What's Open in the Northwest December 13, 2019

What’s Opening This Week in the Northwest

Contact: Jordan Elliott, President, 877-533-5520

Release Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Bend, OR – While early season conditions exist, Tuesday’s “just in time” storm allows more ski areas to open

for the holiday weekend. Here is an update on openings:

WASHINGTON

Crystal Mountain to open Nov 29–Dec 1, 9 am–4 pm. Lifts open for skiing include Chinook Express,

Quicksilver, and Mt. Rainier Gondola (scenic rides only). All base area restaurants will be open as well as the

Summit House Restaurant. Rental equipment is available and a live DJ will be spinning music on Friday and

Saturday. Check their website for updates.

Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort announced that opening day of the 2019/20 season is this Friday,

November 29. Hours are Friday through Sunday from 9am-4pm with Chair 1 and the Pika Peak Rope Tow

scheduled for operation. Additional chairlifts and terrain will open as conditions permit. Firefighter and

Emergency Personnel Appreciation: To say thank you for their service, Mission Ridge will be honoring

Firefighters, EMTs, and Law Enforcement professionals by providing free skiing and riding from opening day

through the third weekend in December. Active duty emergency responders and 2019 summer seasonal

personnel are welcome to enjoy time on the mountain.

OREGON

Mt. Bachelor will begin its 2019-20 ski/snowboard season this Friday, November 29. The

Little Pine chairlift will serve beginner terrain on Home Run with Woodward Mountain Park features also

installed. Lift operating hours will be 9 am-4 pm, with most base-area services opening at

8:00 am. The Nordic Center also opens for the season Friday with 10 km of groomed trails and

discounted trail passes. For snow play enthusiasts the Snowblast Tubing Park will also be open for walk

up tubing. All previously scheduled “Hopening Day” activities will commence at noon on Friday. 7 days a

week operations are still TBD. Check the conditions page for updates.

Mt. Hood Meadows is opening with preview days starting Friday, November 29, conditions

permitting, with Buttercup, Easy Rider, the Ballroom Carpet and possibly Daisy lifts operating Friday

through Sunday from 9 am-4 pm. Meadows will offer adult and children’s lessons, day care and

equipment rentals, which can be reserved and paid for in advance online. For lift operation, schedule

and condition updates, visit the resort website.

Mt. Hood Skibowl Thanks to snowmaking efforts with the new SnoFlake Machine, the tube hill will open

for day and cosmic tubing on November 29. Hours are 11 am-8 pm. The opening includes the tube hill

conveyor lift, indoor play structure, a 4,300 sq. ft. maze, and the Multorpor Lodge. The tube hill will

operate on weekends only until 12/21/2019, when anticipated full operations begin. For details see the website.

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area will open for the winter 2019/20 ski season on Thursday, November

28, from 9 am-4 pm. The resort plans to operate 7 days a week, weather permitting, with two lifts,

Bruno and Pucci, operating. The resort will have rentals available and will be offering private ski lessons

until December 7.

Summit Ski Area will be open for tubing and food & beverage from Friday, November 29 through

Sunday, December 1, from 9 am-4 pm.

IDAHO

Bogus Basin The nonprofit recreation area announced plans to open for top-to-bottom skiing and

snowboarding Friday, Nov 29 through Sunday, Dec 1. The Deer Point and Coach Chairlifts, as well as the

Explorer, EasyRider and Discovery surface carpets will operate from 9 am-4:30 pm.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort “Natural snow coverage is thin,” says Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer, “but

thanks to Schweitzer’s snowmaking system, the recent cold temps, and our desire to get out there, we will be

open daily for skiing and snowboarding starting Friday, November 29.” See the website for details.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Many of the resorts in the Northwest are evaluating their current snow depths and watching the

weather forecasts to determine when they will be opening. PNSAA will send updates as more resorts

announce their opening dates. For the most up-to-date information on your favorite resort, please visit

their website.

# # #

The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas’ Association is a non-profit trade association, which represents the

interests of 37 ski and snowboard facilities located in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and

California. The Association’s member ski areas – most of which operate on public land – collectively

host an estimated 5.5 million visits annually. For additional information on Pacific Northwest skiing and

snowboarding, contact the PNSAA office at (877) 533-5520, or visit www.pnsaa.org to link to the

website of your favorite mountain.

What’s New in 2019-2020 at your Pacific Northwest Ski Resorts

Press release from Northwest Ski Areas Association, Friday, October 11, 2019

Contact: Jordan Elliott, President, 877-533-5520

Bend, OR – No longer in an El Nino phase for water temperatures in the Pacific, the upcoming neutral pattern bodes well for 2019-2020 snow in the NW. Terrain expansion, new and tuned up ski lifts, new and remodeled lodges, summer brush cutting/grooming of runs, new rental equipment and a compelling array of learning programs have snow enthusiast excited for the winter ahead. Following are highlights of what’s new at the region’s resorts.

OREGON

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort: Anthony Lakes Backside Cat Trip reservations are now done through a “Reservation Request Form” found on the Cat Trips page at AnthonyLakes.com. Reservation Requests will be open to submit beginning on October 15, 2019. Visit https://anthonylakes.com

Mt. Ashland: Mt. Ashland has added to their rental fleet. The historic lodge received a facelift with new riding and a fresh paint job which completes renovations started in 2017. More than a million dollars have been spent upgrading the lodge over the past few years. New snow fences, loading ramps at the lift requiring less snow to open, along with mountain-wide trail trimming will help Mt. Ashland to shoot for earlier openings. The third phase of a forest health initiative will be completed in the fall which not only benefits tree health but also has a side benefit of creating some of the finest tree skiing in the Northwest. Powder days will now last longer with dozens of new lines opened up in the acres of steep Mt. Ashland trees. Lift upgrades include a new haul rope and drive on Comer, and comfort bars added to the Sonnet beginner lift.

Mt. Hood Meadows: Made room for an additional 250 vehicles in a new two acre paved overflow parking lot this summer, located adjacent to the Hood River Meadows base area. The interchange was improved to add turn lanes at that entrance as part of a major highway improvement. Meadows is improving its snow harvesting capabilities by building two new dump beds and mounting them on snowcats. Phase one of Sahale – a 23,000 square foot event and activities center and restaurant was completed this summer, keeping it on pace for a December 2020 opening.

