Tag Archive for: Arcadia Publishing

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Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Every industry benefits from a mix of offerings. The ski area industry is no exception. I find it enjoyable to ski big corporate resorts as well as independently-owned areas. Some, like Alta, Big Sky, and Jackson Hole offer both big terrain and an attractive level of smaller resort intimacy.

SUN VALLEY in the old days

 

It may surprise you that, according to the National Ski Areas Association, of the 37 states with ski areas, New York State has the most with 51…almost 11% of the country’s 470 areas. Next is Michigan with 40 areas, then Colorado and Wisconsin (31 each); California and New Hampshire (30 each), followed by Pennsylvania (26), Vermont (23) and Minnesota (20).

The majority of these are smaller and either independent or part of small group ownership.

Many smaller areas make it because they’re close enough to population centers and/or they’re the only game around. They get a large enough following to sustain them season-after-season.

Skiers in Norway: 1907

I like to mix up my skiing experience with visits to big and small. A few seasons ago I spent a delightful day exploring Pomerelle, a smallish area in southern Idaho. The terrain wasn’t challenging but it was interesting. And the base lodge was like going back in time…including the price of lunch.

Skiing big resorts is a different kind of experience. Vail is endless. Aspen, Breckenridge, Jackson Hole and others are challenging. Ditto with my home resorts Alta and Snowbird. I know them and their hidden stashes well. Alta, especially, combines great skiing with local friendliness and warmth. There’s a reason it’s a magnet for skiers from around the globe.

Teton Gravity Research recently produced “In Pursuit of Soul,” a short film celebrating smaller ski areas. To view the trailer click here. It builds the case for independently owned areas and was sponsored, in part, by Indy Pass, the reasonably priced pass that offers skiing privileges at 80 independently owned areas in North America and Japan.

Two skiers. Two skis. One turn.

If I had a few long weekends each season to ski and deep-enough pockets, I’d book at one of the big places in a region with reliable snow. For a family ski holiday with young grandkids, I’d choose a smaller resort with trails that funnel into one or two bases. That way there’s less chance for them to get separated or lost.

I like big mountains with a variety of terrain, and, frankly, it doesn’t matter much who owns them. They just need to be well-covered in snow.

Newly Found: 1300 Year-Old Ski

Archaeologists in Norway recently dislodged a 1300 year-old ski from the Digervarden Ice Patch. They believe it matches another ski found nearby in 2014. The newly found ski has an intact binding of twisted birch and leather. Click on the video (above) to witness the discovery in real time. A more detailed account appears in the Secrets of the Ice website which documents glacial archaeology.

The Superior Rx Goggle

SnowVision Rx goggles integrate prescription with inner lens

If you wear prescription goggles you owe it to yourself to learn about SnowVision‘s unique prescription lens. Unlike other Rx goggles, SnowVision integrates the prescription lens onto the inner lens of the goggle (see middle lens in picture above). Among its numerous advantages is the total lack of fogging. Another is remarkable visual clarity and full range of vision, including around the periphery of the lens. This is virtually unheard of in conventional prescription ski goggles and results from the curvature in SnowVision’s prescription and outer lenses. The lens – fully photochromic so it gets dark or light depending on conditions — is available as unifocal, progressive or bifocal. SnowVision’s components are made by high-quality vendors in Germany, Italy and Japan. Every senior skier who wears glasses should take special care when it comes to prescription goggles. There are some unsatisfactory products on the market, as I, unfortunately, have encountered. SnowVision is a breakthrough.

Please Help with This SeniorsSkiing Crowd-Sourcing Project

Numerous readers have asked about groups for older skiers. Some, like the Wild Old Bunch (Alta) and the Over The Hill Gang (multiple areas) are fairly well-known. SeniorsSkiing.com wants to compile a list of groups. If you know of any, please email name, location(s), a contact name and email and/or phone number to jon@seniorsskiing.com. The info will be posted on the site and updated as new info is received.

