Released on = January 9, 2007, 4:52 am

Press Release Author = The Heliski | Catski Journal

Industry = Media

Press Release Summary = The luxury magazine will serve the ski industry\'s only
growing market segment

Press Release Body = Sun Valley, Idaho...In March, 2007, skiers and riders will be
able to lay claim to the only magazine dedicated to the rapidly expanding helicopter
and snowcat skiing industry. Published quarterly, the high-quality, comprehensive
journal will introduce readers to the 95+ operators, their technology, the thousands
of guides, pilots, owners and guests, and the millions of backcountry acres explored
by the expanding community of intermediate to expert-level riders. The full-color,
heavy-stock, coffee-table publication will be distributed by subscription and
through select shops and outlets.

Skinner Media, founder of Mountain Resort Magazine, has partnered with the three
associations governing heli- and cat- operations to produce The Journal: HELI-SKI
US, THE UNITED STATES SNOWCAT SKI ASSOCIATION, and HELICAT CANADA. An Editorial
Board has also been formed consisting of the leading minds in the industry with
representatives from the operators, manufacturers including K2 and
Dynastar-Look-Lange, Snowsports Industries America and more.

\"The number of cat- and heli- opportunities has nearly doubled in the last five
years,\" said publisher Gard Skinner, \"while the number of guest days has not taken a
hit. Visits now measure in the hundreds of thousands; these operations are growing
their market. The barriers used to be cost and ability, but with resort prices
escalating, the gap between cat or heli skiing and any destination vacation has
narrowed considerably.\"

"One of the common misunderstandings about helicopter skiing is that you must be an
expert skier,\" added Sigi Vogl, Executive Director of Heli-Ski US Association. \"Too
many films have depicted this as an extreme sport. The fact is heli skiing is a
wonderful activity for the family and no guest has to be an expert skier. Technology
has been a huge boost with the advent of the fat ski, making backcountry skiing easy
for intermediate skiers. Now, as snowboarding has matured, the helicopter skiing
industry has seen a large spike in the amount of heli boarders. They are a welcome
emerging market.\"

\"Safety is always our number 1 priority,\" stressed Mike Wiegele, owner and guide at
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing. \"The industry demands the highest level of
certification, training and instruction from our professional guides, and it is our
responsibility to ensure our clients have a safe and enjoyable experience. The sport
which was once defined as an adventure is now re-defined as a safe, affordable
vacation for everyone in the family. This is in part due to the knowledge and
education surrounding snow science, safety, and hazards.\"

Bob Rule, Executive Director of the United States Snowcat Skiing Association, said,
\"Every day, more fat boards are sold than race boards. Snow science expertise
expands and is shared across our network. An escalating number of both affluent and
middle-class consumers have come to realize that what was once an experience they
could only dream about is safe, incredibly addictive, and readily available.\"

The magazine will focus on the wide range of helicopter and snowcat operations in
North America, and on the dozens more that spring up each year worldwide. The gear,
machines, personalities, traditions, knowledge and terrain will all be shared in its
pages. Each issue will also serve as the only up-to-date, complete directory of
operators in North America. More information is at www.heliskijournal.com &
www.catskijournal.com.

Skinner concluded, \"Any journalist would thrive on the opportunity to tell these
stories. The operators are pioneers and the guests are avid adventurers. No other
publication has been produced with the sole purpose of documenting the history and
the accomplishment taking place on this frontier. Skiers and riders make up a huge,
powerful, global community. It matters little if we spend our day in a terrain park,
race course, in the bumps, freeskiing, hiking, or in the bowls. The binding thing is
that we all aspire to make our turns in deep, fresh snow. It is the common
denominator for every skier and rider--it is our relationship with each other--and
that won\'t change. Hopefully, we\'ll be able to help make the experience a reality
for as many readers as possible.\"

Contact: (252) 261-3437, gard@heliskijournal.com. The Heliski | Catski Journal is a
proud member of:



Web Site = http://www.heliskijournal.com

Contact Details = Gard Skinner
252 261 3437
Sun Valley, ID
gard@heliskijournal.com