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Corporate Sponsors	NASJA West News Archive NASJA_West News Volume 5, 2008 April edition NASJA-WestNews keeps us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. ANNUAL MEETING NOTES / Bretton Woods, New Hampshire Approved: No dues increase for 2008-2009. Agreed: Each NASJA member should try to bring in a new member this year. Appointed: Frida Warra, president of Mid West NASJA, was named NASJA Meetings Vice President. Name change: The Competitor of the Year award was renamed the Paul Robbins Competitor of the Year to honor the internationally noted Olympic ski racer journalist. Plan ahead: The 2009 annual meeting is scheduled for March 18 - 22 in Lutsen, Minnesota. MEETING WRAP / By Claudia Carbone It's almost a given: when NASJA arrives, it's gonna snow. Such was the case (again) for the Annual Meeting at Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire March 26-30. And as a self-confirmed snow snob, this Colorado girl couldn't have been more delighted. Get this, all you western members: I actually skied boot-top powder two days in a row. And it was soft and quiet - something one rarely expects in the east. So those of you who missed out, missed out big. The opening reception found us in the beautiful Conservatory of the historic Mount Washington Hotel, a grand old lady steeped in history and elegance of New England's high society. We noshed on a sumptuous buffet prepared by award-winning Executive Chef Edward Swetz and tasted regional brews. The following day we explored Bretton Woods on skis and boards courtesy of Elan. That snow was a tad scratchy and noisy, but it was made more fun by Jake Jacobson from Garmin and his hand-held GPS units that some of us played with on the hill. That evening we turned into flappers and gangsters at a Roaring 20s Dinner Dance that continued down in The Cave after hours. Friday brought the snow, and with it lots of options: skiing/riding Bretton Woods or Cannon Mountain, hiking/skiing Tuckerman Ravine (ask Frida Waara about her adventure), riding the cog railway, shopping, hotel tour, sleigh ride and Nordic skiing, followed by a Scotch tasting workshop and the Dine-Around at the resort's most excellent restaurants. After a breakfast professional development session with Carl Ettlinger, renowned expert on ski equipment safety, I headed out to ski Cannon - reputably the highest lift-served peak with the longest vertical in the state. I was not disappointed, especially with a memorable run through Banshee Glade in untracked freshies. Later, after a visit to the New England Ski Museum, some of us fit in a ride on the cog train - a remarkable contraption that took us halfway up the slopes of Mt. Washington, the highest mountain in the Northeast. Though we couldn't see the views through the snowy clouds, riding the thing was a hoot. So was touring the museum at the station. More soft-snow skiing, the annual race and meetings filled up Saturday. Mitch Kaplan presided over the Awards Banquet - a lovely sit-down affair with Mount Washington Resort President and CEO Pat Corso unveiling development plans and John Fry delivering the keynote address. NASJA VP Dino Vournas concluded the evening with an outstanding video presentation announcing the award winners (visit NASJA.org for results). I always laughed when I skied the "firm" snow in the east and Bob Gillen would say,"You should've been here yesterday." Well, now I'm telling you: You should've been there last week! - Claudia Carbone AWARDS The Carson White-Golden Quill Award, named after the group's first president, honors an individual who has made a significant contribution to snow sports in North America. For 2008, the honor went to long-time SnowSports Industries America (SIA) president David Ingemie. Starting out as a marketing director in 1976 for SIA, he took over as president in 1981 and remains so to this day. This native New Englander guides the non-profit winter sports trade association from its McLean, Virginia headquarters. NASJA's 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a lifetime of snowsports-related innovation, competition, design and other endeavors, was presented to Cecile Ryden Johnson, a well-known watercolor artist who created lasting works of winter scenery, sports and imagery from countless resorts and mountainsides. This nonagenarian, whose work has appeared in Skiing Magazine and in many television specials, is still active in the art world from her Washington D.C. home. Bonnie MacPherson, the media relations director at Vermont's Okemo Resort, is the recipient of the 2008 Bob Gillen Memorial Award. This award, named in honor of a former Ski Magazine editor and marketing wizard of Crested Butte and Sugarbush ski resorts, honors an individual who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism in public relations and media communications. Ms. MacPherson came to Okemo via stints at the Mt. Washington Hotel, and Loon Mountain and Cranmore resorts. The Harold S. Hirsch Awards, named after the ski clothing pioneer-creator of the White Stag Company, honors the best writers in the snowsports journalism fields of magazines, newspapers, columns and internet and for winter sports photography. The awards were underwritten by prize grants from the Head Ski Corp. and Sport Obermeyer, the ski clothing manufacturers. In Magazine Writing, Chris Solomon of Seattle, freelance writing for Ski, Skiing and the New York Times Magazines, captured the Hirsch trophy and some Head skis for his 2007 stories. He was a double winner at last year's awards. Claudia Carbone of Denver, Colorado, a former president of NASJA and Hirsch winner, took home the Columns honors for 2007 with pieces on Colorado destinations such as Wolf Creek, Keystone and Loveland. Tops in Newspaper Writing for 2007 was freelancer Hilary Nangle, from Waldoboro, in the Great State of Maine, writing for the Boston Globe about her state's ski destinations and equipment innovation. She is also a previous Hirsch recipient. Internet Writing honors for 2007 went to About dot com's Skiing Guide Mike Doyle, from Stillwater, New York. Doyle, who is a first-time recipient, made the jump into cyberspace from stints as the IBEW union's press secretary and traditional print media. In the category of Snowsports Photography, Karl Weatherly of Ketchum, Idaho took top honors with attributes the judges describe as â€œthe best sense of light and composition, excellent action, shot by someone with obvious expert skiing skills.â€� Karl's photos appear on the Getty Images and Corbis websites and in winter sports magazines. The Paul Robbins Competitor of the Year Award was awarded to Lindsey Van, 2008 World Cup Downhill champion and 2008 World Cup Overall champion. BLOW YOUR OWN HORN As part of NASJA's mission to attract new members and to keep current members updated on what each of us is doing, use this space to announce what you're doing professionally. KUDOS / NASJA member's son named USSA Nordic Director Olympian John Farra -- son of Jo and Ron Farra, eastern NASJA member -- has been named as the new nordic director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. He'll head the organization's sport programs for cross country, nordic combined and ski jumping and replace Luke odensteiner who was recently named as associate athletic director for high performance. Farra's background touches on all aspects of athletic participation and sport management. The former U.S. champion was a 1992 Olympic cross country skier and member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1990-93, and was a 1991 NCAA All American at the University of Utah. He graduated from Utah in 1995 and moved into a coaching role. He then served six years in leadership roles at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid. Since 2002 Farra has worked for the Maine Winter Sports Center, a non-profit economic development corporationbased around skiing as a healthy lifestyle, where he served as vice president. His position with USSA will be diverse, overseeing pipeline programs in clubs and regions around the country in cross country, nordic combinedand ski jumping. He will also be responsible for management of elite national teams. GOT NEWS? Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 ********************************* NASJA West News Volume 5,2008 Mid March edition NASJA-WestNewskeeps us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. VOTE April 15 is the due date for ballots for election of NASJA-West officers. Candidate profiles areavailable on www.nasja.orgunder the West Region section.Vicki Andersen, NASJA-West Executive Secretary & Membership Chair RECKLESS SKIING OUTLAWED In a unanimous vote the Park City Council approved a new statute that makes skiing or snowboarding out of control within the city limits a Class B Misdemeanor, similar to a Driving Under the Influence charge. A conviction will carry with it up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Deer Valley Resort and Park City MountainResort both lie within the city limits of Park City. Summit County, where The Canyons is located, already has a similar law onthe books. SCAVENGER HUNTS / Variations on the theme At Big White, the Cruzthe Blues event reached epic proportions, with over 1,000 skiers and ridersscavenging the intermediate trailsand stamping their passports. Cruz the Blues is kind of like a scavenger hunt.People sign up (for free) and thenthey are given a passport. there are signposts on the blue (intermediate) runsat the resort with small stamps.People stop at each of the signposts, stamp their passport and see how manystamps they can get - they aregiven two full days t o 'cruz the blues'. At the end of the second day, thepassports are tossed into a pileand great draw prizes are given out, as well as t-shirts for everyone who signsup. It's free, just a way to getpeople introduced to all of the blue runs at the mountain. A great family event- people often break into teams togo out and get their stamps! Info: Steve Threndyle, sthrendy@shaw.ca Park City MountainResort, hosted thesecond annual All Mountain Treasure HUNT open to all intermediate and advanced skiers or snowboarders. Teamsof two were given a "clue passport" leading to nine different checkpointson the mountain. Each team usesstrategy to be the first to find the nine clues, punch the team's passport ateach checkpoint, and then cross thefinish line. The three fastest teams receive prizes. At one of the checkpoints,teams will pick up a numberedgolden coin; one coin will be worth two adult season passes to Park CityMountain Resort for the 2008-09season. This grand prize is valued at around $3,000. The HUNT is afundraising event for Park City Academy's Scholarship Program. Park City Academy is anindependent school that has beendeveloping student leaders within the Park City community for 19 years. Info: www.parkcityhunt.com or435-649-2791. At Solitude, as part ofthe fundraiser for the Jimmie Heuga Vertical Express for Multiple Sclerosis, teams are given a sheet with 15clues, the answers to which are names of runs. For example. One of the questionswas: What is the opposite of a hardsidewalk? The answer would be Easy Street. Then, you would have to ski down EasyStreet and look for the station(which consists of two orange bamboo poles with an event posted stapled to itand a bunch of envelopes hangingoff one of the poles). Grab an envelope to prove you were at that station. Onceyou've collected all 15, you returnto the event organizers and you are awarded your place. The better your place,the more points you earn. Finalpoints for the whole event are tallied by adding up points form the scavengerhunt, points for placing in theactual race, as well as points for money earned. nfo: www.skisolitude.com SPECIAL OLYMPICS At Kirkwood,187 Special Olympic athletes compete for the gold at the 2008 Winter Gamesat Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Athletes who win gold medalshave the opportunity to qualify for the World Games to be held in Idaho in 2009. The World Games is expected to attractup to 3,000 athletes from more than 85 nations. Info: daniel@kirkwood.com U.S. SKI TEAM / Ligety wins World Cup title BORMIO, Italy (March14) - Olympic champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) joined Americans Lindsey Vonn(Vail, CO) and Bode Miller (BrettonWoods, NH) as an Audi FIS World Cup champion Friday. Ligety went out andput down the fastest second run towin the final giant slalom of the season, clinching the World Cup title. Vonnand Miller also clinched overallcrowns on Friday. It was the secondtime in history two Americans have won the overall World Cup. Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney won in 1983. Ligety's globe was the second U.S. GS title in four years after Miller won it in2004 and was second in 2005 by amere three points behind Austrian BenniRaich. RESORT NOTES Squaw ValleyUSA hosted the Vertical Express forMultiple Sclerosis as it has for two decades. Squaw was Jimmie Heuga's home mountain â€“ the placehe trained to win the Bronze medal in the Men's Downhill in the 1964 Olympics. Info: Savannah Cowley, 530-583-6985. Whistler will host the Alpine and Nordic eventsduring the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The same slopes were the setting for twoWorld Cup races in February. Olympic Freestyle and Snowboarding events will take place at Cypress Mountain, just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Upgrades are already complete,so visitors can enjoy the newfacilities two years before the Games. British Columbia is home to more than 35 downhill resorts, 12 of which areconsidered world class, and most of which are equipped with high-speedchairlifts serving vertical risesfrom 400 metres (1,300 feet) to 1,609 metres (5,250 feet). North LakeTahoe resorts notethat according to the Travel Industry Association of America, 17 percent of U.S. leisure travelers, or 27.3 million, haveengaged in culinary or wine related activities while traveling. Also, the International Culinary Tourism Councilshows that nearly 100 percent of tourists dine out while traveling and that dining is consistently one of the topthree tourist activities. The council's research also states that culinarytourists are highly likely toparticipate in outdoor recreation. GOT NEWS? Keep it short â€“ realshort â€“ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 *********************** NASJA_West News Volume 5, 2008 Early March edition NASJA_West News helps keep us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. ANNUAL MEETING at BRETTON WOODS, NH "It's been an epic snow season. We're buried," said Irene Donnell, director of public relations at Mount Washington Resort, host of NASJA's annual meeting. Plans include optional trips to Cannon Mountain and Tuckerman's Ravine, a Great Gatsby party bring something historically trendy to wear), sleigh rides, dog sledding and nordic center activities. Info: check the NASJA website for details. U.S. SKI TEAM / Vonn succeeds Picabo with downhill title WHISTLER, B.C. (Feb. 22) _ Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) clinched the Audi FIS World Cup downhill title Friday on the Olympic run in Whistler, ignoring flat light to become the second U.S. skier to win the crown. She finished second _ one_hundredth of a second away from Swiss Nadia Styger's victory. Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) completed the podium in third place while Vonn also reclaimed the overall points lead. Austrian Renate Goetschl, who finished fifth, needed to win the last three races and Vonn needed to be only fourth or better in one race to clinch the crown, the first by a U.S. skier since Picabo Street in 1996. With nine races remaining, Vonn has 1,063 points to 999 for defending champion Nicole Hosp of Austria, who was 15th in the DH. "It's amazing I won the trophy," Vonn said. