PeakRankings Shows Some Resorts Struggled to Handle Crowds This Season Data released earlier this month from the National Ski Areas Association shows that this last winter saw the most snow rider visits ever recorded. In total resorts saw 61 million rider visits. This beat out the 60.5 million in the 2007/08 season and the 59 million from last year’s 2020/21 season. The record number of rider visits saw some resorts […] Industry News Brent Thomas | May 16, 2022 0 Comments
Turn Any Bike into an E-bike With This Pocket-Sized Battery Do you have a bike and wish it was electric? Maybe you should make the switch. Or should I say Swytch? That is exactly what the company Swytch Bike wants to help you do, as they look to completely disrupt the e-bike industry with the smallest, lightest, e-bike battery in the world. The Swytch Kit is an affordable way to […] Cycle Brent Thomas | May 16, 2022 2 Comments
Aliens at Alta? Nope, Just the Latest Avalanche Mitigation Technology With an average of 540 inches of the best snow on earth every year, Alta Ski Area constantly has avalanche mitigation on its mind. Now they are adopting the latest technology in avalanche safety and prevention. Alien-looking pods, called O’Bellx, are being installed on the mountain to be integrated into Alta’s network of avalanche control systems. They are a new […] Avalanche Brent Thomas | May 13, 2022 0 Comments
The Science That Explains Why Skiing is So Enjoyable When you are first learning to ski, part of the initial instruction typically includes “french fry to go, pizza to slow.” Those pizzas progress into slow turns, then soon you are linking parallel turns. Functionally you realize that turning is used to steer your direction and control your speed. Then, as you advance further, you become enlightened that the rhythm […] Brains Brent Thomas | May 11, 2022 1 Comment
Fastest Known Time Set for Classic 84-Mile Bugs to Rogers Ski Traverse in British Columbia Throughout the world, there are many famous ski traverses, and one of the classics is the Bugs to Rogers Traverse in Eastern British Columbia. Considered one of the grandest traverses in Canada, it crosses the Purcell and Selkirk Mountains and is full of jagged spires, glaciers, summits, and avalanche-prone slopes. It covers an impressive 135 kilometers or approximately 84 miles. […] Industry News Brent Thomas | May 9, 2022 0 Comments
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY, Reports Improved Satisfaction Despite Lower Snow and Skier Visits For 2021/22 Season Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) is reporting that the 2021/22 ski season was a huge success, despite below-average snowfall and lower skier turnout. The primary reason for the optimism was the improved feedback from visitors and locals about their experience at the mountain. Total snowfall for the season was 334 inches, which for many resorts is still very respectable, however, […] Industry News Brent Thomas | May 9, 2022 0 Comments
The First Stand-Up Snowmobile Looks to Revolutionize Winter Powersports There are so many ways to transport yourself on snow. Skis, snowboards, snow blades, snow bikes, fat bikes, snowshoes, and snowmobiles, just to name a few. Now, a Canadian company has created another option in the motorized space of snow travel with the first stand-up snowmobile; the Widescape WS250. The WS250 is a revolution in winter powersports and comes with […] Industry News Brent Thomas | May 6, 2022 1 Comment
Why Do Ski Resorts Close When Their Snowpack is Still So Deep? At the beginning of the ski season, it is a race to see what resort will open first. Pent-up demand from not skiing during the summer and fall drives skiers to clamor for their first tracks of the season. Sometimes this is only on one lift and a measly 12-inch base, most of which might be man-made snow. Then, at […] Brains Brent Thomas | May 4, 2022 9 Comments