Dick Bass Inducted into Utah Tourism Hall of Fame

Snowbird, Utah (Ski Press)-Dick Bass, owner and Chairman of Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, was inducted into the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame during the fifth annual Utah Tourism Conference, today, May 14, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The award recognizes individuals whose personal efforts have contributed substantially to shaping the world’s perspective of the state of Utah. Bass received the honor for a career in the ski industry that began in 1962 and has culminated with building Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort into an internationally known mountain resort.

Bass’s lifelong involvement in the ski industry began in 1962 when he invested as one of the original limited partners in the Vail Ski Resort development in Colorado. Since then, he has served on the Board of Directors of Vail Associates Inc., assisted with Vail's development of the Beaver Creek Ski Resort under his brother, Harry Bass Jr., and owned stock in the Aspen Ski Corporation and the Alta Ski Lifts Company.

Stowell Joins Salomon

Ogden, Utah (SP)-Salomon USA is pleased to announce its new Apparel Manager, Nora Stowell. Stowell will direct the Apparel team in both Sales and Category Management, creating a cohesive plan to unite both sides of the business with a consistent vision for success. Stowell begins her duties at Salomon this week.

Nora comes to the company with a proven track record in the sporting goods industry. She began her career at Boulder Gear Ski and Snowboard Apparel, working her way up to Sales & Marketing Director. Nora then moved on to New Balance as a Sales Planning Manager, where she played an integral role in the business plan development and implemented programs to reduce excess inventory levels. She most recently was the Division Manager for Völkl Performance Wear – pioneering the brand and managing the business over the past four years in the US.

“We’re excited to have someone with Nora’s knowledge and experience to direct and develop the Salomon apparel program here in the U.S.” says Bill Nicoll, Vice President of Salomon USA. “She’s a great fit with the Salomon team who lives the same lifestyle that our key customers enjoy.”

Esurance Back for ICER AIR

San Francisco (SP)-ICER AIR announced a three-year partnership with Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company, as part of an ongoing relationship between the two companies. Esurance has been a title sponsor of the urban big air ski and snowboard competition for the previous two years.

“Esurance has been a terrific partner for us,“ noted ICER AIR creator Glen Griffin. “It’s a great brand fit as we are both innovators within our respective industries. Both of our companies celebrate creativity, innovation, and pushing boundaries.“

Over the past three years, ICER AIR has become an annual marquee event in San Francisco, attracting thousands of spectators, extensive media attention and national visibility each year as Olympic and X Games champions vie for the coveted ICER AIR title. Competing athletes push the boundaries, performing their ultimate ski and snowboard jumps during the San Francisco action sports, music, and lifestyle event.

Placid Film Forum’s Competition Returns

Lake Placid, NY (SP)-The Lake Placid Film Forum will once again present "Sleepless in Lake Placid", a 24 Hour Filmmaking Competition, featuring the on-site creations of teams of students from various colleges in the Northeast. The event will serve as an anchor for the Forum which takes place June 12-15.

Five colleges have accepted the invitation from the Adirondack Film Society to participate in this year's competition, Syracuse University, Burlington College, Ithaca College, Emerson College and Plattsburgh State University.

Inspired by the popular 24-hour competitions, but shaped in accordance with the Forum's mission, this particular film contest emphasizes the educational experience involved in making a short film within a drastically circumscribed time frame and certain parameters set out by the rules. On the morning of June 12, the teams will meet and be presented with a concept and a list of required elements for the films. At noon, the clock will start ticking as the students conceptualize, script, cast and deliver a DVD of a film no longer than ten minutes. The teams will shoot their films in locations in and around Lake Placid. They will also be working with mostly local actors, recruited by Arlene Day and Kevin Craig West.

Endless Winter at Windham

Windham, NY (SP)-Windham Mountain announced today it will host the Endless Winter Rail Jam on Saturday, May 24, 2008.

The season will switch back to winter over Memorial Day Weekend as snowboarders and skiers ride the rails down "What’s Next." The mountain is green, but a pile of snow will be pushed and prodded into perfect position for this family-friendly annual event. Locals and visitors clad in shorts and T-shirts can enjoy music, food and raffle prizes in a fun jib park atmosphere at Windham Mountain.

The rail jam is slated to begin at 10 A.M. and end at 2 P.M. on the 24th. Sponsors will provide the swag for the raffle, the grill will be fired up and the music will be crankin’. The only charge is for whatever food and drink people want to buy.