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid to win. It's been a long time coming. The last two years I was really close _ injuries last year and mistakes the year before, so I'm really happy with the way it's finally done." MORE GREEN Obermeyer continues its green initiatives. For 2008_09 we will have bamboo pieces in the line for men and women in a variety of colors. Bamboo is naturally anti_microbial. We also have recycled exterior fabric in a new Down _ KFO for men & DeJaVu for ladies. As always Klaus' motto is "step lightly on the planet". We have sustainable buildings both in Aspen & Denver.Info and photos: obermeyer.com/media/media.cfm Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery's Steamboat Springs Colo. branch has earned Gold Planet certification from the Steamboat Sustainable Business Program. Black Tie Skis commitment to minimizing their impact on the earth included: reducing their carbon footprint by purchasing clean renewable energy from Yampa Valley Electric Association; offsetting vehicle fleet emissions with TerraPass; retrofitting lighting fixtures with CFL bulbs; recycling skis and snowboards back into the market at season_end; and recycling approximately 75% of the business' total waste. Info: www.blacktieskis.com. For more information about the Sustainable Business Certification Program visit: www.steamboat_chamber.com/info/sustainable_business_program.asp. OBITUARY WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. (Feb. 23) _ Internationally noted Olympic ski racing journalist Paul Robbins, a wordsmith and historian for the U.S. Ski Team for 30 years, died Saturday at his home in Vermont. Robbins, whose wit, humor and vast knowledge was legendary, was 68. He died of an apparent heart attack while working on weekend news stories at his home. Always recognized by his Scottish tam, Robbins found a niche in writing about ski racing in the late '70s. His work appeared in countless magazines including Skiing, SKI, Ski Racing and more. A familiar face in press rooms worldwide, Robbins worked at eight Olympic Winter Games every one since the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics where he served as press chief for luge. At subsequent Olympics he served as a press officer for the U.S. Ski Team, as well as an expert commentator for nordic sports for CBS and NBC. "We have all lost a true friend and vast encyclopedia of sport knowledge," said USSA Vice President of Communications Tom Kelly A memorial service in Vermont will be coordinated by the U.S. Ski Team and his local friends for a date in late spring. Donations to the Team in Paul Robbins' name may be made to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation, Box 100, Park City, UT 84060. Or, friends are welcome to contribute to a local charity RESORT INVESTORS FILE for CHAPTER 11 Tamarack Resort in west_central Idaho, has had to slow down construction for a period of time while it secures additional credit facilities for the ongoing construction needs of the Resort. This is a result of the termination of Societe Generale's undertaking to provide a $118 million construction loan for the Village. Societe Generale is a major French bank with important real estate lending operations in the United States. Societe Generale recently cancelled Tamarack's construction loan commitment when Societe Generale suffered $7 billion of unauthorized securities trading losses, which were the largest in banking history. Because the Village is 90% presold, Tamarack is optimistic that it can find replacement financing. As a result of this, two of the larger investors in Tamarack Resort, Cross Atlantic Real Estate LLC and VPG Investments LLC, had to file petitions under Chapter 11 to protect their respective ownership interests in Tamarack. Tamarack Resort LLC itself has NOT filed a Chapter 11 and has no current plans to do so. The filings by the two investors will help ensure that Tamarack Resort will enjoy all the legal protections provided it under Idaho law. The resort is experiencing its most successful season to date. Tamarack recently announced an aggressive expansion plan including luxury condominiums, chalets and a European_style village, according to promotional material from Tamarack. Info: Tamarack Communications Manager Jessica Flynn, cell 208_841_1766 or jflynn@tamarackidaho.com, and you may speak with her in person at the annual meeting at Bretton Woods. Additional info: www.NewWest.net. Also according to NewWest.net, Tamarack and other luxury resort projects are not immune to problems afflicting real estate and financial markets across the country. Moonlight Basin, a new resort in Montana, announced recently that it was seeking new financial partners, and even the Yellowstone Club is about to be sold. The resort has a number of entities with projects under development and not all are involved in the bankruptcy. Info submitted by Grace Lichtenstein GOT NEWS? Keep it short â‚¬â€œ real short â‚¬â€œ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA_West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801_576_0140 ************************** NASJA_West News Volume 5, 2008 Mid February edition. NASJA-WestNews helps keep us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. KUDOS Claire Walter's restaurant and food blog http://culinary-colorado.blogspot.com has earned 8.6 out of 10 possible points in the Restaurants category of blogged.com (www.blogged.com/directory/shopping/restaurants), making it one of the sites top 10 blogs. "This is quite an achievement!" wrote blogged.com's managing editor, who added, "We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style." Claire also blogs about travel (http://travel-babel.blogspot.com) and Nordic Walking (http://nordic-walking-usa.blogspot.com SOUND OFF / PHOTO CONTESTS: Theft of property or smart marketing The issue: Resorts and organizations hold photo contests to get photos that become their property, and they can use the photos any way they want to. Prizes for a few winners is the only compensation. Recap of positions: Brian Robb, photographer, said: I see this type of assault on my livelihood. Ski areas should pay fair market price for photography just as they pay for any other product or service. Professional photographers always obtain models' permission when photos might be used commercially. But contests have no such requirement and there's no compensation for the model or the photographer. Tom Winter, Freeskier magazine editor at large, said: With the growth of digital photography and digital media, professional photographers are vanishing. Ski areas take advantage of this. It's a smart way for their marketing departments to improve the bottom line. Only top notch professional photographers will survive. If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. In addition, the rules of the recent contest that started this firestorm stipulate that submission must be by amateur photographers. Sure, the resort will end up owning some good shots, as there are some pretty talented amateurs out there. But Grade A pros won't be affected by contests of this kind. More NASJA members speak out: Jimmy Petterson, author and photographer says: I have read Brian Robb's comments about photo contests and also the rebuttal by Tom Winter. As a ski journalist, my feelings and opinion fall in between the two points of view. I think Mr. Winter's comments are quite harsh and unfair, as he implies that Brian Robb is not professional enough in his field to compete. That is certainly not true and an insult to Mr. Robb. On the other hand, Mr. Winter's comments are otherwise probably true -- that the ski areas and other organizations will continue to use amateur photography to their advantage, and there is very little that Mr. Robb or NASJA can do about it. However, Mr. Robb's comments are valuable. They warn photographers, be they pros, amateurs or something in between, that they should avoid such contests and try to get fair market value for their work. In the end, all people in a competitive market must deal with the fact that there are competing entrepreneurs (in this case photographers) willing to sell their product for DIFFERENT prices -- in some case, even giving the photos away in hopes of recognition. Young photographers new to the market might sell their photos for less in an attempt to break into a field that is full of established photographers. In an open market, photographers will set a price they hope they can get based on their experience, fame, connections, etc. We who compete in this market, must all decide if we shall hold the price guidelines set by our local photographers' association or lower our price to compete with the competition. Chaco Mohler, publisher and executive editor of Tahoe Quarterly, says: As a former professional ski photographer, I largely agree with Tom Winter. The business changed in the 1990s, not solely due to digital photography, but also because of the changing nature of the ski business. Things that used to be technically difficult, such as manual focusing, became relatively simple, and the skills that people such as Brian Robb and I developed were no longer exclusive. You might know angles and can run a photo shoot, but does that matter when the money shots are had standing next to a halfpipe? What Tom doesn't mention is that many (but not all) of the folks who stick with it for multiple decades have independent means of support or lucrative summer jobs (or summer photography clients) that allow them to pursue the "career" of ski photography without worrying about paying the mortgage. Brian Robb, is a hard-working, talented photographer, and his multi-decade record of sticking-to-it is to be admired. Larry Turner, photographer, says: I think the best information on model releases can be found on www.danheller.com/model-release.html Basically, if the person(s) is easily identifiable and the photo(s) /videography is being used commercially, a release is required. Dan Heller's piece best explains it. ANNUAL MEETING / Bretton Woods, New Hampshire / March 26 - 30 Register online using a link from the NASJA.org website or call 866-214-4119 to register. Did you know that: Bretton Woods is New Hampshire's largest ski area, and Mount Washington is the northeast's highest peak. Bretton Woods' Mount Washington Hotel has played host to princes and presidents, socialites and celebrities, entrepreneurs, entertainers, economists and artists. In 1944 The Hotel was selected to be the location for delegates from around the world to gather, strategize and build the road to global post-war prosperity. GOT NEWS? Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com KUDOS Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 NASJA_West News Volume 5, 2008 Late January edition NASJA-WestNews helps keep us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. PHOTO CONTESTS / Point of view by Brian Robb, Photographer I just received notice of another "photo contest." This type of a phony contest has been used many times in the past by various companies and organizations. It is nothing more than a veiled method of receiving photos for virtually nothing. The catch is, to quote the contest rules: "All entries will become the property of ABC Ski Area (the name of the area has been removed, but the contest is similar to contests at many mountains) and will not be returned. Contestants grant ABC Ski Area and contest sponsors unlimited usage and unrestricted rights of any photograph submitted to the contest. Any submitted photograph may be used in products, promotional materials, or in any manner ABC Ski Area sees fit." As a professional ski photographer I am incensed when I see this type of assault on my livelihood. Ski areasshould pay fair market price for their photography just as they pay for any other product or service they use. The ski area may very well be treading in an area where they don't want to go. There is no requirement for a model release and no compensation to the model or the submitting photographer. As a commercial entity, the ski area risks lawsuits from the models and photographers should their photo be used for any commercial purpose. Professional photographers like myself always obtain proper permissions from models for photographs that may be used for commercial purposes. I think NASJA needs to get involved in this case immediately. - Brian Robb ANNUAL MEETING / Register on line On-line registration is now open for the Annual Meeting, March 26 - 30 at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. 1497 - John Sebastian Cabot sights the 6,288 foot peak of Mount Washington while exploring the New England coast. Verrazano sighted it in 1524, but it wasn't visited by Europeans for more than a century. 1642 - Darby Field was the first white man to climb Mount Washington, but it remained otherwise unexplored for another century. WELCOME NEW MEMBER Welcome to Rachel Odell, a freelance environmental and winter sports journalist from Boulder, Colorado. KUDOS Ski Canada magazine announces its annual "Best of Skiing in Canada" awards. to recognize the unique qualities of the Canadian ski experience. Award categories are developed from the personal experiences of Ski Canada contributors and editorial personnel looking for the highest, the newest, the most excellent and, yes, even the funniest characteristics of Canada's ski resorts. Big White and Silver Star were cited for six awards each including: Best Powder, Best Ticket to Ride, Best Glade Skiing; Best Ski-in Ski-out Properties; Best New Slopeside Accommodation; Best Adaptive Ski Program and even Most Reliable Hairdo by a Ski Instructor. Info: sthrendyle@bigwhite.com IMPROVED MAPS Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe have each launched online interactive web-based trail maps to help skiers and snowboarders plan their entire day on the mountain before they head up to the resorts. The maps help orient guests to the mountain geography, the available amenities, as well as chairlift locations, current mountain conditions including open and groomed trails, live weather updates, and weekly video. Other valuable tools include 360 degree panoramas that can be controlled by the web user It is, in essence, an entire web site on a map. The majority of web users prefer to absorb information in a graphical, pictorial or video format versus text, hence the growing prevalence of these communication styles on many of the most sophisticated web sites. The essence of the online interactive trail map is to transfer all of the textual information contained in the resort web site onto a visual, geographical representation. wwwSierraAtTahoe.com, wwwNorthstarAtTahoe.com Park City Mountain Resort's trail map is larger than it was last year so it is now easier to read, and the mountain is divided into seven color coded zones so skiers and riders can explore more trails than they ever thought possible. The new map is distinctive and clear. Each color coded zone features a variety of terrain so every ability level can enjoy more terrain. The mountain has 3,300 acres, eight bowls and 100 trails on several mountains. www.PCMR.com RESORT NEWS Alta, Utah, started an all-women's informal ski group last season and it has grown to as many as 30 women coming out on Tuesdays just for the fun of skiing together. The only cost is a lift ticket. The group is all ages and includes career women, young mothers, retirees and snowbirds. They break into groups based on terrain preference.Info: www.Alta.com In Idaho,Tamarack Resort's Hells Canyon SuperPipe is open.and is now just one of six destinations in North America with a pipe featuring the new Olympic standard of 22-foot walls. It's the venue of the upcoming Snowboarding Grand Prix. Info: flynn@tamarackidaho.com Design a terrain park table feature at The Canyons, Utah. Kids and adults can use web tools to design a terrain park table feature and the terrain park crew will actually build it. Log onto www.ridecanyons.com and move tables, tubes and ramps all around. Flip them over. Stand them on end. Stack them up. Make a feature you'd like to ride and click submit. About every three weeks a new design will be chosen and built in the resort's premier terrain park. GOT NEWS? Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com KUDOS Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 NASJA_West News Volume 5, 2008 January /GREEN edition / part 1 NASJA-WestNews helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. JULES OLDER'S GREEN KICKOFF / Global Weirding from SkiPress / with permission "Let's start with the bad news. Out of 486 operating American ski areas, only 184 have endorsed the National Ski Areas Association's (NSAA) Environmental Charter for Ski Areas. The Charter, which promotes 'sustainable slopes,' has been around since 2000. Only 63 areas signed NSAA's letter to Congress urging the nation 'to aggressively and sustainably slow, stop and reverse the growth of global warming emissions.' Only 59 resorts are buying enewable energy. OK, now the good news. When it comes to reducing their carbon footprint, some American ski resorts are models for the planet. And the model for the models is what many might consider a most unlikely source - Aspen. Yes, Aspen, home of the rich and super-rich, is leading the world in confronting global warming.. Aspen even took the EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency, but more accurately the Environmental Predators Association) to court for failing to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act - and won." Resorts are"all discovering that being green makes great business sense and generates great PR." - Jules Older For the American story: http://3w.skipressworld.com/magazine/onlinemagazine/us/0708/0708_us1/zoom.php?xpage=US1_034.swf For the Canadian story: http://3w.skipressworld.com/magazine/onlinemagazine/ca/0708/0708_ca1/zoom.php?xpage=CA1_30.swf GREEN GREEN GREEN / Editor's note It's a tidal wave! When I asked"what's GREEN at your resort?" the information rushed in like a tsunami. So rather than the tidy synopsis I'd envisioned, GREEN info will be diced into serving size portions and doled out in several newsletters. You probably already have some of it. But the goal is to put potentially useful information - story starters and to spark ideas -- into your hands. - Harriet Wallis GREEN IS GOLD (and SILVER) / Clif Bar's 2007 Golden Eagle Awards Fact: The Golden and Silver Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence were established by Clif Bar & Co. in 1993 to recognize the environmental achievements of ski areas that are National Ski Area Association (NSAA) members. Fact: Of the eight 2007 award winners, all are in the west. Six are NASJA-West members. Golden Eagle, Overall Environmental Excellence: Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort (Utah) Snowbird made history last summer as the first private landowner in Utah to help clean up mining-era land.In cooperation with conservation group Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and Tiffany & Co.,Snowbird worked to clean up mine tailings on Snowbird land affecting the American Fork watershed. This reclamation project is the first of its kind and an excellent model for broader environmental stewardship. Though most mining in American Fork Canyon stopped 80 years ago, the water running from the Pacific Mine was carrying lead at levels 10 times higher than the federal Clean Water Act standard - contamination that once ran into the American Fork River. The project will generate multiple benefits to not only the fish and wildlife, but also the communities that live downstream. Finalists: Aspen/Snowmass (Colorado), Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Wyoming) Silver Eagle, Water Conservation: Mount Washington Alpine Resort (BC, Canada) Mount Washington Alpine Resort has put in place a number of initiatives in the last year to both conserve and protect its water supply. hrough a combination of public education, best practices, and water conservation efforts, Mount Washington Alpine Resort has reduced water consumption by 30% in a period that also saw a 25% increase in skier visits Finalists: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Wyoming), Vail Resorts (Colorado) Silver Eagle, Energy Conservation/Clean Energy: Mt. Ashland (Oregon) Despite being a small, non-profit ski area, Mt. Ashland made significant strides in 2006 in support of clean, renewable energy. They were the first resort in the Pacific Northwest to commit to purchasing 100% green power, a significant increase from just 10% in previous years. Additionally Mt. Ashland is educating andencouraging their guests to support green energy purchases through season and day pass upgrades. Mt. Ashland's 3year commitment will offset 3 million pounds of greenhouse gases. Finalists: Durango Mountain Resort (Colorado), Sugarbush Resort (Vermont) Silver Eagle, Fish & Wildlife Habitat Protection: Whistler Blackcomb (BC, Canada) Whistler/Blackcomb placed habitat protection at the center of its 2006 Symphony Project which involved expanding its terrain into an alpine area known as the Piccolo Peak/Symphony basin. A team of planners and engineers, which included a bear biologist, foresters and mountain planners, developed a minimalist design that kept wildlife habitat intact and allayed stakeholders' fears that the resort was infringing on their backcountry playground, was damaging sensitive ecosystems, and destroying Provincial park aesthetics. Ultimately the project's footprint was reduced from an original estimate of 40% down to less than 5%. Finalists: Whiteface (New York), Vail Resorts (Colorado) Silver Eagle, Environmental Education: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (California) Mammoth's environmental education effort aims to educate the general public, their guests and employees to create a connection to nature and an understanding of what actions are needed to protect it. Mammoth organized numerous events and workshops in 2006, including the Off The Grid Energy Fest and Expo, which educated the public on energy conservation, climate change and renewable technologies. Guest education efforts included naturalist-led tours and employees received compulsory environmental educational training. Mammoth also demonstrated genuine interest and dedication to environmental education by hiring a full-time environmental education coordinator. Finalists: Mt. Ashland (Oregon), Whistler/Blackcomb (BC, Canada) Silver Eagle, Visual Impact: Winter Park (Colorado) Winter Park Resort was able to minimize and avoid visual impacts with the addition of its Backside Parsenn Peak Project through meticulous planning, state-of-the-art technology, and careful implementation. The critical viewing areas of the project from the Continental Divide and the Fraser Valley show a well blended and imperceptible change to the landscape, a result of numerous best practices, including, placing the chairlift below a highly visible ridge; removing and placing back by hand approximately 5,800 square feet of tundra for the underground utility line route; and utilizing computer aided design to pinpoint tree removal areas to blend in with the existing landscape. Finalists: Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Whistler Blackcomb (BC, Canada) Silver Eagle, Stakeholder Relations: Vail Resorts (Colorado) From October to December of 2006, Vail Resorts raised over $213,000 for the National Forest Foundation. Vail Resorts and the National Forest Foundation expect to raise up to $600,000 (including the matching funds) in support of local conservation projects, 3 to 4 times more than the National Forest Foundation's next largest program of its kind. Additionally, Vail Resorts has extended its support of renewableenergy credits. Over 500 lift tickets were given to guests who chose to offset their home electricity use through Vail Resorts'"Ski With the Wind" program. Finalists: Mammoth (California), Whistler Blackcomb (BC, Canada) Silver Eagle, Waste Reduction & Recycling: Vail Resorts (Colorado) In 2006, Vail Resorts recycled over 5,000 tons of material at their resorts, or 35% of total waste, the equivalent of saving enough energy to power 670 households for 1 year. Their goal is to recycle at least 50% of mountain waste by 2010. An extensive number of recycling locations, both on and off mountain, allow guests and employees to easily recycle their waste. Vail resorts also partners with local non-profit organizations such as Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability and High Country Conservation Center to find ways to recycle hard to recycle items, including fruit and vegetable waste, ink-jet cartridges, cell phones and fluorescent bulbs. Vail Resorts also began purchasing biodegradable to-go containers for testing at some of their restaurants. Finalists: Blue Mountain (ON, Canada), Silverton Mountain (Colorado) RESORTS GO GREEN MT BACHELOR, Oregon Green Energy - Wind Powered Lifts. Ride to the Mountaintop on Green Energy. We are powering the Sunrise, and new this year, the Pine Marten Express lifts using only wind power purchased from MidState Electric Cooperative.Through the purchase of Green Tags, we challenge you to power the Summit Express lift using Green Energy. Green Tags will be available for purchase at any ticket window. Mini-Green Tags ($2) help the Bonneville Environmental Foundation divert 140 pounds of greenhouse gases. Green Tags ($20) divert 1400 pounds of greenhouse gases. Transportation. Bachelor Super Shuttles reduce more than seven million pounds of greenhouse gases annually Bachelor Super Shuttles diverted 1.7 million employee and guest vehicle miles from the road last season New this year! The Super Shuttle now runs on bio-diesel, with the intent of switching our grooming crew over next year. Other. On mountain recycling by guests diverted 19 tons of garbage from area landfills last season On mountain recycling by employees diverted 30 tons of garbage from area landfills last season Use of partially recycled paper products in all restrooms Recycling containers in F&B locations Use of non-petroleum based cleaners for housekeeping Use of recycled paper for insulated cups in F&B locations Reuse of existing signs and sign materials Use of"Green" cleaning agents for vehicles Retrofit of lighting to low power devices as lights are replaced F&B requires suppliers to supply company environmental policies as part of bid Use of bulk container food items for kids ski school lunches Bulk cardboard recycling at retail from supplier packaging Distribution of job applications via email instead of paper Wind power credits for 2 lifts Sale of Green Tags No Idling Program. A professor at Dartmouth's Thayer College of Engineering found that for every hour spent idling, a vehicle discharges 9.7 pounds of carbon emissions (diesel engines emit 19 pounds). Multiply that by 15 or 20 cars, buses and SUV's in the drop-off area of most ski resorts and the carbon emissions add up! A no Idling program was started in December to reduce pollution, decrease health risks, save engine wear, and conserve fuel and money. Further consideration for this program inspired by children, as the drop-off area is frequented by kids who are at higher risk as they inhale more air per body weight. Info: Frankie Labbe, Communications Manager, www.mtbachelor.com BOGUS BASIN, Idaho / Nordic night skiing under solar lights It's the second season of Nordic night skiing under solar powered lights.with more lighted trails this year. The Nordic Group Solar Trail Lighting Project has illuminated 6.2 kilometers (3.8 miles) of Bogus Basin's cross-country trails with solar-powered lights. The project provides a visible application of renewable energy and provides night time Nordic activities to the growing Boise metropolitan area for the first time. The Nordic Group is part of the Boise Nordic Foundation, a charitable organization focused on expanding nordic ski opportunities and cross country ski education on the Boise Front. In 2004, The Nordic Group worked with Boise State University's Electrical Engineering Department to design a durable, alternative energy lighting system for Nordic trails. The Nordic Group installed a prototype system of lights and collectors on 300 meters of Red Tail Trail in late 2004. During summer 2005 the Project's second and largest phase was built, covering 5 kilometers. This effort involved over 150 volunteers, and a licensed electrician over 5 months. For the final phase, the lighting system has been expanded with 30 additional light poles in 2007, and the full system now lights the Red Tail, Sappers Return and Nordic Highway Trails for night skiing and snowshoeing. The system has 10 sections, each powered by a photovoltaic panel, controller and battery bank providing low voltage power to groups of 8 to 13 light poles. The poles each hold four or eight durable light fixtures containing LED lights. Interpretive signs and public outreach help explain the solar application and efficiency of the system. Bogus Basin pioneered night skiing over four decades ago. According to Jeff Fereday, Nordic Group President, "The solar lighting provides working people with a great way to stay fit on winter evenings and allows the junior racing team to finish their practices safely." Info: Gretchen Anderson, BBMRA Communications,www.bogusbasin.org,208.949.9400 GOT NEWS? Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 NASJA_West News Volume 4, 2007 late December edition NASJA_West News helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. WHAT'S GREEN ? What's going green at your resort? NASJA members might like to see a roundup in another enewsletter. KUDOS Christopher Elliott, travel journalist, travel ombudsman, syndicated columnist and travel blogger, released his list of "The 20 Most Inspiring Travel Blogs of 2007." (See http://www.elliott.org/blog/the-20-most-inspiring-blogs-of-2007/) This exclusive list ncluded Claire Walter's Travel Babel blog (http://travel-babel.blogspot.com), of which he wrote, "Claire Walter's travel blog delivers a compelling mix of consumer travel news and destination information." Also, "theScoop," a weekly E-newsletter sent by the Denver Newspaper Agency (ajoint perating agreement of the DENVER POST and ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS) to160,000 select people, spotlighted Claire Walter's Travel Babel(http://travel-babel.blogspot.com) the week before Christmas. The pieceincluded an interview with Claire about traveling and blogging about ravel.Also, "theScoop" had noted Travel Babel as a favorite blog in a feature on Colorado blogs several weeks earlier. Daniela Gugliotta, Alpine Adventures VP sales and marketing, graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. U.S. SKI and SNOWBOARD TEAM NOTES Hannah Teter, Olympic halfpipe gold medalist. is spokesperson for the Capitol Christmas Tree, (not to be confused with the National Christmas tree) which was cut down in Vermont. The tree was lit Dec. 5 by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi near the U.S. Capitol. Teter has been involved in a variety of charitable causes since her victory in Torino 22 months ago. In conjunction with World Vision, a Christian relief organization, her "Hannah's Gold" maple syrup benefits youngsters in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. She also has acked Boarding for Breast Cancer. Make a $35 donation to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team and get a 2008 Team calendar. PACIFIC NORTHWEST NOTES For info: Scott Kaden, PNSAA, (541) 386-9600 IDAHO Brundage Mountain Resort invested $3.1 million in the construction of two, triple hairlifts boosting the resort's uphill lift capacity (from 3,100 people per hour to 6,700 people per hour), serves 160 acres of new terrain of the south side of Brundage Mountain, and improves lift service to the low-angle terrain of Bear Knob. Silver Mountain Resort gladed much of the terrain in the Chair 2 Basin, invested millions of dollars in Phase II of the now open Morning Star Lodge Tamarack Resort will build and maintain to Olympic specifications the Hells Canyon uperPipe (22-foot high walls) Schweitzer Mountain Resort invested more than $10 million including two new lifts OREGON Mt. Hood Meadows Resort constructed a new Patrol Headquarters Building. The two-story, 240-square foot structure is the resort's first LEED-certified building. Timberline installed a high speed quad which serves eight, new trails. approximately 220 acres of new terrain and is Mt. Hood's longest chairlift (6,700 feet). WASHINGTON Crystal Mountain installed the Northway Chairlift, which increases the ski area's uphill lift capacity to 20,310 people per hour. The Northway Chairlift provides access to pproximately 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. ALASKA Alyeska Resort invested more than $4.5 million in on-mountain improvements, including snowmaking coverage that blankets trails from the upper tram terminal to the base of the mountain. The guest rooms of The Hotel Alyeska also received a $3.5 million upgrade. MONTANA Whitefish Mountain Resort invested $7.1 million in the resort's lift network â€“ purchasing a high-speed, quad chairlift to replace the Glacier Chaser Chairlift and installing another high-speed, quad chairlift that upgrades, extends, and re-aligns the Swift Creek lift. The resort also spent $10.7 million on the construction of The Base Lodge â€“ a 35,000-square foot lodge situated near the bottom of Chair 6. A new Professional Services Building sits immediately adjacent to The Base Lodge, housing the Ski and Snowboard School, Ski Patrol Headquarters, and a state-of-the-art clinic. GOT NEWS? Keep it short â€“ real short â€“ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 NASJA_West News Volume 4, 2007 late December edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. WHAT'SGREEN ? What's going green at your resort? NASJA members might like to see a roundup in another enewsletter. KUDOS Christopher Elliott, travel journalist, travel ombudsman, syndicated columnist and travel blogger, released his list of "The 20 Most Inspiring Travel Blogs of 2007."