Testing and Demo of New Skis for 07/08

On Snow demos - Keystone Colorado Feb --- 2007

The winter ski and snowboard season is just really getting started when the process begins to reveal the next years product line. It all begins at the SIA - Snowsports Industries of America - annual trade show in Las Vegas in January. This year's kick off event was January 22 at The Mandalay Bay. The annual show has it all - parties, scantily clad models drawing attention to the new gear, clothing and must have accessories. Once you have spent 3 - 4 days looking at the new gear, drinking and gambling, it is off to mountains for round two which is the On Snow demos and testing.

This is where the work assignment gets good. This year's Western Regional show was held in Keystone Resort in Colorado. Conditions were perfect for testing skis and snowboards. The past week had seen some new snow to freshen up the surface and we now had blue skies and sunshine for solid conditions. The beauty of this task is that there is so much good and great product being made by all the ski and snowboard companies.

It is difficult to go wrong if you match features and performance with what kind of terrain you are skiing and riding with your ability level. Make sure you pick the right model for what you will be skiing. My plan was to ski as many skis in 2 days as possible and get a feel for what brands and models were moving up and who was falling short. We all have our biases and this needs to taken into account as we pick winners and losers.

In addition to my testing, the listed conclusions here were based upon the sentiments of the team of product testers from Retails Concepts and others who I spent the several days with skiing and testing skis.

The two big winners by all accounts were Volkl and K2. All of us skied many skis in each of the lines. My personal favorite was the K2 line and specifically the Radical in a 174. This is a new version of the Apache model for next year and was responsive, stable and easy to turn in all conditions. The new Volkl Tiger Shark also made a huge impression and comes with the caveat, you better stay on this ski and be ready to ski it aggressively, or it will take you for a ride. This ski is not for the feint of heart.

The loser and biggest disappointment was from the Salomon collection. I tried 4 different models and they all were dead and simply did not ski well. No fluidity, not very stable and quite the disappointment.

Pleasant surprises and products/brands that appear to be making a move in the market were from Elan and Head. The Elan line with Magma technology was a fun, liveley and responsive ski. I will look to add this model in the Magma 12 to my quiver for next season.

Another pleasant and unexpected surprise was a new ski introduced by Palmer snowboards. The all mountain freeride ski was fun and will perform well in broken snow and powder. The tip has nice float and the ski as a whole was very fluid in hard and variable snow.

Dynastar - The Legend line and the 8800 were also winners. Rossignol skis also had a good buzz going. This is encouraging as the former power house has lost significant market share over the last 5 - 7 years. The skis were skiing well and it appears that Rossi may be on the way back.

On the boot side I tested one boot company - Dalbello. Boy was this a nice fitting and performing boot. They had purchased the Raichle technology and patents and have introduced this in their new boot line. I will be skiing the Dalbello Rampage next year.

My closing comment is - make sure you get to a demo day next year and test before you buy. Not only does it help you select just the right gear, it is an awful lot of fun.

Book Direct and save at these Lodges in the Mountains

The following is a spotlight on lodges currently offering Mountain Sports Club members discounts on direct booked lodging reservations. Check out the savings up to 50% off.

Colorado
Mountain Resorts Inc - Steamboat Springs
Bristol Hotel - Steamboat Springs
Storm Meadows - Steamboat Springs
The Ranch at Steamboat - Steamboat Springs
Colorado Resort Services - Steamboat Springs
Summit Cove - Keystone
Apex Condominiums - Vail
Apex Holiday Inn - Vail
Big Horn Rentals - Frisco
Hotel Frisco - Frisco
Summit Mountain Rentals - Frisco
Frisco Mountain Rentals - Frisco
Mtn Managers - Frisco
Circle R Motel - Salida near Monarch
Red Rooster Inn - Glenwood Springs, close Sunlight and Aspen areas.

New Hampshire
Nordic Inn Condominiums - Lincoln near Loon Mountain

Wyoming
Alpenhof Lodge - Jackson Hole

Utah
Prospector Square - Park City

Vermont
Cortina Inn & Resort - Killington
Ramada Inn Suites - Rutland

New York
Scribner Hollow Lodge - Hunter

British Columbia - Canada
Crystal Lodge - Whistler/Blackcomb

Additional lodges and packages options are available using the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk - Book lodging, cars, airfare and complete packages at a discount. Choose from over 1400 properties and most major destinations. Members receive monthly promotion code for additional savings when booking through the Mountain Sports Club Travel desk.

