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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? |
 Mt. Hood, Oregon. August 1997. Photo by J. Brackett |