Mt. Bachelor: Mt. Bachelor and its parent company, POWDR, are reimagining the mountain experience with Woodward and Woodward Mountain Park, a network of terrain zone features that will make for fun, new and engaging ways to ski and ride. Learning, experiential and performance venues, including the new Woodward Start Park (free for all guests), Woodward Progression Parks and Woodward Peace Park will highlight the experience for guests of all ability levels. In support of Woodward Mountain Park, Mt. Bachelor is transforming its Sunrise base area with a remodel of Sunrise Lodge, an additional 300-car parking lot, a new fixed-quip quad chairlift and two new covered conveyor carpet lifts.

Ski Summit: Following the R.L.K. and Company’s, (Operator of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area), 2018 purchase of the Summit Ski Area in Government Camp, the ski area has submitted a Master Development plan to the USFS. The plan includes a proposed gondola to connect with the Timberline Lodge. Although the gondola is not in place for the 2019-2020 season, the MDP can be found here.

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area: An Official U.S. Ski & Snowboard training site through 2023, Timberline launches the ORIGINS campaign, highlighting their unique history in relation to sustainability, stewardship and mountain culture. Initiatives surrounding energy conservation, waste reduction, transportation and procurement of local goods are outlined in the campaign. In addition, a new 10 year master development plan has been developed in collaboration with the USFS and serves as a blue print for the ski area’s future. Details here

WASHINGTON

Crystal Mountain: After the 2018 acquisition of Crystal Mountain Resort, Alterra Mountain Company spends $4.6M in improvements this year. 12 new gondola cabins, peaking the Mt. Rainier Gondola to 900 people per hour. A new 200 foot conveyor lift has been installed next to the Discovery lift. The terrain park moves to Quicksilver, allowing for night skiing terrain park access. A terrain based learning area will use shaped snow to aid in learning basics. Two new snow grooming machines have been added to the fleet, including a new winch cat. Guests will find new touch screen kiosks in the rental shop, tickets kiosks in parking lots B and C, and a new base area shuttle vehicle. Seating areas in the Campbell Basin Lodge have also expanded.

Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort: Snowmaking equipment has continued to be upgraded included 3 new SMI Super Polecat Tower Guns and 4,000 feet of piping. Initial preparations have been made for the summer 2020 installation of new lift to replace The Liberator. The operating schedule has also been adjusted for the first time in 19 seasons to now include 7 day-a-week operations from mid-December through April. An all new fleet of rental equipment has arrived on the mountain, and new midweek pass products are also available.

Stevens Pass Mountain Resort: As part of a two-year, $35 million investment into ski areas acquired by Vail Resorts in fall 2018, the Brooks and Daisy chairlifts at Stevens Pass were replaced and upgraded this summer. The replacements of Daisy and Brooks will reduce lift line wait times, double the capacity on Brooks, increase capacity on Daisy by 33%, and serve under-utilized terrain for beginner and intermediate guests. The upgraded lifts will also enhance the Ski and Snowboard School experience, with new pogramming to take advantage of improved access to the terrain. Part of this investment also includes improvements to food and beverage offerings in the Granite Peaks Lodge as well as the relocation of the Skyline Express base terminal, ultimately improving the guest flow around these lifts and base area.

Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park: Bus service is returning to Mt. Spokane, Saturday’s, December 28th through March 7th, , a 55 passenger bus with equipment storage will pick up from 2-3 locations in Spokane. Expansion area brush cutting has also occurred for improved grooming and access to the 279 acres made available after last winters opening of the new triple chair. The interior of the new Mountain Sports School Learning Center is complete and will serve as the HQ for over 100 ski/board instructors and students. KANtasy Tubing offers tubing under the stars on select dates. See website for details.

49 Degrees North: Following the April 2019 sale of the Chewelah, WA mountain resort, new energy has brought lodge renovations to food preparation areas, water saving fixtures and new furnishing for the Boomtown Bar and Grill. The old rope tow has been replaced with a new covered conveyor lift, snowmaking capacity has increased, 2 new snow cats are added to the grooming fleet, and new snowmobile groomer will serve 10 miles of cross country trails. The new partnership with Silver Mountain (ID) has introduced the Combo Season Pass, giving guests the ability to ski/ride both Silver Mountain and 49 Degrees North. See www.ski49n.com.

IDAHO

Schweitzer Mountain Resort: Major construction projects at the Northern Idaho resort this summer. Two new chairlifts, a detachable quad and a fixed grip triple will move skiers uphill this winter, with 7 new named runs. A new winching snow cat and expanded snowmaking equipment are now on the mountain, as well as a new fleet of rental equipment and expanding seating for some dining areas. The access road saw 6.5 miles of new pavement alongside new fiber optic cables that will improve all internet access at the resort. Summer 2019 also saw construction commence on a new 30-unit boutique hotel, to include a new restaurant, slated for completion and grand opening Fall 2020. For full detail on this summer’s projects click here.

ALASKA

Skeetawk: The Hatcher Pass Alpine Experience, an Alaskan nonprofit, is building a triple chairlift to become one of the newest lift served ski areas in the United States; Skeetawk. The existing parking lot sits at about 1,450 feet above sea level outside of Palmer. The new beginner chair will be 1,250′ long and have a vertical gain of about 300 feet. Future plans include a high speed quad to access more advanced terrain. For more information click here.

Alyeska: The Girdwood, AK resort installed an Electric Vehicle Charging station for the coming season. Along with encouraging EV’s to visit Alyeska, they are also offering hotel guests a $5/day food and beverage voucher or a donation to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center as part of their Green Stay Initiative, for guests who waive housekeeping on multi-day stay overs. These programs aim to help the resort reduce carbon footprint as well as water and chemical usage.

Eaglecrest: Eaglecrest has prioritized snowmaking and other offseason projects to overcome challenging weather conditions and deliver a reliable winter experience. Trail crews have cut brush and mowed the tall grasses all over the mountain, combined with drainage work and some soil filling projects, increases are expected for the efficiency of the mountains 20 snow guns. On the tech side, a new online store is implemented alongside new RFID gates and scanners for chair lifts. More information here.

For additional information on these exciting developments in the mountains, please visit your favorite mountain’s website or call the resort directly.