Boulder Colorado 02.22.07 Last updated 03.07.07

Pennsylvania Areas and Top Colorado Resorts extend offers

Ski season has took quite a while to kick in around the country, but is now here for the balance of the season. Mountain Sports Club members continue to recieve more and more offers to encourage them to visit more areas for skiing and snowboarding this winter. In the last week we have added these 5 new resorts:

• Copper Mountain in Colorado with prepurchase discounts through our travel desk.
• Winter Park in Colorado with prepurchase discounts through our travel desk.
• Liberty Mountain, Ski Roundtop and Whitetail all added a new $5 daily discount on 8 hour tickets for the balance of the year.

There are now over 50 resorts offering discounts on lift tickets for our members. Be sure to register for your premium membership and save this season and next. Special promotional offer only $5.95 for the membership when using the promotion code - Blog07.

Look here for a complete and current list of all ski and snowboard resorts offering discounts on lift tickets.

Direct book lodging discounts available at these properties.

Daily Lift Tickets Update January 2007

January 15, 2007

Boulder Colorado

Daily and multi day lift ticket discounts and savings for Mountain Sports Club Members continue to grow : Currently over 40 resorts and counting have finalized lift ticket discounts from 2 for 1 lift tickets to daily savings. Mountain Sports Club Members can anticipate additional resorts adding special member savings as the season unfolds:

The following are available to premium members:
Crested Butte Mountain Resort - Save daily from $9 on single day tickets to multi day savings
Loveland Ski Area Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets.
Monarch Ski Area Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets.
Powderhorn Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets.
Ski Sunlight Glenwood Springs Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets
Echo Mountain Park just outside of Denver - Save daily on lift tickets
Windham Mountain in the Catskills of New York - Members save big - 2 for 1 midweek lift tickets.
Diamond Peak - Nevada Lake Tahoe - Save daily on lift tickets
Tenney Mountain New Hampshire - Save daily on lift tickets
Mad River Glen - Vermont - Save daily on lift tickets
Ascutney Mountain Resort Vermont - Save daily on lift tickets
Shawnee Peak Resort Maine - Save daily on lift tickets
Shawnee Mountain Pennsylvania - Save daily on lift tickets
Hidden Valley Pennsylvania - Save daily on lift tickets
Silver Mountain Idaho - Save daily on lift tickets
Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire save up to $40 daily. Save $10 per person up to 4 per member per day. Savings certificates will be available after January 1, 2007.
Blue Hills in Massachusetts save up to $40 daily. Save $10 per person up to 4 per member per day. Savings certificates will be available after January 1, 2007.
Pats Peak New Hampshire - Save daily on lift tickets
Cranmore Mountain Resort in Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire - Save daily on lift tickets.

The Mountain Sports Club of North America just announced a significantly expanded number of new resorts offering MSC members discounted lift tickets, when purchased online through the new Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk. Members may be required to pruchase lodging or other elements of the vacation at participating resorts.

Review the growing list of top winter ski and snowboard resorts in North America and the associated values.

Colorado Ski and Snowboard Resorts
Breckenridge
Keystone
Vail
Beaver Creek
Durango - Prices from $41.33
Crested Butte Mountain Resort

California Ski and Snowboard Resorts
Lake Tahoe Interchangeable Lift tickets
Heavenley Valley
Northstar - at - Tahoe - Daily tickets from $61.10 per day.
Ski Tahoe North Interchangeable Lift ticket
Sierra at Tahoe - Daily lift tickets from $61.10 per day.

Montana
Big Sky Resort - Save on daily and multi day lift tickets
Moonlight Basin - Save on daily and multi day lift tickets

Nevada
Mt Rose - Lift tickets from $50 a day.

Utah
Ski Salt Lake Super Pass - Snowbird, Alta, Solitude and Brighton Lift Tickets
Park City - Save on daily and multi day lift tickets
The Canyons - Save on Daily and Multi-day Lift tickets
Deer Valley - Save on Daily and Multi-day Lift tickets

Vermont
Stowe Mountain Resort - Save on lift tickets, 2 days or longer.

Wyoming
Jackson Hole - Save on purchase of 3 day or more lift tickets.

New Mexico
Taos - Save on 2 of 3 day lift tickets. Buy here now.

British Columbia Canada
Whistler Blackcomb - Save on 3 day lift tickets.

Enjoy these great new members savings and discounts.
Enjoy the snow and the mountains.
Enjoy the skiing and riding.

Think snow it is still winter.

Purchase a premium Mountain Sports Club membership now Only $19.95 and valid through April 2006, and start saving....

