Alpine Skills International (ASI) and Sugar Bowl Ski Resort announce an historic and strategic partnership for this year. More than just a merging of marketing efforts, ASI’s Backcountry Adventure Center will be a dedicated physical presence in Sugar Bowl’s ski village.
After years at the forefront of promoting backcountry skiing through classes and guided tours around the world, ASI is now combining their mountaineering know-how with Sugar Bowl’s recognition that core customers want to ski the whole mountain, not just under the lifts.
It is all part of the progression envisioned by Bela and Mimi Vadasz when they founded ASI 30 years ago. What set them apart from other guide services in the ‘80s was their emphasis on ski mountaineering. As a result, ASI taught backcountry skiing while most American guiding outfits took the attitude that skiing was for skiers, not mountaineers. Except back then it wasn’t called backcountry skiing. It was called ski mountaineering, or ski alpinism and only skiers crazy enough to ski the Grand Teton, like Bill Briggs, or Denali, like Sylvan Saudan, engaged in such reckless behavior. Or so it seems in retrospect.
By the mid-‘90s, Sugar Bowl had felt the presence of backcountry skiers, thanks in part to the proximity of ASI. Right next door to Sugar Bowl, Bela and Mimi regularly taught backpackers and climbers the thrills of making fresh tracks on the east face of Mt. Judah, which also happened to be the eastern border of Sugar Bowl’s lift-accessed playground.
The relationship between backcountry skiers and Sugar Bowl has a history of disputes, but on the whole Sugar Bowl has maintained a backcountry-friendly attitude. Access from the resort has remained open except during rare days with high avalanche danger, but they have never restricted pure backcountry access.
John Monson, Sugar Bowl’s marketing director says, ‘With Sugar Bowl’s impressive sidecountry terrain and improved access via the new summit chair, there’s an elevated need for programs aimed at educating skiers and riders on safe backcountry travel. The new Backcountry Adventure Center will deliver just that, as well as some great powder skiing, of course. ASI is the perfect partner to run the show, having intimate knowledge of Sugar Bowl’s terrain beyond the ropes, a proven track record of successful programs, and a professional staff of guides focused on the guest’s experience.’
In the past decade there has been progressive acceptance of open boundaries throughout American ski resorts. With this partnering, Sugar Bowl is saying backcountry skiing is not just allowed, it is an integral part of the services they provide.
To celebrate this development and to kick off the upcoming season, ASI and Sugar Bowl will be hosting a Backcountry Ball at The Lodge at Sugar Bowl Resort on Saturday Nov. 21, from 5 to 10 p.m. The Crawlers will be playing live at the ball, with a Hutte-style buffet, a cash bar, and prizes. Tickets are $15 – $5 of which will go to support the Sierra Avalanche Center – and are available via alpineskills.com or sugarbowl.com or pick ‘em up at The Back Country shop in Truckee.
