Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

Chapelco ski map. Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

Chapelco Ski Resort is opening the winter ski season in Cerro Chapelco. Starting this morning at 9.30 AM the following ski lifts have opened: Telecabina, silla 36, magic carpet 1600, Silla Graeff, T-Bar and Filo. As soon as snow conditions allow it, the other sectors of the mountain will open.

Ski and Snowboard School, Kids nursery and kindergarden will be opened, as well as the equipment and clothing rental at the base area. The mountain restaurants Torino Winter Point, Patagonia Truck, the Base restaurant, the Riche Patagonia Chocolate Store, Antulauquen and the Casita del Bosque (little house in the forest) will be opened.

Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.
Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

The snow sledging pulled by huskies will be operating, the snowshoeing circuits open and backcountry, as well as the rental of snowmobiles. Chapelco Fotos (Photo company) will also be operational.

CHAPELCO AND JUAN CRUZ ADROGUÉ AWARDED IN THE WORLD SKI AWARDS 2018

The Argentinean snow entrepreneur Juan Cruz Adrogué received the “Monumental Contribution to Ski Tourism” award in Austria as part of the 2018 World Ski Awards. Chapelco Ski Resort was the winner for the third time of the “Best Ski Resort in Argentina” award ”

Juan Cruz Adrogue of Chapelco receives his award for a Monumental Contribution to the Ski Tourism at the World Ski Awards. Photo: World Ski Awards & Cerro Chapelco. Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.
Juan Cruz Adrogue of Chapelco receives his award for a Monumental Contribution to the Ski Tourism at the World Ski Awards. Photo: World Ski Awards & Cerro Chapelco. Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.

The Academy of the World Ski Awards gave it special recognition for its monumental contribution to ski tourism as part of the sixth edition of the World Ski Awards, the Oscars of skiing, which were held at the gala on November 17, 2018 in the city Kitzbühel, Austria.

Continue reading “Today opens Chapelco #AbreChapelco.”

$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

Arizona Snowbowl- Pinterest picture. Micayla Pins. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

From Arizona Republic

The Flagstaff resort development plans include new lifts, runs and amenities such as mountain biking and a mountain coaster.

Arizona Snowbowl has recently announced that it will invest $60 Million in upgrades including new lifts, night skiing and boarding, and new facilities.

Other activities they are envisioning to include which they are not currently offering are mountain biking, a mountain coaster, alpine slide, zip line tours, a climbing wall and outdoor concerts, broadening their offer for a four-seasons resort.

Arizona Snowbowl- photo: Arizona Republic. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.
Arizona Snowbowl- photo: Arizona Republic. $60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.

General Manager J.R. Murray said: “Obviously there is a growing demand for outdoor recreation, and that is why ski areas are adding year-round activities to utilize the infrastructure on a year-round basis and respond to the demand. And also, the year-round activities diversify the business, so we are not so heavily reliant on winter.”

The improvements will be built over a period of time. If the plans get approval from the U.S. Forest Service, then the work will begin no sooner than 2021 and it will take 10 to 15 years to be completed, Murray said.

Continue reading “$60 Million Expansion for Arizona Snowbowl to upgrade facilities and ease congestion.”

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere? Photo: Valle de Las Leñas in Mendoza, Argentina.

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

As the snow season is to start in South America, we who are born and bred there – (not necessarilly all living there anymore, but many of my friends are doing double seaason- in Chile or Argentina and then Aspen or Vail usually), always tend to think that the snow in the Northern Hemisphere is correlated with the snow in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly when the season is going to start down under.

Summer what Summer?

In Southamerica, specifically in Chile there is a saying: “Abril lluvias mil” that can be translated as: “in April we will have lots of rain”, but this has changed over the last 10 years or so.

There have been lots of Aprils without any rain in the cities, and no snow up in the mountains.
In the High Andes, due to the rocky formation of the mountains, you need a good month of natural snow to cover well all the mountain. Lately, all ski areas have been proactive and started installing snowmaking cannons and guns as Mother Nature is not reliable.

Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?
Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Chile had the driest start of the year from January to May so far in the last six decades. If there is no rain, there is no snow. There is a front coming now, not sure how much will leave at the high Andes and how much at the lower ones – Accuweather does not show too much in this respect.

