Eastern Ski Writers Association

Eastern Ski Writers Association Board of Directors

President: Dan Cassidy
First Vice President: Iseult Devlin
Second Vice President: George Regan

Executive Secretary: Bill Clapper

Board Members - Current:
Joan Wallen
Matt Galella
Roger Leo
Mike Roth
Gerry Pallor
Roger Lohr

Board Members - New:
Dan Wolf
Pat Turner Kavanaugh

Immediate Past President: Martin Griff

Past Presidents Council: T/B/A

Committee Chairperson(s) Appointments

Iseult Devlin Professional Development
George Regan Credentials & Ethics
Edward Blumstein Parliamentarian
Dan Cassidy - Iseult Devlin or t/b/a NASJA Delegates
Matt Galella, Dan Wolf Finances
George Regan & Joan Wallen Conference Sites
Bill Clapper E-Newsletter - Editor/Production Mgr.
Pat Turner Kavanaugh History Project
Roger Lohr Constitution & By-Laws Review
Mike Roth Company Store
Roger Leo Gillen Seminar
Jim Gregory & Lisa Densmore (?) Golden Ski Award
Gerry Pallor Membership -& New Media
Roger Leo Traditional Media (2nd term)
T/B/A Membership - Corporate
Richard Butler Internship
Vickie Bancroft Racing
Dan Wolf & Joan Wallen Honorary Member(s)
Bob Williams Nominations

Contact: secretary@easternskiwriters.org

Eastern Ski Writers Association
Conference Schedules
2010 -- 2011

Sept. 13 to 15, Gunstock Ski Resort, Laconia, NH. Bob Gillen Snowsports Journalism Conference.
Nov. 11 and 12, Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
Feb. 6 to 8, Mad River Glen, Fayston VT
March 1 to 6, NASJA conference, Alyeska, Alaska
April 1 to 3, Jackson, NH. ESWA annual meeting

Conference and meeting schedule complete
ESWA Members to Gather
at Four New England Venues

Snow sports journalists, media representatives as well as corporate marketing and public relations pros, will gather at four diverse New England winter sports venues this season to network, conduct business, further their professionalism and experience some of the finest winter outdoor activity the region has to offer.

The Eastern Ski Writers Association (ESWA), one of three chapters that make up the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA), recently released its schedule of events for the 2010-11 season.

ESWA will have two of its meetings and conferences in New Hampshire, one in Vermont and one in Massachusetts. ESWA members will also be traveling to Alaska for the NASJA national convention.

Here is the complete schedule of ESWA/NASJA conferences this winter:

Sept. 13 to 15, Gunstock Ski Resort, Laconia, NH. Bob Gillen Snowsports Journalism Conference.
Nov. 11 and 12, Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
Feb. 6 to 8, Mad River Glen, Fayston VT
March 1 to 6, NASJA conference, Alyeska, Alaska
April 1 to 3, Jackson, NH. ESWA annual meeting

The ESWA meeting at Gunstock includes the Bob Gillen Snowsports Journalists Professional Development seminar. Each year, the Gillen seminar addresses an issue of concern to professionals working in snowsports media.

Featured at this year's Gillen Seminar in Gunstock will be Harry Whiten, former editor of the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette He will present his insights of the future of newspapering in America and how journalism has evolved with the changing media landscape.

In Boston, ESWA members will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from ski resorts throughout North America. The Ski Expo is the largest pre-season gathering of snowsports affiliated companies and media in New England.

At Mad River, ESWA members will experience skiing at an area that believes skiing is still a sport, not an industry.

The primary focus of the ESWA annual meeting in Jackson, NH, will be organizational business. But there will be skiing and outdoor adventures to nearby alpine and Nordic venues.

ESWA is a professional, not-for-profit association that promotes and sustains the highest standards of snowsports journalism. ESWA members include nearly 100 active members in all forms of media, and a similar number of snowsports industry representatives from resorts and manufacturers.

Greg Snow/VP Awards Posts This Correction:

While Karen Lorentz did suggest that Pres Smith, founder of Killington and a ski industry pioneer who fostered ski area innovations from ski teaching to marketing, be considered for a NASJA Award, she missed the deadline for providing information to support his nomination. The information supplied on the site was written by someone else and we regret the error of attributing the info to her.

ESWA vBook Registration - Click Here!

ESWA E-Newsletter
December 2009:

President's Message
Hunter is the place to be in January

Happy New Year ESWA colleagues,

There is a lot of time sensitive information that needs to get out to the membership, so this email is the President's Message for December.

The company that prints our newsletter is on vacation this holiday week and we did not have enough stuff ready to print before they went on their break.