# # #

The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association is a non-profit trade association, which represents the interests of ski and snowboard facilities located in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Northern California. The Association’s 35 member ski areas – most of which operate on public land – collectively host an average of 5.6 million visits annually. For additional information on Pacific Northwest skiing and snowboarding, contact the PNSAA office at (877) 533-5520, or visit http://www.pnsaa.org to link to the website of your favorite mountain.

Which Season Pass is Best for You? (Revised 10/27)

For a number of years Emilio Trampuz of Mountain High Snowsport Club has prepared a table comparing the costs and benefits of season pass options at different ski areas of interest to the Portland area snowsport enthusiasts. The task has become more difficult in recent years as several organizations have consolidated passes to ski areas around the world, and even more so as the alliances have shifted and continue to shift. This table is current as of the day of publication - but keep aware of further changes. We are very grateful to Emilio for allowing us to share his research.

NOTE: The links on this page are not working. If you would like to use the links, please go to the Mountain High website HERE.

Mt. Hood All Mountain Cleanup Scheduled for September 21!

Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline Lodge, The Village of Government Camp, Summit Ski Area, and Mt. Hood SkiBowl have collaborated for the first time to create an All-Mountain Cleanup! Volunteers will meet at Summit Ski Area at 9 AM and fuel up on coffee from Mt. Hood Coffee Roasters, snacks from New Seasons, and donuts from Voodoo Donuts before shuttling to the resorts to cleanup designated areas.

We're excited to have NW Trail Alliance on board this year with a mountain bike component to the cleanup. Bring your bikes and ride the Timberline to Town trail if you want to!

Volunteers will meet back Summit Ski Area around 1 PM for a massive group photo and an after party provided by 10 Barrel Brewing at the Ratskellar in Government Camp. Please bring a refillable water bottle and coffee mug. Volunteers will be on varied terrain so wear sturdy boots and work gloves if you have them. Dress in layers for the weather and bring your smiles and good vibes.

Register HERE. Note that there is a limit of 400 volunteers, which was over half filled at the time of writing this article.

NWSCC and PACRAT Elections Results

According to custom and bylaws, elections were held at the June 19 NWSCC meeting for both NWSCC and PACRAT. We are pleased to announce election of the following officers to NWSCC positions:
    President:  Christine Ciardi 
    Vice President:  Sue Rimkeit 
    Secretary: Jeanne Reinhardt
    Treasurer: Bill King
    At-large director positions:Tom Arnold and Jim Rogowski

Other directors will be appointed by the newly-elected Board. If you would like to serve, we have positions available for Membership Director, Travel Director

PACRAT elections were also held, and the following persons were elected to PACRAT offices:
    Chair: Peter Dodd 
    Vice-Chair: Geoff Mihalko
    Race Director: Greg Dilger  
    Results Director: Dale Parshall  
    Secretary: Dan Lane  
    Treasurer: Brian Bogatin 
    Membership Director: Mary Askew 
    Party Director: Ulla Brunette 
    Sponsorship Director: Sandra Volk 

NWSCC Club Members Win Awards at 2019 FWSA Convention!

Thanks to Emilio Trampuz of Mountain High Snowsport Club for this report.

A lot of interesting, recreational, informative, and educational things happened during the 87th annual Convention of the Far West Ski Association, held June 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort in California. The schedule was full of events during this 4-day convention.

Let us just single out a few items related to our Northwest Ski Club Council and our clubs.

Linda McGavin received the Hans Georg Award - the highest FWSA Award. This is given for distinguished accomplishment and long-term contribution to skiing. This award is given to an individual who has contributed significant achievements to skiing. It reflects a long term contribution and is the highest award of the Far West Ski Association. This award may only be received once and is based on a ten-year minimum service in the Far West region.

Hans Georg came from the St. Moritz Ski School in Switzerland to the US in 1936 to become a pioneer ski tracker, rope tow operator and ski instructor. Hans eventually made his way to Soda Springs to teach skiing. In 1939, Hans became the head of the Eastern Sierra Ski Club School at the “Ski Ranch” near the McGee Creek Lodge. Hans taught thousands to ski, using the best of the Reverse Shoulder, Arlberg and French techniques, mainly at Mammoth Mountain, CA. In 1940 and 1946, Hans attempted to develop a summer ski school at the 12,500-foot level eastern side of Mt. Whitney. Often, Hans was called to Hollywood to direct ski sequences. He wrote many books on skiing, including “Modern Ski Systems,” “Reverse Shoulder Technique,” and “Simplified Skiing.”

Becki Robinson from the Bend Ski Club in Bend, Oregon, won the FWSA Woman of the Year Award. First, she was nominated by her club. Then, among all the Northwest Clubs, Becki Robinson and Ryan Rooper were awarded the Man and Woman of the Year award for the Northwest. Finally, at the Far West level, competing against other Council’s nominees, Becki won the title of FWSA Woman of the Year.

Debbi Kor received the President’s Award. The President’s Award is given to the individual who the President of FWSA feels has done the most to advance the immediate goals of the Association during the previous year.

Emilio Trampuz won the 1st place in Communications - Outstanding Web Site Award in the Masters category for the Mountain High Snowsport Club website. The “Masters” category simply means that their website was competing against other clubs’ webmasters who had already competed and won in past years.

Emilio Trampuz also won 2nd place in the Wentworth Outstanding Club Publication Award, in the Masters category, competing against other clubs’ newsletters who had already participated and won in previous years.

NWSCC supports legislation on climate change

Northwest Snowsports Advocates

Press Release – March 1, 2019

The Northwest Ski Club Council Supports the Reduction of Carbon Emissions

On January 30, 2019 the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Snowsports Industries America (SIA), and National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced the formation of the “Outdoor Business Climate Partnership” to provide leadership on climate change. Leaders of seven state and regional ski area trade associations including the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association, Colorado Ski Country USA, Ski Utah, Ski California, Ski Vermont, Ski Areas of New York, and Ski New Mexico have also joined.

The “Outdoor Business Climate Partnership” is committed to providing leadership and advocacy for climate solutions across the country. The announcement was followed on February 20th, 2019 with a press release from the resorts on Mt. Hood, OR, to support federal and Oregon state legislation designed to limit our country’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association followed this announcement with a press release in support of federal, Oregon and Washington legislation concerning climate change.

The members of Northwest Ski Club Council (NWSCC) are concerned that climate change will affect the future operations of our ski areas. NWSCC applauds the recent actions of the members of our industry to provide leadership on climate change and we support policies to combat it. Our Council would like to be an active partner in the common goal of addressing the critical issues concerning climate change.