Special Discounts

EZ•Fit Auto Adaptable Insoles

Masterfit is offering 20% off any of its EZFit insoles (Snow and Universal models), Tongue Eliminators, Boot Horn and SkiSkootys. To learn more about these products, and/or make a purchase, visit https://masterfitinc.com. The Tongue Eliminators, Boot Horn and SkiSkootys can be found under “Fit Aids.” The 20% discount is good at any time. Simply enter the code SS21 during check out.

Use code SENIORSSKI to receive a 30% discount on online orders for any of Arcadia Publishing’s 27 ski titles. The offer is valid through November 7.

Holiday Shopping for Older Skiers

The Bootster ski boot shoehorn: ideal gift for older skiers

It’s really quite easy…and reasonably priced. The Bootster is an ingenious ski boot shoehorn so compact that it easily fits in a parka pocket. The little device unrolls to reveal a slippery surface that helps the foot slide easily into the ski boot…even when the boot is cold. Each Bootster is hand assembled and very well made. The price is $25 plus shipping. I can’t think of a better or more appropriate gift for older skiers on your list.

FeedSpot Now Delivering SeniorsSkiing.com Content

FeedSpot is an online service that consolidates and delivers news based on the user’s preferences. Happy to report that for FeedSpot subscribers seeking ski-related news, SeniorsSkiing.com articles are now part of their package.

Skiing in Taiwan?

Before global warming had taken it’s toll on so many places with snow, skiers in Taiwan frequented the island nation’s Hehuanshan ski resort. Alas, like so many other locations around the globe, there no longer is enough snow to ski there.

RIP: The Farmer

Dave Van Dame, The Farmer, was an Alta ski legend, skiing deep powder there for 48 years. He recently passed away. Those of you who were privileged to witness his technique are fortunate. Alta recently issued this short video tribute.

The Best Car Commercials

A thing of beauty: my Willys 1/2 Ton Pick Up

I recently sold my (unrestored) 1950 Willys half-ton truck. It was love at first sight several years ago when I saw it on a side street in Ouray, Colorado…a foolish purchase requiring far more skill than I had and more money than I wanted to spend. I concluded that, like many things, old cars can be enjoyed without ownership. During my infatuation I started to follow Hagerty, which insures vintage vehicles and publishes online and print content about them. This article about 10 “unforgettable” car commercials contains links to some funny and moving examples. Not skiing but a lot of fun. Click here to access

Glowing Down the Mountain

I’m glowing
byu/hinterland_skis inskiing

This is what happens when you don your glow-in-the-dark one-piece and go night skiing.

Jon Weisberg

ShortSwings!

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This is to thank the 3000+ of you who completed our August reader survey. We learned that on average, those of you who did not take last season off skied an average of 26 days. That’s down from a few seasons back when the average was more than 33 days. But, when you figure that the national average is 6.5 skier/boarder days, you quickly realize that we’re the ones using the resorts…especially midweek.

We seniors are a very luck lot, doing what we love, when we want to.

Like many of you, I missed last season. That was a first since I started at age 10. Now I’m psyched about getting back on the hill. Skiing brings me immense pleasure. Each of you feels this in your own way. Whether it’s snaking slowly through a mogul field, cruising down a well-groomed slope or floating through thigh-deep powder, you understand.

Ski often enough and you’ll experience a great mix of conditions. Although I haven’t done so in several years, I’ve found pleasure skiing in a blizzard. Very cold days bring their own form of bliss. Warm, bluebird days are a form of skiers’ nirvana.

It is wonderful to age and ski and to be outside in the snow. It doesn’t matter the size of the mountain or the number of runs. It’s simply being there and skiing that brings joy.

This is the first issue of SeniorsSkiing.com for the 2021-22 season. We’ll be posting new articles each week and emailing them to you as a package every other Friday. As a heads up, we’ll  occasionally email advertisements. Each of these ads has been vetted to be relevant to your skiing interests. 