Our January meeting is at Hunter Mountain in New York's Catskill region. The meeting dates are January 11-13 (Monday through Wednesday) and the deadline to register is tomorrow.

I'm sure that many of our northern New England and Canadian based members are having a hard time justifying a trip "down" to Hunter, since it's in an area few of their readers would travel to for winter sports.

If you are involved in the snowsports industry you really owe yourself a visit to Hunter which opened for business 50 years ago. Since then, Hunter has been on the cutting edge of snowmaking, trail grooming and snowsports-industry marketing.

I always thought that Hunter was a perfect location for an ESWA meeting because of the story ideas available, but there was no way they could handle our organization on a weekend. When we opened our meetings to a midweek format, Hunter agreed to host us.
 
Hunter Mountain was developed by brothers Izzy and Orville Slutzky who were in the construction business. In the late 1950s they took on the challenge of building a ski area to revive their town, which had lost its appeal as a vacation destination.

As the Slutzky brothers cleared trails and built chair lifts, they realized that snowmaking and publicity were two primary keys to success in the ski industry.

They refined and upgraded their snowmaking system every year and got the word out about Hunter by such methods as arranging for a Hunter Mountain ski instructor to teach Johnny Carson to ski on plastic snow in the studio of Carson's national-television show.

Hunter's reputation as a venue for quality skiing grew over the years, as did the crowds. John F. Kennedy Jr. spent his teen-age years skiing at Hunter and actor Robert Redford arrived by helicopter in 1977 to try East Coast skiing.

In 1978, Hunter trademarked the slogan, "The Snowmaking Capitol of the World." Capitol was misspelled on purpose to stand out.

Hunter snowmaking experts helped make the snow on which the world competed during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Games, and several countries used Hunter Mountain as an Olympic training area.

Hunter handles more rentals and gives more lessons in a weekend than many resorts do in a season. ESWA members could learn so much from a visit to Hunter.

In 1986 the Slutzky brothers won the North American Snowsports Journalist's Carson White Golden Quill Award, given each year to recognize outstanding contributions to the Advancement of North American snowsports.

In 2007 the brothers were selected to receive the National Ski Areas Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for their extraordinary commitment to the ski industry.

Izzy died in 2006, but Orville, at 92, is still a fixture at Hunter. Just the chance to shake his hand is reason enough to be a part of January's ESWA meeting. I look forward to seeing you there.

While on the subject of meetings, our plans for a February meeting have fallen through. We were working with three possible sites and just could not come up with an agreement at a reasonable price.

• A dozen years ago resorts were coming to us requesting an opportunity to show off their operation to our membership. Our February meeting dilemma highlights two challenges now facing our organization:
  Media has changed and marketing people can bypass our press members to get their message out to the public.
• Some in the snowsports industry question the legitimacy of a number of our press members and question the value of hosting an ESWA meeting.

A group of brainstormers got together before our December Waterville meeting to deal with ESWA's challenges and came up with several recommendations which the Board of Directors approved.

I was going to deal with them in this email, but I'm already at 689 words and I fear I may have lost many of you 10 paragraphs ago. I'll explain the changes in a separate email (or two if I go too long on each subject) early next week.

Reserve your lodging accommodations by returning the hotel registration form you should have received or call (518) 263- 5580 ext 3021 or 3066.

Again, I hope to see many of you at Hunter.

Martin Griff
ESWA President

Eastern Ski Writers Association January Meeting

Monday - Wednesday, January 11-13, 2010

On behalf of Hunter Mountain, we hope you'll join us at the ESWA January get-together at Hunter Mountain from January 11-13, 2010. This meeting will immediately follow our 50th Anniversary culmination; you will be joining Hunter for its 51st season. Hunter has been owned and operated by the Slutzky family since its inception and has provided "first time" memories to thousands of skiers and riders all over the world.

Many of you fondly remembering having learned to ski at Hunter: we challenge you to return to see how Hunter Mountain has changed in 50 years, while maintaining its family feel. Your accommodations will be made at Hunter's own Kaatskill Mountain Club, which offers ski-in, ski-out capabilities.

Julia Ford of Plymouth, New Hampshire and Nolan Kasper of Warren, Vermont are recipients of the 2009 Don A. Metivier Gold Ski Award, sponsored by The Eastern Ski Writers Association. to learn more, thanks to press member Dan Cassidy, check out the following link:

http://maineoutdoorjournal.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=13711

Note from press member Mary Kerr:

Mary and Fraser

I recently visited Fraser Noble, ESWA's grand ole man, at his home in Westminister, Massachusettes to personally deliver my book: The Mountain Love Affair, The Story of Mad River Glen, in which I identify Fraser as one of my long time skiing mentors during numerous ESWA ski trips, including the infamous Bob Ensel bus tour- five ski areas, Bridger, Big Sky, Targee, Jackson Hole plus Yellowstone in four days, in 1981-

"Though confined to a wheelchair, Fraser at 93 is as sharp and full of mischief and good humor as he always was."

