David Schissler

Get ready to make tracks to the ski show! (Free Tickets-Limited Time)

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Some of the SeniorsSkiing team at the Snowbound Expo in 2024.

Get ready to make tracks to the ski show!

Our friends at the Snowbound Expo have proven they can produce the finest ski & snowboard show in the Northeast, perhaps the country. People sometimes ask me why I go? For a lot of reasons. Some psychological, some economic.

Psychologically, it’s good to be among so many people who are excited about and anticipating the coming season. It stirs the carve junky in me. I know I’ll be on snow somewhere in just weeks. That motivates me to increase my workouts (you never really know just how much gas is in the tank until the first run!) and prep the gear.

Economically, there’s gold at the show. There are more promotions than you can count. Resorts will update you about their latest improvements to their lodges, lifts, snowmaking and terrain. They’ll be selling gift-cards, ticket packages and season passes at the lowest prices of the year. If you’re lucky, you may win free tickets or passes in a raffle or by spinning a prize wheel. Chachka is everywhere. Stickers, bottle openers, keychains, goggle wipers, lift ticket clips, ski straps, hats, trail maps, water bottles, bandanas and more await you collectors of ski memorabilia.

On the gear side you’ll find close-out deals on last year’s brand-new skis, boots and bindings. It’s an excellent time to add a specialty pair to the quiver. Get that soft snow or ice ski you’ve had your eye on. You’ll also find manufacturer’s promoting their newest equipment. Get up to speed on the latest ski and boot technology designed to make your day on the hill a little easier and a little more fun. You’ll also find great deals on every kind of clothing. It’s the perfect time to update your look or add to your layers. Perhaps most importantly, there’s no better time to outfit the kids!

The show always presents a stellar line-up of guest speakers. This season will feature:

Zeb Powell, the first Black athlete ever to win Gold at the Winter X-Games.

Donny Pelletier is Maine’s finest athlete (just ask him), Donny is a legendary figure in the New England ski scene, known for his fearless style, unmatched confidence, and off-the-cuff commentary on ski culture.

Amie Engerbretson is a professional skier, producer, and host who has built a dynamic career blending adventure and media. From the slopes of Palisades Tahoe to starring in films with Warren Miller Entertainment and Teton Gravity Research, her expertise is unmatched.

Rob Roethler is a Burton Snowboards team rider. He’s known for his effortless rail tricks, bold park spins, and a fearless approach to filming in diverse terrains

Mardi Fuller is a lifelong backcountry adventurer. in January 2021 she became the first known Black person to hike all 48 of New Hampshire’s high peaks in winter.

Lj Henriquez was born in Brooklyn & raised in the Garden State; Lj Henriquez has emerged as one of the top talents coming out of the area. From an early age of 3 Lj discovered his passion for snowboarding, and since then he has been carving his way through the competitive snowboarding scene with dedication and flair.

We’ve been allocated 100 free tickets to be used by September 14th, and you can redeem yours by using the code SRSKIING at checkout on snowboundexpo.com/tickets or via this direct link: https://snowboundexpo.seetickets.com/event/snowbound-expo-2025/menino-convention-exhibition-center/3389718?OfferCode=SRSKIING

If you’re too late, you can get discounted $10 3-day passes and $5 day tickets using the code SRSKIING10 before September 30th here: https://snowboundexpo.seetickets.com/event/snowbound-expo-2025/menino-convention-exhibition-center/3389718?OfferCode=SRSKIING10

Check out the action and whet your appetite for carving, shredding, and floating, whichever works for you. If you want to try out new experiences, you won’t want to miss the indoor mega slope, Gilson rail jam, Ikon Pass Après Ski & Beer Gardens. There is much more to be announced in the lead-up to this huge community meet-up – stay tuned! For a full description of the show and everything happening there please visit https://snowboundexpo.com.

Evelyn Kanter

What’s Been Happening in Ski Country Since Mud Season

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Credit:Bruno Giuliani

While you’ve been busy the last few months layering on the SPF, firing up the grill and dreaming of snow, you might have missed a bunch of news from ski country. Here’s what’s interesting and important intel since snow season turned into mud season from some of the many sources I follow year-round, to keep you up to date. 

First, congratulations to two winners –

Bode Miller has just been inducted into United States Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Miller, who grew up skiing and racing in New Hampshire, is a six-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Championships medalist, and has 33 World Cup wins and two overall World Cup titles. Jannik Sinner became the world’s top tennis player when he won at Wimbledon in July.  He was also a champion skier on the youth team where he grew up in the Italian Alps.  Sinner told Powder Magazine how skiing made him a better tennis player.

