Scoping out the Minnesota Ski and Snowboard Show

One way to get ready for the new winter season is to visit a ski and snowboard show. In mid-November I attended Minnesota Ski & Snowboard Expo, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

When I walked through the door, I had my doubts. After all, the ballroom looked about the size of a Target, without a grocery store. That's actually a generous space, but for some reason I was expecting more.

A Bungee Device?
The first thing I noticed after entering was the "Euro-bungie," a ride available for $7. I was only mildly interested, and not enough to part with the cash, so I watched briefly, took some photos, and walked on. I've seen such a device at the base of Buttermilk, but I've always thought of it as more of a kid's toy than anything else.



A Sliding Experience for the Kids
If you're going to have an indoor show, you really can't re-create the alpine environment. But one ski area did give kids the chance to experience some sliding.



First, you'd put on some ski boots. These weren't typical ski boots, though. The bottom of the boots were covered by a rectangular, smooth piece of plastic that allowed the boots to slide with minimal friction. In place of a snow-covered hill was a wooden ramp covered with a plastic rug. The rug (or mat or something approximating the two) had bristles, like a driving mat at a golf course. The difference (aside from the color) was that the bristles were spaced further apart from each other.

The "customers" (there was no fee but you did have to sign a waiver) would walk up the steps to the ramp and then "ski" down. Obviously there was no turning involved, and there was no option for "snowboarding." Still, it's a way to get some kids introduced to something that is essential to alpine sports--sliding down a hill.

Trampoline Shows
There was also an area for trampoline shows, sponsored by yet another ski area in the state. It had the kind of fake alpine backdrop that you'd expect to see on a low-budget carnival ride. It did set the mood, though only barely, and the show could have been fine without it. (There was no similar backdrop for the "ski hill" I just described.)

There were two trampolines, side by side. Some athletes performed flips, splits and other tricks. Interesting, but what does all that have to do with snowboarding or skiing?

Freestyle skiers and riders train on trampolines to perfect the aerial arts, so the jumping gymnasts dismounted, put skis and snowboards on their feet, and went back up on the trampolines. They did various grabs and other maneuvers, but my camera wasn't equipped to get any non-blurry photos, so sorry, no photos.

The Fake Terrain Park
Yet another ski area hosted a mini-terrain park, and invited their performance team to give a demonstration.



A series of rollers--think of the things that boxes go on as they move along an assembly line--served as both the slope and the snow, and lead to rails of various sorts. I'm not terribly knowledgeable about freestyle so I'm not going to try to name the kinds of rails the people used. I think there were supposed to be regular "shows," but I never waited for one to take place. Instead, I watched for a few riders and skiers to make laps on their own. Compared with the view from the top of a terrain park, this non-exhibition exhibition.

The Exhibits
The real attraction for me was the chance to talk with representatives from ski areas, equipment companies and the like. In this regard the show did not disappoint.

Some of the exhibitors had little to do with skiing or snowboarding, such as a local newspaper or radio show. Others, such as a group of people who offered a teeth-whitening session for a "ski show special price," reinforced the stereotype of alpine enthusiasts as being wealthy people focused on appearances.



There was some sort of car on display, though I forget the name. I don't think it an obvious alpine vehicle such as a Subaru or a Range Rover, and it probably wasn't even a car that could get your heart racing during the summer, such as a Porsche or even a Chrysler convertible.

Of course, most of the exhibits were, thankfully, more directly related to skiing and snowboarding. I spent quite a while talking with a fellow from the Cable, Wisconsin, area. It's a haven for cross-country activity, including the American Bierkenbeiner, an annual race. I don't write much about cross-country skiing. But I can see getting more involved in the nordic scene if I were living in the right setting. At the show I got a lesson in how cross-country trails are groomed.

There were also exhibits about ski racing, which is a big deal in Minnesota, especially among high school students.

