First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine

Record-Breaking Winter Allows Sugarloaf to Spend $2.9M in Improvements This Summer

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:21:23 +0000

Carrabassett Valley, ME - After a record-breaking winter that set all-time records for skier-visits and revenue, Sugarloaf in Maine has announced nearly $3 million in capital investments going in this summer, including new snowmaking technology, continued terrain expansion, and a new 30-person outdoor hot tub at the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel. The off-season investment is part of the Sugarloaf 2020 Ten-Year Road Map, which outlines the ski resort’s ten-year vision for development. Since the vision was first unveiled in 2010, the resort has seen numerous upgrades and improvements, including more than 500 acres of new terrain, a new quad chairlift, massive upgrades to its snowmaking system, a new irrigation system for the Sugarloaf Golf Club, new restaurants and food options, and upgraded facilities throughout the resort. Of the $2.9 million in improvements for this summer, the largest piece will go toward 200 new low-energy HKD SV10 Impulse snow guns, the most advanced energy-efficient snowmaking technology on the market. The snow guns, manufactured by Snow Economics Inc./HKD Snowmakers, are able to produce the same amount of snow as a traditional snow gun, while using 30 to 40 percent less compressed air. In 2012, with the help of a $300,000 grant from Efficiency [...]

Vail Resorts Appoints New GM at Michigan’s Mt. Brighton

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:07:34 +0000

Brighton, MI - Vail Resorts has named Taylor Ogilvie as general manager of Mt. Brighton ski area in Michigan, where he will oversee ski area operations. He will begin his new position on June 10. Ogilvie is originally from the Chicago suburbs and grew up skiing Midwest ski areas. After attending college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Ogilvie started his career at Vail Resorts as a ski instructor and worked his way through the ranks at the Vail and Beaver Creek Ski & Ride Schools and most recently held the position of general manager, where he oversaw all operations at the Vail Mountain Children and Teen Ski & Ride School in Lionshead. “We are thrilled to have someone with Taylor’s ski resort management experience become general manager of Mt. Brighton,” said Eric Simon, Vice President and General Manager of Urban Ski Areas at Vail Resorts. “Taylor has had tremendous success working across all mountain operations and will bring remarkable insight on the Vail Resorts guest experience to Mt. Brighton. Plus, growing up skiing in the Midwest, Taylor understands how special ski areas like Mt. Brighton are and will work to preserve its legacy and enhance the ski and [...]

Snow Park NZ Won’t Open This Season

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:51:38 +0000

Wanaka, New Zealand - Following a return to Lee family ownership on April 1, General Manager Sam Lee has now indicated that there’s not enough time following the transition to get Snow Park NZ up and running for the 2013 ski and snowboard season. “We can now reveal that the plan for 2013 is that we will not be opening on a regular basis to the public.” Said Sam Lee, General Manager. “We had hoped we could get on our feet sooner but we needed more time than we have had.” Best efforts have been hampered by the volume of work and capital required, Lee said. The team have made the decision to pause and get their bearings, and approach the future of Snow Park responsibly to their customers and trading partners. “We have worked hard to underwrite the season and provide the Snow Park we have all come to know and love, but time has been against us from the start,” said Lee. “This is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, with the level of functioning assets, I know we cannot provide the world-class terrain we have become known for.” Snow Park NZ is prepared [...]

Rocky Rolls On to Mt. Hutt

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:42:08 +0000

Christchurch, New Zealand – The Rocky road trip is on. After two years of uninvited residence in a Heathcote Valley, New Zealand home, “Rocky” on Thursday embarked on the first leg of his journey “home” to Mt. Hutt ski under the watchful eye of new owners NZSki, which owns Mt. Hutt. After a three-hour operation to partially demolish the house to reach him, bystanders clapped and cheered as Rocky finally saw the light of day. Officially weighing in at 15 tons, Rocky was loaded onto a truck to start a two-day “Rocky road trip” through Christchurch, out to Methven and finally up to Mt. Hutt ski area. Rocky gained media attention in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes after crashing into the home of Phil Johnson. Johnson auctioned Rocky on Trade Me to raise earthquake relief funds, along the way amassing 3,000 Facebook followers, many of whom came to the scene on Thursday to witness the dislodging, craning and transportation of the volcanic basalt rock. NZSki bought Rocky for NZ$50,000, which was donated to the Red Cross earthquake appeal, and have been waiting for two years for the all-clear from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) to take Rocky to his new [...]