Ski Jumping World Cup at Lake Placid

Tickets are on sale now for the International Ski and Snowboard (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup returning to the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex on December 12-14. The event will bring together the world’s top male and female ski jumpers for three days of competition on the HS 128 large hill, with individual events and a mixed team competition. Women’s World Cup ski jumping made its U.S. debut in February last season on the same hill in Lake Placid. The event made further history when a grassroots effort made it possible to award equal prize money for the women’s jumpers, marking a significant step toward gender equality in professional ski jumping. Lake Placid is the only North American stop of the 2025-2026 World Cup season. It’s happening during a break in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games from February 6-22 (ski jumping, Feb. 9-16) in Italy. This marks the fourth consecutive season that Lake Placid has hosted an FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. The men’s tour returned to the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid in 2023 after a 33-year hiatus and again in 2024, before the historic World Cup in February 2025 that included women. More information or to purchase tickets: Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex

Palisades Tahoe New Base Area

The massive planned base area development at Palisades Tahoe looks like it finally will go forward, now that the resort and two Tahoe-area environmental conservation groups agreed to various reductions in scope. The agreement ends a 14-year legal battle that has delayed the project from breaking ground. According to the industry magazine Ski Area Management, which I follow regularly for all its insider intel, the agreement downsizes the plan substantially, including a 40 percent reduction in total bedrooms, a 20 percent reduction in total commercial space and eliminating an indoor waterpark within the village area. The agreement also creates a conservation easement for two lots at the base of Shirley Canyon that were slated for development but will now be forever preserved for trail access and recreation. And, it prevents additional development within the village plan boundary for 25 years.

Small Colorado Town Buys Eldora

The small town of Nederland is purchasing local favorite Eldora from multi-resort operator Powdr, which will continue staffing and operating it for two seasons, to ensure a smooth transition. Part of the agreement is to keep Eldora on the Ikon Pass, which the official Nederland town website  says provides “a stable revenue stream and keeping that as a part of the funding is essential to the financing plan.”

Taos Ski Valley New Lift and New RFID Gates

Lift 7 is being replaced, and the new high-speed version is expected to be open for the new season.  You can own a piece of Taos history – and support the next generation of skiers and boarders – by purchasing a retired chair.  All proceeds support the UPLIFT Youth Fund.  Also new for next season is RFID gates.  No more taking your pass out of your sleeve or from around your neck.  The new system also makes online purchases, including reloading a pass, more efficient. See you on the slopes!  

Evelyn Kanter

What’s New Since Mud Season – Part Two

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So much has happened at our favorite resorts since the spring meltdown known as mud season and the glorious green summer that we have a two-parter “what’s new” for you.  Here’s what else you need to know beyond Part One –

Solitude’s Ski Patrol Unionizes

It’s a first, and could be the start of a trend.

After more than a year of talks with resort owner Alterra, Utah’s Solitude Ski Patrol Union (SSPU) ratified a contract over the summer for better pay and benefits and improved working conditions.

The agreement is effective for the upcoming 2025/26 and following 2026/27 season and provides a starting wage of $24 per hour, which is 10% more than before the contract.  Full-time patrollers also get a $100 monthly stipend for healthcare and $1,300 a season for equipment.  The contract also includes an increased budget for training.

Alterra purchased Solitude in 2018 and currently owns 12 US resorts, including Steamboat, Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe.  Some observers predict the Solitude contract will inspire patrollers – and perhaps also instructors – to do the same at other Alterra-owned areas.  And perhaps also those owned by Vail. Stay tuned.

Near-Record Season for Utah

Ski Utah – the trade association which represents 15 Utah resorts – reports last season set a near-record, with 6,503,635 skier visits. While that’s down 3.6% from the 2023/24 season, it is the third-highest number of skier visits in state history and a 3.3% increase over Utah’s five-year average.

The numbers reflect the continued strength and resiliency of Utah’s ski industry, even in a year with more variable weather patterns.

“To hit our third-best season ever and generate $2.51 billion for Utah’s economy is a major win,” said Nathan Rafferty, President and CEO of Ski Utah in a press release. “The ski industry in Utah supports approximately 25,000 jobs, and with the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on the horizon, the eyes of the world will be on us once again. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and grateful to all who helped make this season a success.”

Colorado Resorts Also Reports Near-Record

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) – the trade association for 21 Colorado resorts, reports skier visits of 13.8 million for the 2024-25 season. That’s also the 3rd highest for skier visits and highlights ongoing enthusiasm for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado.