Snow-Forecast is a bit more optimistic! I As per Snow-Forecast, Las Leñas has received 42 cm in the past week and is expecting 19 more cm in the next three days. Others that benefited are Puma Lodge with 59 cm, Nevados de Chillan with 56 cm, Corralco with 55 cm and Villarrica-Pucón with 47 cm. Antillanca also got 32 cm, Volcan Osorno 30 cm, Caviahue, in Argentina got 19 cm, Catedral 16 cm and Valle Nevado 16 cm.

Continue reading “Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?”

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders flow.

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

The two new chairlifts are part of the $35 million investment of Vail Resorts into four mountains including Stevens Pass.

These upgrades are aimed at slopes for beginners’ skiers and boarders.

This summer the chairlifts and loading terminals on both the Daisy and Brooks trails are receiving a complete overhaul as part of an investment by owner Vail Resorts.

Stevens Pass: A Frame is being lifted up for Daisy lift. Photo: Vail Resorts. Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders flow.
Stevens Pass: A Frame is being lifted up for Daisy lift. Photo: Vail Resorts. Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

Tom Pettigrew, GM of Stevens Pass Ski Resort said “We listened to what the team had to say about what we could do from an improvement standpoint. This seemed to be where we could focus our investment to have the greatest on-mountain experience change in a positive direction.”

The new quad chair on the Daisy lift access beginners’ terrain and will improve uplift capacity by 33% more. An updated loading area is designed to help beginners loading the lift.

The Brooks terminal is being regraded so skiers have a downhill approach and the chair will be now a quad, doubling the capacity of the double that stand there before.

Continue reading “Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.”

Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont

Okemo Resort picture. SkiVermont.com - Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont.

Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont

Thanks for early and late snow, Vermont got the best season in four years.

The Vermont ski areas association 50th Annual Meeting at Jay Peak on June 5-6 gathered members, supporters and friends of the Vermont ski and snowboard industry. Thanks to good snow in the beginning and end of the ski season, this past season was historic.

Smugglers Notch powder. SkiVermont.com Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont.
Smugglers Notch powder. SkiVermont.com Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont.

Vermont saw 207K more skier and rider visits this season than last, an increase of 5.2 percent. The 4,178,533 total skier visits were the highest since the 2014-15 ski season and a 1.2 % higher than the 10-year average seen at the Vermont’s ski areas.

The state’s history early openings with large amount of skiable terrain allowed the season to have these great numbers. Killington opened on October 19, three weeks ahead of opening day and was the earliest opening in the East. Mount Snow Resort had its earliest opening in its 64-year history, opening on October 27. Smuggler’s Notch Resort opened on November 23 with the most skiable terrain on an opening day – 58 of its 78 trails were opened.

Continue reading “Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont”

Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season

Aspen Snowmass photo. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.

Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season

Aspen Mountain will open for another bonus weekend of skiing and riding Jun. 15-16 over Food & Wine Weekend

Aspen Snowmass announced today two additional days of skiing and riding as part of summer operations over the popular Food & Wine Classic this weekend, Jun. 15-16. making this one of the longest skiing and riding seasons in Aspen history. Skiers and riders will enjoy around 100 acres on a 30-inch base depth.

Group of skiers at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.
Group of skiers at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.

“We love that we can celebrate this historic season of snowfall with both skiing and summer activities in Aspen,” says Katie Ertl, senior vice president of mountain operations. “This is the perfect time of year to get outside, and get in two or even three sports in a day, with skiing, biking, hiking, golfing and more.”

The Silver Queen Gondola will be open for sightseeing and the Sundeck, located at the top of Aspen Mountain, will offer food and beverage options as well as a DJ on the deck Saturday. The first Bluegrass Sunday of the summer season will kick off Jun. 16.

Continue reading “Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season”

Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

Taiga - Aspen's route. Photo by Taiga Motors. Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

For the 2019-20 winter season, Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) enters a new partnership with Taiga Motors that will introduce electric snowmobiles to the resort with the goal of efficiently accelerating the transition to more sustainable mountain operations vehicles.

Taiga Motors Eikko specs. Photo: Taiga Motors.  Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors
Taiga Motors Eikko specs. Photo: Taiga Motors. Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

ASC was selected to participate in the Flagship Partner Program which gives rights to test out a new, Taiga Motors electric snowmobile. The program helps showcase the commitment of ski resort brands leading the charge towards increased winter sports sustainability.