(See ttp://www.elliott.org/blog/the-20-most-inspiring-blogs-of-2007/) This exclusive list included Claire Walter's Travel Babel blog (http://travel-babel.blogspot.com), of which he wrote, "Claire Walter's travel blog delivers a compelling mix of consumer travel news and destination information." Also, "theScoop,"a weekly E-newsletter sent by the Denver Newspaper Agency (ajoint operating agreement of the DENVER POST and ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS) to160,000 select people, spotlighted Claire Walter's Travel Babel(http://travel-babel.blogspot.com) the week before Christmas. The pieceincluded an interview with Claire about traveling and blogging about travel.Also, "theScoop"had noted Travel Babel as a favorite blog in a feature onColorado blogs several weeks earlier. Daniela Gugliotta, Alpine Adventures VP sales and marketing, graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. U.S. SKIandSNOWBOARDTEAMNOTES Hannah Teter, Olympic halfpipe gold medalist. is spokesperson for the Capitol Christmas Tree, (not to be confused with the National Christmas tree) which was cut down in Vermont. The tree was lit Dec. 5 by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi near the U.S. Capitol. Teter has been involved in a variety of charitable causes since her victory in Torino 22 months ago. In conjunction with World Vision, a Christian relief organization, her "Hannah's Gold" maple syrup benefits youngsters in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. She also has backed Boarding for Breast Cancer. Make a $35 donation to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team and get a 2008 Team calendar. PACIFICNORTHWESTNOTES For info: Scott Kaden, PNSAA, (541) 386-9600 IDAHO Brundage Mountain Resort invested $3.1 million in the construction of two, triple chairlifts boosting the resort's uphill lift capacity (from 3,100 people per hour to 6,700 people per hour), serves 160 acres of new terrain of the south side of Brundage Mountain, and improves lift service to the low-angle terrain of Bear Knob. Silver Mountain Resort gladed much of the terrain in the Chair 2 Basin, invested millions of dollars in Phase II of the now open Morning Star Lodge Tamarack Resort will build and maintain to Olympic specifications the Hells Canyon SuperPipe (22-foot high walls) Schweitzer Mountain Resort invested more than $10 millionincluding two new lifts OREGON Mt. Hood Meadows Resort constructed a new Patrol Headquarters Building. The two-story, 1,240-square foot structureis the resort's first LEED-certified building. Timberline installed a high speed quad which serves eight, new trails. approximately 220 acres of new terrain and is Mt. Hood's longest chairlift (6,700 feet). WASHINGTON Crystal Mountain installed the Northway Chairlift, which increases the ski area's uphill lift capacity to 20,310 peopleper hour. The Northway Chairlift provides access to approximately 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. ALASKA Alyeska Resort invested more than $4.5 million in on-mountain improvements, including snowmaking coverage that blankets trails from the upper tram terminal to the base of the mountain. The guest rooms of The Hotel Alyeska also received a $3.5 million upgrade. MONTANA Whitefish Mountain Resort invested $7.1 million in the resort's lift network â€“ purchasing a high-speed, quad chairlift to replace the Glacier Chaser Chairlift and installing another high-speed, quad chairlift that upgrades, extends, and re-aligns the Swift Creek lift. The resort also spent $10.7 million on the construction of The Base Lodge â€“ a 35,000-square foot lodge situated near the bottom of Chair 6.A new Professional Services Building sits immediately adjacent to The Base Lodge, housing the Ski and Snowboard School, Ski Patrol Headquarters, and a state-of-the-art clinic. GOT NEWS? Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 ********************************************************************************************* NASJA_West News Volume 4, 2007 November edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we span two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. KUDOS Grace Lichtenstein reviewed Lynne Cheney's book for the Washington Post. The book is memoirs of an idyllic childhood in Wyoming Seth Masia writes: Some of you may know that I went back to school a couple of years ago, and in May graduated from the University of Colorado/Boulder with a masters degree in environmental journalism. I'm happy to say that I've been offered a job as managing editor of SolarToday!, the magazine (and website) of the American Solar Energy Society here in Boulder. It's a great opportunity and I'm very pleased, even about the commute: I can cycle to work most days. I'm still deeply involved in skiing, as a level 3 instructor at Beaver Creek and as executive editor of Skiing Heritage (and webmaster of skiinghistory.org).Â See you on the hill! RESORTÂ NOTES Squaw Valley USA offers free lift tickets to active military personnel for the fifth consecutive year. Squaw's founder Alex Cushing, who passed away last year, served in World War II as a Lieutenant Commander. His service in the US Navy transpired into lifelong connection with the military. Snowbird collected nearly two tons of non-perishable food for the Utah Food Bank during the ski and snowboard resort's annual Customer Appreciation Days and raised $1,416 for the Wasatch Adaptive Sports Program to help provide skiing and snowboarding experiences for those with special needs. A state District Court in Denver has denied a motion by Vail Resorts, Inc. for a preliminary injunction to prevent American Skiing Company (ASC) from selling The Canyons to Talisker Canyons Finance Co LLC. Vail had asked the Denver District Court to hold up the sale of ASC's subsidiary, ASC Utah, to Talisker, pending resolution of the claims made by Vail in the litigation it brought to challenge the sale. New England Ski Museum awarded the Spirit of Skiing award to Deer Valley's Stein Eriksen The award recognizes a person whose life exemplifies "skiing is not just a sport, it is a way of life,"and who has influenced skiing in a positive manner and enabled others to benefit from the sport. Eriksen's graceful, acrobatic style of skiing defined skiing elegance in the 1950s and 1960s.After coming to prominence in the 1952 Olympics with a gold medal run in giant slalom and a silver in slalom, Eriksen moved from his native Norway to the U.S., where he operated ski schools at Boyne Mountain, Heavenly Valley, Sugarbush, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Park City, before settling in at Deer Valley, where he remains today as Director of Skiing. IDEAS / to share At Bear Valley Cross Country, in Northern California, all skiers will pay the half day rate ($20) and they can ski anytime during the day. It will eliminate the 1 pm half day rush for rentals and passes that causes the lines and crowds â€“ what Nordic skiers and snowshoers definitely don't want. www.bearvalleyxc.com Northstar at Tahoe has a Parent Predicament, interchangeable lift ticket that allows one parent to ski or ride while the other stays with the child. It's priced the same as a full day adult ticket. GOT NEWS? Keep it short -real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 ****************************************************************************************** NASJA_West News Volume 4, 2007 October edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. REMINDER / Icer Air Icer Air is coming! This year a 2 day event, Nov 2 and 3, at AT&T Park in San Francisco will feature the worlds best skier and riders, a freestyle motocross jump, resort and industry booths, a huge ski/snowboard sale and much, much more. For more on the event or for vendor booth info: Jim McAlpine, jim@snowbomb.com or 530 906 1263. POINT OF VIEW / Snow worker crisis Incline Village, NV- Tourist destinations such as hotels, casinos, ski resorts in America rely heavily on International workers to fill seasonal positions. There are two types of workers which generally come to America on temporary work visas, Students â€“ utilizing a J1 visa and skilled workers through the H-2B temporary work visa. For the J1 visa, a person must be a full-time, matriculated student at an American or foreign university and must (leave the country, if necessary to) return to school after their winter break is over. H-2B visa holders are able to stay in America longer on their visas because they don't have the time constraint of returning to school. However, many long-time H-2B workers and ski resorts are in CRISIS right now. Two major developments occurred recently with respect to H2B visas. First, the exemption from the cap for returning workers expired on September 30, 2007. Second, the cap of 33,000 H2B visas for the first half of FY 2008 was reached on October 1, 2007. Any visa applications submitted after September 27, 2007 will be rejected unless and until Congress steps in to help the ski industry. A bill called the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 was introduced earlier this year. In this Bill, returning H-2B workers were slated to be permanently exempt from the H-2B visa quota. However, this bill has not been passed and the ski industry has been notified that the cap has been reached and all pending H- 2B applications will be returned. The cap was reached earlier than normal this year because, to date, Congress has failed to renew the returning worker exemption from the quota. Obviously, with the quota reached so quickly, many recreation and tourism based businesses have been blindsided with the fact that most, if not all of their returning H-2B workers, cannot return and work. This issue particularly affects ski resorts because ski resorts often don't start their employee recruitment process until mid-September/October. Estimates indicate there are at least 50,000 outstanding H-2B applications and workers that are in grave danger of being unable to come to the U.S. to work. Even if Congress adopts a retroactive exemption for returning H2B workers and the cap is opened back up, applications submitted after September 27, 2007 are not likely to be processed in time for the holidays. If this cap does not open back up, then it is possible that some recreation and tourism based businesses will be severely impacted or even forced to shut down due to lack of workers, which would in turn greatly affect many areas of the country and the national economy. Diamond Peak and the U.S. Ski Industry need your help in emailing, faxing, or calling your representatives and senators to urge them to co-sponsor the legislation which will provide relief for the H2B visa program and allow resorts to obtain the help they need to supplement their domestic workforce. Please urge your Senators to support and co-sponsor S. 988. In the House, please ask your Representative to support and co-sponsor H.R 1843. For a sample letter, please go to www.nsaa.org .If you want a shortcut, the Capitol operator at 202-224- 3121 can put you through to any office in Washington. Kayla Anderson, PR/ Marketing Coordinator (775) 832-1120, Kayla_anderson@ivgid.org U.S.SKI TEAMÂ NAMED Mancuso, Kildow, Ligety and Nyman headline MEN/A Team Bryon Friedman (6/14/80; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation) Ted Ligety (8/31/84; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation) Scott Macartney (1/19/78; Crystal Mountain, WA; Crystal Mountain Alpine Club) Steven Nyman (2/12/82; Provo, UT; Sundance/Park City Ski Education Foundation) Erik Schlopy (8/21/72; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation) Dane Spencer (12/24/77; Boise, ID; Bogus Basin) Marco Sullivan, (4/27/80; Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) WOMEN/ A Team Stacey Cook (7/3/84; Mammoth Mountain, CA; Mammoth Mountain Ski Team) Lindsey Kildow (10/18/84; Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) Caroline Lalive (8/10/79; Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) Libby Ludlow (8/26/81; Bellevue, WA; Crystal Mountain Alpine Club) Julia Mancuso (9/9/84; Olympic Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) Kaylin Richardson (9/28/84; Edina, MN; Team Gilboa) Sarah Schleper (2/19/79; Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) Resi Stiegler (11/15/85; Jackson Hole, WY; Park City Ski Education Foundation/Jackson Hole Ski Club) GOT NEWS? Keep it short â€“ real short â€“ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140 ********************************************************************************************** NASJA_West News Volume 4, 2007 July edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada. TEXAS SKIS According to SIA, "Texans outspent 46 other states last year on snow sports equipment, apparel and accessories with more than $106 million in retail sales,' said Kelly Davis, research manager for SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the not-for-profit industry trade group that represents manufacturers and distributors of snow sports products. California, Colorado, New York and New Jersey rounded out the top five states in total snow sports retail receipts for the 2006/07 season. States like Texas and Florida with large populations tend to have higher total retail sales of snow sports goods, but states with more mountains and more snow sell more goods per person. This year, Vermont topped the total spending per capita list with more than $76.00 spent per person on all snow sports retail goods. Colorado was second on the list at $53.00 per person, and Idaho, Utah and New Hampshire rounded out the top five states in the rankings. Meanwhile, Floridians spent just $2.09 per person on snow sports goods and were 45th in the sales per capita rankings despite being ranked 19th in total retail sales. Hawaii, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi rounded out the bottom five in the rankings for sales per person. KUDOS The first issue of the Whitefish Review, edited and published by NAJSA member Brian Schott, is now available at www.WhitefishReview.com. Larry Turner shot the cover photo and Jay Cowan has an article on Hunter S. Thompson. â€“ Brain Schott INDUSTRY POW WOW A ski industry roundtable held at Sun Valley, brainstormed ways to promote skiing and how to market mountain culture not just ski culture. Athletes attending the meeting included Jonny Moseley, Kent Kreitler and Steve Nyman as well as ski industryÂ representatives fromÂ hard-goods andÂ soft-goods companies as well as resorts, SIA,Â media, andÂ tourism came from all over the country.Â The general consensus was that the ski industry needs an organization to help institute and push aÂ consistent and unified message to the consuming public that mt. culture is cool. Since the ski industry has never had this type of organization before it was hoped that one could be started or that an existing one would step forward and lead the charge.Â AttendeesÂ suggested that The Ski Tour be the organization to take up the challenge. It was pointed out that snowboarding has established a "lifestyle"but skiing has not. Jonny Moseley suggested that we need to market skiing one kid at a time like musicians do by constant touring. Nothing concrete was decided onÂ when this organization (or what organization) to become the "unified voice of mountain. culture"would come about but at least the dialogue has began and mostÂ attendees left with positive ideas on how to further this end. â€“ Karl Weatherly FAREWELL Hec Hancock says: â€œI'm sorry to say that the time has come to say goodbye. I can do just about everything, the doctors tell me, EXCEPT ski. A real bummer. I will miss you guys more than I can say. Lots of memories of great runs, and tripsâ€¦ But like they say, all good things come to an end. It was great. Best wishes - Hec' (Note: Hec joined USSWA, NASJA's predecessor, in 1975) â€“ Vicki Andersen SKI TEAM Ground was broken July 18 for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's Center of Excellence â€“ the most significant project in the century-long history of the USSA. USSA, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding which has been based in Utah for more than 30-years says its $22.5 million facility will be finished in 2009, providing final training benefits for athletes headed to the 2010 Olympics, but will be in full-force for athletes aiming for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Also, during the U.S. Snowboarding alpine summer training camp at Mt. Hood, Head Coach Steve Persons worked in a team-building exercise including some Class II-III whitewater kayaking. And alpine riders made a trip to New Zealand this summer instead of traveling to Chile as they did during the past three seasons for their late summer training camp. WELCOME Welcome to our new members: Natalie Bartley (freelance writer and weekly columnist with the Idaho Statesman), Justin Broglio (Web blog editor/designer for Snowbomb.com and freelancer for Powder Magazine and other outlets, recruited by Jim McAlpine), Andrew Hooge (author of FitSking: Your Guide for Peak Skiing Fitness), Molly Murfee (full-time freelance writer and copywriter), Grouse Mountain Lodge and Whitefish Convention & Visitors Bureau, and a welcome back to returning members Gary Olson, Monarch Mountain, Ski Banff-Lake Louise- Sunshine, and Travel Alberta. GOT NEWS? Keep it short â€“ real short â€“ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com WHO DUN IT** Harriet Wallis Communications VP for NASJA-West NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com 801-576-0140