NZSki Appoints New CEO

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:17:28 +0000

Queenstown, New Zealand - New Zealand ski area operator NZSki Ltd. has appointed Paul Anderson, currently General Manager of Corporate Services at Christchurch City Council (CCC), as its new CEO. Anderson, 42, will replace James Coddington who has been at the helm of NZSki for six years. NZSki Ltd owns and operates Coronet Peak, Mt. Hutt and The Remarkables ski areas in Queenstown and Canterbury. Anderson is a Cantabrian who has spent considerable time in Central Otago over the past 20 years. He and his wife will move to Queenstown and he will take up his new position in early August. Anderson has worked at Christchurch City Council for the past five and a half years, most recently managing the funding strategies for earthquake response and recovery. He has also been tasked with improving the council’s performance focus, increased staff engagement and was a founding member of the Local Government Funding Agency in 2011. An avid skier and outdoor enthusiast, Anderson is a Chartered Accountant who in the past has held finance and operational roles with large corporate and government organizations including Telecom New Zealand, NatWest GFM (London) and the New Zealand Treasury. Anderson said he was “hugely excited” about [...]

Freeride World Tour Announces 2014 Competition Schedule

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:09:42 +0000

Salt Lake City, UT - Event organizers of the Swatch Freeride Word Tour by The North Face have announced the details of the circuit’s 2013-14 season schedule. Following the global unification of the Freeride World Tour (FWT) this past winter, athletes and fans alike will gather at six competition stops in 2014. Moreover, more than 637,000 viewers tuned in online during the 2013 season to watch the world’s top freeride skiers and snowboarders compete on some of the most impressive terrain on the planet. “To me, the 2013 season has marked a turning point for the FWT and for our sport. Freeride has achieved a certain maturity after existing for 20 years through competitions, and its legitimacy has been proven,” said FWT Europe Region General Manager Nicolas Hale-Woods. “Its future is promising and we can even tell you now that the 2014 season is going to be awesome with six stops in the world’s most famous mountain resorts. The always growing list of FWT qualification events proves that young people’s interest for freeride is increasing.” “This past season was an incredible achievement for everyone involved on the Freeride World Tour,” said FWT Americas Region General Manager Adam Comey. “Finally, we [...]

Over 100 U.S. Ski Areas Sign Climate Declaration

First Tracks!! Online Media — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:36:57 +0000

Boston, MA - On Wednesday, 108 ski areas from around the United States joined with 40 other businesses, Ceres and its BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy) in signing the Climate Declaration, which calls upon federal policymakers to seize the American economic opportunity of addressing climate change. These ski areas join iconic American businesses, including General Motors Co., Nike and Levi Strauss & Co., as well as founding signatory Aspen/Snowmass ski resort in Colorado, in asserting that a bold response to the climate challenge is “one of America’s greatest economic opportunities of the 21st century.” “It is obvious that the success of ski business operations depends greatly on climate, which is why we are so invested in programs that keep our slopes sustainable. But our actions alone won’t be enough without strong policies,” said Brent Giles, Chief Sustainability Officer for Powdr Corp of Utah, parent company to Park City Mountain Resort in Utah, Copper Mountain in Colorado and Killington Resort in Vermont. “We welcome legislative and regulatory initiatives that will reduce carbon emissions, incentivize renewable energy development and help improve our resiliency in the future.” Ski areas in the U.S. employ approximately 160,000 people and generate approximately $12.2 [...]

North Korean Leader Has Military Build Ski Resort

First Tracks!! Online Media — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:54:38 +0000

Masik Pass, North Korea - Apparently miffed by Pyeongchang, South Korea receiving the nod to host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered his military to construct a “world class” ski resort in his country, drawing international criticism for spending money on a lavish enterprise while many in his country go hungry. The ski area is under construction on Masik Pass in Kangwon Province, where Kim Jong-un held a press event this week showing him providing “on the spot field guidance” in the facility’s construction. The region’s highest peaks reach around 4,400 feet, where the slopes reportedly hold snow from November through March. Kim’s plans call for lifts, hotels and a heli-port, and the possibility that a nearby military airstrip could be converted to civilian use to host tourists. “[Kim] mounted an observation deck to hear a detailed report of the construction of the skiing ground,” the state-run North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. “He was greatly satisfied to learn that soldier-builders have constructed a skiing area on mountain ranges covering hundreds of thousands of square meters, including primary, intermediate and advanced courses with almost 110,000 meters (68.3 miles) in total length and [...]