Hoigards, a big presence in the local retail market, set up a mini store that had a soup-to-nuts inventory. I thought briefly of buying a Rossignol Jeremy Jones board (last year's model) for $300, a good markdown from $500 from a year ago. But it's not different enough the board I already own to merit a purchase. The store was overly crowded, and I left it to return to the rest of the show. That was too bad, as there was plenty of room in the ballroom behind the store to spread out the goods.

Ski areas represented
A number of ski areas in Minnesota were represented, as you might expect. Many were within the Twin Cities metro region and thus, depending on where you live, with an hour's drive. They included Afton Alps, Buck Hill Elm Creek, Hyland Hills, Trollhaugen, Welch Village, and Wild Mountain.

Andes Tower Hills--like the ski areas listed above--is yet another vertically challenged location in Minnesota. Unlike the others, it's a 150-mile drive from Minneapolis. Why they showed, I'm not sure, as I doubt that many people will make the trip. Lutsen, the best ski area in the state and one of the two best in the Midwest in terms of terrain, was represented as well.

And of course there were exhibits for destination resorts from the Rockies. I picked up a trail map and nice four-mountain poster from Aspen, where I've been blessed to spend a lot of time over the years. Steamboat sent someone, and I said "Say 'Hello' to Shannon for me," though I'm not sure that registered. (Perhaps I came across as a stalker.)

Silver Mountain had a great gimmick: Sign up for a free season pass. There was a catch, of course. You have to stay in one of the resort's properties. The representative from Taos Ski Valley was less than enthusiastic. Maybe he saw my "Grays on Trays" t-shirt and was anti-snowboarder, or maybe he was just bored. The person representing three areas in Michigan's Upper Peninsular (vertical feet: 600; driving distance from the Twin Cities: 5 hours) wasn't terribly friendly, either. Given the proximity of booths from many other ski areas, you'd think that friendliness would be a higher priority.

Minnesotans seem to like Montana resorts. Perhaps they're more willing than other people to put up with the temperatures there, which are colder than those in Colorado or Utah. Whitefish, Montana sent someone, as did Moonlight Basin and Big Sky.

From my experience, ski areas in Utah don't do much to market themselves here, and I saw only one place--Park City--send a rep, and he was a Minnesota resident.

One thing I like about going to shows like this is learning about ski areas I didn't know about, or learning a particular feature of one I already know. For example, Big White touts itself as the second-largest ski area in British Columbia, though I've read other things that made me question that claim. I also enjoyed learning about Banff and the Lake Louise region, with three great ski areas For various reasons I've said for several years now that my next move will be to Calgary. Despite whatever negatives that move would bring, it would put me within a 90 minute to 2-hour drive from some good terrain. (For my 2 hour drive, by contrast, I get all of 700 vertical feet!)

As for gear, I didn't spend a lot of time looking around, even though a number of snowboard companies were present. I did chat with a representative from Head, who couldn't tell me much (he was a skier), but he did send me a catalog a few days later, which has made for some good reading.

Freebies
At the Breckenridge both I surrendered some marketing information in exchange for a chance to win a 4-day stay-and-ski package. Come to think of it, I surrendered various pieces of information at several booths in hopes of getting freebies. Those hopes have gone unfulfilled, since no one has called me since the show. Wandering through the tables prompted the question of when I should fill out a contest entry. There were four questions in play.

"How much effort is required?" Usually the contests asked for the same thing: Name, address, phone number and e-mail address. You could sometimes omit the phone number of e-mail address, but you better leave some contact information. After all, if they can't find you, they can't give you the prize.

"What's the value if I win?" To use a silly example, an all-expense paid week-long trip would be more valuable than a pair of gloves.

"What's the cost of claiming the prize if I win?" This question is less obvious but important. One ski area was giving away a pair of free lift tickets. Depending on when and how you purchase the tickets, the prize could save you close to $200. That's great. But you still need to pay for transportation to the place, plus get lodging and food. On the other hand, the prize from Breckenridge was an all-inclusive trip, which made it enticing.