NASJA_West News
Volume 5, 2008 April edition NASJA-WestNews keeps us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

ANNUAL MEETING NOTES / Bretton Woods, New Hampshire Approved: No dues increase for 2008-2009.

Agreed: Each NASJA member should try to bring in a new member this year.

Appointed: Frida Warra, president of Mid West NASJA, was named NASJA Meetings Vice President.

Name change: The Competitor of the Year award was renamed the Paul Robbins Competitor of the Year to honor the internationally noted Olympic ski racer journalist.

Plan ahead: The 2009 annual meeting is scheduled for March 18 - 22 in Lutsen, Minnesota.

MEETING WRAP / By Claudia Carbone
It's almost a given: when NASJA arrives, it's gonna snow. Such was the case (again) for the Annual Meeting at Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire March 26-30. And as a self-confirmed snow snob, this Colorado girl couldn't have been more delighted. Get this, all you western members: I actually skied boot-top powder two days in a row. And it was soft and quiet - something one rarely expects in the east. So those of you who missed out, missed out big.

The opening reception found us in the beautiful Conservatory of the historic Mount Washington Hotel, a grand old lady steeped in history and elegance of New England's high society. We noshed on a sumptuous buffet prepared by award-winning Executive Chef Edward Swetz and tasted regional brews. The following day we explored Bretton Woods on skis and boards courtesy of Elan. That snow was a tad scratchy and noisy, but it was made more fun by Jake Jacobson from Garmin and his hand-held GPS units that some of us played with on the hill. That evening we turned into flappers and gangsters at a Roaring 20s Dinner Dance that continued down in The Cave after hours.

Friday brought the snow, and with it lots of options: skiing/riding Bretton Woods or Cannon Mountain, hiking/skiing Tuckerman Ravine (ask Frida Waara about her adventure), riding the cog railway, shopping, hotel tour, sleigh ride and Nordic skiing, followed by a Scotch tasting workshop and the Dine-Around at the resort's most excellent restaurants.

After a breakfast professional development session with Carl Ettlinger, renowned expert on ski equipment safety, I headed out to ski Cannon - reputably the highest lift-served peak with the longest vertical in the state. I was not disappointed, especially with a memorable run through Banshee Glade in untracked freshies. Later, after a visit to the New England Ski Museum, some of us fit in a ride on the cog train - a remarkable contraption that took us halfway up the slopes of Mt. Washington, the highest mountain in the Northeast. Though we couldn't see the views through the snowy clouds, riding the thing was a hoot. So was touring the museum at the station.

More soft-snow skiing, the annual race and meetings filled up Saturday. Mitch Kaplan presided over the Awards Banquet - a lovely sit-down affair with Mount Washington Resort President and CEO Pat Corso unveiling development plans and John Fry delivering the keynote address. NASJA VP Dino Vournas concluded the evening with an outstanding video presentation announcing the award winners (visit NASJA.org for results).

I always laughed when I skied the "firm" snow in the east and Bob Gillen would say,"You should've been here yesterday." Well, now I'm telling you: You should've been there last week! - Claudia Carbone

AWARDS

The Carson White-Golden Quill Award, named after the group's first president, honors an individual who has made a significant contribution to snow sports in North America. For 2008, the honor went to long-time SnowSports Industries America (SIA) president David Ingemie. Starting out as a marketing director in 1976 for SIA, he took over as president in 1981 and remains so to this day. This native New Englander guides the non-profit winter sports trade association from its McLean, Virginia headquarters.

NASJA's 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a lifetime of snowsports-related innovation, competition, design and other endeavors, was presented to Cecile Ryden Johnson, a well-known watercolor artist who created lasting works of winter scenery, sports and imagery from countless resorts and mountainsides. This nonagenarian, whose work has appeared in Skiing Magazine and in many television specials, is still active in the art world from her Washington D.C. home.

Bonnie MacPherson, the media relations director at Vermont's Okemo Resort, is the recipient of the 2008 Bob Gillen Memorial Award. This award, named in honor of a former Ski Magazine editor and marketing wizard of Crested Butte and Sugarbush ski resorts, honors an individual who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism in public relations and media communications. Ms. MacPherson came to Okemo via stints at the Mt. Washington Hotel, and Loon Mountain and Cranmore resorts.

The Harold S. Hirsch Awards, named after the ski clothing pioneer-creator of the White Stag Company, honors the best writers in the snowsports journalism fields of magazines, newspapers, columns and internet and for winter sports photography. The awards were underwritten by prize grants from the Head Ski Corp. and Sport Obermeyer, the ski clothing manufacturers.

In Magazine Writing, Chris Solomon of Seattle, freelance writing for Ski, Skiing and the New York Times Magazines, captured the Hirsch trophy and some Head skis for his 2007 stories. He was a double winner at last year's awards.

Claudia Carbone of Denver, Colorado, a former president of NASJA and Hirsch winner, took home the Columns honors for 2007 with pieces on Colorado destinations such as Wolf Creek, Keystone and Loveland.

Tops in Newspaper Writing for 2007 was freelancer Hilary Nangle, from Waldoboro, in the Great State of Maine, writing for the Boston Globe about her state's ski destinations and equipment innovation. She is also a previous Hirsch recipient.

Internet Writing honors for 2007 went to About dot com's Skiing Guide Mike Doyle, from Stillwater, New York. Doyle, who is a first-time recipient, made the jump into cyberspace from stints as the IBEW union's press secretary and traditional print media.

In the category of Snowsports Photography, Karl Weatherly of Ketchum, Idaho took top honors with attributes the judges describe as â€œthe best sense of light and composition, excellent action, shot by someone with obvious expert skiing skills.â€� Karl's photos appear on the Getty Images and Corbis websites and in winter sports magazines.

The Paul Robbins Competitor of the Year Award was awarded to Lindsey Van, 2008 World Cup Downhill champion and 2008 World Cup Overall champion.

BLOW YOUR OWN HORN
As part of NASJA's mission to attract new members and to keep current members updated on what each of us is doing, use this space to announce what you're doing professionally.

KUDOS / NASJA member's son named USSA Nordic Director
Olympian John Farra -- son of Jo and Ron Farra, eastern NASJA member -- has been named as the new nordic director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. He'll head the organization's sport programs for cross country, nordic combined and ski jumping and replace Luke odensteiner who was recently named as associate athletic director for high performance.

Farra's background touches on all aspects of athletic participation and sport management. The former U.S. champion was a 1992 Olympic cross country skier and member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1990-93, and was a 1991 NCAA All American at the University of Utah. He graduated from Utah in 1995 and moved into a coaching role. He then served six years in leadership roles at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid.

Since 2002 Farra has worked for the Maine Winter Sports Center, a non-profit economic development corporationbased around skiing as a healthy lifestyle, where he served as vice president. His position with USSA will be diverse, overseeing pipeline programs in clubs and regions around the country in cross country, nordic combinedand ski jumping. He will also be responsible for management of elite national teams.

GOT NEWS?
Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

WHO DUN IT
Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

***********************************

NASJA West News
Volume 5,2008 Mid March edition NASJA-WestNewskeeps us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

VOTE April 15 is the due date for ballots for election of NASJA-West officers. Candidate profiles areavailable on www.nasja.orgunder the West Region section.Vicki Andersen, NASJA-West Executive Secretary & Membership Chair

RECKLESS SKIING OUTLAWED In a unanimous vote the Park City Council approved a new statute that makes skiing or snowboarding out of control within the city limits a Class B Misdemeanor, similar to a Driving Under the Influence charge. A conviction will carry with it up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Deer Valley Resort and Park City MountainResort both lie within the city limits of Park City. Summit County, where The Canyons is located, already has a similar law onthe books.

SCAVENGER HUNTS / Variations on the theme At Big White, the Cruzthe Blues event reached epic proportions, with over 1,000 skiers and ridersscavenging the intermediate trailsand stamping their passports. Cruz the Blues is kind of like a scavenger hunt.People sign up (for free) and thenthey are given a passport. there are signposts on the blue (intermediate) runsat the resort with small stamps.People stop at each of the signposts, stamp their passport and see how manystamps they can get - they aregiven two full days t o 'cruz the blues'. At the end of the second day, thepassports are tossed into a pileand great draw prizes are given out, as well as t-shirts for everyone who signsup. It's free, just a way to getpeople introduced to all of the blue runs at the mountain. A great family event- people often break into teams togo out and get their stamps! Info: Steve Threndyle, sthrendy@shaw.ca

Park City MountainResort, hosted thesecond annual All Mountain Treasure HUNT open to all intermediate and advanced skiers or snowboarders. Teamsof two were given a "clue passport" leading to nine different checkpointson the mountain. Each team usesstrategy to be the first to find the nine clues, punch the team's passport ateach checkpoint, and then cross thefinish line. The three fastest teams receive prizes. At one of the checkpoints,teams will pick up a numberedgolden coin; one coin will be worth two adult season passes to Park CityMountain Resort for the 2008-09season. This grand prize is valued at around $3,000.

The HUNT is afundraising event for Park City Academy's Scholarship Program. Park City Academy is anindependent school that has beendeveloping student leaders within the Park City community for 19 years. Info: www.parkcityhunt.com or435-649-2791.

At Solitude, as part ofthe fundraiser for the Jimmie Heuga Vertical Express for Multiple Sclerosis, teams are given a sheet with 15clues, the answers to which are names of runs. For example. One of the questionswas: What is the opposite of a hardsidewalk? The answer would be Easy Street. Then, you would have to ski down EasyStreet and look for the station(which consists of two orange bamboo poles with an event posted stapled to itand a bunch of envelopes hangingoff one of the poles). Grab an envelope to prove you were at that station. Onceyou've collected all 15, you returnto the event organizers and you are awarded your place. The better your place,the more points you earn. Finalpoints for the whole event are tallied by adding up points form the scavengerhunt, points for placing in theactual race, as well as points for money earned. nfo: www.skisolitude.com

SPECIAL OLYMPICS At Kirkwood,187 Special Olympic athletes compete for the gold at the 2008 Winter Gamesat Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Athletes who win gold medalshave the opportunity to qualify for the World Games to be held in Idaho in 2009. The World Games is expected to attractup to 3,000 athletes from more than 85 nations. Info: daniel@kirkwood.com

U.S. SKI TEAM / Ligety wins World Cup title BORMIO, Italy (March14) - Olympic champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) joined Americans Lindsey Vonn(Vail, CO) and Bode Miller (BrettonWoods, NH) as an Audi FIS World Cup champion Friday. Ligety went out andput down the fastest second run towin the final giant slalom of the season, clinching the World Cup title. Vonnand Miller also clinched overallcrowns on Friday.

It was the secondtime in history two Americans have won the overall World Cup. Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney won in 1983. Ligety's globe was the second U.S. GS title in four years after Miller won it in2004 and was second in 2005 by amere three points behind Austrian BenniRaich.

RESORT NOTES Squaw ValleyUSA hosted the Vertical Express forMultiple Sclerosis as it has for two decades. Squaw was Jimmie Heuga's home mountain â€“ the placehe trained to win the Bronze medal in the Men's Downhill in the 1964 Olympics. Info: Savannah Cowley, 530-583-6985.

Whistler will host the Alpine and Nordic eventsduring the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The same slopes were the setting for twoWorld Cup races in February. Olympic Freestyle and Snowboarding events will take place at Cypress Mountain, just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Upgrades are already complete,so visitors can enjoy the newfacilities two years before the Games. British Columbia is home to more than 35 downhill resorts, 12 of which areconsidered world class, and most of which are equipped with high-speedchairlifts serving vertical risesfrom 400 metres (1,300 feet) to 1,609 metres (5,250 feet).

North LakeTahoe resorts notethat according to the Travel Industry Association of America, 17 percent of U.S. leisure travelers, or 27.3 million, haveengaged in culinary or wine related activities while traveling. Also, the International Culinary Tourism Councilshows that nearly 100 percent of tourists dine out while traveling and that dining is consistently one of the topthree tourist activities. The council's research also states that culinarytourists are highly likely toparticipate in outdoor recreation.

GOT NEWS? Keep it short â€“ realshort â€“ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

WHO DUN IT Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

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NASJA_West News
Volume 5, 2008 Early March edition NASJA_West News helps keep us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

ANNUAL MEETING at BRETTON WOODS, NH
"It's been an epic snow season. We're buried," said Irene Donnell, director of public relations at Mount Washington Resort, host of NASJA's annual meeting. Plans include optional trips to Cannon Mountain and Tuckerman's Ravine, a Great Gatsby party bring something historically trendy to wear), sleigh rides, dog sledding and nordic center activities. Info: check the NASJA website for details.

U.S. SKI TEAM / Vonn succeeds Picabo with downhill title
WHISTLER, B.C. (Feb. 22) _ Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) clinched the Audi FIS World Cup downhill title Friday on the Olympic run in Whistler, ignoring flat light to become the second U.S. skier to win the crown. She finished second _ one_hundredth of a second away from Swiss Nadia Styger's victory. Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) completed the podium in third place while Vonn also reclaimed the overall points lead.

Austrian Renate Goetschl, who finished fifth, needed to win the last three races and Vonn needed to be only fourth or better in one race to clinch the crown, the first by a U.S. skier since Picabo Street in 1996. With nine races remaining, Vonn has 1,063 points to 999 for defending champion Nicole Hosp of Austria, who was 15th in the DH.

"It's amazing I won the trophy," Vonn said. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid to win. It's been a long time coming. The last two years I was really close _ injuries last year and mistakes the year before, so I'm really happy with the way it's finally done."