European Resorts to Reopen for June Skiing

First Tracks!! Online Media — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:27:36 +0000

Verbier, Switzerland - A pair of unrelated European ski resorts are planning to reopen their slopes this weekend for June skiing and snowboarding, one in the Alps of Switzerland and the other in the French Pyrenees. Verbier, in the Swiss canton of Calais, plans to open their lifts this Saturday, weather permitting, lift operator Téléverbier indicates. Unseasonable low altitude snowfall the spring is enabling the operations, officials indicate. Ten centimeters fell just today with snow levels as low as 600 meters. Lift tickets will cost 20 francs. Thanks to a chilly spring, the resort of Porte Puymorens in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of southern France will also offer skiing and riding in June for the first time ever. Following the coldest spring season in 25 years in many parts of France, snow depths above 2,100m at the resort still average from 70 to 80 centimeters. Access to the four slopes open both Saturday and Sunday will be limited to the first 600 guests who arrive each day. Edit: This story first published on Wednesday. As of Thursday, despite receiving double the Facebook interest necessary to reopen the lifts, Téléverbier reversed course and indicated that their plans to operate this weekend have [...]

Arapahoe Basin to Extend Colorado Ski Season

First Tracks!! Online Media — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:42:43 +0000

Dillon, CO - Thanks to cool temperatures and late-season snow, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area has extended the Colorado ski and ride season for another weekend. A-Basin will be open seven days a week through June 2, and will reopen for summer skiing and riding on Friday through Sunday, June 7-9. “With all the spring storms, our exceptional snow conditions, and our guests’ enthusiasm for skiing and riding, it only makes sense to open for another weekend,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin’s Chief Operating Officer. During this ski season extension, A-Basin will offer top-to-bottom skiing from the Black Mountain Express and Lenawee Mountain lifts. The Lenawee Mountain lift will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the Black Mountain Express lift will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 7, 8, and 9. There will be no beginner skiing or riding. Black Mountain Lodge at mid-mountain will be open with a full bar and barbeque during ski area operating hours through the extended weekend. The A-Basin rental shop and the Arapahoe Sports retail shop (with all items marked down 40 percent) will also be open during this time. Discounted lift tickets for the summer ski season will be [...]

Vail Resorts to Operate Utah’s Canyons

First Tracks!! Online Media — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:19:44 +0000

Park City, UT – Vail Resorts today announced that the Colorado-based ski resort owner/operator has entered into a long-term lease with Toronto, Canada’s Talisker Corporation for Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah. Under the lease, Vail Resorts has assumed all of the resort operations of Canyons while Canyons owner Talisker has retained its development rights for four million square feet of real estate at the resort. “With 4,000 skiable acres, easy access to the town of Park City and $75 million in recent resort improvements, Canyons is a perfect complement to our collection of world-class mountain resorts,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. “I commend the Talisker and Canyons team for the outstanding work they have done to redevelop the resort.” The lease has an initial term of 50 years with six 50-year renewal options. The lease provides for $25 million in annual fixed payments, which increase each year by an inflation linked index of CPI less one percent, with a floor of two percent per annum. In addition, the lease includes participating contingent payments to Talisker of 42 percent of the amount by which EBITDA for the resort operations, as calculated under the lease, [...]

PHOTOS: Memorial Day Weekend Storm Slams Northeastern U.S. Ski Resorts

First Tracks!! Online Media — Mon, 27 May 2013 20:23:27 +0000

Wilmington, NY - Memorial Day Weekend is about honoring our nation’s veterans, but it’s also time for barbeques, hanging out by the lake and all of the other activities that accompany the start of the summer season, right? Tell that to officials and summer visitors at many ski resorts across Upstate New York and northern New England, where up to 34 inches of snow fell in a freak late spring snowstorm weeks or months after all but one resort — Killington in Vermont — closed for the ski and snowboard season. Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) officials measured 34 inches of snow high on Whiteface Mountain near the Adirondack Mountain town of Lake Placid, N.Y., drawing snowplows back out to once again clear the Veterans Memorial Highway to the mountain’s 4,865-foot summit. Ski resorts across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine also reported snowfall from Saturday into Sunday, as shown in the photos below. (All photos courtesy each respective resort) More Available Services

Utah’s Ski and Snowboard Season Wraps Up This Weekend at Snowbird

First Tracks!! Online Media — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:51:15 +0000

