Story Ideas
#1 Family-Owned Squaw Valley USA
In December 2005 fellow ski resort founder, Dave McCoy, sold Mammoth Mountain, making Alex Cushing the last pioneer and Squaw Valley the only major resort to still be owned by its founder. “The business is much bigger than I like," Cushing once explained, “but we still run a family-type enterprise. I believe skiing is about smelling the flowers, about the beauty of the mountains. I want everybody to enjoy it.” Cushing passed away in August 2006 but his wife, Ski Corp President Nancy Cushing, is carrying on his vision and is intent on keeping Squaw Valley family-owned and operated. Squaw Valley prides itself in not being controlled by a parent company. Despite the colossal physical size of the mountain, Squaw Valley emits a quaint, old-world feel, teeming with tradition. Intrigue your readers as to what sets Squaw Valley apart from other ski resorts by pinpointing the unique qualities of a family-run operation. What distinguishes a “Ma and Pop” resort in an era of corporate take over?
#2 Military Ski Free Everyday
Squaw Valley USA is proud to offer free lift tickets to active military personnel everyday during the 2007/2008 season. In its fifth consecutive season, the Military Discount Program is Squaw Valley’s way of acknowledging the hard work and sacrifice of the US military. Squaw Valley USA Founder and Chairman Alex Cushing, who recently passed away, served in World War II as a Lieutenant Commander. His service in the US Navy transpired into a strong, lifelong connection with the military. Offering free military lift tickets is a policy that came straight from his heart. Cushing attested to his affinity for the program in his last annual letter to Squaw Valley season pass holders:
First and foremost, we will continue to strengthen our policy of free skiing and riding for our active duty military – one of the truly successful programs we have ever done. . . No one else in the ski business has even attempted to match what we do.Over the past four years, 49,000 active duty military participated in the program, saving them $3 million. Above all else, the program gives our military the opportunity to experience the intrinsic joy of schussing down Squaw Valley’s legendary slopes. In response to the program, Alex received hundreds of poignant letters from military personnel. Those letters remind us of the tribulations of the tumultuous war they’re fighting overseas. Amidst the beauty and simplicity of Tahoe, it is easy to forget; for a service member home from war, forgetting is a gift.
#3 North America’s Spring Skiing Capital
Squaw Valley USA is North America’s Spring Skiing Capital. The near 500” of snowfall each season make it possible for the resort to remain open through the end of May every winter. Last season Squaw Valley received 200” of snow in the month of March alone! Many say a blue-bird powder day is the best way to enjoy the abundant California snowfall however, more and more guests every year are discovering the joy of skiing and snowboarding on the soft spring ‘corn’ snow under the warm California sunshine. Spring also brings the opportunity to ski some of the elusive and exciting runs that aren’t open at the other times of the year.
Describe to your readers why spring at Squaw Valley blends the best of both worlds: sunny California weather and an abundant snow pack. In addition, the springtime means more elbow room on the slopes, less need for bulky clothes and the opportunity to enjoy Squaw’s many outdoor sundecks and patios. Above all, spring also brings ‘corn’ snow. This snow is created when the snow enters a freeze-and-melt cycle. The snow freezes at night and then softens gradually throughout the day as it is warmed by the sun. To the skier or snowboarder, the corn snow surface is soft and forgiving and makes turning easy and fun.
#4 Squaw Valley’s Olympic Legends
Squaw Valley USA became internationally famous in February of 1960 when over 800 athletes and 30 national teams gathered from around the globe for the VIII Winter Olympic Games. The historic 1960 Winter Olympics remain one of Squaw Valley’s most notable achievements and one of the ski industry’s most interesting stories. Since the 1960 Olympics, Squaw Valley USA has long held a tradition of coaching athletes to international success. Squaw’s six peaks and 4,000 acres of varied terrain and traditionally long ski season have proven to be the perfect recipe for producing Olympic athletes. Jimmy Heuga and Greg Jones, both from Squaw Valley, captured Olympic Bronze in 1964 and 1976 respectively. Tamara McKinney, 1983 overall World Cup Champion and World Championship Gold Medalist and still America’s most winningest female ski racer, also calls Squaw Valley home and has channeled her love of racing into training young skiers as a coach for Squaw’s junior race program. On February 27, 1998 Squaw Valley USA renamed KT-22’s famous mogul run The West Face after Squaw Valley Freestyle Team member Jonny Moseley in recognition of his life-long commitment to the art of freestyle skiing and his winning Gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. In February 2002, Squaw Valley Freestyle skier Shannon Bahrke continued the winning tradition with her silver medal in moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT. Squaw Valley was represented in full force at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Squaw Valley athletes included alpine skier, Marco Sullivan (2002, 2006), the first Olympic snowboarder to come out of Squaw, Nate Holland (2006), and 2006 Olympic Gold Medalist, Julia Mancuso (2002, 2006). Introduce your readers to one or many of Squaw’s star athletes.#5 Squallywood
One of the greatest testaments of Cushing’s success is that Squaw Valley has become a sort of haven for world-class skiers and snowboarders. They say the proof is in the pudding and in Squaw’s case, the ingredients to the pudding is three scoops of the world’s best skiers and a couple handfuls of the world’s top snowboarders. Whether they contract Squaw Valley gnarliness through the process of Tahoe-born-and-bred osmosis or, like pigs to mud, were drawn to Squallywood by an unbeknownst magnetic force, it is no secret that the best of the best call Squaw Valley home. Draw the comparison between actors to Hollywood and elite skiers and snowboarders to Squallywood. Interview members of Squaw Valley’s internationally famous Freeride Team and find out what makes Squaw Valley a mecca for snow sport athletes.
