia. The joint venture will be responsible for establishing a Russian distribution network of company-owned retail stores as well as a sizeable wholesale business that will include licensed retail stores, large key accounts and small independent retail chains...

Academy Snowboard Company Increases European Sales Orders by 181 Percent

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:16:08 GMT

San Diego, CA (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Execute Sports, Inc. announced Tuesday that Academy Snowboard Company has increased its sales in Europe by 181% with orders from leading European distribution company AB Invest, into Italy, Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland. Overall, with these orders, Academy Snowboard Co.'s international orders have increased by 51% year-to-date over last year...

Skiing Partners With Swimming for Educational CD

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:15:37 GMT

Park City, UT (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Looking for tips on nurturing your future Olympian? A new CD produced by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) and USA Swimming titled "Successful Sports Parenting" is now available. Featuring tools and information for parents, coaches and club administrators, "Sports Parenting" is designed as a resource to support the successful development of young athletes – from novice to elite level – of all sports...

Burton Abominable Snow Jam Snowboards Mt. Hood Next Week

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:15:17 GMT

Government Camp, OR (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Burton's third annual Abominable Snow Jam snowboarding competition takes place next week, and top snowboarders, campers and yetis alike are getting ready for the summer's biggest snowboard contest on Mt. Hood, Oregon from July 8-12, 2006. Featuring a quarterpipe, halfpipe and slopestyle competition, the Abominable Snow Jam brings top international riders like Nicolas Müller, Anne-Flore Marxer, Mason Aguirre, Danny Davis, Natasza Zurek, Danny Kass, Scotty Arnold, Hana Beaman, Gretchen Bleiler, Kazuhiro Kokubo and Chad Otterstrom to Mt. Hood for a laid-back event in the hub of the U.S. summer snowboard scene...

Le Massif Pleads for Government Money to Expand Ski Area

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:14:43 GMT

Petite-Rivière-St.-François (QC), Canada (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - As of last week, Daniel Gauthier, President of Groupe Le Massif, has yet to fulfil all conditions necessary to proceed with the major C$230 million recreational tourism project he has planned for the Charlevoix region of Quebec, including expansion of the Le Massif ski and snowboard area. He was given until June 30 to meet all conditions...

Senior Ski Resort Managers to Swap Roles at B.C.'s Red Resort

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:14:25 GMT

Rossland (BC), Canada (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Howard Katkov, President and CEO of Red Mountain Ventures Inc., today announced changes to the senior management team at Red Resort. Effective immediately, Jim Greene has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Red Resort Properties Ltd., the Real Estate Company, wholly owned by Red Mountain Ventures Inc.. Greene will continue in his current capacity of Vice President of Resort Operations for the 2006/07 ski and snowboard season, during which time he will transition with his replacement, Erik Kalacis, currently Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Red Resort...

Ski Jumpers to Soar Above Lake Placid for Holiday Weekend

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:14:05 GMT

Lake Placid, NY (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - It's a time-honored tradition in Lake Placid dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Summer ski jumping returns to the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex with a pair of competitions among the featured activities in Lake Placid over the upcoming holiday period...

Time Running Out to Enter Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2006

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:13:47 GMT

Fuschl Am See, Austria (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Picture this: your best action and adventure sports photographs celebrated, honored and exhibited in mind-blowing venues around the world. There's just one catch: you've got to win first...

Sale of N.H.'s Largest Ski Resort Finalized

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:13:28 GMT

Bretton Woods, NH (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Celebration Associates and Crosland Inc. on Friday announced their $40 million purchase of over 900 acres of land and other assets that surround the historic Mount Washington Hotel and the Bretton Woods Mountain Resort in northern New Hampshire. The intent of the transaction had been announced in April of 2006 and was finalized last week...

U.S. Ski Team Racers Co-Grand Marshals in July 4th Parade

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:13:06 GMT

Park City, UT (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Are the co-grand marshals of Park City's annual Fourth of July parade excited about their role? Does Donald Trump like his name in the headlines? Is there sand in the Sahara? Is this a great country? ...