MORE GREEN
Obermeyer continues its green initiatives. For 2008_09 we will have bamboo pieces in the line for men and women in a variety of colors. Bamboo is naturally anti_microbial. We also have recycled exterior fabric in a new Down _ KFO for men & DeJaVu for ladies. As always Klaus' motto is "step lightly on the planet". We have sustainable buildings both in Aspen & Denver.Info and photos: obermeyer.com/media/media.cfm

Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery's Steamboat Springs Colo. branch has earned Gold Planet certification from the Steamboat Sustainable Business Program. Black Tie Skis commitment to minimizing their impact on the earth included: reducing their carbon footprint by purchasing clean renewable energy from Yampa Valley Electric Association; offsetting vehicle fleet emissions with TerraPass; retrofitting lighting fixtures with CFL bulbs; recycling skis and snowboards back into the market at season_end; and recycling approximately 75% of the business' total waste. Info: www.blacktieskis.com. For more information about the Sustainable Business Certification Program visit: www.steamboat_chamber.com/info/sustainable_business_program.asp.

OBITUARY
WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. (Feb. 23) _ Internationally noted Olympic ski racing journalist Paul Robbins, a wordsmith and historian for the U.S. Ski Team for 30 years, died Saturday at his home in Vermont. Robbins, whose wit, humor and vast knowledge was legendary, was 68. He died of an apparent heart attack while working on weekend news stories at his home.

Always recognized by his Scottish tam, Robbins found a niche in writing about ski racing in the late '70s. His work appeared in countless magazines including Skiing, SKI, Ski Racing and more. A familiar face in press rooms worldwide, Robbins worked at eight Olympic Winter Games every one since the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics where he served as press chief for luge. At subsequent Olympics he served as a press officer for the U.S. Ski Team, as well as an expert commentator for nordic sports for CBS and NBC.

"We have all lost a true friend and vast encyclopedia of sport knowledge," said USSA Vice President of Communications
Tom Kelly

A memorial service in Vermont will be coordinated by the U.S. Ski Team and his local friends for a date in late spring. Donations to the Team in Paul Robbins' name may be made to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation, Box 100, Park City, UT 84060. Or, friends are welcome to contribute to a local charity

RESORT INVESTORS FILE for CHAPTER 11
Tamarack Resort in west_central Idaho, has had to slow down construction for a period of time while it secures additional credit facilities for the ongoing construction needs of the Resort. This is a result of the termination of Societe Generale's undertaking to provide a $118 million construction loan for the Village. Societe Generale is a major French bank with important real estate lending operations in the United States. Societe Generale recently cancelled Tamarack's construction loan commitment when Societe Generale suffered $7 billion of unauthorized securities trading losses, which were the largest in banking history. Because the Village is 90% presold, Tamarack is optimistic that it can find replacement financing.

As a result of this, two of the larger investors in Tamarack Resort, Cross Atlantic Real Estate LLC and VPG Investments LLC, had to file petitions under Chapter 11 to protect their respective ownership interests in Tamarack. Tamarack Resort LLC itself has NOT filed a Chapter 11 and has no current plans to do so. The filings by the two investors will help ensure that Tamarack Resort will enjoy all the legal protections provided it under Idaho law.

The resort is experiencing its most successful season to date. Tamarack recently announced an aggressive expansion plan including luxury condominiums, chalets and a European_style village, according to promotional material from Tamarack. Info: Tamarack Communications Manager Jessica Flynn, cell 208_841_1766 or jflynn@tamarackidaho.com, and you may speak with her in person at the annual meeting at Bretton Woods. Additional info: www.NewWest.net.

Also according to NewWest.net, Tamarack and other luxury resort projects are not immune to problems afflicting real estate and financial markets across the country. Moonlight Basin, a new resort in Montana, announced recently that it was seeking new financial partners, and even the Yellowstone Club is about to be sold. The resort has a number of entities with projects under development and not all are involved in the bankruptcy. Info submitted by Grace Lichtenstein

GOT NEWS?
Keep it short â‚¬â€œ real short â‚¬â€œ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

WHO DUN IT
Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA_West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801_576_0140

******************************

NASJA_West News
Volume 5, 2008 Mid February edition. NASJA-WestNews helps keep us in touch as we're
spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

KUDOS

Claire Walter's restaurant and food blog http://culinary-colorado.blogspot.com has earned 8.6 out of 10 possible points in the Restaurants category of blogged.com (www.blogged.com/directory/shopping/restaurants), making it one of the sites top 10 blogs. "This is quite an achievement!" wrote blogged.com's managing editor, who added, "We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style."

Claire also blogs about travel (http://travel-babel.blogspot.com) and Nordic Walking (http://nordic-walking-usa.blogspot.com

SOUND OFF / PHOTO CONTESTS: Theft of property or smart marketing

The issue: Resorts and organizations hold photo contests to get photos that become their property, and they can use the photos any way they want to. Prizes for a few winners is the only compensation.

Recap of positions:
Brian Robb, photographer, said: I see this type of assault on my livelihood. Ski areas should pay fair market price for photography just as they pay for any other product or service. Professional photographers always obtain models' permission when photos might be used commercially. But contests have no such requirement and there's no compensation for the model or the photographer.

Tom Winter, Freeskier magazine editor at large, said: With the growth of digital photography and digital media, professional photographers are vanishing. Ski areas take advantage of this. It's a smart way for their marketing departments to improve the bottom line. Only top notch professional photographers will survive. If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.

In addition, the rules of the recent contest that started this firestorm stipulate that submission must be by amateur photographers. Sure, the resort will end up owning some good shots, as there are some pretty talented amateurs out there. But Grade A pros won't be affected by contests of this kind.

More NASJA members speak out:
Jimmy Petterson, author and photographer says: I have read Brian Robb's comments about photo contests and also the rebuttal by Tom Winter. As a ski journalist, my feelings and opinion fall in between the two points of view. I think Mr. Winter's comments are quite harsh and unfair, as he implies that Brian Robb is not professional enough in his field to compete. That is certainly not true and an insult to Mr. Robb. On the other hand, Mr. Winter's comments are otherwise probably true -- that the ski areas and other organizations will continue to use amateur photography to their advantage, and there is very little that Mr. Robb or NASJA can do about it.

However, Mr. Robb's comments are valuable. They warn photographers, be they pros, amateurs or something in between, that they should avoid such contests and try to get fair market value for their work.

In the end, all people in a competitive market must deal with the fact that there are competing entrepreneurs (in this case photographers) willing to sell their product for DIFFERENT prices -- in some case, even giving the photos away in hopes of recognition. Young photographers new to the market might sell their photos for less in an attempt to break into a field that is full of established photographers. In an open market, photographers will set a price they hope they can get based on their experience, fame, connections, etc. We who compete in this market, must all decide if we shall hold the price guidelines set by our local photographers' association or lower our price to compete with the competition.

Chaco Mohler, publisher and executive editor of Tahoe Quarterly, says: As a former professional ski photographer, I largely agree with Tom Winter. The business changed in the 1990s, not solely due to digital photography, but also because of the changing nature of the ski business. Things that used to be technically difficult, such as manual focusing, became relatively simple, and the skills that people such as Brian Robb and I developed were no longer exclusive. You might know angles and can run a photo shoot, but does that matter when the money shots are had standing next to a halfpipe? What Tom doesn't mention is that many (but not all) of the folks who stick with it for multiple decades have independent means of support or lucrative summer jobs (or summer photography clients) that allow them to pursue the "career" of ski photography without worrying about paying the mortgage. Brian Robb, is a hard-working, talented photographer, and his multi-decade record of sticking-to-it is to be admired.

Larry Turner, photographer, says: I think the best information on model releases can be found on
www.danheller.com/model-release.html Basically, if the person(s) is easily identifiable and the photo(s) /videography is being used commercially, a release is required. Dan Heller's piece best explains it.

ANNUAL MEETING / Bretton Woods, New Hampshire / March 26 - 30

Did you know that:
Bretton Woods is New Hampshire's largest ski area, and Mount Washington is the northeast's highest peak.

Bretton Woods' Mount Washington Hotel has played host to princes and presidents, socialites and celebrities, entrepreneurs, entertainers, economists and artists. In 1944 The Hotel was selected to be the location for delegates from around the world to gather, strategize and build the road to global post-war prosperity.

GOT NEWS?

Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

KUDOS

Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

NASJA_West News
Volume 5, 2008 Late January edition NASJA-WestNews helps keep us in touch as we're spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

PHOTO CONTESTS / Point of view by Brian Robb, Photographer I just received notice of another "photo contest." This type of a phony contest has been used many times in the past by various companies and organizations. It is nothing more than a veiled method of receiving photos for virtually nothing.

The catch is, to quote the contest rules: "All entries will become the property of ABC Ski Area (the name of the area has been removed, but the contest is similar to contests at many mountains) and will not be returned. Contestants grant ABC Ski Area and contest sponsors unlimited usage and unrestricted rights of any photograph submitted to the contest.

Any submitted photograph may be used in products, promotional materials, or in any manner ABC Ski Area sees fit."

As a professional ski photographer I am incensed when I see this type of assault on my livelihood. Ski areasshould pay fair market price for their photography just as they pay for any other product or service they use.

The ski area may very well be treading in an area where they don't want to go. There is no requirement for a model release and no compensation to the model or the submitting photographer. As a commercial entity, the ski area risks lawsuits from the models and photographers should their photo be used for any commercial purpose.

Professional photographers like myself always obtain proper permissions from models for photographs that may be used for commercial purposes.

ANNUAL MEETING / Register on line On-line registration is now open for the Annual Meeting, March 26 - 30 at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.

1497 - John Sebastian Cabot sights the 6,288 foot peak of Mount Washington while exploring the New England coast. Verrazano sighted it in 1524, but it wasn't visited by Europeans for more than a century.

1642 - Darby Field was the first white man to climb Mount Washington, but it remained otherwise unexplored for another century.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER
Welcome to Rachel Odell, a freelance environmental and winter sports journalist from Boulder, Colorado.

KUDOS
Ski Canada magazine announces its annual "Best of Skiing in Canada" awards. to recognize the unique qualities of the Canadian ski experience. Award categories are developed from the personal experiences of Ski Canada contributors and editorial personnel looking for the highest, the newest, the most excellent and, yes, even the funniest characteristics of
Canada's ski resorts.

Big White and Silver Star were cited for six awards each including: Best Powder, Best Ticket to Ride, Best Glade Skiing; Best Ski-in Ski-out Properties; Best New Slopeside Accommodation; Best Adaptive Ski Program and even Most Reliable Hairdo by a Ski Instructor. Info: sthrendyle@bigwhite.com

IMPROVED MAPS
Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe have each launched online interactive web-based trail maps to help skiers and snowboarders plan their entire day on the mountain before they head up to the resorts. The maps help orient guests to the mountain geography, the available amenities, as well as chairlift locations, current mountain conditions including open and groomed trails, live weather updates, and weekly video. Other valuable tools include 360 degree panoramas that can be controlled by the web user It is, in essence, an entire web site on a map.

The majority of web users prefer to absorb information in a graphical, pictorial or video format versus text, hence the growing prevalence of these communication styles on many of the most sophisticated web sites. The essence of the online interactive trail map is to transfer all of the textual information contained in the resort web site onto a visual, geographical representation. wwwSierraAtTahoe.com, wwwNorthstarAtTahoe.com

Park City Mountain Resort's trail map is larger than it was last year so it is now easier to read, and the mountain is divided into seven color coded zones so skiers and riders can explore more trails than they ever thought possible. The new map is distinctive and clear. Each color coded zone features a variety of terrain so every ability level can enjoy more terrain. The mountain has 3,300 acres, eight bowls and 100 trails on several mountains. www.PCMR.com

RESORT NEWS
Alta, Utah, started an all-women's informal ski group last season and it has grown to as many as 30 women coming out on Tuesdays just for the fun of skiing together. The only cost is a lift ticket. The group is all ages and includes career women, young mothers, retirees and snowbirds. They break into groups based on terrain preference.Info: www.Alta.com

In Idaho,Tamarack Resort's Hells Canyon SuperPipe is open.and is now just one of six destinations in North America with a pipe featuring the new Olympic standard of 22-foot walls. It's the venue of the upcoming Snowboarding Grand Prix. Info: flynn@tamarackidaho.com

Design a terrain park table feature at The Canyons, Utah. Kids and adults can use web tools to design a terrain park table feature and the terrain park crew will actually build it. Log onto www.ridecanyons.com and move tables, tubes and ramps all around. Flip them over. Stand them on end. Stack them up. Make a feature you'd like to ride and click submit. About every three weeks a new design will be chosen and built in the resort's premier terrain park.

KUDOS
Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

NASJA_West News
Volume 5, 2008 January /GREEN edition / part 1 NASJA-WestNews helps keep us in
touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

JULES OLDER'S GREEN KICKOFF / Global Weirding from SkiPress / with permission "Let's start with the bad news. Out of 486 operating American ski areas, only 184 have endorsed the National Ski Areas Association's (NSAA) Environmental Charter for Ski Areas. The Charter, which promotes 'sustainable slopes,' has been around since 2000. Only 63 areas signed NSAA's letter to Congress urging the nation 'to aggressively and sustainably slow, stop and reverse the growth of global warming emissions.' Only 59 resorts are buying enewable energy.

OK, now the good news. When it comes to reducing their carbon footprint, some American ski resorts are models for the planet. And the model for the models is what many might consider a most unlikely source - Aspen. Yes, Aspen, home of the rich and super-rich, is leading the world in confronting global warming.. Aspen even took the EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency, but more accurately the Environmental Predators Association) to court for failing to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act - and won."

Resorts are"all discovering that being green makes great business sense and generates great PR." - Jules Older

GREEN GREEN GREEN / Editor's note
It's a tidal wave! When I asked"what's GREEN at your resort?" the information rushed in like a tsunami. So rather than the tidy synopsis I'd envisioned, GREEN info will be diced into serving size portions and doled out in several newsletters. You probably already have some of it. But the goal is to put potentially useful information - story starters and to spark ideas -- into your hands. - Harriet Wallis

GREEN IS GOLD (and SILVER) / Clif Bar's 2007 Golden Eagle Awards
Fact: The Golden and Silver Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence were established by Clif Bar & Co. in 1993 to recognize the environmental achievements of ski areas that are National Ski Area Association (NSAA) members.

