Vail Resorts to Launch Hands-Free Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket on New ‘My Epic’ App for the 2023/24 Winter Season. The new technology will allow guests to buy their pass or lift ticket online, activate and store it on their phone in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands-free, via Bluetooth® technology designed for low energy usage. More. Snowbrains
Vail Resorts Plans $211M in Capital Investments for 2023. Vail Resorts is planning $206 million to $211 million in capital investments for 2023. Projects include lift installations, a new technology rollout, integration activities, and the first phase in a multi-year project at Andermatt-Sedrun. More. SAM
New National Guidelines to Regulate Drugs and Alcohol. A few months ago, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) updated its 60-year-old ski code with two new rules: “Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs,” and “If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.” More. Gear Junkie via Google Alerts
Indy Pass Gets New Owner, Maintains Independence. In a move intended to bolster the future of the five-year-old Indy Pass, the Pass is being acquired by Entabeni Systems, “the long-time trusted partner who runs the technology platform that Indy Pass has always been built on,” according to Indy Pass founder Doug Fish. Fish will continue to lead Indy Pass as it continues to grow its independent resort roster. More. SAM
United States Ski and Snowboard Partner with Kappa and POW to Create Climate Changing Race Suit. United States Ski and Snowboard have collaborated with Kappa and Protect Our Winters (POW) to produce a climate changing-themed race suit to combat the threats caused by global warming. The suit is being used at the 2023 Alpine Ski World Championships, which began on February 6 and concluded on February 19 in Courchevel Méribel, France. More. Inside the Games
Race for FREE at Ikon Pass Resorts This Winter. Alterra is opening up the NASTAR courses at select resorts so you can take as many runs as you like (for free!). Race now at Deer Valley Resort, Palisades Tahoe, Solitude Mountain Resort, and Sugarbush Resort. Mikaela Shiffrin partners with Alterra Mountain Company and NASTAR to bring ski racing to more people this winter. More. Outside
Black Skiers Come Together in Vail for 50 Years of ‘Soul on Snow.’ Representation matters. And when it comes to people of color participating in and sharing predominately white spaces, there are few examples better than the 2023 National Brotherhood of Skiers’ summit in which thousands of Black ski and snowboard enthusiasts, including professionals, ventured to the mountains of Vail to celebrate their love for winter sports. More. Rocky Mountain PBS
Ski Clubs Aren’t as Hip as They Used to Be, But They are Key to Diversifying Colorado’s Slopes. Ski clubs that anchor the National Brotherhood of Skiers are a popular way to attract more diverse skiers and snowboarders to mountains. More. The Colorado Sun via Google Alerts
MOU Between the U.S. Forest Service and the National Brotherhood of Skiers Cements Partnership to Improve Equitable Access to Winter Recreation. Associate Chief Angela Coleman and National Brotherhood of Skiers President Henri Rivers signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to cement a partnership and cooperation in developing new outreach strategies to address issues that affect equitable access to public lands. More. Ed. Note: A guest column in USFS employee newsletter by Associate Chief Angela Coleman submitted by NSCF Treasurer Linda Walker.
Killington Receives Key Approval for New Ski Village. Killington Mountain Resort will move ahead with plans to build a new ski village with 1,500 residences, including workforce housing, after Killington town voters approved phase one of the infrastructure and development project on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, March 7. More. SAM
California Operators Cry “Uncle!” on Historic Snowfall. “We love snow, and we tend to get a lot of it here, but I think we’ve reached the point where we are crying “uncle!” said Ski California president Michael Reitzell. More. SAM
Ontario’s Mount St. Louis Moonstone Ski Resort Announces Canada’s 1st High-Speed 8-Pack Chairlift Coming in 2023/24. The installation will have the highest design capacity in North America and can move 4,250 people per hour. The aAdventure8 D-Line direct drive 8-seater chairlift features heated seats, manual lock child-friendly safety bars with footrests, and a rise-able loading carpet for young skiers and riders. More. SnowBrains
How to Save Phone Battery Life in the Backcountry. Smartphones are an excellent alternative to conventional GPS devices because they are lightweight and compact, and their large screens are ideal for viewing detailed topographic maps while using an app like Gaia GPS. But, if you use a phone to navigate in the wild, you need to consider ways to conserve battery power so you don’t end up with a dead phone halfway through your hike. More. Outside
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