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CCSAA Annual Convention 2008

registration
$125 CCSAA members, $75 additional for non-members.
Day rates available. Please inquire.
Register with CCSAA using the official registration form and return to CCSAA along with payment or phone with your credit card information.
603.239.4341

ccsaa@xcski.org
Visa and MasterCard accepted.

downloadDownload CCSAA Convention Registration Form (word format)
downloadDownload CCSAA Convention Registration Form (pdf format)

lodging & meals
Newly built lodge with emphasis on environmental considerations.
Resort Lodge amenities include: pool, sauna, hot tub, bowling alley, and air hockey.
Reservations for lodging & meal plans are made directly with Devil's Thumb Ranch.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
800.933.4339
lodging $109 per night
meal plan $55 per day


travel
Convenient & affordable location from the Denver International Airport.

  • Travel Agent
    • CCSAA member travel agent ski.com is ready to assist you with your travel arrangements. Call Newman at ski.com: 800.525.2052, ext. 3332
  • Shuttle Services
    • Shuttle service airport pick-up at noon & 7pm upon arrangement with Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Eliminates the need for a rental car. Shuttle $40/pp one way (min. group to qualify for that price, 4 persons). Devil's Thumb Ranch will help group people. Call to reserve shuttle. 800.933.4339
    • For those who either don’t qualify for the DTR group shuttle or don’t want to wait at the airport for pick-up, individual shuttle reservations can be made with Home James: 970.726.5060

agenda
Seminars; presentations; on-snow demo for snowmaking, trail grooming and skiing; silent auction; networking; and skiing. Clinics with past and present members of the PSIA Demo Team. Educational programs will focus on energy, climate and the environment as it relates to our industry.

See below for complete agenda.
downloadDownload CCSAA Convention Brochure

skiing
Skiing will be in abundance with both Devil's Thumb Ranch’s 125 km trail system and neighboring Snow Mountain just 10 minutes away, with 100 km of trails! Nordic rentals (SNS) at Devil's Thumb Ranch will be complimentary.

Winter Park is 15 minutes away with complimentary shuttle service for those who want some alpine or tele-skiing. Discounted lift tickets and rental gear may be available.

family friendly
CCSAA encourages you to make a vacation of the convention with the affordable travel, lodging and meal packages.
kids meal plan $22.50/day
So many of our member ski areas are family-run. Why not share in the fun and friendships. Family-friendly format includes: cabin rentals with full kitchen, day care, kids meal plan, and complimentary shuttle service to town for groceries or the Winter Park Resort.



agenda detail
as of 2/25/08
changes as to times of sessions may be made prior to the convention

Is Cross Country Green?

APRIL 7, 2008 MONDAY EVENING
7:00 pm Introductions & Opening Ceremony
Scott McGee, Chairman of the CCSAA Board & Chris Frado, President of CCSAA
Nordic torchlight ski to the Broad Axe Barn to open the CCSAA Convention. Gallery views from the windows & deck.
7:30 pm A Devil’s Thumb History
Seth Martin, asst. general mgr. Devil’s Thumb Ranch
A visual presentation.
8:00 pm Nordic Friends & Neighbors
Todd Wilson (former US Team member), Dick Taylor (architect of Devil’s Thumb Ranch nordic program) & Seth Martin, facilitator
Locals done good! A proud community celebrates their nordic personalities & achievements.

APRIL 8, 2008 TUESDAY
7:30-9:00 am Breakfast/Ski/Snowshoe
9:00 am Introductions
Power Point show of each attendees’ home pages and a few shots of their area with names of participants at the convention.
9:30 am Energy and Climate
Allen Best, journalist
Allen has been reporting and writing about energy use, pollution, and changes industry is making in how they operate on the planet.
10:00 am Save Our Snow
Mark Williams, scientist
Projections on future snow conditions in Colorado in 2030 and 2100.
11:00 am The Greening of the Ski Industry
Michael Berry, president National Ski Areas Association
Lessons from our colleagues in the mountain resort industry.
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch & CCSAA Annual Meeting
1:00 pm The Greening of Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Bob Fanch, owner Devil’s Thumb Ranch
How the Ranch went green, its unique footprint, and response from guests & the media.
2:00 pm Environmental Sustainability of Trail Systems
& Base Lodges

John Frado, consultant Nordic Group International
Environmental sustainability in developing, constructing and maintaining nordic trails & centers.
3:00 pm Marketing & Branding of a Green Resort
Holly Johnson & Suzanne Fanch
How to project a focused message while effectively targeting your demographic customer. Holly is a public relations consultant representing Devil’s Thumb Ranch since 2001.
4:00-5:30 pm Free Time: Ski, Snowshoe, Hike, Shop, etc.
5:30 pm Social Hour
6:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Middle Park Land Trust
Bill Summerlin, president Middle Park Land Trust
How the Park got started, who and how they did it.

