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    CREDIT CRISIS MAY HALT SOME SKI AREA OPENINGS??

    I was speaking with a banker (from a major commercial bank) today about the economic impact of the current worsening credit crisis and during the discussion she told me that it will most likely impact businesses like a ski area where cash flow is tight at the onset of the season when operational...
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    Shorter Lift Lines This Year??

    Advanced booking are a good indicator of the coming season, however, they can also be cancelled with a phone call. Also, let's not forget that the European markets are getting slammed too. Also, if the lift lines are too short, some resorts will just close down for the season instead of...
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    Shorter Lift Lines This Year??

    Booking ski vacations late will be the strategy this year. I'm sure that availability will be unlimited and last minute bookings will bring big disclounts. Property owners will feel the pain if they don't have the rental income to cover carrying costs. We may even see discounted lift tickets...
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    Season's First Big Dump!! Bring Your Oxygen

    LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has discovered evidence of past water at its Martian landing site and spotted falling snow for the first time, scientists reported Monday.
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    Shorter Lift Lines This Year??

    The fact that the economy in this part of NJ is so resilient, even given that fact that it is one of the most expensive areas in the country, we are now just starting to show the strains of the Wall Street layoffs and loss of paper wealth. I have to believe that if this area is showing the...
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    Shorter Lift Lines This Year??

    I think that the Vail and Utah vacationers tend to be more hardcore skiers who will ski even during the toughest of economic conditions. East Coast day trippers tend to be the once or twice a year skiers who will think twice this year before laying out $60 for a lift ticket and $100 for a tank...
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    Shorter Lift Lines This Year??

    While Congress is trying to drain what's left in our Treasury, the economy is coming to a screeching halt and I'm sure we will see an impact on the NE ski industry. As an indicator: I went to an annual tent sale in one of the most affluent parts of the US (New Jersey) this past weekend and was...
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    Required Reading: Old Farmer's Almanac 2009

    To do my part in reducing global warming I have mounted a wind turbine on the top of my Suburban (6.o Litre) to provide energy to run the refigerator I keep in the back. Al Gore would be proud. :D
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    Winter Weather Predictions for 08-09

    "The almanac predicts above-normal snowfall for the Great Lakes and Midwest, especially during January and February, and above-normal precipitation for the Southwest in December and for the Southeast in January and February. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions will likely have an unusually...
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    The European Invasion

    I just spoke to a colleague based in Luxembourg and he said that he and many of his friends plan to ski in the US - West this season because of the weak dollar vs. the Euro. I guess that this is were the premier western resorts will benefit from the poor US economy and Bush record deficits...
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    Reality Check$$$$

    My wife and I rack up many FF miles and have never been able to use them to fly into JH. Our only saving grace is that we have family to stay with out there and don't have to pay for hotel accomadations. Plus they take us up the Teton Pass and know all the secret stashes. I've considered the...
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    Ski Area Logos: Best and Worst

    I would agree with one of the poster to say that Jackson Hole has a highly recognizable logo that for those that have skied there reflects the "wild" and somewhat reckless attitude of the local population (not the folks staying at the Four Seasons). The best evidence is the sign hanging over...
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    Reality Check$$$$

    My wife's family live in Jackson Hole and we have been lucky enough to go out there on a fairly regular basis over the past ten years. BUT NOW... I just went onto Obitz to price out a ticket for round trip from East Coast to JH and got the low price of $1,063. :shock: We used to pay @ $389 /...
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    It's the economy stupid!

    I must confess that I do not top 20 days a year these days. My time is all jammed up by work, kids and a big property (horse farm) to maintain. I am definately planning to retire at an age that will allow me to spend some quality years skiing in consistantly good terrain (UT, WY, CO, etc.)...
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    It's the economy stupid!

    Glad to see that the old New England spirit of independence is still alive and well. True that higher fuel prices means less skiers, but what about all those folks in VT, NH & ME who rely on the winter tourists to fill their bellies and woodstoves, not to mention the mortgage. Ain't much money...
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    Freeheel on alpine boards vs. tele-specific?

    I've skied tele for six years now and have always bought tele skis. I was introduced to tele by my wife's family in WY. I know that many of the locals out there use alpine skies with a tele binding (hardwire) because they pick them up cheap in the local ski swaps, and anyway, they could rip on...
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    It's the economy stupid!

    I stopped in my local ski shop yesterday to return my daughter's seasonal rentals and noticed that the shop did not have their usual close-out rack of skis and boots. I asked the store manager why and was told that the owner is going to wait until the fall to put them out because he will need...
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    Future of Ski Industry????

    Thanks for jumping into the shark tank guys. It was out there for a few days with no replies. I'm glad to hear that the balance between skier vs. riders is evening out again. I do think that the industry's recent move to freesking and twin-tips has helps this along. My kids can choose...
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    Future of Ski Industry????

    Recently I have been discussing with my skiing friends the effect of the surge in the popularity of snowboarding vs. skiing among young folks and its potential impact on the future of the industry. In the spirit of full disclosure and transparency, I must first admit that I have never...
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