Online Sites for Skiers Are as Variable as Weather Forecasts for Snow

From online auctions of backpacks and parabolic skis to real-time views of weather conditions on the slopes, ski-related Web sites are promising a blizzard of new deals, advice and information this winter.

But as a reminder that too many Internet resources for the downhill contingent can be classified as “icy with rocks” or “full of unmarked hazards,” look no further than Ski Central (https://www.skicentral .com), a highly touted, easy-to-use compendium of more than 4,400 snow sport sites.

A recent Ski Central search for “Vail” turned up 72 suggestions, sorted alphabetically and by category. Alas, the two I clicked at random weren’t exactly powder quality: Blue Sky Ski Rental and Repair in Glenwood Springs, Colo., lured me in with the promise of an online coupon good for $5 off a ski rental, but the deal had expired in April 1997.

“Brian’s Tips on Skiing in Colorado,” meanwhile, greets visitors with the disconcerting announcement that “this page is continually under construction . . . it will probably be done by the end of the month.” The last revision was Jan. 23, 1998.

“Skiers have to take these sites with a huge grain of salt,” says Web consultant and avid skier Paula Eisenberg, who bemoans the fact that even when pages are updated and accurate, they’re often bogged down with too many graphics and photos of red-jacketed skiers heading down an unidentifiable mountain.

So where’s a would-be cyber-schusser to turn?

For unvarnished advice on anything from where to find the best apres-ski margaritas to whether the snow is really worth a four-hour drive this weekend, Usenet’s low-tech bulletin boards, or newsgroups, remain a popular draw. A check of Ski Central’s “Newsgroups/FAQ” section turned up “The rec.skiing Frequently Asked Questions List” (https://www.darryl .com/skiing/), where a skier opined that the runs in Keystone, Colo., “get unbearably crowded midseason with an obnoxious variety of Texans, and the natural snowfall is significantly less than that of the other Summit County resorts. Otherwise, the front side is completely groomed on a daily basis and offers long beginner/intermediate cruising.”

Eisenberg says her own Ski Lovers Page (https://www.skilovers .com)--a discussion forum that attracts 500 to 600 postings a week during the height of the ski season--is the electronic equivalent of a “bunch of friends sitting around in my living room, drinking beer and talking about the last run of the day.”

Many commercially oriented sites emphasize firsthand reports and exchanges--most notably GoSki (https://www.goski.com), which relies on a team of more than 11,000 correspondents to review equipment and facilities at about 2,000 resorts in more than 30 countries.

The recently revamped SkiNet (https://www.skinet.com) combines the considerable resources of SKI and Skiing magazines, touting such features as snow reports updated three times daily, a customized search of SKI’s Top 60 North American resorts and an interactive guide to buying snow gear based on the conditions you typically encounter. But point your browser to SkiNet’s well-researched story on “How to plan a ski vacation for $1,000 or less,” and you’ll be directed to a series of toll-free phone numbers, not Web addresses.

The Mountain Zone (https://www.mountainzone.com) and its sister site, SkiResorts.com (https://www.skiresorts.com), target skiers, snowboarders, climbers and mountain bikers with industry news, online lodging reservations and equipment sales. New this season: an electronic auction that earlier this month was hawking about a dozen items, from a Swiss Army watch to an SOS Avalanche Transceiver that sold for $140, down from a list price of $245.

Considered novelties just a few years ago, “resort cams” that provide continuously updated mountain views are cropping up everywhere. Resort Sports Network (https://www.rsn.com) supplies images from more than 60 ski areas-- most in New England, the West Coast and the Rockies--and last-minute travel deals, some of which can be booked online. You can also access RSN’s on-location cams at the Weather Channel’s new Skier’s Forecast (https://www.weather.com), which provides daily ski reports for nearly 200 resorts worldwide and a snowfall forecast for the U.S. West and East coasts. For a comprehensive insider’s view of 15 resorts in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra, check out Mark Bixby’s Southland Ski Server (https://www .skisocal.org). His self-described “labor of love” supplies trail maps, prices, discounted lift ticket information, road conditions and ski reports from both resorts and recent skiers--along with some graphic descriptions of knee injuries.

Electronic Explorer appears monthly. Comments and questions are welcome at LSBly@aol.com.