A final question concerns the most likely outcome of entering any contest: You'll be put on a mailing list. So you have to ask "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" For all the furor sometimes directed at "junk mail," mail is not junk if it is informative, entertaining, or educational. Even if your chances of actually visiting Mount Snowmore in the next five years are minimal due to finances, jobs or family commitments, you might enjoy getting stuff in the mail.

If you can go, do it
If you're able to attend a ski and snowboard expo, give it a go. Sure, you may have to pay an entrance fee as well as a fee for parking. On the other hand, it's a good way to get your mind ready for the snowboarding season, especially if you live far from some good-sized mountains. Pick up a few trail maps for bedside reading and sweet dreams of powder days, carving slopes and the joy of riding. Learn about the latest in gear, and share your enthusiasm with other alpine enthusiasts.

Some Good Photos from the Mountains

For a variety of reasons I haven't made it out to the snow yet, which means that my "snowboarding" this season has been limited to getting vicarious thrills from other web sites.

Allie, the author behind the blog Vancity Allie, describes herself as "a 24 year-old Vancouver girl who loves and writes about everything 'Vancouver' and West Coast." Snowboarding is one of the topics she covers. (Click here for the snowboarding archives.)

Check out one of her recent posts for some good photos from Whistler Blackcomb, other spots in British Columbia, Steamboat, Mammoth and other destinations I'd like to visit someday.

Sharing the Alpine Environment

Some people say that snowboarding has no relationship with skiing, other than sharing an alpine environment.

I'm not sure that I agree with that statement, but regardless, don't overlook the significance of that shared environment. Even if that's all that skiing and snowboarding have together, then they're close cousins. They both give us a way to enjoy an alpine environment that invigorates the spirit and renews the mind.

David Healy writes about Skiing's Power To Heal. Though Healy is a skier, riders can appreciate it. He talks about how being in the mountains and sharing tracks with friends old and new made valuable contributions to his life, especially in responding to some significant trials.

Did he overstate the case? Perhaps. Or maybe not. You decide.

The Snowboarding Cabinet Official

I'm always on the lookout for reports of interesting and prominent people who are also snowboarders, so I caught an item about the man who will be the next secretary of the treasury.

The Economist says that Tim Geithner, age 47, is a snowboarder, in addition to being president (for now) of the New York Federal Reserve.

Conor Dougherty, who writes at a Wall Street Journal blog called "Real Time Economics" is disappointed that Geithner isn't also a skateboarder, as first reported in some press accounts.

Dougherty offers some reasons why snowboarding is preferred to skateboarding:

There are some theories as to why surfers and snowboarders have outdone skaters in seeking political office. Surfing and snowboarding tend to cost more, and this may act as a social filter.

Also, a lot of people start surfing and snowboarding in middle age. It’s certainly possible to pick-up skateboarding later in life, but few adults can stomach the time and pain commitment that learning skateboarding requires. (Emphasis added)

So if you think snowboarding is hard to learn, consider this: At least it isn't as punishing as skateboarding. (Falling on soft snow is one thing; falling onto concrete is another.)

The Secretary of the Treasury, by the way, is fifth in line for the presidency.

Early Season Tips

Some people don't think of heading to the hill until after Thanksgiving. Not me. Unfortunately, I've been thwarted three times already. Worse, it's been by my own carelessness, which means that it's time for a little session of "do what I say, not what I do."

On the first attempt I drive 40 minutes to a local hill, ready for a few hours of fun. I stop by the office and pick up my season pass, which I had purchased online. I walk around the base area, scoping out which runs are open.

I go to the car, get retrieve the folding chair and piece of cardboard that I have stored as a temporary fitting room, and put on my boots.

Next I take the snowboard out of the car, look at my option in lifts, and walk to one of them. I get up close to the place where you load the chair, put my board on the ground, get ready to adjust it, and see ... that I left my powerstraps at home!



(In the photo, the powerstrap is the largest object you see. It goes directly over the top of your boot. The ladders--the thin plastic bands with ratchets--feet into it.)