Snowbird, UT - Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is celebrating the close of the Utah 2012-13 ski and snowboard season this weekend with live music and festivities that will culminate in a party on the Plaza Deck on Memorial Day this Monday. “Snowbird’s closing weekend celebration is a fantastic way to end the season, with guests carrying on a tradition of skiing in costumes or t-shirts and shorts,” said Dave Fields, Vice President of Resort Operations. “We’re excited to stay open for so long, and then open summer activities in just two weeks.” Offering the longest ski and snowboard season in the state, Snowbird was open for 182 days of skiing and snowboarding this season. The Little Cottonwood Canyon resort received 410 inches of snow since November 1, 2012. The Tram and Little Cloud chairlift will be open through Monday for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Resort officials are advising that all skiers and snowboarders ride the Tram down at the end of the day due to melting conditions on the lower part of the mountain, although terrain below Little Cloud’s base is now designated as backcountry skiing. Lift tickets this weekend will be priced at $65. Closing weekend festivities will [...]

Environmental Group Appeals Burnt Mountain Expansion Approval at Snowmass

First Tracks!! Online Media — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:26:21 +0000

Snowmass Village, CO - An environmental group that lost its effort to block Snowmass’ expansion of gladed terrain on Burnt Mountain has appealed that approval. The Ark Initiative, based in Wyoming, filed its appeal earlier this month in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. They argue that Aspen Skiing Co. should be barred from future lift access and grooming on the 230 acres of terrain, previously designated as out of bounds and popular with backcountry skiers, that first opened to skiers and riders this past winter following tree thinning last fall. They’re appealing to try to force the U.S. Forest Service to go back and re-examine whether or not 600 to 1,000 acres on Burnt Mountain, of which the new glades are a part, should be deemed roadless, a designation that would prevent lift access and grooming. It was upon this theory that the group initially objected to the Burnt Mountain expansion, and subsequently lost. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg ruled last October that the 2011 Colorado Roadless Rule does not include land within designated ski area boundaries, and lifted an injunction barring Snowmass crews from thinning trees on Burnt Mountain. Snowmass’ Master Development Plan [...]

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Prepare Upgrades for 2013-14

First Tracks!! Online Media — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:01:33 +0000

Squaw Valley, CA - California’s Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have announced nearly $8 million in capital improvements for the 2013-14 winter season, as part of the Tahoe-area ski resorts’ five-year, $70 million Renaissance project. This year’s investment follows the $38 million in base area and on-mountain improvements from the past two winter seasons, bringing the total investment to date to more than $46 million. The new projects for the upcoming season include significant snowmaking improvements at both resorts, new snow cats for grooming, a new Wanderlust yoga studio, a new home furnishings store named Spruce, and comprehensive room renovations at The Village at Squaw Valley, as well as new on-mountain and valley signage for increased way-finding and accessibility. “Through extensive surveying, we have heard from our guests that snowmaking and exciting vacation experiences continue to be things they are looking for at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “As a result, we are continuing to work with the industry’s best experts to modernize the experience both on and off the mountains with the goal of making Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows two of the top resorts in North [...]

Snow Guns Blaze in New Zealand Ahead of Ski Season

First Tracks!! Online Media — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:44:42 +0000

Methven, New Zealand - The start of snowmaking on Thursday at Mt. Hutt in Methven and at Coronet Peak in Queenstown signals the impending opening of two of New Zealand’s most popular ski areas. Ski area staff from Coronet Peak and Mt. Hutt have been closely monitoring systems this week to ensure snowmakers were ready when temperatures dropped to optimal snowmaking levels. Mt. Hutt also received 8cm of snow overnight as a cold front passed up the country. Ski Area Manager James McKenzie said that with recent forecasts, the snowmaking team had been on standby. “As the temperatures have been dropping, the team has been checking systems and following weather predictions,” he said. “We’ve been amped, and are stoked to start firing.” Mt. Hutt’s season opening is always subject to conditions as ground and air temperatures have to be right. “Thanks to a cool autumn with two snow falls, the mountain has maintained snow coverage but we needed to establish a good base at altitudes below 1800 meters ahead of our scheduled opening day,” said McKenzie. “We’ve had eight guns making snow in the base area today with two more making snow at the top of the quad chair.” A [...]