President's Message: Be Smart - double check and back up

By Martin Griff

The Smart Car was the focus of my attention at the local vo-tech school where earlier this month I photographed mechanics -in-training getting a first-hand look at environmentally friendly cars.

I got my first look at the Smart Car during the 2005 ESWA trip to Germany and Austria. For a guy who drives a subcompact Toyota Echo, the 8 foot-long, two-seat oddity zipping along the narrow streets of Garmisch-Partenkirchen was love at first sight.

I did some research on the Smart Car when I got home and looked forward to the day it would be imported to the United States. When it did arrive here, the numbers were disappointing.

Adapting the car to U. S. standards meant this was not the same vehicle puttering through the streets of Europe and the American sticker price-about five grand more than the Echo-did not justify a couple of miles more per gallon, or the lack of a back seat.

I take a lot of ribbing as a large man driving a little Echo, but it's easy to park, not a desirable car for thieves in the inner city where I often work, and with 40 miles to the gallon, I was doing the laughing this summer when gas reached four bucks a gallon.

After taking my photos at the vo-tech, I made some Smart Car small talk with the car's distributor as I headed to the exit. "That's not a Smart Car, it's a Noble," the distributor explained. I was all set to write a caption about this Smart Car before the chance exchange set me straight, and kept the egg off my face.

According to the distributor, the Chinese made Noble, which they are hoping will be approved for sale in the United States next month, is less expensive than the Smart Car, gets about 14 miles to the gallon more on the highway and is a foot longer, allowing for a back seat. Watching students pile clown-like into the tiny car should have tipped me off to the back seat and that this car wasn't so Smart, but it took a Noble gentleman to keep me from great embarrassment.

Journalistic lesson learned. . . Assume nothing, double-check everything.

When I got back to my keyboard, I attempted to go off-piste in my nj.com ski/snowboard blog with news of the Noble. I thought that a photo of ESWA press member Phil Johnson standing next to a Smart Car in Germany would fit nicely with a photo of the Garden State students with the Noble and began a search for the photo file on my computer's internal drive F, where I store all my personal and ESWA photos. The computer wheezed and coughed as it opened thumbnails of the European trip files. It couldn't complete the job and when I stopped the procedure to give it a second try I got messages that information could not write to disk, a fatal F drive error occurred, and the data lost. That data is (I hope not "was") about 25,000 photo files, including birthday's, family gatherings, dance recitals and photos from about 50 NASJA/ESWA meetings.

After numerous rebootings, Drive F came back to life, for a minute and then more messages of fatal errors and data lost.

In 2005 I had a major computer break down and learned the importance of backing up files. I last backed up Drive F in November 2006. I don't need to spell out this second lesson learned. My computer whiz neighbor confirmed that Drive F problems are mechanical and more serious than he can deal with, but he does believe the files still live on the drive, despite the fatal message. His colleague with experience that might free my photos from their digital jail is away for a couple of weeks. There is also the possibility of using a very expensive data retrieval company, so all hope is not lost, at least not yet. I'll keep you posted.

Last month I suggested that those who prefer to save a tree could read the Newsletter on line in the vBook. Press member Chris Solomon then sent me a note recommending that we send along the newsletter as a PDF file attached to an email, to cut down on sign-on screens and passwords. Thanks for the great idea, Chris! If you would like to receive the newsletter as an emailed PDF, instead of by snail mail, drop Executive Secretary Kim Jackson a note.

Gunstock offers quick rides and views of Lake Winnipesauke

By Joan Wallen

Longtime ESWA member Neal Estano (also a major network TV weather reporter!) first skied Gunstock 37 years ago when he strapped on a pair of wooden skis with beartrap bindings there. Dottie Crossley beat him by some unnamed number of years, having skied there back when it was known as Belknap Mountain. But according to a quick poll taken at the general meeting, this was the first trip to Gunstock for roughly 85-90 percent of the members attending the meeting Feb. 6-8.

From the beginning of the meeting, it was clear that there was plenty of news for ESWA members to report. Gunstock is all about kids and family. From the multitude of school groups enjoying the area during the week to the family and bus groups there on the weekend, the area offers something for everyone. Literally thousands of school children arrive on weekdays for instruction, skiing and riding. As we arrived late Friday afternoon, one wave of school groups was just departing while another made its way in for early evening skiing. While we were enjoying a reception in the Pistol Pub Friday night, the mountain was lit up for night skiing and the tubing park was active. A few members of our group had a chance to explore some of the cross country and snowshoe trails Friday afternoon with a guide from the cross-country center.