I hope you continue to enjoy SeniorsSkiing.com. Best wishes for a great 2021-22 season!

Patagonia Offering Store Credits for Trade-Ins

With the goal of keeping its stuff out of landfill and improving the environment, Patagonia has introduced a program that gives credit for old and worn Patagonia products. The credits can be used in its retail and online stores. Click here for details about the program and the amount of credit offered.

Will This Replace Day Lodge Burgers and Fries?

A new eatery — Oxygène Café — in the French ski resort, Tignes, specializes in vegan, vegetarian and gluten free food. Started by Oxygène, the French Alps based ski school specializing in English speaking ski and snowboard lessons. The company is partnering with Caffè Vergnano, a socially and environmentally friendly Italian coffee brand.

Snowbasin to Add Base Village and Club Med

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

Snowbasin, the vast ski area north of Salt Lake City, near the city of Ogden, was the site of the 2002 Olympic Downhill events. The place offers terrain for every ability. What it hasn’t offered is a place to stay at the mountain. All of that is about to change as Club Med builds a 300 room facility (projected opening: December 2024) and as plans develop for a base village with restaurants, shops and lodging (project to start in 2025). 

Sundance Mountain Resort: New Owners Make Changes

Sundance

Founded by Robert Redford in 1969, Sundance changed hands last December. Over the summer, the new owners installed two new lifts and upgraded snowmaking services, among other changes. A high-speed detachable quad will access the mid-mountain summit. The second lift will provide expanded terrain choices to guests returning from the back mountain. Sundance is a Utah gem. Off the beaten path, it’s not far from Salt Lake City, Park City and Provo and rarely has crowded slopes. Lodging is primarily in the form of condos and it has always been a foodie destination. Most importantly, there’s a range of excellent terrain. 

Squaw Valley’s New Name: Palisades Tahoe

According to a news release issued by Alterra, the company that owns the resort, the “…name change was an important initiative for our company. At the end of the day, “squaw” is a hurtful word, and we are not hurtful people. It was a change that needed to be made for us to continue to hold our heads high as a leader in our industry and community. We have a well-earned reputation as a progressive resort at the forefront of ski culture, and progress can’t happen without change.”

Deep Discount on Stocking Stuffer Ski Books

Arcadia Publishing has a roster of 27 books covering localized skiing history. They paperback books are loaded with vintage photos and have titles such as Skiing in the Mad River Valley, New Hampshire on Skis, and North Carolina Ski Resorts. Part of the series explores “lost ski areas,” those that existed years ago but no more. Among them, Lost Ski Areas of the Berkshires, Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont, Lost Ski Areas of Tahoe and Donner, and Lost Ski Areas of Colorado’s Front Range and Northern Mountains. Arcadia is offering SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers a 30% discount on all of its skiing titles. Click here to shop the books and enter the code, SENIORSSKI, when checking out. The offer is good from October 7 to November 7.

The Perfect Gift for Older Skiers

Bootster is a clever, compact device that makes it easy to get into a ski boot – even when it’s cold. It has a super slippery surface that helps the foot slide in effortlessly. And unlike shoehorns, sprays, etc., Bootster is compact and easily carried in a parka pocket (click on the video above). If you or an older skier you know likes to shed boots during lunch, getting them back on with Bootster is a breeze. It is pretty much indestructible, making it ideal to pass on to the next generation of skiers. At $25 (+ shipping) the price is right. Looking for something to give your favorite older skier? Bootster will be appreciated for years to come.

Boston and Denver Ski Shows Cancelled

This is second year in a row. The cause? Covid.

It’s a Bird?

People have been dreaming about being able to fly without a plane for years. Technology is finally making it possible, as shown in this video compilation of several different approaches from around the world. Who knows? At one point, some version of these flying machines may eliminate the need for ski lifts. About 16 minutes.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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A segment of the population is getting out of hand. We saw it at the Capitol, and we’re reading about it on airlplanes, in restaurants, and, now, of all places, ski areas. Pent up anger and resentment, stoked by misinformation and lies, is erupting in public places. It’s ugly, and it’s upsetting. Unfortunately, it’s not going away.