“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of a new wave of sustainability and are looking forward to someday having a full electric fleet of snowmobiles at our resort,” says Greg Hoffman, lift maintenance director, Aspen Skiing Company. “The electric sled is a great fit for a ski area since we are going downhill close to half the time and the batteries charge when going downhill. When the battery charges it slows the sled down which keeps the operator from riding the brakes and causing a potential failure.”

Continue reading “Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors”

Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project

Crested Butte in-bounds Extreme terrain is famous. Photo: Fenlon/CBMR. Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project.

Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project

The U.S. Forest Service has posted a final record of decision regarding Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s (CBMR) proposal in accordance with the resort’s Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project. The Expansion Project was submitted in July 2015 and has undergone a comprehensive environmental review.

The butte in the background. Photo: Tom Stillo/CBMR. Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project.
The butte in the background. Photo: Tom Stillo/CBMR. Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project.

The proposed Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project outlines a 500-acre permit boundary expansion, intended to provide additional intermediate and advanced terrain within the existing geography of the mountain. The proposed expansion area is located in the Teocalli drainage on the east face of the mountain. Additionally, the plan features three new chairlifts, including a replacement of the resort’s existing North Face Lift; 32 acres of additional new snowmaking on existing mountain trails; a new Ski Patrol outpost; and approximately 15 miles of new hiking and biking trails added to the existing on-mountain summer trail network.

“Crested Butte Mountain Resort appreciates having received the U.S. Forest Service’s record of decision regarding the proposed Teocalli 2 Expansion,” said Tim Baker, general manager of CBMR. “The Mueller family did a great job of casting a vision for this plan, and we look forward to identifying how we will proceed with it.”

Continue reading “Final Record of Decision Published for Teocalli Drainage Expansion Project”

Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season

Eldora-Sam Bass. Colorado Ski Country USA. Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season.

Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season

2018-19 Sees New Statewide Record, Double Digit Increase in 5-Year Average

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced today at its 56th Annual Meeting in Denver skier visits at its now 23-member ski resorts increased 13 percent over last year’s total, which is nearly 12 percent above the five-year average. Using publicly available information, CSCUSA is projecting a new statewide record for skier visits of 13.8 million. Today’s announcement reflects a percentage increase that includes the current makeup of the association and is adjusted for the departure of Crested Butte from the membership in 2018-19.

“The 2018-19 season was one for the history books,” Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Melanie Mills said. “Not only did the industry set a new statewide record for skier visits, but there were substantial investments in capital improvements across our member resorts and snowfall was plentiful across the entire state.”

Copper Mountain. Photo: CSCUSA. Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season.
Copper Mountain. Photo: CSCUSA. Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season.

All regions of Colorado received significant snowfall throughout the season with the northern, central and southern mountains all blanketed in white. The early season was marked by significant resort investment with six new chairlifts whisking skiers and riders up the mountain, five new restaurants across the state, the new Limelight Hotel in Snowmass and other new activities and offerings. January and February saw additional snowfall and increased industry wide advocacy on climate change with the formation of the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership and a joint statement from eight state ski trade associations in support of increased climate action. Late February and March featured record or near record snow totals and set up a strong end to the season with five CSCUSA member ski areas announcing season extensions with Aspen Mountain and Arapahoe Basin still spinning lifts on weekends.

Continue reading “Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Double Digit Increase in Skier Visits in 2018-19 Season”

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. Photo courtesy of SnoFolio.

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association.

Snowsports Performance Technology Company Expands Support of Athletes with Ski Training Management System

SnoFolio announced a partnership with the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA). The partnership furthers SnoFolio’s mission of supporting and progressing skiers throughout their lifetime by making its Snowsport performance technology available to more athletes.

SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. Photo courtesy of SnoFolio.
SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association. Photo courtesy of SnoFolio.

The USCSA is recognized as the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing and snowboarding in America. USCSA scores the top three performances out of teams of five. Teams compete in a variety of disciplines, including women’s and men’s alpine, cross country, snowboarding, freestyle, and jumping. Over 5,000 student athletes compete in USCSA events annually, representing over 170 institutions in 11 Conferences and 6 Regions.

Alec Tandara-Kuhns, Executive Director of the USCSA, said, “The partnership between the USCSA and SnoFolio is a great fit because it offers additional training outlets for our membership from the club level through to the fully funded varsity programs.”  Continue reading “SnoFolio Announces Partnership with U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association”