Buy Discounted Lift Tickets - Top resorts in North America

January 13, 2007

Boulder Colorado

The Mountain Sports Club of North America is pleased to announce a significantly expanded number of new resorts offering MSC members discounted lift tickets, when purchased online through the new Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk. Members may be required to pruchase lodging or other elements of the vacation at participating resorts.

Review the growing list of top winter ski and snowboard resorts in North America and the associated values. Over 20 new participating resorts.

Colorado Ski and Snowboard Resorts
Breckenridge
Keystone
Vail
Beaver Creek
Durango - Prices from $41.33
Crested Butte Mountain Resort

California Ski and Snowboard Resorts
Lake Tahoe Interchangeable Lift tickets
Heavenley Valley
Northstar - at - Tahoe - Daily tickets from $61.10 per day.
Ski Tahoe North Interchangeable Lift ticket
Sierra at Tahoe - Daily lift tickets from $61.10 per day.

Montana
Big Sky Resort - Save on daily and multi day lift tickets
Moonlight Basin - Save on daily and multi day lift tickets

Nevada
Mt Rose - Lift tickets from $50 a day.

Utah
Ski Salt Lake Super Pass - Snowbird, Alta, Solitude and Brighton Lift Tickets
Park City - Save on daily and multi day lift tickets
The Canyons - Save on Daily and Multi-day Lift tickets
Deer Valley - Save on Daily and Multi-day Lift tickets

Vermont
Stowe Mountain Resort - Save on lfit tickets, 2 days or longer.

Wyoming
Jackson Hole - Save on purchase of 3 day or more lift tickets.

New Mexico
Taos - Save on 2 of 3 day lift tickets. Buy here now.

British Columbia Canada
Whistler Blackcomb - Save on 3 day lift tickets.

Enjoy these great new members savings and discounts.

Book Direct and Save at Mountain Lodges and Condos

Boulder Colorado 01.13.07

The following is a spotlight on lodges currently offering Mountain Sports Club members discounts on direct booked lodging reservations. Check out the savings up to 50% off.

Mountain Resorts Inc - Steamboat Springs Colorado
Bristol Hotel - Steamboat Springs Colorado
Storm Meadows - Steamboat Springs Colorado
The Ranch at Steamboat - Steamboat Springs Colorado
Colorado Resort Services - Steamboat Springs Colorado
Apex Condominiums - Vail Colorado
Apex Holiday Inn - Vail Colorado
Big Horn Rentals - Frisco - Colorado
Hotel Frisco - Frisco - Colorado
Summit Mountain Rentals - Frisco - Colorado
Frisco Mountain Rentals - Frisco - ColoradoMtn
Mtn Managers - Frisco - Colorado
Circle R Motel - Salida Colorado
Alpenhof Lodge - Jackson Hole Wyoming
Prospector Square - Park City Utah
Cortina Inn & Resort - Killington Vermont
Ramada Inn Suites - Rutland Vermont
Scribner Hollow Lodge - Hunter NY

Additional lodges and packages options are availabe using the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk - Book lodging, cars, airfare and complete packages at a discount. Choose form over 1400 properties and most major destinations.

Advertise and Promote your Resort and Business to Mountain Sports Club Members

Advertise with The Mountain Sports Club of North America - Reaching active, affluent outdoor mountain enthusiasts....

Lodging Properties - Start filling rooms now! Special introductory offer, no cash, trade only. Use empty room nights to generate revenue. More details call us at 303.829.1699. Only $1,050 in room trade. Listings run through April 30, 2008. Review example listings below:

• Mountain Resorts Inc - Steamboat Springs Colorado
• Hotel Frisco - Frisco Colorado
• Prospector Square - Park City Utah
• Cortina Inn and Resort - Killington Vermont

Resorts - No charge offer. Free Listing provide incentives that drive visits and grow your customer database. More details call us at 303.829.1699. Review sample resort listings with promotional offers:

Loveland
Monarch
Powderhorn
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Sunlight
Diamond Peak
Pats Peak
Cranmore
Ragged Mountain
Windham
Shawnee
Hidden Valley
Shawnee Peak
Ascutney
Mad River Glen

Retailers, activity and service establishments - Start driving more business rooms now! Special introductory offer, no cash, trade only. More details call us at 303.829.1699. Only $150 in barter. Listings run through April 30, 2008. View sample retail listings below:

• Ski Chalet -Vriginia and Maryland
• Terry Sports - Steamboat Colorado
• Colorado Ski Tunes - Boulder Colorado
• Sun and Ski Sports - Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina

Make sure your resorts Mountain Facts are up to date. This service is Free for resorts.

