My Page: Julie Bort

Skiing and Snowboarding

A nonprofit environmental watchdog group, the Ski Area Citizens Coalition, has released its 2011 Ski Area Report Card, which rates the greenest and least green (brownest?) ski resorts in the West.

The annual report grades the environmental stewardship of ski resorts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

I’ll cut right to the chase. The Top 10 greenest ski resorts in the region, all with an “A” grade are:
1. Squaw Valley USA - California

New West Q&A

NW: How does Colorado and the West generally compare in terms of active ski clubs?

Wilbanks: Our little niche of the ski market has about 750,000 mostly destination skiers in 2,200 clubs and, as you can see in the November issue of our magazine, about 40 percent of ski club trips are to Colorado—but about a seventh of their trips are also going to Europe. More Americans ski in Europe with clubs than ski there on their own! It’s the biggest single U.S. market for European resorts.

NW: What’s the big news this season in resort skiing in the Western U.S.?

Wilbanks: In my opinion, the biggest deal this year was the Epic Pass now covering eight resorts in Colorado and Tahoe—which may well turn some destination skiers into season pass holders. I am aware of one Texas couple in the Space City Ski Club who went on back-to-back club trips to Vail’s resorts and then stayed for the rest of the month in Summit County using the Epic passes last season. It was good for everybody and may well revolutionize the way the industry sells to destination ski markets in time. Watch for other resort ownership groups to follow suit. I am guessing that still other resorts will form alliances to do the same in future seasons—just like the season pass ‘wars’ that changed the Denver market a decade or so ago.

Accident Report

On Monday, the nation’s first avalanche on record for the 2010-11 season killed the ski patrol director at Wolf Creek Ski Area prior to opening day. Scott Kay was working to mitigate avalanche hazards at the time, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). 

Wolf Creek’s management sent this e-mail to news sites around the region:

On Monday, November 22, 2010 at 7:45 a.m. our Wolf Creek Ski Patrol Director, while working to protect others, was caught in an avalanche which, to our great sadness, he did not survive. Wolf Creek’s management and all its employees wish to express our deepest regrets at this loss of a wonderful man and close friend. Our sympathy and condolences go out to his wife and two children. To honor him, Wolf Creek will remain closed for the remainder of Monday, November 22, 2010 and, also to honor him, will reopen on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.

Gear Review

Winter can pose some issues, on the slopes and elsewhere, for users of touchscreen technology, namely phones, iPads and iPods. Touchscreens don’t work with most gloves as the fabric blocks your body’s electrons, which are what’s required to make things move on your devices.

Finally, a Boulder company has stepped in to solve the issue. Agloves are made with yarn that contains silver (get it? Ag is the periodic table symbol for silver). The silver fibers weave in conductive properties throughout the glove, rather than on a couple of spots or on the fingertips.

Agloves were the brainchild of Boulder resident Jennifer Spencer, an inventor who tackled this problem after her daughter complained about the glove-versus-touchscreen problem. During an interview with Spencer last week at the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo in Denver, her enthusiasm for the gloves cannot be overstated. 

Skiing and Snowboarding

When it was my turn at EFX’s booth, I had to laugh. I’d just left a party where I had been offered (and gladly accepted) two free beers by one of the expo’s sponsors, Paulaner. I was also wearing my super-cute citified black boots with a sizable heel. It didn’t take much effort to tip me over while standing on one heeled foot –and the band was no antidote on the affect of two beers. I took a brochure but didn’t buy the band, leaving the booth more skeptical than when I arrived.

I noticed similar goings-on at the booth for EnergyForce, but skipped another demo, thinking I knew a scam when I saw one. Still, as I tried to trot quickly past the third booth, the sweet couple in their fifties from Boulder, Colorado, caught me with their sincere look and convinced me to try again. Their product is the Bionic Band and they clearly believe in it. Surprisingly, all of the demonstrations with the Bionic Band worked. I became a little less sure, a little more curious.

Early Season

What’s one thing about yourself that your skiing buddies maybe don’t know? I’ll start. I love skiing green runs. That’s somewhat of a frowned-upon sentiment among the folks I ski with in Colorado. This is particularly so among my super-fit high-country friends, where good skiing tends to involve a lot of steeps, speed, bumps and adrenaline followed by a lot of food and drink.

In my defense, I was 31 when I learned to ski. It’s been 15 years and since then, I’ve progressed to become what I’ll call an “advanced intermediate” skier. I’m on the cusp—all I really need is more time on the hill with a few bump lessons sprinkled in. One of my bucket-list items is to have a season where I get in 100 days of skiing. Unfortunately, that goal has never fit in with having and keeping a full-time job.

By “advanced intermediate” I mean I can get down just about anything with the exception of cliffs. I can ski the icy stuff (but it isn’t pretty). I can manage the bumps (even uglier). I can ski the steeps (another kind of ugly). Put any two or all three of them together and fuhgeddaboutit.

Practical Advice

Like all other risky behaviors, the key is to minimize the risks. Here are my Top 10 tips for beginner lone backcountry explorers.

1. Start by spending time “alone” in areas that are full of people. Go alone to a downhill or cross country ski resort. You’ll build a relationship with yourself and self-reliance will grow from there.

2. Until you are a backcountry expert, pick trails that are well traveled and well-marked. Popular National Forrest Service trails are good choices. You’ll often see enough other backcountry users (and, mark my words, some will be alone), increasing your odds that if you do need help, someone will be nearby. If you see someone who needs help, you’ll be available for that, too.

Weather or Not

The Farmer’s Almanac predicts snow sports lovers in the Western U.S. can expect a warmish season with a healthy amount of snowfall. It also says to thumb your nose at those living east of the Mississippi. They can expect a brutally cold season.

So far, the ancient weather prediction tool has been on the money for the Fall of 2010. In September, the staff of the official trademarked Farmer’s Almanac said in a press release: “All signs indicate an early start to the season in the Rockies, with snow falling in Montana during opening days of October.”

Close enough. The first snow fall in the Great Falls area was reported in late September and an early blizzard hit the Colorado Rockies, too, which dumped enough powder to allow Loveland Ski Area to open its doors already—the first in the nation.

Bargain Hunting

There comes a time each year when the air grows cooler, the leaves give their farewell burst of color and your attention suddenly turns to the upcoming snow season. It’s about that time that the ski resorts race to announce opening day—which, in Colorado, was Oct. 24 for Loveland Ski Area, first to open in the West. This early period of anticipation is a great time to become reacquainted with a good, old-fashioned ski swap.

The ski swap is the time-honored tradition for saving money and hanging out with other folks who, like you, are happily gearing up for the winter. There are long lists of do’s and don’ts to a successful swap experience. If you need to find something to make your winter work—like a new pair of skate skis, fore example—go early. Many times, items available at a swap are right out of the box as retail shops clear out last year’s models or unload well-maintained rental gear. So it’s true, all the best stuff sells fast.

However, if you’re all about the bargain and chatting it up with other snow-sports lovers—go late. Not only will sellers practically pay you to take gear from them, but most of them are, by that point, pretty amenable to a long conversation about all things snow.