Three important legislative proposals which will significantly affect climate change are now before us. NWSCC urges the 116th Congress, the 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly, and the 66th Washington Legislative Assembly to enact these three packages of climate legislation:

1. We support S. 3791/H.R. 763, the Federal Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019. This Act stands out with its market-based approach to meeting aggressive emissions reductions targets while providing citizens with a dividend. The federal legislation is bipartisan, embodying an American ideal of working together to find common solutions that are effective and long-lasting.

2. We support the basic framework of Oregon House Bill 2020 which creates an Oregon Carbon Policy Office to administer the Oregon Climate Action Program. This Act would adopt an economy-wide “cap and invest” system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon.

3. We support the Washington House and Senate Bills H.R. 1211 and S.B. 5116 which enhance the transition of Washington’s clean energy economy to a clean, affordable and reliable energy future.

Even though aspects of Oregon and Washington legislation will change during the legislative process we encourage our Oregon and Washington representatives to adopt meaningful legislation this session.

NWSCC is a non-profit association in its 40th year representing 10,000 members of 25 ski and snowboard clubs and 13 charitable associations in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Our clubs offer a wide variety of snowport activities including recreational alpine ski racing, ski trips, and many year-round sports and social activities. We are active supporters of many on mountain charitable causes and provide scholarships for junior ski racers with hopes to participate in a future Olympics. NWSCC is a member of the Far West Ski Association which represents 50,000 skiers in 12 western states and also a member of the National Ski Council Federation which represents 300,0000 snowsport enthusiasts nationwide.

Press Contact:
Stephen Coxen
NWSCC Director of Public Affairs
Facebook: Northwest Snowsports Advocates
Email: publicaffairs@nwskiers.org 
Phone: 503.679.9022

NWSCC & PACRAT OFFICER ELECTIONS - GET INVOLVED - WE NEED YOU!

Join the leadership of the Council – serving on the board of directors is a great way to get involved in club, council and Far West Ski Association activities. The board is made up of members from different clubs in NWSCC—bringing a variety of style and experience to the Council. All officer positions are open for one-year terms. The following officers will be voted upon at the June 16, 2021 meeting:

✶ President: Head of the Council Executive Board; represents NWSCC at Far West Ski Association board meetings and at National Ski Council Federation meetings.

✶ Vice President: Assumes duties of the president when needed and handles other duties as assigned.

✶ Treasurer: Responsibility for Council financials. Experience with bookkeeping software and GAAP necessary.

✶ Secretary: Records Council minutes and correspondence as needed; keeps corporate records.

✶ At-Large Director (two positions): Duties as assigned by the President. [Other directors will be appointed by the elected Board to fill the slate.]

Time involved:  Scheduled Council meetings; a monthly board meeting; other duties as assigned or as you volunteer to work on. The Board meetings have been held by Zoom since the pandemic started.

Current candidates who have announced they are running for election are: President, Christine Ciardi; Vice President, Sue Rimkeit; Secretary (no candidate announced); Treasurer, Bill King; at-large director positions (2 will be elected): Tom Arnold, Becki Robinson, Jim Rogowski, Linda McGavin. Nominees are welcome to run for any position!

If interested in running for election to the NWSCC board, please contact Barbara Bousum at PastPres@ nwskiers.org for more information or to put your name on the ballot.  We need your input and support, and want YOU to consider serving on the Board!

PACRAT elections will also be held at the June 16 meeting. The following are elected positions for the PACRAT Board:

✶ President
✶ Vice President
✶ Secretary
✶ Treasurer
✶ Party Director
✶ Sponsorship Director
✶ Director of Results
✶ Director of Racing
✶ Director of Membership

Also on the Board, but NOT elected, is the Immediate Past President. Appointed Positions are Director at Large - Chief Rat Patrol and Director at Large - General.

If you are interested in running for a PACRAT Board position for 2021-2022, please contact Peter Dodd at president@ pacrats.org. Please provide information on what position you would like to run for and why you are interested in doing so. He will be assembling the ballot. You will need to be at the meeting to say a few words about why you'd like to run and what you plan to do, or have someone else show up and speak on your behalf.

PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR FELLOW CLUB MEMBERS.

PACRAT completes an outstanding season!

By Peter Dodd, PACRAT President

PACRAT Recreational Ski & Snowboard Racing had an outstanding 2019 race season. We began the season on the first Sunday in January with our NASTAR Open race and over 80 participants showed up at Mt Hood Skibowl. It was a bluebird day and we enjoyed some excellent, early season race courses. This event was open to the general public and all ages were welcome! As proof of that we had a family of five representing three generations with grandma, father and three children racing. Following the race, NASTAR bronze, silver, gold and platinum pins were awarded to deserving  participants.

 Our PACRAT race series began at Skibowl the following week. This year we had 217 ski and snowboard racers among 22 teams, representing six Pacific Northwest ski clubs. All five of our season races were held as originally scheduled; we hosted two races at Skibowl, two at Meadows, and the final race on the last Sunday in March at Timberline. Our end of season Rat Attack awards banquet was held in mid April with over 175 guests in attendance. PACRAT emblazoned water bottles were awarded to the top ten teams, and the winning team, the Beer Denners, was awarded the perpetual PACRAT trophy. Several individuals were acknowledged as well, including King and Queen Rat awarded to most improved racers during the season.

 The PACRAT season concluded with a fun race at Timberline on the final Sunday in April. The race was a fundraiser for Mt Hood Ski Patrol presented by PACRAT Racing and Mt Hood Adult Race Club. Over 40 participants enjoyed the beautiful spring ski racing, made multiple runs on the courses, and the result was a donation of over $1,500 to the Mt Hood Ski Patrol.

"Fun in the OC Sun" - 87th Annual Far West Ski Association Convention!

As a club member, we invite you to attend the 87th Annual Far West Ski Association Convention scheduled for June 13-16, 2019 at the fabulous Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, hosted by the Orange Council of Ski Clubs, with volunteer support from the Los Angeles Council of Ski Clubs. This year’s theme is Fun in the “OC” Sun.