I had taken the powerstrap off the bindings over the summer so that I could place the highback flat on the board for easier storage. So it was change into shoes, put the board away, and head home.

(Could I have rented a board? Yes. But I don't like strap bindings or rental boards.)

The second trip--the same day--I returned with the powerstraps. It's walk over to a place to get my bindings ready, and when I look down, one binding is missing a ladder. Worse, it's missing the fastener required to hold the right rear side of the binding in place!

So it's ... take off the boots, put the board in the car, and drive home, stopping at the shop along the way.

I ask if they can fix it.

"We can't do it today; we will have to order the parts."

"That's OK," I tell the employee. "My day is shot anyway; I'm not going back a third time."

So today I have a rare opportunity for mid-week, daytime riding. Except there's one problem: My board is in the shop.

No mind, I decide to take my skis for their once-a-season trip. There's a ski area that offers a mid-day pass for only $10. There's not much to it, but it has its charms, and I'd like to see what they've got new for the season.

I load up the skis, boots and poles and drive away. I see the hill in a distance. Though the place is small (as is typical for around here, it has only 300 feet vertical, max), the snow is well-groomed, and glistens in the sunshine. This is going to be a good day!

Except.

When I pull in the parking lot I notice that no lifts are running. I walk around the base area and note what is new. Interesting.

Then I walk towards the ticket office to ask what's going on. Another guy greets me. "I came here to ski," he says. "What happened?"

We talk, and soon an employee emerges from beyond the locked door of the ticket office. She tells us that until Thanksgiving, they're on a 3pm-9pm schedule.

"But your web site made me think that you'd be open," the other fellow says. (At least he looked, which is more than I can say.)

"Didn't you check the yellow banner in the corner?," she asks.

She agrees to look at the site again, to make sure that the proper announcement is there.

I get ready to head home. At least this time, I don't have to remove my boots. At home, I check the web site. There's no banner, but the hours are clearly stated.

So if you haven't died laughing, here's your message: Don't try this at home. At the start of the season, check your gear before you leave home to make sure that it is intact and working well, and before you get in the car, make sure the lifts are running.

At least I remembered to take my coat with me!

Conveyor Lifts Coming to America

At least two three ski areas in North America are introducing a conveyor load lift this season: Boyne Mountain, in Michigan, is installing one. Okemo (Vermont) is introducing one, too as is, Mount Snow, also in Vermont.

No, this isn't your belt system on the bunny hill that starts at point A and ends at point 5 100 feet later. This is a conveyor merged with a regular chair. The following video, from Mt. Snow, illustrates how it works.




No more skating to get to the lift--at least, no more skating after you've gotten to the place where the conveyor starts.

I would guess that the advantages of such a system are this: 1. No more jostling around of skiers and riders so close to the lift; 2. Everyone who ride on the same chair gets to the chair at the same time--no wondering whether Joe is going to make it; 3. No more uncertainty of where to stop and wait for the chair, since the lift can be positioned appropriately.

(Hat tip to Martin Griff).

Friends Don't Teach Friends How to Snowboard

At the beginning of the season it's once again appropriate to bring out a familiar reminder: Friends don't teach friends how to go snowboarding.

Not that learning how to ride is a bad thing. Far from it. And hanging out with your friends on the mountain is good, too.

But if you know how to ride and your friend doesn't, it may not be the best thing if you try to teach your friend how to ride. It could be much better for your friendship--and your friend's riding future--if you instead encourage your friend to take some lessons.

The Rocky Mountain News reminds us why this is the case. One, you're probably going to teach your friend some bad habits. Two, it may strain your friendship, since the teacher/student dynamic is very different from the friend/friend one. (And worse, don't teach your spouse or significant other!) Another reason for leaving the teaching to someone else is that there's a benefit to specialization. A snowboard instructor has a lot more experience than you do in teaching people how to ride--which means that he or she has the tools to help your friend avoid nasty slams and wipeouts. You probably don't.

