New USA resort guide - contributors sought

[Martin Bell]

I am editing a new guide to US resorts, called "Snowfinder USA". (It is a continuation of the series begun with "Snowfinder France" - more info here: http://www.wave-finder.com/onlineshop/onlineshop_productexd.asp?plid=10
The guide will feature detailed reports on the resorts listed below, including 2-line descriptions of every trail, and a selection of the most happening bars and restaurants.

We are gathering this info using locals and ski bums ("seasonnaires") at the various resorts. A similar process has been used for many years, to produce "consumer report" guides, such as Where to Ski, Good Ski Guide, or the ZAGAT restaurant surveys. Many websites, such as www.goski.com, also use consumer feedback. This is strictly VOLUNTARY - if you do not wish to participate, please ignore this message.

Here's an example of the types of trail descriptions we're looking for (from Snowfinder France):
http://www.wave-finder.com/media/snowp188-189.pdf

If you would like to be a contributor, please PM me with your email address and the name of the resort you would like to report on. Or you can email me at martinbellskicamps@hotmail.com

Unfortunately there is no payment available for your contribution, but you will get a free copy, a credit in the publication, plus the satisfaction of helping out your fellow skiers.

List of resorts
California:
Lake Tahoe Area (Alpine Meadows, Kirkwood, Mt Rose, Northstar-at-Tahoe,
Sierra-at-Tahoe, Sugar Bowl)
Heavenly (Lake Tahoe)
Squaw Valley (Lake Tahoe)
Mammoth

Colorado:
Aspen / Snowmass
Beaver Creek
Breckenridge
Copper Mountain
Crested Butte
Keystone
Steamboat
Telluride
Vail
Winter Park

Utah:
Alta
The Canyons
Deer Valley
Park City
Snowbasin
Snowbird
Solitude

Rest of the West:
Big Mountain, Montana
Big Sky / Moonlight Basin, Montana
Jackson Hole,Wyoming
Sun Valley, Idaho
Taos, New Mexico

East:
Killington
Lake Placid / Whiteface
Bretton Woods
Stowe

Many apologies for the fact that relatively few Eastern resorts are included. This guide is primarily aimed at the UK destination market, although it will also be on sale in the US. If the first edition is successful, we will look at adding more East Coast resorts in later editions.
Many thanks,
MB

 

[kcyanks1]

East:
Killington
Lake Placid / Whiteface
Bretton Woods
Stowe

Many apologies for the fact that relatively few Eastern resorts are included. This guide is primarily aimed at the UK destination market, although it will also be on sale in the US. If the first edition is successful, we will look at adding more East Coast resorts in later editions.
Many thanks,
MB

Good luck with the guide! Unfortunately while I've skied Killington, Whiteface, and Stowe (only once), there are many here who can do a far better job with trail descriptions, so I'm not one who can help you.

I realize why you aren't focusing on the East, but if you haven't yet settled for sure on your resorts, I'm quite curious as to why you selected Bretton Woods as one of only 4 eastern resorts (no offense meant to BW regulars). The other selections make a lot of sense, but as a fourth there are probably numerous more well-known or more popular resorts you can choose, whether you want something like Mad River Glen whose reputation I think is known through the skiing community, a more amenity-filled, intermediate-oriented resort like Startton or Okemo, or something in between but still large like Sugarbush. BW has gotten some publicity lately for staying open late and through their association with Bode Miller, but I don't see them as being one of the eastern resorts that skiers around the world have to know about or are anxious to visit. Perhaps my perspective is just skewed, though, as my northeast skiing has been limited to NY and VT.

Edit: I just want to add, I have no personal bias in suggesting Okemo and Stratton. From my handful of times at Okemo and my one time at Stratton, I find them far less interesting than northern VT resorts, so from my personal interest, you might as well just go with BW if you were changing to Okemo or Stratton. But both are major vacation destinations, with all the amenities one would want, and I'd suspect they are up on the list for skier visits/year in the east, so for the majority of the skiing popular (i.e., not this message board!), they would likely be better selections than BW. Sugarbush and MRG are more interesting for more advanced skiers, MRG is also interesting just from someone interested in unique ski areas that strive and succeed in being different and have their own niches. However you choose to proceed, though, good luck with the project.

 

[skibum1321]

**cough cough** spam **cough cough**

 

[kcyanks1]

**cough cough** spam **cough cough**

I thought that was possible, but at the same time it seemed like a decent request. He took the time to write a message a lot longer than a normal spammer would ever bother with. I guess we'll see if he ever replies to my message. ... and Bretton Woods as one of four eastern resorts? Huh? ;-)

 

[hrstrat57]

Martin posted a similar request over on epic in the general ski discussion forum which resulted in some heated discussion. I didn't participate in the discussion.

Martin is a UK native and a seasoned, well respected ski pro who would contribute good stuff over here if he was to become an active poster. He has a personal web site/www.skimartinbell.com. Further, I believe he was on the UK olympic team at some point. I enjoy reading his stuff on epic.

I'll let the members here make their own decision re "spam" From what I know, Martin Bell is the real deal. I have not met him.

FWIW

 

[JimG.]

Looks like pretty on topic stuff to me...so it's gonna ride.

I welcome this kind of stuff, and I think the other mods are OK with it too.

 

[Martin Bell]

**cough cough** spam **cough cough**

Thanks for those coughs! (More polite than some members of other internet forums...)
Actually, I was invited to post on this board by a member. I had not known of the existence of alpinezone, but I will certainly recommend it in future to any Brits looking for North East skiing info.
In return, for any of you guys looking for info on skiing in Europe, I recommend www.snowheads.com .