The Hyatt Regency is a real oasis in the desert. Spacious rooms provide the ultimate luxury in accommodations, and there are five dining options to choose from on the property. There are two championship golf courses, seven swimming pools, three hard-surface tennis courts and a 24-hour Fitness Center which includes complimentary classes. Bicycles are even available on a complimentary basis for a relaxing ride. Take the opportunity to come early and stay late for a once-in-a-lifetime group rate at this world renowned Resort and Spa.

This year’s activities will highlight the greater Palm Springs community, with a visit to the Palm Springs Air Museum and a Legends & Icons Home Tour on Thursday. Our traditional Get Your Party On Pub Crawl Thursday Evening features a visit to the iconic “Street Fair” in downtown Palm Springs. Friday’s optional Events include the 13th Annual Michael German Memorial Golf Tournament, a ride on the San Jacinto Tram and a Spa Day at Agua Serena Spa, followed by a private Pool Party at the Hyatt hosted by the Central Council of California.

Friday evening will kick off with the Club Happy Hour with snacks, followed by a Welcome Party with a hosted drink, and the 34th Annual Silent Auction and Snowsports Trade Show. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the United States Adaptive Recreation Program (USARC) at Bear Mountain. The event features over $85,000 in snowsports and adventure trips up for bid. Dancing to the tunes of Victor Cannon of Can Do Productions will be featured throughout the evening.

We are conducting 3 Snowsports Leadership Academy sessions again this year, with snowsport, leadership and club educational topics, Public Affairs Panels with Forest Service personnel and celebrity guests, and a Racing Seminar. Module presentations include club liability and insurance, planning and executing a successful ski trip, and how to overcome objections to build your membership and leadership pipeline in your club and council. Facilitators include an impressive list of experts in their designated fields. Special guests will include Billy Kidd, Olympic Silver Medalist and host for the FWSA’s 2019 Ski Week to Steamboat, Colorado.

Saturday evening will be amazing. Enjoy dinner and dancing to DJ Victor Cannon, with FWSA friends and industry partners. The theme for the evening’s event is Swing and Sway in the Desert Breeze. Sunday’s agenda includes the FWSA’s annual business meeting with election of officers, and presentations of charity, club and council awards.

For complete details regarding all Convention activities and to make your room reservations and registration, please visit www.fwsa.org. You can also contact Debbi Kor, FWSA Convention Chair, fwsadebbi@comcast.net or Sheila Van Guilder, Orange Council President and Convention Coordinator at svanguil@yahoo.com.

We have many sponsors for this Convention, which will be full of many fun and educational events. This one will provide you with memories of new adventures! It’s time to visit the Palm Spring and take in all that the desert community has to offer! This Convention will be one not to be missed. Come and join the fun!

FWSA Awards Applications Due March 19 - Deadline extended for 3 Awards!

The annual FWSA convention includes the opportunity for your club to be recognized with several awards competitions. In addition, there are special annual awards which include valuable prizes, such as ski trips for two people to the sponsoring ski areas! We would like to see MANY of our clubs entering the awards competitions and sending their members to Convention. There are no opportunities quite like this for your club to gain recognition for its accomplishments!

Club and Council Communications Awards

It couldn't be simpler for entering newsletters and websites--just send a link to Bill King, willie2k@comcast.net, our 2019 Communications and Outstanding Club Chair. Clubs and councils entering newsletters will automatically have their websites entered unless they opt out. We discovered two years ago that many of the clubs submitting newsletters had very good websites that they did not submit. We are looking for judges for the newsletter, web and outstanding club awards. Clubs do not have to provide a judge to enter, but we do need volunteers. Newsletter editors and webmasters make good judges, so please encourage your club editors and webmasters to volunteer. Scoring is online and judges should have the ability to open Excel spreadsheets to do the scoring and to open .pdf documents to see the entries. See the following for reference:

2019 Club and Council Communications and Outstanding Club Awards Application Instructions

Club/Council Publications Work Sheet 2019

Club/Council Web Site – Work Sheet

Outstanding Club Award

The Outstanding Club application was streamlined last year to eliminate some redundant criteria. Your club will be judged against other clubs of the same size throughout FWSA, and it is really fun to WIN! If your editors and webmasters would like to view last year's winning entries, they can see the winners on the FWSA website and google the clubs to see their websites and newsletters. Submitters should also look at the scoring criteria attached and online to see how content will be judged.

Your club can also enter the “Club & Council Historical Recognition” Program with a history of your club - potential museum or library reference resources!

Is your club active in community service or charitable activities? Then enter the “Charities and Our Community Service Recognition” program for the chance to be one of 3 clubs to receive checks to be donated to the charity of your choice!

Individual awards (with prizes!) that are well worth entering are for the following: THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 31 FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE AWARDS ONLY!

Western Ski Heritage Award: The purpose of the Far West Western Ski Heritage program is to raise the awareness of skiers and non-skiers alike of the contributions made by individuals, groups, or companies to all aspects of skiing – competitive as well as outdoor winter recreation and fitness. A parallel purpose of this award is to convey the positive role skiing has had in its contributions to the communities in the West. The prize is open to an individual or a group leader (not restricted to FWSA members) and can be self-nominated or nominated by a club or club member. Prize is awarded on basis of a history product or a work in progress. Sponsored by Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation since 2000 – the winner is awarded a five-day ski package for two in Steamboat with lodging, lift tickets, rentals, lesson, lunch, and more!

Safety Person of The Year Award: This yearly award honors the person who has done the most to promote safety consciousness within the association. This can be done through a variety of methods including safety articles, on-mountain activities, presentations, public speaking, working ski patrol, creating posters or banners, and many other activities. Sponsored by Telluride Ski Resort & Mountain Lodge Telluride – the winner is awarded a five-day ski package for two in Telluride with lodging, lift tickets, and rentals.

Environment Award: From Fran Long, Chairperson of this award: This is a wonderful award that has had very little response over the past couple of years. Please encourage your clubs to apply for the award even if their idea doesn’t exactly fit the criteria. Aspen/Snowmass and I can provide coaching to the applicant to help them refine their idea/program. See this information for ideas.

The Environment Award is designed to encourage good stewardship of our environment. We want to inspire and reward creative efforts to conserve and protect our environment. This award should recognize a special action that the applicant took, or something he or she put in place that made a difference. Some areas to consider are: Volunteering at the community level – particularly in some leadership role; conducting or arranging for an environmental oriented event(s) – either for club, council or public; writing a series of columns regarding environmental conservation, education or protection in your ski club or council newsletters; being proactive in environment protection. Sponsored by Aspen/Snowmass, The Gant, and The Crestwood – the winner is awarded a 5-day ski package for two in Aspen/Snowmass with lodging split between The Gant in Aspen and The Crestwood Condominium Hotel in Snowmass, including lift tickets, rentals, and group lesson.