The press release we received highlights these upgrades last season –

Eldora opened its new Caribou Lodge, a multi-use facility that now houses Ignite Adaptive Sports, reinforcing the resort’s ongoing support for adaptive snowsports on the Front Range.

Ski Cooper prioritizes value this season, with $45 midweek lift tickets and all non-peak days priced under $100.

Aspen Snowmass hosted the debut of The Snow League, the first professional snowboarding league created by legendary snowboarder Shaun White. 

Arapahoe Basin welcomed the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA), drawing top freeride athletes to one of Colorado’s most challenging venues.

Copper Mountain hosted the X Games Street Style Pro and the USASA National Championships.

Whiteface Joins Mountain Collective Pass

The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) announces that Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, N.Y., has joined the Mountain Collective Pass, as the newest addition to an alliance of 27 destinations across five continents.

The pass provides skiers and snowboarders with two days at each participating resort, plus 50% off all additional days, with no blackout dates, and expands pass reach in the Northeast and adds a destination known for its Olympic legacy and the greatest vertical drop in the East. The Full Season Pass provides unlimited access to Whiteface, Gore, and Belleayre in New York.

Mountain Collective also includes eastern resorts Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine, and Le Massif de Charlevoix and Bromont in Quebec. The western U.S. and Canada include Alta, Aspen Snowmass, Banff Sunshine, Big Sky, Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole, Lake Louise, Marmot Basin, Panorama, Revelstoke, Snowbasin, Snowbird, Sugar Bowl, Sun Peaks, Sun Valley and Taos. World travelers can use the pass in the French Alps (Chamonix and Megève), Japan (Niseko United), New Zealand (Coronet Peak & The Remarkables), Australia (Mt Buller) and Chile (Valle Nevado).

Currently priced at $669 USD, the Mountain Collective pass can pay for itself with visits to just two destinations.

See you on the slopes!

David Schissler

Is the “Golden Age” of Skiing Coming to an End?

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Credit:Dirk von Mallinckrodt

When I look back to my early days skiing in Connecticut in 1962, I’m amazed at how the sport has progressed. Back then there was little to no snowmaking, no grooming, and no high-speed lifts (and certainly no on mountain WiFi!) These innovations have profoundly changed the quality of the skiing experience overall. But where is the sport going? Today skiing faces the prospect of more monumental changes in its future in the form of climate, operational, and demographic changes. Recently, the sport has suffered a substantial decline in participation, accessibility, and profitability.

As anyone who skis in the east knows, and in Europe for that matter, climate change is real. It’s perhaps the single greatest challenge facing the sport. There’s no denying the season is getting shorter on both ends and rain (childishly called “wet precipitation” by some snow reporters) is a threat at any time during the season. The more frequently occurring freeze-thaw cycle is making it more and more difficult for resorts to provide a quality surface consistently. While many resorts have spent fortunes on snowmaking systems, it comes with environmental and economic costs. It requires vast amounts of water and is energy intensive, raising sustainability concerns.

Climate scientists warn that ski resorts, particularly those at lower elevations, will see a steady decline in natural snowfall. Smaller resorts that lack the financial resources to invest in snowmaking are already struggling to remain operational. While large, well-funded ski resorts have managed to survive through investment and diversification, smaller ski areas are struggling. Many local ski hills have closed in recent decades due to financial difficulties, lack of consistent snowfall, and declining visitor numbers. These smaller ski areas often serve as entry points or “feeder mountains” for new skiers, meaning their disappearance could further accelerate the sport’s decline.

Without affordable, accessible ski areas, fewer young people are introduced to skiing, leading to a shrinking base of future skiers. This creates a cycle where only large, expensive resorts remain, reinforcing the perception that skiing is an exclusive and costly activity.

The rising costs of skiing continue to support that belief. The cost of lift tickets, equipment, accommodation, and travel have risen sharply over the past few decades. The heavy commercialization of major destination resorts has led to significant cost hikes. We’ve all heard the stories about lift tickets exceeding $200 a day. The result is the pricing-out of middle-class families and younger generations. In addition to the cost of lift tickets skiers also find themselves dealing with the cost of equipment rentals or purchase, ski lessons, and winter gear further increasing their financial burden. Travel costs, particularly for those who do not live near ski resorts, add another barrier. The high cost of skiing has led many to seek alternative winter activities that are more affordable, such as snowshoeing, winter hiking, and even indoor skiing experiences.

