The Voice of the Alpiner
 by Scott Kaden, President of PNSAA

Editors Note: Often, ski area expansion is contentious and controversial. Scott Kaden, President of the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association, describes how snowsport instructors involvement might help lead to a better public policy making process.

Land use decisions linked with ski area operations are complex – involving environmental laws, lots of science, and the art of trying to fully understand and implement the intent of federal and state land management directives and longstanding treaty rights.

Unfortunately, when ski area rehabilitation and expansion plans are considered, the collective voice of alpine skiers and snowboarders is barely audible. Deliberations generally include the proponent of the ski area project (i.e., ski area management), the agency responsible for ski area permit administration, and the well-financed, environmental pressure groups (who are generally,  but not always, in opposition to ski area rehabilitation and expansion projects). The positive attributes of winter recreation are rarely given the full consideration they deserve because the wintertime users of our public lands are not fully engaged in the decision making process.

The Northwest Snowsports Advocates (NWSA) organization was formed to help amplify the voice of the alpiner. The group’s chief mission is to serve as a conduit of news and information related to rehabilitation and expansion of Northwest ski areas. Steve Coxen, President of the Northwest Ski Club Council, unveiled the NWSA project last fall. Coxen noted how key user groups had been largely left out of some land use decisions; Coxen explained how NWSA hopes to disseminate accurate information about the region’s various ski area expansion projects – doing so primarily via the website www.nwskiers.org/nwsa. Later, in The Oregonian newspaper report, Coxen explained “We’re not saying that all expansion is good expansion … It’s my belief that continual (environmental) improvement and responsible development can improve the environment in those areas, but unless you have good dialogue that talks about the environment in a rational manner, then you’re not going to get there.” Coxen hopes that skiers and snowboarders decide to participate in the ongoing planning and approval processes, which will largely determine the ultimate complexion of our region’s ski areas.

With genuine involvement of winter- and summer-based user groups, the ski area operators expect the policy making process will better reflect the gamut of environmental, social, and economic concerns. For more information on the numerous ski area projects that are currently in process, visit www.nwskiers.org/nwsa.