Fact: Of the eight 2007 award winners, all are in the west. Six are NASJA-West members.

Golden Eagle, Overall Environmental Excellence: Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort (Utah) Snowbird made history last summer as the first private landowner in Utah to help clean up mining-era land.In cooperation with conservation group Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and Tiffany & Co.,Snowbird worked to clean up mine tailings on Snowbird land affecting the American Fork watershed. This reclamation project is the first of its kind and an excellent model for broader environmental stewardship.

Though most mining in American Fork Canyon stopped 80 years ago, the water running from the Pacific Mine was carrying lead at levels 10 times higher than the federal Clean Water Act standard - contamination that once ran into the American Fork River. The project will generate multiple benefits to not only the fish and wildlife, but also the communities that live downstream.
Finalists: Aspen/Snowmass (Colorado), Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Wyoming)

Silver Eagle, Water Conservation: Mount Washington Alpine Resort (BC, Canada) Mount Washington Alpine Resort has put in place a number of initiatives in the last year to both conserve and protect its water supply. hrough a combination of public education, best practices, and water conservation efforts, Mount Washington Alpine Resort has reduced water consumption by 30% in a period that also saw a 25% increase in skier visits
Finalists: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Wyoming), Vail Resorts (Colorado)

Silver Eagle, Energy Conservation/Clean Energy: Mt. Ashland (Oregon) Despite being a small, non-profit ski area, Mt. Ashland made significant strides in 2006 in support of clean, renewable energy. They were the first resort in the Pacific Northwest to commit to purchasing 100% green power, a significant increase from just 10% in previous years. Additionally Mt. Ashland is educating andencouraging their guests to support green energy purchases through season and day pass upgrades. Mt. Ashland's 3year commitment will offset 3 million pounds of greenhouse gases.
Finalists: Durango Mountain Resort (Colorado), Sugarbush Resort (Vermont)

Silver Eagle, Fish & Wildlife Habitat Protection: Whistler Blackcomb (BC, Canada) Whistler/Blackcomb placed habitat protection at the center of its 2006 Symphony Project which involved expanding its terrain into an alpine area known as the Piccolo Peak/Symphony basin. A team of planners and engineers, which included a bear biologist, foresters and mountain planners, developed a minimalist design that kept wildlife habitat intact and allayed stakeholders' fears that the resort was infringing on their backcountry playground, was damaging sensitive ecosystems, and destroying Provincial park aesthetics. Ultimately the project's footprint was reduced from an original estimate of 40% down to less than 5%.
Finalists: Whiteface (New York), Vail Resorts (Colorado)

Silver Eagle, Environmental Education: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (California) Mammoth's environmental education effort aims to educate the general public, their guests and employees to create a connection to nature and an understanding of what actions are needed to protect it. Mammoth organized numerous events and workshops in 2006, including the Off The Grid Energy Fest and Expo, which educated the public on energy conservation, climate change and renewable technologies. Guest education efforts included naturalist-led tours and employees received compulsory environmental educational training. Mammoth also demonstrated genuine interest and dedication to environmental education by hiring a full-time environmental education coordinator. Finalists: Mt. Ashland (Oregon), Whistler/Blackcomb (BC, Canada)

Silver Eagle, Visual Impact: Winter Park (Colorado) Winter Park Resort was able to minimize and avoid visual impacts with the addition of its Backside Parsenn Peak Project through meticulous planning, state-of-the-art technology, and careful implementation. The critical viewing areas of the project from the Continental Divide and the Fraser Valley show a well blended and imperceptible change to the landscape, a result of numerous best practices, including, placing the chairlift below a highly visible ridge; removing and placing back by hand approximately 5,800 square feet of tundra for the underground utility line route; and utilizing computer aided design to pinpoint tree removal areas to blend in with the existing landscape.
Finalists: Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Whistler Blackcomb (BC, Canada)

Silver Eagle, Stakeholder Relations: Vail Resorts (Colorado) From October to December of 2006, Vail Resorts raised over $213,000 for the National Forest Foundation. Vail Resorts and the National Forest Foundation expect to raise up to $600,000 (including the matching funds) in support of local conservation projects, 3 to 4 times more than the National Forest Foundation's next largest program of its kind. Additionally, Vail Resorts has extended its support of renewableenergy credits. Over 500 lift tickets were given to guests who chose to offset their home electricity use through Vail Resorts'"Ski With the Wind" program.
Finalists: Mammoth (California), Whistler Blackcomb (BC, Canada)

Silver Eagle, Waste Reduction & Recycling: Vail Resorts (Colorado) In 2006, Vail Resorts recycled over 5,000 tons of material at their resorts, or 35% of total waste, the equivalent of saving enough energy to power 670 households for 1 year. Their goal is to recycle at least 50% of mountain waste by 2010. An extensive number of recycling locations, both on and off mountain, allow guests and employees to easily recycle their waste. Vail resorts also partners with local non-profit organizations such as Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability and High Country Conservation Center to find ways to recycle hard to recycle items, including fruit and vegetable waste, ink-jet cartridges, cell phones and fluorescent bulbs. Vail Resorts also began purchasing biodegradable to-go containers for testing at some of their restaurants.
Finalists: Blue Mountain (ON, Canada), Silverton Mountain (Colorado)

RESORTS GO GREEN
MT BACHELOR, Oregon
Green Energy - Wind Powered Lifts. Ride to the Mountaintop on Green Energy. We are powering the Sunrise, and new this year, the Pine Marten Express lifts using only wind power purchased from MidState Electric Cooperative.Through the purchase of Green Tags, we challenge you to power the Summit Express lift using Green Energy. Green Tags will be available for purchase at any ticket window. Mini-Green Tags ($2) help the Bonneville Environmental Foundation divert 140 pounds of greenhouse gases. Green Tags ($20) divert 1400 pounds of greenhouse gases.

Transportation. Bachelor Super Shuttles reduce more than seven million pounds of greenhouse gases annually Bachelor Super Shuttles diverted 1.7 million employee and guest vehicle miles from the road last season New this year! The Super Shuttle now runs on bio-diesel, with the intent of switching our grooming crew over next year.

Other. On mountain recycling by guests diverted 19 tons of garbage from area landfills last season
On mountain recycling by employees diverted 30 tons of garbage from area landfills last season
Use of partially recycled paper products in all restrooms
Recycling containers in F&B locations
Use of non-petroleum based cleaners for housekeeping
Use of recycled paper for insulated cups in F&B locations
Reuse of existing signs and sign materials
Use of"Green" cleaning agents for vehicles
Retrofit of lighting to low power devices as lights are replaced
F&B requires suppliers to supply company environmental policies as part of bid
Use of bulk container food items for kids ski school lunches
Bulk cardboard recycling at retail from supplier packaging
Distribution of job applications via email instead of paper
Wind power credits for 2 lifts
Sale of Green Tags

No Idling Program. A professor at Dartmouth's Thayer College of Engineering found that for every hour spent idling, a vehicle discharges 9.7 pounds of carbon emissions (diesel engines emit 19 pounds). Multiply that by 15 or 20 cars, buses and SUV's in the drop-off area of most ski resorts and the carbon emissions add up! A no Idling program was started in December to reduce pollution, decrease health risks, save engine wear, and conserve fuel and money. Further consideration for this program inspired by children, as the drop-off area is frequented by kids who are at higher risk as they inhale more air per body weight.

BOGUS BASIN, Idaho / Nordic night skiing under solar lights It's the second season of Nordic night skiing under solar powered lights.with more lighted trails this year. The Nordic Group Solar Trail Lighting Project has illuminated 6.2 kilometers (3.8 miles) of Bogus Basin's cross-country trails with solar-powered lights. The project provides a visible application of renewable energy and provides night time Nordic activities to the growing Boise metropolitan area for the first time. The Nordic Group is part of the Boise Nordic Foundation, a charitable organization focused on expanding nordic ski opportunities and cross country ski education on the Boise Front.

In 2004, The Nordic Group worked with Boise State University's Electrical Engineering Department to design a durable, alternative energy lighting system for Nordic trails. The Nordic Group installed a prototype system of lights and collectors on 300 meters of Red Tail Trail in late 2004. During summer 2005 the Project's second and largest phase was built, covering 5 kilometers. This effort involved over 150 volunteers, and a licensed electrician over 5 months. For the final phase, the lighting system has been expanded with 30 additional light poles in 2007, and the full system now lights the Red Tail, Sappers Return and Nordic Highway Trails for night skiing and snowshoeing.

The system has 10 sections, each powered by a photovoltaic panel, controller and battery bank providing low voltage power to groups of 8 to 13 light poles. The poles each hold four or eight durable light fixtures containing LED lights. Interpretive signs and public outreach help explain the solar application and efficiency of the system.

Bogus Basin pioneered night skiing over four decades ago. According to Jeff Fereday, Nordic Group President, "The solar lighting provides working people with a great way to stay fit on winter evenings and allows the junior racing team to finish their practices safely."

GOT NEWS?
Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

WHO DUN IT
Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

NASJA_West News
Volume 4, 2007 late December edition NASJA_West News helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

WHAT'S GREEN ?
What's going green at your resort? NASJA members might like to see a roundup in another enewsletter.

KUDOS
Christopher Elliott, travel journalist, travel ombudsman, syndicated columnist and travel blogger, released his list of "The 20 Most Inspiring Travel Blogs of 2007." (See http://www.elliott.org/blog/the-20-most-inspiring-blogs-of-2007/) This exclusive list ncluded Claire Walter's Travel Babel blog (http://travel-babel.blogspot.com), of which he wrote, "Claire Walter's travel blog delivers a compelling mix of consumer travel news and destination information."

Also, "theScoop," a weekly E-newsletter sent by the Denver Newspaper Agency (ajoint perating agreement of the DENVER POST and ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS) to160,000 select people, spotlighted Claire Walter's Travel Babel(http://travel-babel.blogspot.com) the week before Christmas. The pieceincluded an interview with Claire about traveling and blogging about ravel.Also, "theScoop" had noted Travel Babel as a favorite blog in a feature on Colorado blogs several weeks earlier.

Daniela Gugliotta, Alpine Adventures VP sales and marketing, graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with a Master's Degree in Business Administration.

U.S. SKI and SNOWBOARD TEAM NOTES
Hannah Teter, Olympic halfpipe gold medalist. is spokesperson for the Capitol Christmas Tree, (not to be confused with the National Christmas tree) which was cut down in Vermont. The tree was lit Dec. 5 by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi near the U.S. Capitol. Teter has been involved in a variety of charitable causes since her victory in Torino 22 months ago. In conjunction with World Vision, a Christian relief organization, her "Hannah's Gold" maple syrup benefits youngsters in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. She also has acked Boarding for Breast Cancer.

Make a $35 donation to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team and get a 2008 Team calendar.

IDAHO
Brundage Mountain Resort invested $3.1 million in the construction of two, triple hairlifts boosting the resort's uphill lift capacity (from 3,100 people per hour to 6,700 people per hour), serves 160 acres of new terrain of the south side of Brundage Mountain, and improves lift service to the low-angle terrain of Bear Knob.

Silver Mountain Resort gladed much of the terrain in the Chair 2 Basin, invested millions of dollars in Phase II of the now open Morning Star Lodge

Tamarack Resort will build and maintain to Olympic specifications the Hells Canyon uperPipe (22-foot high walls)

Schweitzer Mountain Resort invested more than $10 million including two new lifts

OREGON
Mt. Hood Meadows Resort constructed a new Patrol Headquarters Building. The two-story, 240-square foot structure is the resort's first LEED-certified building.

Timberline installed a high speed quad which serves eight, new trails. approximately 220 acres of new terrain and is Mt. Hood's longest chairlift (6,700 feet).

WASHINGTON
Crystal Mountain installed the Northway Chairlift, which increases the ski area's uphill lift capacity to 20,310 people per hour. The Northway Chairlift provides access to pproximately 1,000 acres of skiable terrain.

ALASKA
Alyeska Resort invested more than $4.5 million in on-mountain improvements, including snowmaking coverage that blankets trails from the upper tram terminal to the base of the mountain. The guest rooms of The Hotel Alyeska also received a $3.5 million upgrade.

MONTANA
Whitefish Mountain Resort invested $7.1 million in the resort's lift network â€“ purchasing a high-speed, quad chairlift to replace the Glacier Chaser Chairlift and installing another high-speed, quad chairlift that upgrades, extends, and re-aligns the Swift Creek lift. The resort also spent $10.7 million on the construction of The Base Lodge â€“ a 35,000-square foot lodge situated near the bottom of Chair 6. A new Professional Services Building sits immediately adjacent to The Base Lodge, housing the Ski and Snowboard School, Ski Patrol Headquarters, and a state-of-the-art clinic.

GOT NEWS?
Keep it short â€“ real short â€“ and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

WHO DUN IT
Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

NASJA_West News
Volume 4, 2007 late December edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

WHAT'SGREEN ?
What's going green at your resort? NASJA members might like to see a roundup in another enewsletter.

KUDOS
Christopher Elliott, travel journalist, travel ombudsman, syndicated columnist and travel blogger, released his list of "The 20 Most Inspiring Travel Blogs of 2007."(See ttp://www.elliott.org/blog/the-20-most-inspiring-blogs-of-2007/) This exclusive list included Claire Walter's Travel Babel blog (http://travel-babel.blogspot.com), of which
he wrote, "Claire Walter's travel blog delivers a compelling mix of consumer travel news and destination information."

Also, "theScoop,"a weekly E-newsletter sent by the Denver Newspaper Agency (ajoint operating agreement of the DENVER POST and ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS) to160,000 select people, spotlighted Claire Walter's Travel Babel(http://travel-babel.blogspot.com) the week before Christmas. The pieceincluded an interview with Claire about traveling and blogging about travel.Also, "theScoop"had noted Travel Babel as a favorite blog in a feature onColorado blogs several weeks earlier.

