JS: We want to bring the triple bottom line philosophy of people, planet, then profit to the ski industry. We want the sport to refocus on the ski experience. Many of us passionate skiers and riders are not interested in the current corporate ski model, where the focus is on the out of boot amenities, theme park attractions, and real estate sprawl. JS: We started MRA in 2009 because of our growing concerns about the direction our beloved sport has taken. SD: Can you give me some history about Mountain Riders Alliance? How did it get started and why? I recently asked Jamie Schectman, one of MRA’s co-founders, to tell us more about his organization. Its stated goal: to develop values-based, environmentally-friendly, rider-centric mountain playgrounds that have a positive impact in the local community. Is there an alternative? Hal Clifford, a former editor at SKI Magazine and the Aspen Daily News, thinks so, and discusses it in his fascinating book, “ Downhill Slide: Why the Corporate Ski Industry is Bad for Skiing.” (I highly recommend it.) And so does Mountain Riders Alliance, an organization that’s made it its mission to create ski areas that focus less on infrastructure and more on the mountain. And most distressing of all: the focus seems to be less on skiing, and more on the corporate bottom line.
The development contributes to urban-style problems and can have an adverse effect on both the environment and the local community. Lots of people enjoy them, and I tell myself they help support the skiing. To be sure, there’s some great skiing there, too. Go to Vail or Breckenridge, or to dozens of other ski resorts, and you’ll find condos, fancy base villages, and a whole host of off-snow activities. Most of the mom & pops have been replaced with mega-resorts that trade on Wall Street. But they were closely tied to the surrounding community, and the focus was squarely on skiing. They weren’t huge and I’m sure it was a struggle each year to stay alive.
You know, small family owned and operated places with a rope tow, maybe one or two chair lifts, a few trails, not a lot of grooming, and minimal snowmaking. When I was a kid ( yeah, I know that makes me sound about a million years old), there were loads of mom & pop ski areas around.
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