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| Mt. Hood, Oregon. August 1997. Photo by J. Brackett |
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| Mt. Hood, Oregon. August 1997. Photo by J. Brackett |
This web guide is intended
to provide access to general and specific information resources of interest
to students in the University of Maine at Farmington Ski
Industries Program. Links are provided for a variety of sites
offering relevant, up-to-date information for students preparing for careers
in ski management, professional ski instruction and coaching, or as a disabilities
skiing specialist.
SkiingAbout
covers all aspects of skiing, including training and education, industry
news, equipment and resort reviews, employment opportunities, and travel
tips, as well as useful information about such variations as telemark,
backcountry, and extreme skiing; heli and snowcat skiing, competitive skiing,
and skiing for persons with disabilities. A particularly useful feature
is the section with links to various professional and trade associations
for skin industry professionals. This easy-to-navigate site also
provides chats, forums, and classified ads.
Billing itself as “the skier’s
marketplace for ideas and commerce,” SkiNet.com
provides feature stories, forums and chats on all aspects of skiing.
Although it’s geared primarily to the skier rather than the professional,
links to resort reviews, interactive shopping tools, and information to
instruction and competition-related sites make this a convenient site for
one-stop shopping for gear, vacation packages, lessons, and race information.
Snow Industries of America sponsors Snowlink, a searchable site that offers sections on “news and research,” “gear,” “events and clubs,” “resorts and weather,” as well as statistics and information about retailers and products. The site’s “learn and improve” section offers comprehensive information on learning snow sports, choosing and caring for equipment, special tips for women and for parents and children. Links to relevant resources include sites on coaching, online magazines and information portals, and a rotating list of “cool sites.”
The
National Ski Areas Association is the trade association for ski area
owners and operators, representing alpine resorts accounting for over 90
percent of the skier/snowboarder visits in the U.S. NSAA is active
in conferences and trade shows as well as in state and federal legislative
matters. It provides training in the areas of OSHA, ADA and other industry-related
regulations, as well as on equipment safety, environmental matters, and
resort management and customer service. The web site provides links
to information on all of these subjects, as well as to industry statistics,
and other related information.
The web site of the Professional
Ski Instructors of America provides information for ski professionals,
the press, and the general public on many aspects of ski instruction, including
adaptive skiing, alpine and Nordic ski instruction, children’s skiing,
and snowboarding. The site includes links to information of interest
to these various communities, as well as members-only services such as
conventions, clinics and seminars, special purchase opportunities, and
certifications.
The home page of SnowSports
Industries America,”the only national, member-owned, nonprofit trade
association of competing snow sports product and service companies,” offers
a wealth of information for those interested in the growth of the snow
sports industry. The site provides links to trade shows, retailers,
industry news, and offers members benefits such as training in marketing
and human resources management, as well as cost-savings on rental cars,
office equipment, and other business necessities.
The National
Ski Patrol “is a Federally Chartered nonprofit membership association
dedicated to serving the public and the mountain recreation industry by
providing education services about emergency care and safety.” The
NSP site provides information on education and training, including its
nationally-recognized “Outdoor Emergency Care” program, as well as information
for the press and links to equipment suppliers.
Sponsored by Ski Racing International Corp., this news and information site offers feature articles, regular columns, industry reports, race results, and much more. Their Question and Answer feature allows readers to submit questions about “ski or snowboard competition . . . about gear, technique, rules or training . . . about the personalities involved, or the history of the sport” and have them answered by the magazine’s editorial staff and/or other experts. Answers are posted to the site so they’re available to everyone. There’s also a link to academies and camps that specialize in ski and snowboard racing, as well as the usual links to related sites and shopping opportunities.
The home page of Ski
Magazine is a veritable treasure-trove of information: feature articles
about (what else?) skiing, reviews of resorts, information about instruction,
and columns on health, fitness, equipment maintenance, and travel as well
as links to buyers’ guides and snow reports. There is a searchable
archive of past articles and, in the off-season, the really committed can
stay abreast of developments by means of a number of forums and chat rooms.
Sponsored by Skiing
Magazine, another popular industry publication, this web site offers
excellent sections on travel and gear, health and fitness, and the skiing
scene. There are opportunities for chats and forums, plenty of news
and current (ski-related events), polls, a live “snow-cam,” and ski and
weather reports from all over the world. One particular feature called
“Private Lessons” is particularly useful for skiers looking for information
on improving performance; in short video clips, experienced coaches demonstrate
techniques for intermediate and expert skiers in speed control, proper
turns, and skiing the “steeps.”
Ski
Area Management has created a web site that provides breaking news
on ski-related industries; a supplier-buyer directory, forums, archives,
a calendar, and a research center with links to industry-related surveys
and studies, association home pages, classified advertising, and links
to industry-related sites. Ski Area Management is a trade publication
designed specifically for ski resort professionals, who will find its “Headline
News Services” – a free email service that provides alerts in the areas
of resort, financial, and international news.
Snow Trade News is a trade magazine that provides up-to-date information for ski and snowboard professionals as well as resort managers. The site links to information about suppliers, retailers, and resorts, and offers an email service to alert industry folks about breaking news. Forums are available, as is a calendar of events, and the site is searchable.
AbilityPlus
is a chapter of Disabled Sports USA, is a nonprofit organization founded
by Vietnam veterans to provide opportunities for veterans with disabilities
to participate in sporting activities. Since its inception, it has
expanded to provide services for anyone who has a permanent physical disability.
AbilityPlus serves disabled persons in the Northeastern United States with
a variety of ski programs throughout the New England states.
The web site of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing describes the mission and objectives of this volunteer organization. Committed to the belief that “any person with some degree of mobility can ski,” the Association provides instruction and support for skiers with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities. CADS sponsors a national alpine ski team, and hosts competitions, training, and an annual family ski festival. The site is available in English and French.
SkiMaine
covers all the pertinent information for Maine skiers, including a detailed
description of the state’s ski areas, a calendar of events, current weather
and snow conditions, and a handy “resort cam” that lets you see what the
snow is really like! Chat services are available as well, and there
are links to adaptive skiing and children’s ski programs in Maine.
Sugarloaf.com
is the web presence of Sugarloaf U.S.A., a four-season resort located in
Carrabassett Valley, Maine. University of Maine at Farmington students
participate in practicum experiences here as part of the Ski Industries
program, and it’s a favorite place for many local residents to ski and
snowboard.
Sunday
River, in Newry, Maine, is about an hour’s drive from Farmington.
Like its sister resort (and nearest competitor), Sunday River is owned
by American Skiing Company. Sunday River is home to a world-class
adaptive skiing program where Ski Industries students often have an opportunity
to work as practicum students.
For those who prefer to ski where the lift lines are shorter (and the lift tickets less dear), Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley provides an excellent no-frills ski experience, complete with outstanding views and a low-key atmosphere.
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Janet H. Brackett Head of Access Services Mantor Library University of Maine at Farmington for CLIS 748
Questions? Comments?
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 Mt. Hood, Oregon. August 1997. Photo by J. Brackett |