Now all this is general information and you've got to apply it to your own situation. If you're already an instructor yourself, you may be just fine teaching a friend. (I taught a close relative of mine two years ago and things worked out fine.)

Of course not all instructors are equally competent. It might help to ask for an instructor with AASI certification, though I know from experience that's not a guarantee that everything will go swimmingly. But whatever you do, think twice before trying to teach a friend.

The Aspen Ski and Snowboard Guide

A trail map is a handy companion for your visit to a ski area. But what if you need something more? Enter the specialized guide.



The Aspen Ski and Snowboard Guide, written by Neal Beidleman, promises advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders “150 plus runs not on the trail map.” I won’t be making my annual trip to Aspen this season, so I bought the book with the idea that it would let me fantasize about what I’ll be missing. As it turns out, I should have had this a long time ago.

Beidleman offers an overview of the four mountains in Aspen: Aspen mountain (sometimes called Ajax), Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Each of the mountains, which are accessible by a common lift ticket, have their own personality or reputation. Ajax is the home of the rich and famous; Highlands is defined by its legendary bowl, with steep pitches and lots of powder; Buttermilk is for learning, cruising, and watching the Winter X-Games and Snowmass is a giant that offers something for everyone.

Each mountain gets a chapter, which starts with an introduction offering some historical background. (The first lift in the region was installed on Ajax in 1937. It used old boats!) Each mountain also gets an overview photo. Since Snowmass is so big, its overview photo is labeled with various peaks or areas.

The various areas of each mountain get their own overview map with red lines overlaid onto the photograph to indicate a each trail. (The easier trails are typically not included unless they are essential for getting from one part of the mountain to another.) The trails in turn are numbered to descriptive paragraphs. Some lines get more thorough descriptions than others, but all are graded on a single scale that goes from A (typically groomed trails) to E (those that require a significant amount of air).

The universal scale allows for a comparison across each mountain. So, for example, even though Buttermilk has its black diamond trails, all colors of trails at Buttermilk are given an “A.” This scale is based on typical conditions, though snow coverage and snow condition can turn a treacherous trail into a fun casual ride—and vice versa. The universal scale of difficulty is one of the best parts of the book.

So how many new trails does the book offer up? When I compared the photographs and descriptions with a trail map for the 2007-08 season, I counted a total of 118 trails that were mentioned in the book but not included on the official trail map. That’s short of the advertised 150, though the difference may be human error on my part. I found 44 unmarked trails on Highlands, 39 on Ajax, 35 on Snowmass, and none at Buttermilk. Given the relatively small acreage of Ajax, the book does more to expand Ajax that it does any other mountain. Keep in mind, though, that the term “trail” can in many cases be misleading, as in the case of a bowl. But still, there are many new routes to find.

The book is not a substitute for a trail map. The focus on specific part of each mountain make it easy to forget the big picture, which a trail map can provide. The book does reprint segments of the map, according to each area being described, but the reprints are fairly small and sometimes hard to read.

The person who can handle anything the mountains offer, including hero air, will gain the most out of this book. But even those riders not willing to throw themselves off the cliff bands in Snowmass will benefit, if for no other reason they will know where not to go.

The advanced rider will find lots of challenges, including steeps, bumps, trees, and even areas that combine all three. And even the intermediate rider can enjoy the book as a way to keep in touch with the sport in the off season. The photos of skiers and riders in glades, in powder, and elsewhere conjure up good memories, and help anticipate new ones. A few photos of world-class skiers and riders getting air—and I mean huge air—inspire awe.

Advanced riders can new ways of looking at the mountains. For example, I learned that at Snowmass it’s possible to ride from the top of the Big Burn to the bottom of Campground area all in a single descent of 3,600 feet. Though I’ve been to Snowmass about 12 different times, I’ve seldom been to Campground, and never knew of this super-long option, which, the author says, was planned (but never used) as the route for World Cup ski races.

The chapter on Ajax—a mountain I’ve ridden only once—demonstrates the usefulness of knowing some history. “The Dumps” section of Ajax got its name from the tailings left behind from the silver mines. The pock-marked nature of the Dumps is something you should take into consideration in planning your ride.

