Mountain Rider’s Alliance mountains would change the current ski resort model by taking the priority off of selling lift tickets and passes by selling memberships in each ski area it owns.

Think heli-skiing without the heli.

Rich Walcoff and Jamie Schectman discuss ski industry sustainability and the current state of the Tahoe Ski industry. (Interview starts at minute 27)

In a trend that extends beyond the holiday season, gear makers are partnering with philanthropies to promote causes close to the hearts of owners and employees.

In the 1980′s and 90′s ski areas got out of the uphill transportation business and got into the resort business

They have an epic design and only 500 will be sold so you will have the opportunity to ride some kick a** boards, be the envy of all your snow riding buddies, and have a great conversation piece on the lift and during those backcounty dayz.

in the 80′s and 90′s, ski areas got out of the uphill transportation business and got into the resort development, and culinary, and out-of-boot experiences. So that was kind of the motivation for us to say ‘well, did you know there’s another way? Let’s focus on the community, and environment and being rider centric’, and with that the Mountain Riders Alliance was born.

To partner with local, national and international non profits to make the world a better place.

MRA is working with a class at Alaska Pacific University to help shape the outdoor education offerings. The group hopes to offer avalanche training and wilderness survival courses, and also introduce kids to safe outdoor recreation.

I’m not pretending to have the answers, but what I find fascinating is the debate from both sides and what that is teaching me about how skiers think. One such movement that is picking up a lot of steam in the industry is Mountain Rider’s Alliance.