"Dude, do you think they'll really check?"

Sometimes it’s better to just buy the lift ticket.

Four South Dakota college students learned the hard way when they were recently jailed for using forged lift passes for the local ski hill.

The four are all aged 21 or 22 and are studying engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. It’s unclear whether they purchased their forged pass from an unknown source or made them themselves.

Each student was ordered to pay $580 in restitution, which is the cost of a season pass at Terry Peak ski area where they used the forged passes, as well as $200 in fines and costs. They are due to begin their jail sentences on or before May 14th, and are being granted a delay in order to complete end-of-year exams.

Continue reading ‘Forged lift tickets land four young skiers in jail’

Shawnee Mountain in Pennsylvania.

As part of a major lift system overhaul, Shawnee Mountain in Pennsylvania has puchased a new high speed detachable quad chairlift for their ski resort.

The Pocono mountains resort’s operator, Ski Shawnee Inc, announced the purchase last week.

Manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Doppelmayr CTEC USA, the new high speed quad will be installed this summer along the Tomahawk Trail and replace Shawnee’s existing fixed grip quad lift in the same location. The fixed grip quad will then be moved to the Arrowhead Trail and replace Shawnee’s oldest lift – a fixed grip triple which will be retired.

Continue reading ‘Pennsylvania’s Shawnee gets lift overhaul’

An artist sketch of Meadowlands Xanadu snow complex

In a possibly hopeful sign for the long delayed Xanadu complex in New Jersey, the state’s new governor has said Xanadu will be able to open its shops on Sundays.

The shopping complex is supposed to be home to North America’s first indoor snow centre, but the opening has been stalled.

The announcement by Governor Chris Christie is seen as a small positive sign for the $2.3bn complex following rumors earlier in the year that the new governor might examine ways of canceling Xanadu altogether, even at this very late stage with the buildings largely complete and much of the money spent.

Continue reading ‘Governor throws a bone to Meadowlands Xanadu’

A lone skier enjoys the summer weather at Stryn.

The struggling Stryn summer ski centre in Norway may survive after all.

Online reports say that the favourite ski resort of many ski racers including the great Alberto Tomba has been saved from threatened closure due to its economic difficulties.

Norway operates three small summer ski centres, equal to France, Italy and Switzerland, with only Austria offering more. Stryn operates a chairlift and a drag lift from late May to early August. The exact season end date depends on the amount of snow melting during the summer and weather conditions.

Continue reading ‘Norway’s struggling Stryn soldiers on’

Nighttime in Zermatt during mid-winter.

The Summer Weekender in Zermatt is coming back for its fourth consecutive year this summer.

From the 15th to the 18th of July, the Swiss ski area will host the annual event created to give people that work in the Snowsports industry a snow fix in between seasons. The weekend is an opportunity to network, party and race on the glacier.

The weekender includes two races on the glacier, the Ski Club of Great Britain Giant Slalom and the Metrosnow.co.uk Team Dual Slalom. There will also be the chance to take part in the Matterhorn Mystery Challenge, details of which will remain secret until arrival, but will no doubt involve some super sleuth skills.

Continue reading ’4th annual snowsports insider weekend this July’

Colorado's Copper Mountain ski resort.

Colorado’s Copper Mountain and Italy’s Val di Fassa have topped a list of the most satisfying ski vacation destination this season.

The numbers come from a poll conducted by TUI Ski, the company which owns Britain’s largest ski tour operator Crystal, as well as other leading brands Thomson, First Choice and Flexiski.

Copper Mountain in Colorado is the most popular overall, although as the company sends a limited number of clients there, the verdict is not based on the number of passengers. The company believes Val di Fassa would probably triumph if the number of forms returned was factored.

Continue reading ‘Copper and Val di Fassa top ski satisfaction survey’

A barn near Intrawest resort Steamboat Springs in Colorado.

It seems things may be turning around for Intrawest’s after it’s parent company’s rough financial year.

The resort operator of Whistler/Blackcomb announced this week that it has completed refinancing its previously outstanding debt payments.

Owner Fortress Inc. missed debt payments in December that led to a threat of auction from lenders. This auction was scheduled to occur in the middle of the 2010 Olympic Games. Since that time Fortress Investment Group, Intrawest’s primary creditors, have been working with lenders to restructure the $1.4 billion borrowed in 2006 that Fortress used when purchasing Intrawest.

Continue reading ‘Intrawest turns the corner’