Monday, August 31, 2009

Deer Valley Resort adding first North American Funicular

Dear Valley Resort, of Park City Utah is installing North America's first funicular. The lift will link Dear Valley's Snow Park to the New St. Regis Deer Crest Resort higher on the mountain.

The funicular will ascend the 500 fee in 90 seconds. The cabins can hold 15 passengers with a separate area for luggage. The cabins will also be self leveling and can operate independtly.

See First Ski Resort Funicular in North America Nearing Completion in Utah

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Tamarack Resort Reverts to Owners

The Tamarack Resort bankruptcy has run out of money for operation so the bankruptcy judge has given the resort to its owners. Credit Suisse Group, which had been funding the operation, has turned off the money spigot.

This creates an unusual situation because the owners are broke and owe Credit Suisse Group $300 million. Speculation is the resort will fall apart and into disrepair as there is no one takes care of the facilities.

In separate litigation Bank of America Corp is attempting to repose two ski lifts it financed.

How do you repo ski lift?

See Tamarack Resort reverts to owners' control

Monday, August 24, 2009

Steamboat Springs to receive New Leitner-Poma Gondola


A developer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Resort Ventures West has signed a deal to build a Leitner-Poma gondola between its Wildhorse Meadows development and the resort. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2010.
The Gondola will carry 340 people her hour and take four minutes to carry passengers to the resort.
See Deal Means New Gondola in Steamboat.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Speculation Abounds as to How Intrawest is Going to do with its Debt Load with Refinancing Looming.

Intrawest is facing refinancing a $1.7 billion in loan in October. The heaviest speculation is that Intrawest will be forced to sell properties to pay down its loans and make refinancing easier, if at all possible.

Most analysis argue that Intrawest is a real estate entity with properties that are difficult to sell for value in this market rather than a resort operation like it's biggest competitor Vail.

Mont Tremblant is currently the number one property thought to be on the block. However rumors have been flying in Colorado about suitors looking at Copper Mountain.

Bill Jensen, Intrawest's Chief Executive has stated recovery in the ski industry will probably not occur until the 2011-12 ski season.

See Squeezed by debt, Intrawest eyes asset sale, Ski industry should expect long recovery, says Intrawest CEO Bill Jensen and Intrawest eyes asset sale to pay down debt-report.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Welcome New SAO Instructor Jason Gusaas


Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Ski Area Operations Program. He has worked at Copper Mountain for ten years as the Terrain Parks and ½ Pipe Foreman and has worked for Planet Snow Design for five years traveling the country designing and building parks and pipes. Jason has worked on many nationally televised events such as the Chevy Grand Prix series, Gravity Games, the Vail Honda Session and the Swatch Boardercross Work Tour. "I'm really excited to become a part of the CMC faculty and looking forward to sharing my passion for the ski industry with the students," said Jason. When not snowboarding, Jason enjoys spending time with his friends and family, hunting and fishing.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Smithsonian recognizes snowboarding

The Steamboat Springs Pilot is reporting that the Smithsonian is accepting a collection of the first snowboards ever created. Originally called the Snurfer's the idea was created by a Steamboat resident Sherman Poppen who wanted to get his kids outdoors.

The article describes in detail the evolution of an idea, two skis connected together to the modern day snowboard.

See Smithsonian honors the snowboard's predecessor.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Resorts are adding lifts left and right and mostly up!

Solitude Ski Resort Adds New Powderhorn II Quad Lift

According to Solitude, visitors will enjoy a 7 minute lift ride on the new lift, as opposed to 12 on the old double, a savings of 5 minutes per run on some of the state's steepest groomed terrain. Plus, Honeycomb Canyon will still be conveniently accessed from the top of this lift.

Sugar Bowl resort will access Judah Bowl with new chairlift

The chair will have an uphill capacity of 1,200 people per hour.

As well as expansion

Mammoth Expansion Under Way At Jay Peak Resort

Friday, August 7, 2009

I was quoted in Outside Magazine

I was quoted in the August issue of Outside Magazine about the state of the whitewater kayaking industry. I'm on the board of directors of the Trade Association of Paddlesports and was called because of that position and my legal work in the industry for many years.

I have to remember that when I'm being interviewed by someone they are only going to use one sentence, two if I am lucky (or unlucky). I have been accused, wrongly, of loving to hear myself talk on any inane point. In this case I started the line with the quote language and moved on to say what the industry was now doing right for a few more than one or two sentences. My intelligent and pithy comments were reduced down to the kayak industry did itself in and nobody has bought boats in a while. Too bad because I had said some great things to the writer too!

See: First Look The Evolution of Whitewater Kayaking

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Powder Ridge Ski Area for sale and not too many people are interested.

The Town of Middlefield owns Powder Ridge Ski Area. The ski area was closed last year and the town is attempting to sell the ski area. See Single bidder interested in Powder Ridge and Town gets second bid for Powder Ridge. The second bid came in after the deadline; however officials say it will be accepted.

The ski area has been having troubles for several years. (Google has put a warning on one site that pops up on a search for Powder Ridge saying the site may harm your computer.)

There is also a suit pending by the former owner of the resort against the city claiming the city lowered the value of the ski area and forced him into bankruptcy. See Leavitt lawsuit still pending.

Powder Ridge was also the subject of several lawsuits over the years. See Slauson v. White Water Mountain Resorts of Connecticut, Inc. et al., 2001 Conn. Super. LEXIS 1489, Connecticut Supreme Court overrules prior law in deciding releases no longer valid, Hanks v. Powder Ridge Restaurant Corporation et al. 276 Conn. 314 and Laliberte v. White Water Mountain Resorts, 2004 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2194.