Ski Pass Prices Drop at Sun Valley Resort but Hurry!

Sun Valley Resort announced it had dropped prices on its season passes. If purchased during July, passes will save $500 off the normal season pass price.

Several other passes will be discounted in July including the Season Discount Card, $60, the Weekend Discount Card, $40, and the Early/Late Pass, $199.

See Sun Valley drops ski pass prices or http://www.sunvalley.com/SunValley/info/mtn.ltp.onlinepass.aspx

Jim Kercher is back at Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard School

Jim Kercher has a long history of making ski and snowboard schools a success. He turned Copper Mountain's around in one year and reportedly did well with Beaver Creek's. In 2007 Jim left to be the general manger of Alpine Meadow Ski resort in California. However Jim is not back and will be running the Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard school.

See Jim Kercher Hired as Director of Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard School

SolVista Basin Ski Resort to Host Mountain Bike National Championship

First time National Championships to be held in Colorado

The USA Cycling Mountain Bike Championships will be held at SolVista Basin Ski Resort's Granby Ranch July 16 through 19, 2009. The professional and amateur racers will compete in cross county, downhill, single speed, super-downhill, mountain cross and short track races over the weeklong event.

Kelli Lusk of USA Cycling stated the "The trail system and base area are perfect for hosting a variety of events and accommodating both the pros and amateurs." The Granby Ranch Mountain Bike Park features ten trails; three black diamond, four blue and three green trails along with a pump track. The trails are rated the same way that ski trails are rated black is expert, blue are intermediate and green are easy.

See Colorado Ski Resort to Host National Mountain Bike Championships in July

Curt Bender takes Promotion to Cat Driver at Copper Mountain

CMC has been extremely lucky to have a faculty member with the expertise in ski area operations that Curt Bender has. Since 1981 students have learned from the master in snowmaking, grooming, lift maintenance, heavy equipment operations and ski area planning.

Curt is an avid fly fisherman and has taught several courses and was instrumental in getting the fly fishing certificate program started at Timberline.

In addition to getting more fishing in, Curt looks forward to more golfing, too. He will continue to work at Copper Mountain grooming in the ski season.

The Benders have no plans to leave Leadville, at least not until Aubrey is out of high school which isn't until 2013.

The Ski Area Operations program started around 1970 and Curt has been instrumental in keeping the program in line with the industry's progression over the years. "As the ski areas developed and modernized we worked hard to develop and modernize our curriculum and equipment," said Curt.

"When I started in 1981 we had a vintage 1969 snowcat and no snowmaking equipment," said Curt.

CMC now has state-of-the art equipment including a brand new snowcat. "Administration has been constantly supportive in keeping the program modern," said Curt.

While there are many things Curt will miss he said "I'll mostly miss seeing the growth and development of individual students as they have gone through the program and following them in their careers."

Over his 28 years there were many unforgettable events that occurred. When asked, Curt said that the most memorable is probable when he got stranded in a crane truck 30 feet up after knocking the remote control unit out of the basket while working on the lift tower here on campus. Eventually an Outdoor Studies student came by on his mountain bike. "I started yelling to him and he kept looking all around trying to figure out where the voice was coming from," said Curt.

As a credit to his teaching skills, Curt taught the student from 30 feet up how to operate the hand controls and bring him down.

Curt will continue to teach as an adjunct instructor - so we'll still see him around, "especially on tator tot day in the lunch room," added Curt.

Magic Mountain Ski Area is selling shares to its skiers and boarders

Magic Mountain Ski Area is selling shares of shares in a partnership to skiers and boarders who want to own a part of the mountain. See the Magic Mountain Website offering the stock. The entire plan can be found at the Magic Mountain Partnership Business Plan.

Shares will cost $3000 per share. There is even a payment plan so that you can purchase shares over time for three $1000 payments.

The plan lists the following benefits for those who purchase shares:

Shareholders will be entitled to the following:

• 20% discount on a season pass for adult shareholders (Must be purchased by October 1st each year to receive discount)
  
• 50% discount on a season pass for junior shareholders (ages 7-12, Must be purchased by October 1st each year to receive discount)
  
• five coupons for discounted lift tickets which they can share with friends and family
  
• A free Magic Card entitling the holder to discounts on day tickets throughout the season for shareholders opting not to purchase a season pass.
  
• Right of first refusal on new area amenities such as seasonal lockers
  
• Direct access to management by way of a customized web page.
  
• Opportunity to serve on specialized committees established by the Board
  
• For every paid adult pass, shareholders can purchase a 12 and under Junior pass (ages 7-12) for immediate family members at a 50% discount
  
• 15% discount on resort services
  
• Holders of 4 or more shares receive a free season pass
  

Magic Mountain Ski Area is located near Londonderry Vermont.

If you cannot afford to purchase a share of the mountain, there are also Save Magic Mountain T-Shirts for sale.

Snowmaking Labs in Full Swing

This was just filmed this morning after an all-night snowmaking lab. The students who sign up for this lab realize that weather plays a big factor in when we can schedule the labs. We have been waiting for the last two weeks through some of the warmest fall conditions in our history. Then suddenly, a cold front and snow storm came in, so we immediately organized shifts and fired up the system. We will continue running as long as it is cold enough.

New Snow Grooming and Vehicle Maintenance Blog

Here is a new blog site that started with one of my very capable 2nd year students Pat Torsell. The idea came up during one of our class meetings and Pat took the snowcat by the "horns" and already has a large following. Be sure to check it out and become a contributor!

www.slopegroomer.com