Daniela Gugliotta, Alpine Adventures VP sales and marketing, graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with a Master's Degree in Business Administration.

U.S. SKIandSNOWBOARDTEAMNOTES
Hannah Teter, Olympic halfpipe gold medalist. is spokesperson for the Capitol Christmas Tree, (not to be confused with the National Christmas tree) which was cut down in Vermont. The tree was lit Dec. 5 by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi near the U.S. Capitol. Teter has been involved in a variety of charitable causes since her victory in Torino 22 months ago. In conjunction with World Vision, a Christian relief organization, her "Hannah's Gold" maple syrup benefits youngsters in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. She also has backed Boarding for Breast Cancer.

Make a $35 donation to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team and get a 2008 Team calendar.

IDAHO

Brundage Mountain Resort invested $3.1 million in the construction of two, triple chairlifts boosting the resort's uphill lift capacity (from 3,100 people per hour to 6,700 people per hour), serves 160 acres of new terrain of the south side of Brundage Mountain, and improves lift service to the low-angle terrain of Bear Knob.

Silver Mountain Resort gladed much of the terrain in the Chair 2 Basin, invested millions of dollars in Phase II of the now open Morning Star Lodge

Tamarack Resort will build and maintain to Olympic specifications the Hells Canyon SuperPipe (22-foot high walls)

Schweitzer Mountain Resort invested more than $10 millionincluding two new lifts

OREGON
Mt. Hood Meadows Resort constructed a new Patrol Headquarters Building. The two-story, 1,240-square foot structureis the resort's first LEED-certified building.

Timberline installed a high speed quad which serves eight, new trails. approximately 220 acres of new terrain and is Mt. Hood's longest chairlift (6,700 feet).

WASHINGTON
Crystal Mountain installed the Northway Chairlift, which increases the ski area's uphill lift capacity to 20,310 peopleper hour. The Northway Chairlift provides access to approximately 1,000 acres of skiable terrain.

ALASKA
Alyeska Resort invested more than $4.5 million in on-mountain improvements, including snowmaking coverage that blankets trails from the upper tram terminal to the base of the mountain. The guest rooms of The Hotel Alyeska also received a $3.5 million upgrade.

MONTANA
Whitefish Mountain Resort invested $7.1 million in the resort's lift network â€“ purchasing a high-speed, quad chairlift to replace the Glacier Chaser Chairlift and installing another high-speed, quad chairlift that upgrades, extends, and re-aligns the Swift Creek lift. The resort also spent $10.7 million on the construction of The Base Lodge â€“ a 35,000-square foot lodge situated near the bottom of Chair 6.A new Professional Services Building sits immediately adjacent to The Base Lodge, housing the Ski and Snowboard School, Ski Patrol Headquarters, and a state-of-the-art clinic.

GOT NEWS?
Keep it short - real short - and send it to NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com

WHO DUN IT
Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

*************************************************************************************************

NASJA_West News
Volume 4, 2007 November edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we span two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

Grace Lichtenstein reviewed Lynne Cheney's book for the Washington Post. The book is memoirs of an idyllic childhood in Wyoming

Seth Masia writes: Some of you may know that I went back to school a couple of years ago, and in May graduated from the University of Colorado/Boulder with a masters degree in environmental journalism. I'm happy to say that I've been offered a job as managing editor of SolarToday!, the magazine (and website) of the American Solar Energy Society here in Boulder. It's a great opportunity and I'm very pleased, even about the commute: I can cycle to work most days.

I'm still deeply involved in skiing, as a level 3 instructor at Beaver Creek and as executive editor of Skiing
Heritage (and webmaster of skiinghistory.org).Â See you on the hill!

Squaw Valley USA offers free lift tickets to active military personnel for the fifth consecutive year. Squaw's founder Alex Cushing, who passed away last year, served in World War II as a Lieutenant Commander. His service in the US Navy transpired into lifelong connection with the military.

Snowbird collected nearly two tons of non-perishable food for the Utah Food Bank during the ski and snowboard resort's annual Customer Appreciation Days and raised $1,416 for the Wasatch Adaptive Sports Program to help provide skiing and snowboarding experiences for those with special needs.

A state District Court in Denver has denied a motion by Vail Resorts, Inc. for a preliminary injunction to prevent
American Skiing Company (ASC) from selling The Canyons to Talisker Canyons Finance Co LLC. Vail had asked the Denver District Court to hold up the sale of ASC's subsidiary, ASC Utah, to Talisker, pending resolution of the claims made by Vail in the litigation it brought to challenge the sale.

New England Ski Museum awarded the Spirit of Skiing award to Deer Valley's Stein Eriksen The award recognizes a person whose life exemplifies "skiing is not just a sport, it is a way of life,"and who has influenced skiing in a positive manner and enabled others to benefit from the sport.

Eriksen's graceful, acrobatic style of skiing defined skiing elegance in the 1950s and 1960s.After coming to prominence in the 1952 Olympics with a gold medal run in giant slalom and a silver in slalom, Eriksen moved from his native Norway to the U.S., where he operated ski schools at Boyne Mountain, Heavenly Valley, Sugarbush, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Park City, before settling in at Deer Valley, where he remains today as Director of Skiing.

At Bear Valley Cross Country, in Northern California, all skiers will pay the half day rate ($20) and they can ski
anytime during the day. It will eliminate the 1 pm half day rush for rentals and passes that causes the lines and
crowds â€“ what Nordic skiers and snowshoers definitely don't want. www.bearvalleyxc.com

Northstar at Tahoe has a Parent Predicament, interchangeable lift ticket that allows one parent to ski or ride while the other stays with the child. It's priced the same as a full day adult ticket.

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NASJA_West News
Volume 4, 2007 October edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as
we are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

Icer Air is coming! This year a 2 day event, Nov 2 and 3, at AT&T Park in San Francisco will feature the
worlds best skier and riders, a freestyle motocross jump, resort and industry booths, a huge ski/snowboard
sale and much, much more. For more on the event or for vendor booth info: Jim McAlpine, jim@snowbomb.com or 530 906 1263.

Incline Village, NV- Tourist destinations such as hotels, casinos, ski resorts in America rely heavily on
International workers to fill seasonal positions. There are two types of workers which generally come to
America on temporary work visas, Students â€“ utilizing a J1 visa and skilled workers through the H-2B
temporary work visa. For the J1 visa, a person must be a full-time, matriculated student at an American or
foreign university and must (leave the country, if necessary to) return to school after their winter break is
over. H-2B visa holders are able to stay in America longer on their visas because they don't have the time
constraint of returning to school.

However, many long-time H-2B workers and ski resorts are in CRISIS right now. Two major developments
occurred recently with respect to H2B visas. First, the exemption from the cap for returning workers expired on
September 30, 2007. Second, the cap of 33,000 H2B visas for the first half of FY 2008 was reached on
October 1, 2007. Any visa applications submitted after September 27, 2007 will be rejected unless and until
Congress steps in to help the ski industry.

A bill called the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 was introduced earlier this year. In this
Bill, returning H-2B workers were slated to be permanently exempt from the H-2B visa quota. However, this bill
has not been passed and the ski industry has been notified that the cap has been reached and all pending H-
2B applications will be returned. The cap was reached earlier than normal this year because, to date,
Congress has failed to renew the returning worker exemption from the quota.

Obviously, with the quota reached so quickly, many recreation and tourism based businesses have been
blindsided with the fact that most, if not all of their returning H-2B workers, cannot return and work. This issue
particularly affects ski resorts because ski resorts often don't start their employee recruitment process until
mid-September/October.

Estimates indicate there are at least 50,000 outstanding H-2B applications and workers that are in grave
danger of being unable to come to the U.S. to work. Even if Congress adopts a retroactive exemption for
returning H2B workers and the cap is opened back up, applications submitted after September 27, 2007 are
not likely to be processed in time for the holidays.

If this cap does not open back up, then it is possible that some recreation and tourism based businesses will
be severely impacted or even forced to shut down due to lack of workers, which would in turn greatly affect
many areas of the country and the national economy.

Diamond Peak and the U.S. Ski Industry need your help in emailing, faxing, or calling your representatives and
senators to urge them to co-sponsor the legislation which will provide relief for the H2B visa program and allow
resorts to obtain the help they need to supplement their domestic workforce. Please urge your Senators to
support and co-sponsor S. 988. In the House, please ask your Representative to support and co-sponsor H.R
1843. For a sample letter, please go to www.nsaa.org .If you want a shortcut, the Capitol operator at 202-224-
3121 can put you through to any office in Washington. Kayla Anderson, PR/ Marketing Coordinator
(775) 832-1120, Kayla_anderson@ivgid.org

MEN/A Team
Bryon Friedman (6/14/80; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation)
Ted Ligety (8/31/84; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation)
Scott Macartney (1/19/78; Crystal Mountain, WA; Crystal Mountain Alpine Club)
Steven Nyman (2/12/82; Provo, UT; Sundance/Park City Ski Education Foundation)
Erik Schlopy (8/21/72; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation)
Dane Spencer (12/24/77; Boise, ID; Bogus Basin)
Marco Sullivan, (4/27/80; Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team)

WOMEN/ A Team
Stacey Cook (7/3/84; Mammoth Mountain, CA; Mammoth Mountain Ski Team)
Lindsey Kildow (10/18/84; Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail)
Caroline Lalive (8/10/79; Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Libby Ludlow (8/26/81; Bellevue, WA; Crystal Mountain Alpine Club)
Julia Mancuso (9/9/84; Olympic Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team)
Kaylin Richardson (9/28/84; Edina, MN; Team Gilboa)
Sarah Schleper (2/19/79; Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail)
Resi Stiegler (11/15/85; Jackson Hole, WY; Park City Ski Education Foundation/Jackson Hole Ski Club)

Harriet Wallis
Communications VP for NASJA-West
NASJA_WestNews@hotmail.com
801-576-0140

**************************************************************************************************

NASJA_West News
Volume 4, 2007 July edition NASJA_WestNews helps keep us in touch as we
are spread across two time zones, 13 states and half of Canada.

According to SIA, "Texans outspent 46 other states last year on snow sports equipment, apparel and accessories with more than $106 million in retail sales,' said Kelly Davis, research manager for SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the not-for-profit industry trade group that represents manufacturers and distributors of snow sports products. California, Colorado, New York and New Jersey rounded out the top five states in total snow sports retail receipts for the 2006/07 season.

States like Texas and Florida with large populations tend to have higher total retail sales of snow sports goods,
but states with more mountains and more snow sell more goods per person. This year, Vermont topped the total spending per capita list with more than $76.00 spent per person on all snow sports retail goods. Colorado was second on the list at $53.00 per person, and Idaho, Utah and New Hampshire rounded out the top five states in the rankings. Meanwhile, Floridians spent just $2.09 per person on snow sports goods and were 45th in the sales per capita rankings despite being ranked 19th in total retail sales. Hawaii, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi rounded out the bottom five in the rankings for sales per person.

The first issue of the Whitefish Review, edited and published by NAJSA member Brian Schott, is now available
at www.WhitefishReview.com. Larry Turner shot the cover photo and Jay Cowan has an article on Hunter S.
Thompson. â€“ Brain Schott

A ski industry roundtable held at Sun Valley, brainstormed ways to promote skiing and how to market mountain
culture not just ski culture. Athletes attending the meeting included Jonny Moseley, Kent Kreitler and Steve
Nyman as well as ski industryÂ representatives fromÂ hard-goods andÂ soft-goods companies as well as resorts, SIA,Â media, andÂ tourism came from all over the country.Â

The general consensus was that the ski industry needs an organization to help institute and push aÂ consistent
and unified message to the consuming public that mt. culture is cool. Since the ski industry has never had this
type of organization before it was hoped that one could be started or that an existing one would step forward and
lead the charge.Â

AttendeesÂ suggested that The Ski Tour be the organization to take up the challenge. It was pointed out that
snowboarding has established a "lifestyle"but skiing has not. Jonny Moseley suggested that we need to market
skiing one kid at a time like musicians do by constant touring. Nothing concrete was decided onÂ when this
organization (or what organization) to become the "unified voice of mountain. culture"would come about but at
least the dialogue has began and mostÂ attendees left with positive ideas on how to further this end. â€“ Karl Weatherly

Hec Hancock says: â€œI'm sorry to say that the time has come to say goodbye. I can do just about everything, the
doctors tell me, EXCEPT ski. A real bummer. I will miss you guys more than I can say. Lots of memories of great
runs, and tripsâ€¦ But like they say, all good things come to an end. It was great. Best wishes - Hec'
(Note: Hec joined USSWA, NASJA's predecessor, in 1975) â€“ Vicki Andersen

Ground was broken July 18 for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's Center of Excellence â€“ the most
significant project in the century-long history of the USSA. USSA, the national governing body for Olympic skiing
and snowboarding which has been based in Utah for more than 30-years says its $22.5 million facility will be
finished in 2009, providing final training benefits for athletes headed to the 2010 Olympics, but will be in full-force
for athletes aiming for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Also, during the U.S. Snowboarding alpine summer training camp at Mt. Hood, Head Coach Steve Persons
worked in a team-building exercise including some Class II-III whitewater kayaking. And alpine riders made a trip to New Zealand this summer instead of traveling to Chile as they did during the past three seasons for their late summer training camp.

Welcome to our new members: Natalie Bartley (freelance writer and weekly columnist with the Idaho Statesman),
Justin Broglio (Web blog editor/designer for Snowbomb.com and freelancer for Powder Magazine and other
outlets, recruited by Jim McAlpine), Andrew Hooge (author of FitSking: Your Guide for Peak Skiing Fitness), Molly
Murfee (full-time freelance writer and copywriter), Grouse Mountain Lodge and Whitefish Convention & Visitors
Bureau, and a welcome back to returning members Gary Olson, Monarch Mountain, Ski Banff-Lake Louise-
Sunshine, and Travel Alberta.