Olympic Dream Spurs Women Ski Jumpers to Fly Farther

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:12:44 GMT

Park City, UT (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Having a possible chance to see women's ski jumping included in the 2010 Olympics, and be part of that pioneering move for their sport, will spur them to re-dedicate themselves and extend their training and competitive drive, three women ski jumpers said...

Tahoe-Area Ski Resort Plans Two New Lifts

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:12:26 GMT

Truckee, CA (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - Officials of California's Northstar-at-Tahoe ski and snowboard resort have announced the launch of the next phase of an extensive mountain improvement plan, which includes two new ski lifts, relocating the cross-country skiing center, expanding its snowmaking system, adding new parking lots and additional ski and snowboard terrain...

U.S. Skiing's Kelly to Chair FIS PR Committee

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:12:05 GMT

Oberhofen, Switzerland (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Tom Kelly, was named chairman of the International Ski Federation's (FIS) Committee for Public Relations and Mass Media. Kelly will serve along with vice-chairman Ignacio Valenzuela of Spain for a two-year term. The FIS Council decision was formally announced June 21 by the FIS...

Parties Sign Master Development Agreement for Mt. Baldy Ski Area

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:11:47 GMT

Oliver (BC), Canada (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - In a signing ceremony on June 15 at the new Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, British Columbia's Premier Gordon Campbell, Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie and Mount Baldy Ski Corporation President Brett Sweezy signed a landmark agreement. Immediately following the event, the Master Development Agreement for the Mount Baldy Resort was approved. This approval sets the stage for Mt. Baldy to become B.C.'s newest four-season destination ski and snowboard resort...

Freestyle Ski Gear and Apparel Hot in Stores

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:11:28 GMT

McLean, VA (Thursday, June 29, 2006) - As reported in May, overall sales for the entire winter sport market (including specialty and chain stores) were up 4% in dollars to $2.3 billion for the August 2005 through March 2006 period, according to the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Retail Audit, conducted by Leisure Trends Group. A notable hot spot in equipment and apparel sales was the freestyle category...

The Remarkables Kicks Off Queenstown Ski Season

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:11:08 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Tuesday, June 27, 2006) - The first skiers and riders of the 2006 ski and snowboard season at The Remarkables today were greeted with a glass of Lindauer bubbly to celebrate the ski area's first day of the season. Lifts started turning with plenty of snow top to bottom, as mountain staff welcomed local and international visitors...

Cardrona Opens Ski Season with 'Perfect Conditions'

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:10:47 GMT

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (Thursday, June 22, 2006) - The 2006 ski and snowboard season kicked off in Lake Wanaka today as Cardrona Alpine Resort opened its gates to thousands of skiers and riders eager to enjoy the best opening snow conditions in over a decade...

Dodson, Gulini Ride to Victory at U.S. Snowboarding's Revolution Tour Slopestyle

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:10:24 GMT

Government Camp, OR (Thursday, June 22, 2006) - With the second straight bluebird competition day at Windells in the books, the Chevrolet Revolution Tour officially closed out the 2006 season on Mt. Hood Wednesday with Josh Dodson (Bend, OR) and Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, UT) stomping victories in slopestyle...

Snowboard Halfpipe Season Concludes on Mt. Hood

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 04:49:48 GMT

Government Camp, OR (Wednesday, June 21, 2006) - Daniel Wakeham and Kate Foster spent three weeks at Windells getting acquainted with what the riders describe as one of the best halfpipes in the world this time of year. The result: victories Tuesday in the final stop of the Chevrolet Revolution Tour at Mt. Hood...

Ski Season Off to Great Start in New Zealand

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:25:58 GMT

Queenstown, New Zealand (Tuesday, June 20, 2006) - As more New Zealand ski and snowboard areas open for the season, many are reporting their best start in a decade. A series of cold southerly storms laden with snow have passed through ski areas over the past six weeks contributing to strong early-season conditions for skiers and riders...

Vermont Ski Areas Honor Wilcox, Weichsel

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:11:51 GMT

Killington, VT (Tuesday, June 20, 2006) - Long-time ski industry veteran Dave Wilcox and sports event producer Bernie Weichsel were honored today at the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) Annual Meeting for their contributions to the Vermont ski industry. Wilcox received the Industry Achievement Award and Weichsel received the Friend of the Industry Award...