Most ski areas now require masks and social distancing. But not all skiers and boarders want to comply. Their resistance has led to verbal abuse of employees tasked with enforcing policy. Maybe those opposed to the rules think their freedom is being challenged. But, as history tells us, there really is no freedom without responsibility and that responsibility is to the rule of law and the public’s well-being. Without it, you could selfishly do whatever you choose…the rest of society be damned.

It’s good that some areas are enforcing their policies. The fact that Schweitzer Mountain closed night skiing for MLK weekend and this weekend suggests direct punishment for night skiers/boarders resisting mask and distance policies. Other resorts are issuing notices re-empathizing Covid requirements.

Ultimately, Covid concerns will be short term, whereas on hill collisions from reckless and/or out-of-control skiers/boarders will continue to be an issue. I can only hope for myself, other senior skiers, our children and grandchildren, that the areas will pay more than lip service to this more permanent and potentially lethal situation.

Alyeska Tops 45′

This is what 24′ of snow looks like. Think about 45′!

A few weeks ago we reported that Alaska’s Alyeska Resort was the first in North America to get more than 400’. As of this writing, Alyeska has a season total of 541”.

Park City Patrol Demonstrates for Pay Increase

The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, representing 200 patrollers and mountain safety personnel, demonstrated this week for a salary increase and better sick leave. The group, which has been operating without a contract since January 1, claims Vail Resorts (VR) is refusing federal mediation. The head of the group explained it wants VR to recognize ski patrolling as a full-time career, deserving salaries and benefits comparable to other Vail Resorts staff. They have a point, don’t they? And how would VR or any ski resort function without patrol? They also have a sense of humor with their picket signs: “Not on Strike. Just practicing.”

Snow in the Sahara

For the first time in 37 years, snow fell in North Africa’s Sahara Desert. With average winter temps of 57F (summer, 100F), desert snow is rare. But in the Atlas Mountain range looming above the desert, there’s a ski resort and vast backcountry terrain accessible by climbing (there are three tour operators) and Africa’s only heli-ski operation.

Canadian Teen Survives in Snow Cave

Snow cave built by Canadian teen

Last Saturday, 17-year old Robert Waldner got separated from his family while snowmobiling in a mountainous area of British Columbia where this time of year temperatures can drop to -58F. Realizing he was lost, the high schooler shoveled out a snow cave and hunkered down for the night. His breath caused the interior of the cave to ice over, stabilizing the interior temperature. Fortunately, search and rescue spotted his snowmobile and found the lad, unharmed, before midnight.

Outstanding New Skiing History

 Just-published, Ski Jumping in Washington State: A Nordic Tradition is exceptionally well-researched and a first-rate read. While the  224-page paperback focuses on the development and evolution of ski jumping in the Northwest, it’s scope covers the golden age of ski jumping throughout the nation. The volume is filled with wonderful illustrations and photographs from early to mid-Twentieth Century. It tells the story of Norwegian immigration to the US and how many of those immigrants — Alf Engen, Torger Tokle, Art Tokle, Olav Ulland, Birger and Sigmund Ruud and others — contributed to ski jumping competition. John W. Lundin, a ski historian and attorney, authored this gem. The book has a Foreward by Eric Nelson, CEO of the National Nordic Museum. Ski Jumping in Washington State: A Nordic Tradition (Arcadia Publishing) accompanies an exhibit on the same topic organized by the National Nordic Museum and the Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum.

Drive the Streets of 50 Cities

Click here to take a virtual drive through more than 50 cities worldwide. You’re able to set vehicle speed, street noise, etc. Return to the city after one drive and you’ll be on a different route. I took the drive up Park Avenue in Manhattan and passed the building where I used to work.