Dave Belin
How It Works: Snowmaking 101
Snowmaking is essential to keeping the slopes white and skiable during the winter months. It supplements natural snow, gets trails and terrain open more quickly in the early part of the season, and helps extend the season, on both the… Read More →
2013-14 Ski Industry Statistics & Trends
Even before the lifts stop spinning each year, resort managers tabulate ski industry statistics and numbers to document how the season went. Some of the key figures that are closely tracked include: total visits, the number of season passes sold,… Read More →
Increasing Summer Activities at Ski Areas
As the Winter season comes to a close, many ski areas shift to off-season maintenance and improvement mode. Luckily, for those of us who can’t stand to be away from the mountain, year-round activities and amenities are increasing at ski… Read More →
Ski Area Upgrades & Improvements: How Resorts Decide What To Build
This time of year, many skiers and snowboarders are drying out their boots for the final time, applying a heavy coat of summer wax to their boards, and wondering how long their goggle tan will last. Thoughts turn to mountain… Read More →
Innovations in Learn to Ski and Snowboard Programs
Ask people to describe their first day on skis or a snowboard and you’ll likely get a variety of adjectives: exciting, fun, and thrilling, but also scary, frustrating, and intimidating. Ski area managers and snowsports school directors would rather hear… Read More →
The Impact of the Winter Olympics on US Ski Areas
The 2014 Winter Olympics have seen incredible performances from US athletes, particularly in the various downhill snowsports events: alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and freestyle snowboarding. Millions of Americans watch the games on TV, providing an incredibly valuable level of exposure… Read More →
What Your Kid’s Ski School Instructor Wants You to Know
January is Learn a Snowsport Month, and as a result, many ski areas and state organizations offer special deals and offers to get new snowboarders and skiers out on the hill. It’s the perfect month to learn: The hectic holiday… Read More →
Top Ski Resorts for Foursquare Check-ins
It seems like skiers and snowboarders have many different (and sometimes passionate) opinions about the best ski resort in the US. Which has the best steeps? The lightest powder? The coolest vibe? The most killer après-ski? We can argue about… Read More →
Top 4 Places to Learn to Ski & Snowboard
Right now, you are probably daydreaming about the sweet lines you want to rip this winter, the new boards you are hoping Santa will bring you, or how cool you will look in the sweet puffy you just bought. But… Read More →
Sustainability Efforts at Ski Areas
Outdoor recreation, scenic views, clean air, and a natural mountain environment are just some of the great benefits of having ski areas as our playgrounds. What’s better than a clear mountain view on a sunny day on the slopes? But… Read More →
