For more than 23 years, the Twin Cities Independent Ski Areas Association (TCISAA) has sponsored the Media Ski Series at each of the member-areas within the Twin Cities. The Series started in 1983 as an effort to get the media community out on skis during the winter, so they could understand, appreciate and even enjoy the sport of skiing. If they did, hopefully they would be encouraged to talk about it on the air or write about in their publications. To entice participation, each ski area offered deeply discounted lift tickets and provided free instruction and free lunch. Almost immediately, virtually every major media company in town had a team competing for the Championship loving cup.
What started as a quest for a bit of "positive press," has turned into a very successful, season-long recreational racing & skiing league for the media. And, while the effort to garner a little promotion from time-to-time hasn't left the Series, TCISAA did add the element of charity to help benefit handicapped skiers and legitimize the coverage requests in the process.
Today, over twenty different media companies from the Twin Cities market participate in the Series, competing head-to-head in two categories, at events throughout the season. Host areas include Afton Alps, Buck Hill, Trollhaugen, Welch Village and Wild Mountain.
Approximately 50% of all proceeds that are collected from team fees and racer lift tickets are donated by TCISAA each year to help charitable organizations and individuals. Media racers are encouraged to suggest worthy organizations to receive these donations.
Despite its label as a "race series," the Media Ski Series not only gives talented "racers" the chance to compete it also provides a winter gathering place for a variety of creative people from print, TV, radio and electronic media companies, regardless of their skiing ability. We certainly do encourage the media to provide coverage to the events where the true value comes from participants being out and really just having fun on the snow.
|