Sponsorships available. Contact us for details.

To receive more information about promoting your resort or business building incentives, ask for John Siewierski and contact us at:

Mountain Sports Club of North America
3360 Dover Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
303.829.1699 phone
303.499.9553 fax

Mountain Sports Club of North America and Shell Gas Promotion

Boulder December 28, 2006

Mountain Sports Club of North America is pleased to announce participation in the Shell Ski Free promotion. This promotional program builds on our effort to not only drive incremental skiers and snowboard visits to resorts and corresponding merchants, but to help them build a database of who these skiers and snowboarders.

By sending participants to the web to register for the valuable savings vouchers, resorts now have the name, email and mailing address of those who redeem the vouchers and visit their resort.

The marketing budget for this promotional program includes $500,000 of media, 550 Shell Stations and 1 million vouchers are being distributed throughout Idaho, Washington, Colorado and Oregon to encourage folks to go out skiing and if additional information is required go to the skifreedeals.com website. "We are pleased to collaborate with the Mountain Sports Club in providing more value for our clients in the Pacific Northwest - Estelle West, SkiFreeDeals.com".

A promotion that targets vacationing, regional weekend and destination market skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. Strong in season promotion, now with email messaging.

This program builds on existing promotions where the Mountain Sports Club membership is featured and included as part of the 4th and 5th Grade passport programs in the Pacific Northwest and Ski New Hampshire. By encouraging more participation to these target groups with incentives there is a higher likelihood of converting the users to more frequent participation in skiing and snowboarding.

The Mountain Sports Club program provides skiers and snowboarders extensive discounts and savings on lift tickets, lodging, travel, shopping and more. Members register for this new online service at www.MountainSportsClub.com. The service is also being provided as a gift on purchases of $50 or more through specialty retailers – Sun and Ski Sports (16 locations in 7 states across the South), Ski Chalet with 3 locations on the DC and Northern Virginia metro region and The Ski Stop in Long Island, New York.


For more information contact:
John Siewierski
Mountain Sports Club of North America
3360 Dover Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
303.829.1699 phone – 303.499.9553 fax
http://www.mountainsportsclub.com/ - john@mountainsportsclub.com

Daily Lft Licket Savings for MSC Members

December 21, 2006

Winter is here and with a major blizzard in the Colorado Rockies now headed east to the plains we simply wanted to list all the resorts currently offering daily lift ticket discounts.

Be sure to upgrade to a premium membership to enable yourself to use these great deals. Buy a membership for a friend. Now only $19.95. Register here for Free basic memberships and Premium memberships.

New announcement - all Charter memberships purchased from now till January 31 will be valid for two winters and next summer. Mountain Sports Club charter memberships will be vaild through April 30, 2008.

Initial Lift ticket discounts and savings for Mountain Sports Club Members : Currently over 20 resorts and counting have finalized lift ticket discounts from 2 for 1 lift tickets to daily savings. Mountain Sports Club Members can anticipate additional resorts adding special member savings as the season unfolds:

Loveland Ski Area Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets.
Monarch Ski Area Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets.
Powderhorn Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets.
Ski Sunlight Glenwood Springs Colorado - Save daily on lift tickets
Echo Mountain Park just outside of Denver - Save daily on lift tickets
Windham Mountain in the Catskills of New York - Members save big - 2 for 1 midweek lift tickets.
Diamond Peak - Nevada Lake Tahoe - Save daily on lift tickets
Tenney Mountain New Hampshire - Save daily on lift tickets
Mad River Glen - Vermont - Save daily on lift tickets
Ascutney Mountain Resort Vermont - Save daily on lift tickets
Shawnee Peak Resort Maine - Save daily on lift tickets
Shawnee Mountain Pennsylvania - Save daily on lift tickets
Hidden Valley Pennsylvania - Save daily on lift tickets
Silver Mountain Idaho - Save daily on lift tickets
Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire save up to $40 daily. Save $10 per person up to 4 per member per day. Savings certificates will be available after January 1, 2007.
Blue Hills in Massachusetts save up to $40 daily. Save $10 per person up to 4 per member per day. Savings certificates will be available after January 1, 2007.
Pats Peak New Hampshire - Save daily on lift tickets
Cranmore Mountain Resort in Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire - Save daily on lift tickets

Happy holidays and enjoy the skiing and riding.