SNOWBOWL TO OPEN DEC. 8 if we had snowmaking
Comments by J.R. Murray, general manager
12/7/06
Arizona Snowbowl announces today that it would, and could open
this Friday, December 8th if it was making man-made snow. With
the cold temperatures we have experienced we would have many trails
and several lifts opening this weekend. Unfortunately, opposition
groups have delayed construction by filing a lawsuit in Federal
Court and a subsequent appeal. Our original time line was to be
making snow this winter and we would have met that goal if not
for the lawsuit. It is clear to us that the local Tribes and environmental
groups are now preventing skiers and snowboarders in Arizona from
enjoying the slopes. As we sit and wait for snow, most ski areas
are open and planning for a successful Christmas holiday with white
ski trails and bustling communities.
With only a couple of dustings so far we are basically at ground
zero as far as the snowpack on the slopes. We need a very large
snow storm to arrive and dump at least two feet of snow in order
to open. We have been here before but this year is especially bitter
because we know we should be blowing snow and skiing. I estimate
that this weekend we could have the Hart Prairie beginner area
and Sunset Lift open with great conditions. By the time school
is out for Christmas we would have Agassiz Lift operating with
almost 75% of the mountain trails open for skiing without any natural
snow.
After a disastrous fifteen day ski season last year this is the
worst case scenario. If a ski area is not open for Christmas, the
season is considered a bust, losing up to 30% of the annual business.
This situation puts a huge stress on the organization financially
and also the employees. We need approximately 450 to 500 employees
to properly staff the ski area. Once school is out for the holiday,
especially NAU, we lose employees we have already hired as they
go home to celebrate with their families. You can’t blame
them but that is the reality. Financially, and I think it is obvious,
you can’t remain in business if you have no business or miss
out on the biggest holiday period of your business cycle.
The opposition groups are determined to delay us as long as the
process allows, or to run us out of business. We here them say
that the ski area is acceptable in its current form. However, without
change and predictability the ski area cannot be successful and
they know that. Their actions and protests are despicable. If we
attempted to slander, misuse the facts, and challenge their daily
lives we would be labeled anti-Native American and persecuted in
the media. Yet they not only get away with it, they continue to
receive front page media attention!!
I believe we will succeed. We may have to wait the process out.
We retain hope that during the summer of 2007 we will be constructing
the snowmaking system and are ready for the 07-08 season. As you
know we await the ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Unfortunately, the court has no deadline. Depending on the outcome
we will move forward with our plans or defend yet another appeal.
There is really no benefit for us to meet the local opposition
head on with rhetoric or rallies as it will not influence the Court.
The other important point that has gone unsaid thus far is the
various water sources other ski areas use for snowmaking. Most
ski areas are drawing water directly out of nearby rivers, streams,
and lakes. These water sources are not questioned and in most cases
not even tested. Skiers do not make it a priority to ascertain
the constituents in the water that produces good snow; they just
want the slopes covered so they can enjoy and recreate. Challenging
Flagstaff’s A+ water is merely an attempt to slow us down
or stop us.
Sunrise Ski Area, owned by the The White Mountain Apache Tribe,
is currently making snow using reclaimed water of lesser quality.
They will be open for Christmas and no one is protesting their
snowmaking activity. This tribe is one of the plaintiffs who are
suing the Forest Service to prevent Snowbowl from installing a
modern snowmaking system.
It is interesting that the Snowbowl is content with our permitted
777 acres representing 1% of the Peaks. It is not often in today’s
world whereby the people with the 99% are not content and want
the remaining 1% back, especially since the Peaks and the ski area
are located entirely on public land. But that is the opposition’s
strategy. Snowbowl has always cooperated by providing access for
any ceremonial visit and always will in the future. I have said
it before and I will repeat it here; this process is not so much
about snowmaking, rather whether or not the Snowbowl will find
a way to remain in business for many years to come.
I am grateful for your support and patience. If there was something
that we all could do collectively to change the course we would.
In the meantime it needs to snow so we can open the ski area and
see each other on the slopes. Feel free to submit letters to the
editor to share your thoughts. The reporting has definitely been
one-sided.
Thank you.
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