Quebec’s Mont-Sainte-Anne Installing New Multi-Million Dollar Lift

First Tracks!! Online Media — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:04:27 +0000

Beaupré (QC), Canada – Officials at Québec’s Mont-Sainte-Anne ski area east of Québec City have announced the construction this summer of a new high-speed detachable quad to replace the triple chairlift in the mountain’s expert sector. The new Doppelmayr quad, manufactured in St-Jérôme, Québec, will replace the resort’s “Le Trip” lift that serves the steep runs at the western end of the mountain’s South Side. The investment will reduce the ride time in half, from 12 to six minutes, and its alignment will be reconfigured to provide access to the entire mountain, not just the expert area exclusively serviced by Le Trip. The new lift is currently the only installation to be announced thus far this summer in Québec. Construction is already underway, and the new quad is expected to be completed by December, in time for the resort’s 2013-14 ski and snowboard season. More Available Services

Free Skiing for Killington’s Final Weekend

First Tracks!! Online Media — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:54:15 +0000

Killington, VT - This week’s rains have washed away Killington’s plans to operate into June. Instead, the Vermont resort will offer free skiing for all this Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Killington officials will spin the resort’s Superstar Express Quad on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, conditions permitting. For Saturday, there will be several sections on Superstar that will require skiers and riders to remove their skis or boards and walk. The lift will run 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day for the season’s final turns. Killington is the last ski resort in the East to offer operations this season. More Available Services

New Mountain Coaster Highlights Summer at Snowbird

First Tracks!! Online Media — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:00:23 +0000

Snowbird, UT - While skiers and snowboarders are still descending its slopes, Utah’s Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort has already filled out its summer calendar with tree outdoor movies and concerts, stargazing on Hidden Peak, a new Mountain Coaster and nine weekends of Oktoberfest. “This year, we focused on creating events and activities that will delight the entire family,” said Dave Fields, Vice President of Resort Operations. “It’s the perfect place to beat the city heat.” Highlighting Snowbird’s activities this summer will be a new Mountain Coaster presently under construction at the base of the resort’s Peruvian Chairlift. Passengers (up to two people per cart) board the Mountain Coaster and are pulled to the top of the3,120-foot track, and then gravity takes over. Firmly secured to the track, the cart’s speed is controlled by the driver. The speedy descent back down 160 vertical feet includes two horizontal loops, a tree-lined straightaway and then swooping turns back to the base station. Snowbird summer activities will be open daily beginning June 8, including the Aerial Tram, Alpine Slide, Bungy Trampolines, Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, Air Jumper, and Kids’ Inflatables. The Mountain Coaster and Peruvian Chairlift and Tunnel will open in July. Snowbird [...]

Aspen to Reopen for Memorial Day Weekend Skiing

First Tracks!! Online Media — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Aspen, CO - Aspen Skiing Company announced on Monday that with the start of summer operations, the top of Aspen Mountain will be open for skiing and riding on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27. Heavy spring snowfall has left the top of the mountain covered in snow as the traditional summer operating season begins. With a base depth of 33 inches up top, the mountain will open with 16 runs and nearly 90 acres of mostly intermediate terrain, served by the Ajax Express chairlift. Skiing and riding this weekend will take place from the 11,212-foot summit with uploading and downloading on the Silver Queen Gondola from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The gondola will be running from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with the last ride down at 4:30 p.m. for regular summer operations. The Ajax Express chairlift will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open runs will include Silver Bell, Pussyfoot, Silver Dip, Blondie’s, Dipsy Doodle, Dipsy Headwall, Summit, Buckhorn, Pumphouse, Tourtelotte Park and North American. The Sundeck restaurant and Ajax Tavern will be open for dining and beverages. “We’ve received nearly four feet of snow since Aspen Mountain closed,” says Rich Burkley, vice president of mountain operations, Aspen [...]

Camelback Plans $145M Spending Spree

First Tracks!! Online Media — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:30:22 +0000

Tannersville, PA - Pennsylvania’s Camelback ski resort is planning to spend an estimated $145 million to build a new indoor water park, a 453-room hotel, and new restaurants and conference areas. The privately owned resort in the Pocono Mountains west of Stroudsburg is seeking tax breaks from local, county and school district officials to help finance the development. The requested tax relief has already been approved by all but Pocono Township, which will meet next month to consider the request. The project is expected to add nearly 1,000 full- and part-time jobs in a region where the unemployment rate hovers around nine percent. Camelback officials also assert that once built, the new facilities will also generate ancillary tax revenue estimated at $1 million annually in hotel taxes. The 800 vertical-foot ski resort already operates its outdoor Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark in summer along with a number of other warm-weather attractions. While numerous area hotels offer guests overnight accommodations througout the year, none are currently owned by the resort. Camelback hopes to have the new facilities open to welcome the public by December 2014. More Available Services

N.H. Ski Resort Lets Guests Operate Steam Locomotive

First Tracks!! Online Media — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:03 +0000