APRIL 9, 2008 WEDNESDAY
7:30-8:00 am Breakfast
8:00-9:00 am

Journalists Roundtable
Holly Johnson, facilitator
Roundtable of suggestions on nordic articles, journalists’ favorite stories, and tips on being selected for an article. Open Q & A from the gallery on any media topic.

  • Cara McDonald
    deputy editor of 5280
  • Allen Best
    freelance journalist
  • Ron Bergin
    editor & publisher Cross Country Skier
  • Benjamin Sadavoy
    editor & publisher SkiTrax, Pedal, and Bike Trade Canada
  • Roger Lohr
    xcskiresorts.com, MSNBC, and freelance writer
  • Jonathan Wiesel
    nordic writer, guidebook author, and consultant.

Other writers joining the panel will be announced at a later date. Holly is a public relations consultant with Imagica Commuications whose client list includes Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

9:15 am-Noon

On-Snow Activities:

  • Snowmaking Demo & Grooming Test Drives
  • Snowshoeing
  • Skiing & Equipment Demo
10:00 am Parade of Groomers & Clinic Coaches
MC announces & comments on the grooming vehicles as they drive by followed by the coaches for the ski clinics as they ski by.
10:30 am Ski Clinics
PSIA Demo team (Scott McGee coach & Dan Clausen), past Demo Team members (Mickey Stone & Herb Davis), David Stewart coach Denver University Nordic Team, and Dick Taylor former coach US Nordic Team.
An impressive line-up of ski coaches & ski instructors are ready to help you improve your personal ski skills as well as your teaching. Share ideas with others, critique each other, and enjoy learning on skis.
12:00-1:00 pm On-Snow BBQ
1:00-2:00 pm Grooming Chalk Talk (outdoors)
Dave Zink, owner Tidd Tech
Dave knows trail grooming, nordic skiing and machinery. Avid nordic skiers and coaches, he and his wife Karen are raising a family of skiers, ages 9, 11 and 13. Their home, which they formally operated as a b&b for skiers, adjoins Devil's Thumb Ranch. The 6 km of trails and nordic terrain park they designed and built are now part of the Devil’s Thumb trail system, and serve as home base for an after school ski program that Karen runs, as well as the Tidd Tech R&D facility. Even though Tidd Tech is located high in the Colorado mountains where snow is usually plentiful, Dave’s Minnesota roots and the influence of Vermont founder John Tidd still drive his company’s philosophy of designing lightweight grooming equipment that excels in tough conditions: low snow, hard pack and ice. Dave’s background in engineering, years of trail grooming experience and love of the sport of cross country skiing keeps him thinking about building and grooming better ski trails for skiers – what do skiers need and desire, and how can a ski trail professional provide that efficiently given the challenges of conditions and cost.
2:00-3:00 pm Same Customer; Different Perspectives
ski suppliers & representative nordic centers
Two panels address the same questions so we each learn from the other.
3:00-4:00 pm Are Grooming & Snowmaking Green
snowmaking and grooming suppliers & representative nordic centers
Two panels address the same questions so we each learn from the other.
4:00 pm Antje Harvey “A Ski Story To Remember”
Antje & Ian Harvey
Ian Harvey introduces his wife, Olympic & World Champion, Antje (Misersky) Harvey. Hear her emotional and amazing story. Why she switched from cross country to biathlon. Highlights in video clips and pics. Open discussion and questions with Antje.
5:30 pm Leisure Trends
Jim Spring, president
Demographics and recreational trends in the outdoor industry.
6:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Silent Auction
Everyone donates an item from their nordic center, business or area of the country. Funds help supplement CCSAA promotional efforts.

APRIL 10, 2008 THURSDAY
7:30-8:30 am Breakfast/Ski/Snowshoe
8:45 am

Marketing Plan Essentials
Jonathan Wiesel, consultant Nordic Group International
Why you need one & how to create it.

11:15 am

A Merchandiser’s Perspective
Amy Brannan, REI store manager

11:45 am Credit Card Merchant Security
Ron Nation, president Regency Merchant Solutions
What every credit card merchant should know about credit card security. Regency Merchant Solutions is CCSAA’s endorsed credit card processor.
12:15 pm Lunch
12:45 pm

Field Trip:
Snow Mountain Ranch or Winter Park Resort

  • Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies invites us to sample their 100km trail system on skis or snowshoes. Take a tour of the facilities and hear their story. Host Jeff Schmidt, nordic director.
  • Winter Park Resort invites alpine & tele skiers to enjoy their slopes. Lift fees may be discounted.
6:00 pm Social Hour
7:00 pm Banquet and Fashion Show
It’s a visual treat to see the latest in nordic fashion from Toko, Sporthill, Swix, Bjorn Daehlie (imported by Alpina), Rossignol, Ibex, Neve, Dale of Norway, Craft, and others.

So, start planning now to attend the professional development event of the season....the CCSAA Annual Convention!

www.xcski.org
877-779-2754 or 603-239-4341
ccsaa@xcski.org

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