Organizers express shock and disappointment.
Happier days at the 2010 Skki Inn (photo by Douglass Weymouth).
The 2013 edition of the annual gathering known as the National Trikke Skki Inn — slated for early February — has been postponed indefinitely, due to a recent decision by Snowbasin Resort in Utah not to allow the Trikke Skki carving vehicle on its mountains anymore.
The largest U.S. gathering of Trikke Skki enthusiasts has been held in Utah for the past five years, but a change in management is apparently what led to the reversal of fortune for future events.
The Trikke Academy — organizers of the Skki Inn since 2011 — was informed of the setback right before the Thanksgiving holiday and issued this brief statement:
“We had high hopes and were surprised to hear of their decision, and even more so, disappointed it took them this long to notify us. We had already started weighing other options and are now trying very hard to come up with an alternate plan, which will surely mean creating a different type of Skki Inn experience. Cross your fingers, Trikkesters. Meanwhile, anyone interested in attending the Skki Inn should absolutely let us know asap. No deposit is required right now, but being able to gauge interest will certainly help, especially when it comes to figuring out lodging.”
For more on this developing story, including reactions from the Trikke world, as well as Snowbasin, stay tuned to TrikkeWorld.
What’s your reaction to Snowbasin’s decision to disallow the Trikke Skki? Enter your comments below.
DEVASTATED!!! The SKKI-INN has been the High-Light of my yearly activities for the past four years. I am appalled at the ignorance, irrational, and narrow-mindedness of many ski resorts and the insurance carriers that do not allow the Trikke SKKI to ‘share’ their slopes, and the late notification of SnowBasin’s ‘change of heart’! I was on the slopes (decades ago) when the advent of ‘short skis’ and Snowboards ‘invaded’ the traditional ski areas, and were BANNED due to unsubstantiated claims that they would ‘chop-up’ the mogul fields, and be a DANGER to the traditional skiers. The influx of young, hot-dogging, ‘surfer and skateboard’ types; bombing down the runs and attempting then radical maneuvers, only added to the ‘fears’. History and economics have proven them WRONG.
Unlike the snowboard, the Trikke SKKI is used by a more mature and safety minded population. In my opinion, the Trikke SKKI is much SAFER, easier to learn, and will open winter mountain recreation to a broader variety of people able to use the slopes. I have yet to hear ONE logical and rational reason, as to WHY the SKKI should not be allowed to share the mountains!