By The Snow Biz Staff ,

August 1, 1998

Booth Creek Selects Vendors For Uniform And Rental Program

Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc. recently announced the selection of six equipment and apparel manufacturers who will provide resort uniforms and rental equipment for a period of three years. The companies include: Dynastar for adult and junior skis, Original Sin for snowboard boots and bindings, K2 for snowboards, Smith for poles, Salomon for ski boots and bindings, and Marker for uniforms.

Nub's Purchases State-Of-The-Art Pipe Dragon

Nub's Nob significantly increased its commitment to snowboarders by offering the best halfpipe in the Midwest thanks to the acquisition of a Pipe Dragon halfpipe grooming device. Nub's is the first resort in Michigan to own one. "The purchase of this machine shows that we will not rest on our laurels," says Skier Services Director Justin Bassett.

Mount Snow Announces 5.2-Million Dollar Expansion Program

Mount Snow recently announced its 5.2-million-dollar 1998/99 expansion program. Improvements include expanded learning terrain and a new lift, a new welcome center/ticket building, more snowmaking guns, a variety of new base-area facilities, a new base-area restaurant, more family activities, and additional terrain parks.

This year's capital adds to the 30-million dollars already invested in the resort the past two seasons. Since 1996, Mount Snow has added two new high-speed quads, the Grand Summit Resort Hotel and Conference Center, additional trails, teaching areas, and terrain parks.

Whistler/Blackcomb On-Mountain Improvements For 1998/99

This past summer, 24-million dollars were invested in Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Included in the plans are: a new detachable quad chairlift "The Peak" to carry visitors to the top of Whistler, an additional Alpine restaurant-the new Roundhouse Lodge-will join the Village Gondola station to the existing Pika's restaurant, terrain improvements to Whistler Bowl, West Bowl, and Bagel Bowl, and a major overhaul of the Whistler Village Gondola's electrical system.

NSAA Presented Lifetime Achievement And Sherman Adams Awards

Hans Geier and Chuck Lewis were both recognized by the National Ski Areas Association for their contributions with lifetime achievement awards. Geier was the president of Doppelmayr North America until December 1997. He dedicated 38 years working in the ski industry, predominantly as the president of ski resorts.

NSAA also presented Leslie B. Otten, founder, chairman, and CEO of American Skiing Company, with the Sherman Adams Award. The award is presented annually to an individual from the eastern U.S. who has significantly influenced and contributed to the ski industry.

Ingersoll-Rand Introduces Rotary Screw Air Compressor

Ingersoll-Rand's new 1300IQ Rotary Screw Air Compressor, designed specifically for the snow-resort industry, has an integrated after-cooler that delivers clean, dry air with no condensate discharge. The 1300IQ reduces costs for the end user by minimizing downstream moisture and providing cooler air for snow production.

For more information contact Ken Snover at: (601) 882-8000.

Mt. Hood Meadows Selects MLY And Arnell For Rental Program

Mt. Hood Meadows has announced MLY Snowboarding and Arnell Snowboards will be the exclusive providers for the resort's snowboard rental program. The three-year commitment will begin at the onset of the 1998/99 season.

As part of the agreement, MLY and Arnell will be the featured product in the retail and rental center. The MLY Snowboard Rental Center, as it's been named, will receive 700 board-boot-binding packages for '98/99. Emery One Step boots and Emery Toolless Step-in bindings will make up those two categories.

Arnell Ridewear will be worn by Mt. Hood Meadows snowboard park employees and instructors will be riding MLY Snowboards. MLY and Arnell will also serve as the primary sponsors of Park Place, the resort's snowboard-park.

Five North American Ski Industry Leaders Get SAMMY Awards

Five prominent ski area industry figures have been selected to receive the inaugural SAMMY Future Leadership Awards. This award will be given annually by Ski Area Management (SAM) to individuals whose strong, innovative leadership demonstrated at mid-career shows exciting promise for even more accomplishments and leadership in the future.

This year's winners include: Tim Boyd, president of Peak Resorts, Inc. in Eureka, Missouri; Guy Desrosiers, general manager of Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec; Stacy Gardner, director of communications, National Ski Areas Association (NSAA); Karl Kapuscinski, vice president and general manager, Mountain High Resort, California; and Ed Pitoniak, senior vice president, resort enterprises, Intrawest Resort Operations Group.

David Rowan, founder and copublisher of SAM says, "Much of the recognition that people get comes at the end of long and productive careers. That's fine, but we wanted to put the spotlight on people who are making exciting things happen when they are still in midcareer."

Phenomenal Turn Around At So Cal Resort

The New Mountain High, in its first year under new ownership, has driven skier visits to an all-time high in what's being called one of the greatest turn-arounds in ski-resort history. In 1996/97 Mountain High saw merely 180,000 visitors. That number more than doubled, exceeding the 425,000 mark for '97/98. The resort is now the second-largest ski area in Southern California and sixth largest in the state in terms of skier visits. For its accomplishments, the New Mountain High was awarded Most Improved Southern California Ski Area by Travel Watch, a large, travel-based Web site.

The strategy for success came from an assertive focus on the resort's image. The marketing team created a new logo with name "The New Mountain High." The new image was reinforced by the "Born Again" and "Rebirth of a Mountain" campaigns that permeated radio, print, and outdoor advertising. On-snow improvements, a Web site, and continued focus on the mountain's tangible strengths, primarily the safe and easy drive, the unique terrain features, and the large amounts of natural snow received, all contributed as well.