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Ski Quote Of The Week

By J.D. O'Connor
March 19, 2007

"At times, I believe the ski industry has become so big it can no longer control itself anymore. Now the sport sometimes has nothing to do with the original spirit and the actual ski experience on slope. I see less courtesy, different attitudes and behavior that lacks the older foundations of the sport. Skiing is such a beautiful sport and a way of life, something inspiring. There is a pride of accomplishment that comes from doing it well, not one of doing it better than another. Most of all it is sharing your ski experience with friends and family. That is most important."

Stein Eriksen, on the state of the modern day ski industry.

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Comments

	SO TRUE.
	Posted by: bob dunn | March 19, 2007 10:24 AM

	In reference to Stein Eriksen's comments. I believe what we are seeing is the continued industrialization of the industry. The local independent sport shops and ski schools have and are being over run by the large corporations at the expense of the soul of the sport.
	Posted by: Scott Carrell | March 19, 2007 11:54 AM

Well stated Stein! For many of us (in the industry) getting on snow is more and more difficult as we spend our days and nights trying to provide a quality experience for our guests. The customer is more demanding due in part to the increased cost of our sport and their "wants and needs". Some want perfectly groomed cord' while others want the limited natural fresh powder. Its difficult to make them all happy. A difficult business yet an industry that addicts us. Keep skiing. Enjoy.

Posted by: Gregg Confer | March 19, 2007 12:15 PM

Stein always was, and continues to be a gentleman of the greatest magnitude; from his days of being the star of Harry and Jerry's consumer ski shows (he was the only one that ever sent a "thank you" to the PR guy for the exposure he got in media interviews, to this very day where he runs the SE Lodge in Deer Valley (I just left and it even outshines the good snow still there)....he is someone everyone's kid should emulate........thanks for being there Stein, we that learned a thing or two from you are grateful.....Tony

Posted by: Tony Furman | March 19, 2007 02:59 PM

How sad to see that we all agree with Stein's comments yet we mostly sit by idly while the corporate bean-counters continue to destroy our culture and our sport -- and all for bottom-line profits! From Nintendo ads in the terrain park to postioning Ski School as a "profit centre": everything on our mountains these days revolves around extracting as much money as possible from our customers. How can we teach newcomers to respect the ski experience when the people who run our business have so little respect for it themselves. Skiers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your corporate connections...

Posted by: Michel Beaudry | March 20, 2007 03:54 PM

Stein is square on. Several years ago I wrote an commentary for Skiing Trade News captioned "Our Industry Jeopardizes Its Future by Ignoring its Roots" That commentary pointed out that many in the industry today have fogotten, or never understood, that skiing is a sport first, a passion second and a business third. Making decision based entirely on the bottom line ignores the passion, fails to recognize that it is a sport and generally works to the detriment of the skiing guest. Roger Stuabach once desribed people in business as either Sharers or Gatherers. The Sharers in the industry - who worked for the common good - have largely been replaced by Gatherers - who work for their own good. And the worst of the Gathers are those who are Destructive Achievers, who strive to gain for themselves at any cost The industry has truly changed and not for the better. And much of that change is driven by the fact that the merged operating companies are much larger with loylaties just to their stakeholders.

Posted by: Jerry Groswold | March 21, 2007 06:21 AM