Oddly enough, if there’s a place where the book comes up short, it’s in the photos. They lack compass points, which would be useful, especially when the text describes the east and west sides of various locations at Ajax and Highlands. And while we get an overview photo of the Highlands Bowl, the bowl’s various zones—B, G, R, and Y, to be specific—aren’t called out on that photo.

While the Aspen Ski and Snowboard Guide isn’t perfect, it is useful and a joy to read. It’s small enough to fit into a jacket but it opens up big vistas to the skier or rider.

Ski Area Blogging

How many ski areas have a blog? Seven Oaks of Iowa is the first one I have come across to have a blog. Granted, I haven't been looking for ski area blogs, but still, it's an interesting find. This particular site goes back to January 2007. Rick Bryan, the president of the area, writes the entries.

The blog is simple and uncluttered, so it's easy on the eyes. During the season it's a place to show off new photos from out on the hill, letting customers know that yes, there is snow out there. During the off season it has had updates on various elements of the area, such as the construction of a new lodge. Check it out right now and you'll see photos of the work required to install a new lift.

For those who enjoy the terrain park--most likely a large portion of Seven Oaks's customer base--the site provides updates on what features have been constructed. It's a great way to connect with customers and would-be customers.

In addition to keeping local riders informed of recent developments and happenings on the hill, Bryan also uses the site to solicit comments from the public. For example, Seven Oaks periodically stays open until 1 a.m. Towards the end of this last season, Bryan used a couple of posts to ask people to make comments (in the "comments" section, naturally) about their interest in late-night riding.

I'm glad to see that a ski area uses blogging. If blogging isn't killed off by social networking (MySpace, Facebook, etc.), perhaps more areas will use it as a marketing tool.

No More Fun in Fun Valley

While updating the pages of the Grays on Trays resort listing, I noticed that Fun Valley Iowa is now defunct as a ski area. (The web site says that the place will continue as a motocross area in the summer.)

The site mentions that a triple chair has been moved to Seven Oaks Recreation. The "About Us" page for Seven Oaks tells the story of how hard it can be to run a mom-and-pop area. Edwin and Kay Bryan opened Fun Valley in 1970. Rick, one of seven children, took over after his father died two years later, and the other children helped run the place. The family opened Seven Oaks in 1997. A few warm winters and the opportunities of Seven Oaks apparently made the family decide to dispose of Fun Valley.


The Fun Valley site points to a liquidation sale. I don't know how old that information is--the page is not dated--but it is rather interesting to troll through the photos of stuff for sale. There's a lot more to running a ski area than collecting money and renting gear. So the site offers snow-making equipment, groomers, a couple of bulldozers, various pieces of lift equipment, and rental gear for sale.

Oh No! Not a Harsh Glade!

Being based in the Midwest presents certain challenges for the snowboarder, especially the adult not interested in becoming a freestyle champion. There are the short pistes, of course.

Then there are the conditions. Grooming is an obsession at some areas. Perhaps that's rightfully so, given the preferences of the customer base. Yet knowing that didn't keep me from cringing when I once saw a grooming machine trample over four to six inches of new snow. (I know that's not much in powder, but around here, that's decent.)

While updating the resort listings pages on the main web site, I came across this description from Devil's Head, Wisconsin:

"The ski slopes are pampered almost as much as the guests: they get groomed twice a day – the slopes that is – to make sure guests experience the best Wisconsin skiing possible."

What'd I well you about grooming?

Devil's Head then extols its freestyle terrain, pointing out that you can slide from top to bottom while hitting features all the way. (To me, those are things spice things up, only by being things to avoid, for the most part.)

Then there's this oddity:

"Devil's Head has been a longtime favorite of intermediate skiers because of its long, cruising slopes that create an exhilarating ride without the harshness of bumps and glades."

A ski area that celebrates the fact that it doesn't have glades?

What a shame!