Lincoln, NH - If you’ve ever dreamed of getting behind the controls of a steam-powered train, New Hampshire’s Loon Mountain has an opportunity this summer for you. Loon Mountain’s J.E. Henry Railroad, with its German-built 0-4-0T engine, harkens back to the narrow gauge logging trains that ran through New Hampshire’s White Mountains more than a century ago. The engine, which Loon Mountain acquired in the 1970s, runs daily during the winter between two of the ski resort’s base areas. During a typical winter season, the train will shuttle skiers and snowboarders a total of 300 miles along its 600-foot length of track. This summer, Loon’s Guest Engineer Program will be offered one day each month from July through October: July 12, August 2, September 6 and October 4. Each session will run for six hours and include a primer on the basics of steam operation, safety, a brief history of Loon’s locomotive, a close-up look at the engine, start-up/close down procedures, and the opportunity for each participant to operate the engine. Space is limited and the program cost is $100 per person, including lunch. Participants must be at least 18 years old and dress in long pants, long-sleeved shirt, boots, [...]

Court Rules Bansko Ski Lift Illegal

First Tracks!! Online Media — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:12 +0000

Bansko, Bulgaria - Bulgaria’s Supreme Court has ruled that the new Plato chairlift at Bansko ski resort was constructed illegally. The five-judge panel ruled last week that construction of the lift by resort operator Yulen AD was done in a manner inconsistent with its long-term lease agreement with the Pirin National Park, within which the lift is located. The current agreements covers resort operations through 2031. The controversial 4,964-foot summit quad replaced an existing lift at the resort, but the new lift was built longer and with a wider footprint than its predecessor. As a result of last week’s ruling, environmental groups are pressing for the cancellation of Yulen’s lease agreement and financial penalties against the company. The chairlift issue is only one of several controversies afflicting Yulen’s operation of the ski area, Bulgaria’s most popular. Last month Bulgaria’s National Audit Office found that the country’s Ministry of Environment and Water failed to implement adequate control over the implementation of the lease agreement with the company, and that the agreement lacked any penalty for any breach of obligations under the contract. More Available Services

PHOTOS: U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding Athletes Train at Mammoth

First Tracks!! Online Media — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:41:41 +0000

Mammoth Lakes, CA - The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) national slopestyle, halfpipe and alpine teams spent time this month soaking up the California rays and training on Mammoth’s famous spring corn. Athletes including Ted Ligety, Simon Dumont, Scotty Lago and many others participated in one of the final team training sessions in North America before next winter’s Olympic games in Sochi, Russia. The U.S. women’s World Cup speed team, including Leanne Smith, Stacey Cook and Laurenne Ross, in early May wrapped up their training block that was abbreviated as the athletes were fresh off an additional week-long training period in Beaver Creek, Colo. in April. Lindsey Vonn and Alice McKennis remained absent as they rehabilitate from injury, and Julia Mancuso opted to instead take some time off snow after recently testing skis in Norway with Head. Members of the men’s tech team, including Ligety along with Robby Kelley, Thomas Biesemeyer and David Chodunsky, also visited Mammoth this month for spring gate training. This month’s training camp was the first in a multi-year agreement that will see Mammoth hosting USSA for spring training through 2019. U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Pro Teams will also be based at Mammoth Mountain’s [...]

CAPiTA Snowboards Buys Bankrupt Elan Snowboard Factory

First Tracks!! Online Media — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:01:42 +0000

Fürnitz, Austria - Elan’s snowboard factory in Fürnitz, Austria, the world’s largest, has been purchased out of bankruptcy by CAPiTA Snowboards. At an April 12 insolvency hearing, the CAPiTA ownership group, filing under the Austrian name C4future GmbH, was granted legal right to assume control of the factory. Facility control was obtained April 15 and the entire factory is again operational producing CAPiTA snowboards at this time under its own management. Former Elan Austria CEO and Technical Director Michael Kollman brings 18 years of manufacturing experience at the facility to the CAPiTA team as Director of Production. Fifty highly skilled factory operatives have also been retained. “This is a milestone in regard to our long held vision of vertical integration and production control,” commented CAPiTA President Blue Montgomery. “Our first commitment is ensuring our ability to deliver our 2013-14 line, consistent with our samples and on schedule, with the high quality standards that people expect of our snowboards. We’ve produced at this factory for ten years. We know the facility, technology and team very well and we’re sure of our ability to deliver our best lineup of boards to date.” In its bankruptcy filing in March, Elan officials blamed increased [...]