NWSCC encourages ALL of our member clubs to consider entering these competitions!! Go to the FWSA website under Awards for full details and application materials. We want to see OUR clubs as winners at Convention!

Deep Snow, Deep Safety!

PRESS RELEASE, Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association
Contact: Jordan Elliott, President, 877-533-5520
Release Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Bend, OR – With massive back to back winter storms blanketing the region in as much as 2-4+ feet of snow, skiers and riders are enjoying some of the best powder turns in recent memory. With more snow predicted for later this week, the snow suffocation hazard is high. Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) is not typically on the forefront of our recreational mindset when we head up to the regions many winter sports facilities or back country, but the danger is very real.

• Snow Immersion happens when a skier or boarder falls head–first into a tree well or deep loose snow.

• A tree well is the void around the base of a fir tree containing a mix of low hanging branches, loose snow, and air — treat all tree wells as dangerous.

• In an inverted position you can become trapped under the snow. It is extremely difficult to get out without the help of others.

• Breathing becomes difficult as the loose snow packs in around you. Without immediate help from your partner, you may suffocate.

All winter sports enthusiasts are advised to be educated on the risks involved with these snow conditions. www.deepsnowsafety.org is a recommended resource that all skiers and riders should utilize. Skiing and snowboarding with a friend is a best practice, always keeping your partner in sight.

For a printable brochure, click HERE.

# # #

The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association is a non-profit trade association, which represents the interests of 36 ski and snowboard facilities located in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and California. The Association’s member ski areas – most of which operate on public land – collectively host an estimated 6 million visits annually. For additional information on Pacific Northwest skiing and snowboarding, contact the PNSAA office at (877) 533-5520, or visit www.pnsaa.org to link to the website of your favorite mountain.

What’s Open This Week in the Northwest (12/6)

Contact: Jordan Elliott, President, 877-533-5520
Release Date: December 6, 2018

Bend, OR – With some additional snowfall last week and cold regional temperatures this week, more northwest resorts will be opening. Here is a rundown of open resorts:

WASHINGTON

49° North Mountain Resort is open Friday through Tuesday and closed Wednesday and Thursday on normal operational days. From December 15, 2018 through January 8, 2019, operations will be open 7 days a week. Information about operations can be found at: www.ski49n.com.

Crystal Mountain is open daily with the Quicksilver, Chinook Express and Discovery Chairlifts. Additional information can be found at: www.crystalmountainresort.com/the-mountain/mountain-report/weather-conditions/

Mission Ridge is open December 7th-9th , 9am-4pm. Information about Mission Ridge’s operations can be found at: https://www.missionridge.com/snow-report

Mt. Spokane will open chairs 2, 3, and 5 on Friday, Dec 7th from 9am to 4pm with operations continuing through Sunday. Tubing will also be available on Saturday and Sunday. For more details please see their website: https://www.mtspokane.com/mountain-conditions/

OREGON

Mt. Ashland will open Dec 8th -10th and Dec 13th -17th, 9am-4pm, with a 7 day/week operation scheduling anticipated for the holidays. See their website for more info: https://www.mtashland.com/mountain-report/

Mt Bachelor is open daily with 4 lifts and plans to expand terrain as snowfall permits. Please visit their conditions report for more info. https://www.mtbachelor.com/conditions-report/

Mt. Hood Meadows’ snow harvesting efforts combined with some additional natural fall has enabled daily operation for 6 lifts. Please visit the resort website: SkiHood.com/Conditions.

Mt Hood Ski Bowl Tubing Hill is open Saturdays and Sundays through December 9th. For details go to: http://www.skibowl.com/winter/

Timberline Lodge is now operating 7 days a week with daily assessments on the number of lifts operating, 9am - 4pm. Visit: www.timberlinelodge.com/conditions.

IDAHO

Bogus Basin will open 6 lifts on Thursday, December 6th, and will add 3 additional lifts on Saturday the 8th, at which point the entire mountain will be open for the season. Check www.bogusbasin.org for complete details.

Lookout Pass is open Thursday the 6th through Sunday the 9th. For more information go to: skilookout.com/.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort is open daily is open daily with 3 lifts. Please visit their website for more details: www.schweitzer.com/explore/snow-report/

Silver Mountain is open with 3 chairs. Additional information can be found at www.silvermt.com/

MONTANA

Whitefish Mountain Resort will open on Thursday, December 6. Chairs 1, 5, 6, 7 and T-Bar 2 will be open with the possibility of expanding terrain as ski patrol determines. Downloading on Chair 1 will be required. Visit https://skiwhitefish.com/snowreport/ for a detailed report.

Many of the resorts in the Northwest are evaluating their current snow depths and watching the weather forecasts to determine when they will be opening. PNSAA will send updates as more resorts announce their opening dates. For the most up-to-date information on your favorite resort, please visit their websites.

What’s New in 2018-2019 at your Pacific Northwest Ski Resorts

Contact: John Gifford, President, 877-533-5520
Release Date: Monday, October 22, 2018

La Conner, WA – On the heels of another great season in 2017-2018, PNSAA resorts have had a busy off-season preparing for the upcoming winter including new lift installations, expanded snowmaking systems, ‘tuning up’ ski lifts, new and remodeled lodges, summer brush cutting/grooming on runs, new rental equipment, and creating a compelling array of learning programs. With the 2018-2019 winter season fast approaching, following are highlights of what’s new at the region’s resorts.

OREGON

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort: purchased a historic building in downtown Baker City, Oregon for its main office and The Trailhead, a new outdoor recreation information hub complete with a full-service bike and ski shop. The Gear Exchange at the Trailhead offers a space to sell quality used ski and snowboard equipment.

Mt Ashland: improved and expanded glade skiing, new and exciting terrain park features, learning center improvements, Wi-Fi on the mountain, as well as several new LIVE webcams, and the final touches of a $1.7 million-dollar lodge renovation that was started last year. Also offering an enhanced shuttle schedule will provide convenience and a reduced carbon footprint for all guests.