The ski area is a blending of the old and the new. The base lodge has the feel of an old time ski lodge with rustic décor and long picnic tables. The food service area is the older style cafeteria line, a somewhat daunting sight at lunchtime. However the half dozen or so employees working behind the counter were so efficient and quick that what seemed might take forever was actually a reasonable trip through the line.

A nice touch in the lodge was the Reading Room. Furnished with a couple of comfortable recliners it's a comfortable, and quiet retreat for a non-skiing member of the family. Base Camp, which operates all the children's programs, is housed in a separate building which also has its own food court.

After a hearty breakfast in the main lodge Saturday morning, everyone headed out to check out the mountain. A detachable quad speeds skiers to the summit of the main mountain. While the line appeared long, the chairs swallowed up skiers at a good clip. Those of us making use of the singles line found only a brief wait. The Tiger Chair, serving some of the more difficult and expert terrain, had little or no waiting most of the day Saturday. The weather was good, and conditions held up very well throughout the day. Although not crystal clear, the view from the summit was still awesome looking up the length of Lake Winnipesauke with its irregular shoreline and many islands.

Following a great day of skiing, the corporate meeting and the board meeting, our leader Martin Griff presided over what may be a record setting business meeting. Going through the agenda quickly to literally " beat the band" - a rather loud rock group was playing just outside our meeting room - while on their break, we attended to business and concluded the meeting in just 34 minutes. A slate of officers and board members was nominated and, another first, notification was emailed to the membership on the spot (thanks to new ESWA Executive Secretary Kim Jackson).

On Saturday night, we were treated to a fabulous dinner at the Lobster Pound at Weirs Beach. While most people reveled in the delights of twin lobsters, other excellent choices were available for the non-shellfish crowd. All reported a delicious meal. During dinner we heard a brief history of the restaurant from the new owner. Gunstock General Manager Greg Goddard welcomed us and Marketing Director Bill Quigley gave an informative presentation on the history of Gunstock. Breakfast on Sunday morning was followed by a professional development seminar and more skiing and riding.

Joan Wallen is a freelance writer based in New Hampshire. Before moving to the journalism side, she worked in marketing including serving as the PR manager for many years at Loon.

Gunstock cross-country trails add to resort's "complete" recreational area

By Bill Clapper

I was lulled into a sense of deep peace and calmness by the rhythmic movements of my arms and legs and the gentle swish-swish of my skis in the snow as I made my way along a trail in the woods adjacent to Gunstock Mountain Resort.

Rounding a turn, I was startled out of my reverie by a traffic jam on the trail ahead. There was a mom, attending to baby in a pulk that was harnessed to dad. I stopped next to them and asked if they needed help. "No, we're fine," said the woman. " It's just that he (the baby all bundled up in the belly of the pulk), doesn't like to be outdoors."

We exchanged pleasantries about the weather, and I went on my way as dad started to shuffle along pulling the pulk with its fussing passenger.

It was late on a Sunday morning, the last day of my stay at Gunstock and I was coasting along the cross-country trails feeling atone with nature. The sun was shining, the snow was perfect and I noted the early signs of the forest freeing itsel f from winter's frozen grip.

With 32 miles of trails used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, Gunstock is truly a complete winter recreational area. "We have broad appeal," said Paul McNeil, manager of the Gunstock Cross-Country and Snowshoe Center. "A lot of people come to the mountain and don't downhill ski." The center offers an alternative to sitting in the lodge, said McNeil.

Indeed, there is no shortage of gear to get non-downhillers going. The center has about 200 sets of cross-country gear (skis, boots and poles) and about 60 pair of snowshoes, according to McNeil, which means there is always equipment available.

A number of schools use the trails at Gunstock for race training and events, but most of the time people are content to leisurely traverse the circuits. "There is a misconception out there that cross-country skiing is grueling and a real workout," said McNeil. On the contrary, "it can be a pleasant, quiet walk in the woods. People work all week in stress-filled jobs, and they are looking for a way to get some quiet time."

A nice feature of Gunstock is the interconnectedness of the Alpine and Nordic facilities. There are trails from the Nordic center that lead to the base lodge at the mountain. "It's great," said McNeil. "People can ski here and then ski over to the lodge and eat lunch with their family."

With so much to do and so much fun to be had, it's a wonder that people even stop for lunch when they are at Gunstock.

Bill Clapper, ESWA Second Vice President, is a freelance writer and former director of PR for SIA, Snowsports Industries America. He has written frequently about all aspects of the ski industry including business, resort, equipment and competition.