Changing demographics and lifestyle preferences are also critical factors in skiing’s decline. Baby boomers played a key role in skiing’s popularity from the 1960s to the 1990s. The generation is now aging out of the sport. Younger generations, particularly millennials and Gen Z, still engage in outdoor activities, but their interests are more diverse and often lean towards experiences that are less structured and expensive. Skiing has also struggled for decades to attract diverse participants, again reinforcing the position that skiing is for wealthier, predominantly white demographics. Efforts to make skiing more inclusive have been slow, and many potential newcomers feel unwelcome or excluded from the skiing community.

Despite all the challenges facing skiing, the sport is not doomed to disappear. The decline of skiing is a complex issue driven by environmental, economic, and cultural changes. While skiing faces significant challenges, there are opportunities for adaptation and reinvention.

If the industry embraces sustainability, affordability, and inclusivity, skiing can remain a viable and enjoyable winter sport for future generations. The future of skiing depends on whether it can evolve to meet the demands of a changing world while preserving the essence of the sport that has captivated people for generations.

Pat McCloskey

New Boards

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So, I know it is only August, but I pulled the trigger on another new pair of skis for the upcoming season. After looking at some reviews on- line, also from the Stockli rep, and consultation with my friend in Tahoe, I decided on another pair of Stockli Stormrider 88s. I have a quiver of Stockli skis but the 88 under foot is always my go to ski and I was happy to get another pair.

It is interesting that at this time of year, I start to get itchy for the new season. Buying a new pair of skis kind of jump starts you a little bit. I got our passes early, committed to ski trips, and in short- I am ready when the first flakes start to fall.

However………………………..screeeech!!!!!! We still have the wonderful season of fall ahead.

My one friend JR always looks at his watch and sees how long it will take for me to mention skiing on a mountain bike ride. For a guy who lives in Pittsburgh, skis locally, and gets two western trips a year, I get a fair amount of skiing. Not as many days as my friends who live out west, or in New England, but for a local guy- not bad. I always think Janet and I should be living in the mountains. She likes the beach better and alas there is the rub. But we both like Pittsburgh, our friends are here, and we are resolved to ski locally and travel. But that does not temper my enthusiasm for the sport- even in the summer. But again………………….screeeeeeech!!! The nicest time of the year around here is coming soon. But for now, the dog days of summer are to be enjoyed.

One of the good things about the late days of summer riding is that you are in pretty good shape for the shape that you are in. At 70, I am grateful for my health and when we are barreling down the trails on our bikes, I am usually one of the oldest guys. My Garmin Connect says I am 58, but I know better. The chronological advancement is not lost on me, but I try to stay with it. I want to be doing this for as long as possible and when discussing skis with my friend Eric in Tahoe, we both said we need to stay active. We both thank God for good health to enable us to ride and ski for many more years. It’s not like I am riding like I was when I was younger, but I can still ride and ski enjoyably. Eric and I keep each other honest as we both have lost friends. Other friends are slowing down but we try to keep rolling on the rubber wheels and on the slopes. We are starting to feel like the last of the Mohicans, but there are good days ahead………….if we keep at it. Updating equipment like skis and mountain bikes, help with that.

I am even ready for the ski tuning season with new vices from Swix, new files and diamond stones, and new bevels to accurately tune the edges. My friend Eric gave me a tutorial last spring when we were skiing together on tuning in the 21st century. I was still doing it the old way. But the new way with the bevels and getting the skis stone ground to a specific bevel is next level. I am totally prepared.

I mirrored Eric’s set up here in Tahoe.

So, not to rush the season or anything, I am looking forward to fall riding. A bunch of us will be going in September to ride the new Monday Lick trail system in West Virginia and staying at the wonderful Jerico Pre-Civil War cabins there. Jan and I also will be heading to Maine for a fall coastal trip. But I will be looking for the FedEx driver every day to see if the new boards are being delivered. Hey- it’s fun getting excited about things.

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to Editor: Waiting For Snow in the Carolinas

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While getting out my ski gear for cleaning and the beginnings of fall workouts, family of course says “dad is crazy!”. It is, after all, August in North Carolina, but at 73 years young, I believe it is never too early to start training and tuning skis and boots. A long time ago I got to work out with members of the U.S. Alpine Ski team {I worked in sales and product development for ThorLo, which was team’s official sock} and workouts with those guys and gals taught you how to be ski fit. And I’m getting ready to help volunteer with area Winter Sports Special Olympics, and teaching cross country and downhill skiing to scouts, so I want to ready. Anyway, my bettor half got some ” ham it up” pictures in the old chairlift she bought for me as a backyard swing…pretty cool.

I hope everyone gets a laugh! Looking forward to the blessings of snow and the hope of peace in the coming Winter Olympics.

Cheers, Mike Shadroui