Mt Hood Meadows: launched “The Vista Experience” a pathway from the top of the Vista Express high-speed lift down to the complex of beginner terrain. The experience is made possible by contouring the snow on advanced beginner terrain to make it easier for those just learning to ski and snowboard to access. The snowboard rental fleet has been replaced for 2018-2019 with new Rossignol snowboards and boots for adults and children.

Mt Hood Skibowl: has added the “SnoFlake Machine”, an all-weather snowmaking system which allows snowmaking above freezing temperatures. The resort’s Westside parking lot has been expanded and widened, increasing capacity by 150 parking spaces. Travel lanes are also larger, making it much easier for guests to navigate in the parking lot.

Timberline Lodge: R.L.K. and Company, Operator of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, purchased the Summit Ski Area in Government Camp. Included in the sale is Snow Bunny, a snow play area and parking lot, approximately 1.5 miles east of Government Camp.

WASHINGTON

Crystal Mountain: was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company as of October 1st, 2018. Alterra owns 14 year-round mountain destinations throughout North America. Crystal Mountain Resort is available on the Ikon Pass for winter 2018/2019. During the summer snowmaking was added on Arwine’s, the Burn, Lower Bull, and Lower Deer Fly trails for a total of 16 more permanent Super Puma Fan Guns, 5 more hydrant pedestals location bringing a total of 53 guns and 116 acres of snowmaking.

Bluewood: is replacing the platter pull lift with two new conveyor lifts in the beginner area by the lodge. The new lifts will increase total rider capacity from 3,950 people per hour to 6,250. A yurt is being constructed at the top of Skyline Express which will offer a place on the mountain to rest and warm up between runs.

Stevens Pass Mountain Resort: was purchased by Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN). Stevens Pass is the Company's second resort in the Pacific Northwest and is part of Epic Pass with access to the twelve North American resorts of Vail Resorts.

Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park: new for this season is a new triple chairlift that will provide access to 279 acres of scenic terrain with 7 professionally designed trails on the backside of the mountain. The new guest service building will include the Mountain Sports School Learning Center providing a warming area for students, office space and room for 100+ instructors. On the bottom floor of this new building is a large shop area with mezzanine for the mountain operations department. A 110’ surface lift is being installed to take students up the beginner hill as well used to transport guests in the morning from the parking lot up to Lodge 2.

The Summit at Snoqualmie: added new Silver Fir zone lighting providing night skiing operations on more terrain for night laps. During the summer extensive summer slope brush cutting to enable earlier trail openings. The bathrooms in the Alpental Lodge were renovated during the summer.

49 Degrees North: has expanded snowmaking to improve early and late season conditions. The expansion is part of a phased project that will see continued additional snowmaking improvement in future years. New haul rope for the West Basin Chair 4 Lift is 10,600 feet of 1 ¼” wire rope. The lift accesses Tamarack glades - Stockholder, Cy’s Glades, Bakken and others.

IDAHO

Bogus Basin: spent $5.7 million installing a new automated snowmaking system providing top to bottom coverage on three of the area’s seven chairlifts. Installation of the brand new, fully automated system included construction of a 13-million-gallon snowmaking pond and the acquisition of 24 fan guns. The snowmaking system was funded entirely by a community fundraising campaign that was conducted in 2017. Also new, a fleet of rental skis and snowboards and boots from Rossignol, new demo skis from Rossignol with Look bindings, new Volkl demo skis with Marker bindings, and new lease skis and boots from Rossignol.

Silver Mountain Resort: Four new gladed areas were added in bounds this summer for improved tree and powder skiing. All four areas are on the upper part of the mountain around the current Tall Paul and Sunset trails. Remodeling of the Food Court will add more self-service items and speed up flow. Dirt mounding in the terrain park so jumps and features can be available earlier in the season

Lookout Pass: is starting a new learning program for children 4 to 6 years old, the Mini-Moose Program, an instructional program incorporating snow play. The program will be available on Weekends and Holidays and housed in a building located right behind the Chair #4 Success Beginner Lift.

ALASKA

Eaglecrest Ski Area: substantial measures to improve snowmaking capabilities - a new pump house providing enough water pressure to make snow to the top of Hooter. As part of the expansion, the pump house will supply 2,400’ of pipeline, which will be installed in phases, to allow snowmaking across the lower mountain (Phase 1) and, eventually, over to the base of the Black Bear Chairlift (Phase 2).

For additional information on these exciting developments in the mountains, please visit your favorite mountain’s website or call the resort directly.

# # #

The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association is a non-profit trade association which represents the interests of ski and snowboard facilities located in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and California. The Association’s 35 member ski areas – most of which operate on public land – collectively host an average of 5.6 million visits annually. For additional information on Pacific Northwest skiing and snowboarding, contact the PNSAA office at (877) 533-5520, or visit http://www.pnsaa.org to link to the website of your favorite mountain.

Far West Ski Association Adds 10th Council Member!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 10, 2018

It is with great pleasure we announce that the National Brotherhood of Skiers - Western Region (NBSWR) has joined Far West Ski Association (FWSA) as the tenth council in the association.

On June 10th, the Far West Ski Association Board of Directors approved an invitation to the NBSWR to become the tenth FWSA Council. The NBSWR member club presidents voted on September 29, 2018 to accept the FWSA invitation.

The NBSWR is comprised of thirteen member clubs serving communities from San Francisco to San Diego and Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The Western Region clubs are part of the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS), which is also one of the largest organized ski associations in the country. A non-profit organization, the NBS was formed in 1974 by thirteen ski clubs across the country and now has a membership of over fifty clubs, representing nearly fifty cities. The primary goals of NBS are to promote winter sports among minorities and develop educational programs among minority children to stimulate a sportsman like attitude regarding winter sports and provide scholarship funds for potential Winter Olympic athletes of color.

FWSA is one of the largest ski associations in the United States, now with ten active councils representing more than 53,000 skiers and boarders from more than 160 clubs in twelve western states – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

For additional information regarding the Far West Ski Association, please visit our website at www.fwsa.org.

What's new in the ski industry?

Steve Coxen
NWSCC Director of Public Affairs
September 24, 2018

Less than three weeks after Vail Resorts closed on its acquisition of Stevens Pass in Washington, Alterra Mountain Company has entered into an agreement to purchase Crystal Mountain Resort, located about three hours south of Stevens. The acquisition would bring Alterra’s portfolio to 13 mountain resorts in North America, plus CMH heli-skiing in Canada.