#6 Avalanche/Rescue Dogs and Resort Safety
Squaw Valley USA has one of the largest avalanche safety programs in the country. Snow safety is required when Squaw Valley receives more than 6” of new snow. With 4,000 acres of terrain the patrol has 35 “snow safety routes” and can use up to 900 pounds of explosives (more hand charges and more explosives than most resorts in the US) in one day. During strong storm cycles, patrollers often arrive at work before 4:00 am to prepare the mountain for skiers and snowboarders. Squaw Valley also utilizes avalanche rescue dogs in snow safety efforts. The dogs are trained to assist in recovery efforts in the case of an avalanche. In conjunction with their training program the Squaw Valley Ski Patrol hosts an avalanche rescue dog seminar each year, bringing dogs and handlers from across the country to Squaw Valley to improve their skills and learn new methods for search and rescue. Squaw Valley’s Patrol was also one of the first to implement the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to ensure that Ski Patrollers have the tools available to offer superior emergency medical care to guests. An AED machine delivers an electric shock to the heart known as defibrillation. This is considered the definitive treatment for sudden cardiac arrest. Squaw Valley’s Ski Patrol has been a driving force behind making AED use standard at Ski Resorts across the country. For the past two seasons, Squaw Valley has been one of the winners of the National Ski Areas Association’s National Ski Area Safety Contest. Show readers the wide variety of safety procedures in place at Squaw Valley USA to ensure the guests’ well being.#7 The World’s Most Advanced Lift Network
From the beginning, Squaw Valley’s key to success has been revolutionary design and operation. Squaw Valley opened on Thanksgiving Day, 1949 with one chairlift that was billed “The Worlds Largest Chairlift.” Delve into Squaw Valley’s timeline of lift innovation. In 1963 Squaw Valley built its first gondola, and later, in 1969, installed North America’s largest aerial cable car. In 1985 the resort constructed the first of several state-of-the-art, high-speed, detachable quad chairlifts. Squaw Valley’s Founder and Chairman, Alex Cushing, always said, “We’re in the uphill transportation business.” Squaw Valley’s commitment to providing the newest and best in lift technology is evidenced today by the resort’s 34 lifts including: 1 Funitel, 1 Cable Car, 1 Pulse Gondola, 4 Express six-pacs, 3 Express Quads, 1 Fixed-Grip Quad, 8 triples, 10 doubles, and 2 Magic Carpets.#8 Squaw Kids Rule
Squaw Valley’s children’s ski school offers a variety of activities and ski lessons for ages 3-12. Three distinct programs; Snow Cubs, Snow Sliders and Jr. Mountain School are designed to encourage skill development with a priority on fun. Snow Cubs caters to our three and four year old guests with fun activities, a ski lesson and snow play. Snow Sliders educates our four to six year old guests where Groups will explore the mountain according to their skill level. The full day program includes several hours of on-snow instruction, a short juice break and a 1 hour lunch break. For our six to twelve year olds the Jr. Mountain School focuses on slope etiquette, equipment knowledge, safety, basic skills development, and of course FUN! Offer readers a glimpse of the Squaw Valley ski experience through the perceptive eyes of a child. It offers parents one stop shopping when it comes to their children’s ski and snowboarding lessons. Squaw Kids is conveniently located at the base of the mountain with its own dedicated rope tow, magic carpets, and ski hill. The Squaw Kids Children’s Center is a unique 12,000 square foot facility, a paragon of sustainability, with its system which extracts heat from the earth to heat the building.#9 24-Hours of Squaw Valley
Skiers and snowboarders may not realize that employees work “round-the-clock” at Squaw Valley USA to ensure an excellent guest experience. From the evening crew at High Camp who keep the restaurants, ice rink, tubing arena and restaurants running into the night to our hardworking team of groomers that burn the midnight oil to provide the best conditions possible. There are the early morning food service employees baking and preparing for hungry guests, parking lot attendants, ski patrol and snow reporters, lift operators, race services staff, retail employees, ski and snowboard rental technicians, guest services staff and many more. It takes the efforts of all to make this resort function. Help skiers and snowboarders understand what it takes to run Squaw Valley USA each day.