Summer Improvements to nearby resorts:

Red Mountain in BC is working on installing a connecting lift from the Grey Chair to the Silverlode Chair, while also adding additional parking, along with building a new hostel. There is also a new ski-in, ski-out on-mountain hotel – The Josie.

Whistler Blackcomb is undergoing $50 million worth of upgrades and updates this summer, which includes three new lifts. A 10-person gondola will replace the Wizard and Solar lifts on the Blackcomb side of the mountain, while the resort's Family Ski Zone's four-passenger Emerald Express is replaced by a new high-speed six-passenger chair. The three-seater Catskinner lift is also being replaced by a new high-speed four-passenger chair. 

Big Sky Resort, Montana will soon be the first ski destination in North America to feature an eight-seater chair. Dubbed the Ramcharger 8, the high-speed mega lift will be the first of its kind in the world, featuring bubble chairs with heated seats and a high-resolution LED screen located at the lower terminal which will provide skiers with up-to-date mountain information. Additionally, the Shedhorn lift, which is currently a double chair, will be replaced by a high-speed quad.

Deer Valley Resort is making $8.1 million in mountain updates for the 2018-19 season. The Utah resort is replacing the Homestake lift, which transports skiers from the Silverlake Village to the top of Bald Mountain, with a detachable high-speed quad. Deer Valley is also installing more efficient snowmaking equipment.

Heavenly Ski Resort is replacing the two-seater Galaxy lift with a three-person chair this summer. This upgrade will increase skier access to 400 acres of Heavenly's intermediate terrain.

FWSA 2020 Convention to be held in Portland!

For immediate release
By Debbi Kor, FWSA Annual Convention Chair

I am extremely happy to announce that the FWSA 88th Annual Far West Convention will be held May 28-31, 2020, at the Red Lion Hotel on the River Jantzen Beach in Portand, Oregon, hosted by Northwest Ski Club Council. For those who were around and involved, it was also the site of the 1997 Convention. Located on the beautiful Columbia River, the Red Lion has recently renovated all of their guest rooms, and will be doing other upgrades between now and 2020.

Sheri Parshall has graciously accepted the duties of Host Council Coordinator. All of us in Northwest Council are very excited to be hosting this fabulous, milestone event, during which Far West will be celebrating its 90th birthday.

Please feel free to share this news with your clubs and councils. We already have committees forming and will be meeting soon to decide on a theme and logo for the event. For those who have spent time in the Portland area, or even if you haven't, believe me when I say that Portland is a beautiful place to visit, with tons of fun things to do. We are so happy to have this opportunity to show off our city to YOU!

National Ski Council Federation Holds Annual Meeting at Zermatt Resort, Midway Utah→

For immediate release 9/4/18

The National Ski Council Federation held its 2018 Annual Meeting Aug. 23-27, 2018, at Zermatt Resort, Midway, Utah.  

Participating were 38 council delegates, along with Federation officers and committee chairs representing 21 councils whose member clubs span the United States. Twenty-three ski industry representatives participated in the meeting.

“Our annual meeting provides ski council delegates and industry representatives the opportunity to come together to discuss issues that are important to our organizations and the ski industry,” said Lisa Beregi, NSCF president. “It was wonderful to have so many council representatives and industry partners attend and participate in this year’s meeting,”

Participants discussed a variety of topics of interest to ski clubs and councils and the ski industry. Topics included travel issues, the consolidation of resort ownership, attracting new club members, and use of social media.

Building on our successful virtual silent auction, the 2018 auction will be open October 1 and will run for 45 days. It will be accessible from the NSCF website, www.skifederation.org. NSCF is grateful to our many contributors of items.  

We appreciate Zermatt Resort and Maxine Jensen, Director, International Tourism and Travel, for providing a wonderful venue for our meeting.

About the National Ski Council Federation: The National Ski Council Federation (NSCF), founded in 1998, is a not-for-profit organization made up of 29 ski councils composed of 640 ski clubs with more than 300,000 members throughout United States. The Federation’s purpose is to strengthen councils, with industry participation so they may better serve their ski clubs through improved communication, education and benefits. The Federation conducts active programs in public affairs, communications, council development, racing, ski industry relations and skier outreach.

Oregon Cancer Ski Out Nets $55,000 for local and statewide cancer research and family services

Lake Oswego- 29 AUGUST, 2018 - The 30th Annual Oregon Cancer Ski Out (OCSO) netted $55,000 for local and state-wide cancer research and family services. "From our first year, we have dedicated our efforts to the concept that what we raise here, stays here", said President Ed Ariniello. Continuing, he said, "As soon as we had the results, we disbursed the first $44,650, but to our delight we received an additional $10,000 that came in after the event!". A second round of funding is forth-coming within the next two months. 

Funds allocated went to the Knight Cancer Institute's War on Melanoma, Providence's Willamette Falls Foundation's Hospice and Camp Erin (a grief program for youth), Candlelighter's For Children with Cancer, Providence Hospice of the Gorge and Breast Friends.

Larry Chadwick, Founder of the group noted, "Most volunteer events of this nature don't last thirty years. We have been blessed with consistent participation by skiers and boarders, along with non-skiers. Oregon businesses have joined in as sponsors in the fight for the people of Oregon. Furthermore, we know how the money is being used by the dedicated local programs we support".

The race is about consistency, not speed, as teams of five persons cover two courses each day. Additionally, Olympic and professional coaches oversee the courses to provide safety and assistance. The event is held at Mt. Hood Meadows the second Sunday-Monday of March each year; the upcoming date being next March 10-11.

Northwest Cancer Resource Fund (NWCRF) provides for the non-profit status of the Oregon Cancer Ski Out, along with the Oregon Cancer Bike Out's in Bend and Ashland, and the Golf to Give events. President Ariniello stated, "NWCRF welcomes applications from individuals and groups who are wanting to make a difference in seeking solutions to cancer through fund raising and need a tax-exempt status. Going through the process with the IRS is both expensive and time consuming". For more information on for local and state-wide NWCRF efforts:

www.cancerskiout.org
www.nwcancerresourcefund.com
www.cancerbikeout.org
www.golftogive.com

L. M. "Chad" Chadwick
1540 Ash Street
Lake Oswego, Oregon  97034
503.699.9722
503.803.5461 Cell
www.cancerskiout.org