A Piece of Wisp at L.L. Bean

On Saturday, December 3, Maryland’s Wisp Resort will be trucking a few tons of snow to the Tysons Corner, Virginia and Columbia, Maryland locations of L.L. Bean. This will allow visitors to try out snowshoeing on real snow.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tysons Corner store, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Columbia location. The on-snow demonstrations are free.

For more information. visit www.wispresort.com.

Pro-Fit Ski & Skate Selected as One of America’s Best Bootfitters

Pro-Fit Ski & Skate, a ski retailer located in Leesburg, Virginia, has been selected as one of America’s Best Bootfitters (ABB).

“America’s Best Bootfitters designation is granted only to shops whose boot fitting and customization work has demonstrated a high level of expertise and consistency over the years and meets rigorous standards,” said Steve Cohen, executive director of ABB and the Masterfit University Boot Fit Training Centers.

To be named as one of America’s Best Bootfitters, a shop must have a supervising boot fitter with at least 8 years of experience, and at least two full-time staffers who have achieved top-level certifications from Masterfit University.

“Our goal is to provide the best fit and flex for each skier’s/rider’s individual performance on the mountain,” said Brian Deely, owner of Pro-Fit Ski & Skate. “Our boot services include stance alignment evaluation and adjustment, sole canting, shell stretching and grinding, liner modifications, and custom insoles.”

Pro-Fit Ski & Skate is located in the Bellewood Commons Shopping Center on East Market Street in Leesburg, Virginia. For more information, visit www.ski-skate.com or www.bootfitters.com.

There are eight ski shops in Pennsylvania and Virginia that have achieved ABB status. They include Nestor’s Warming Hut, Pinnacle Sports, and Nestor’s Sporting Goods in Pennsylvania; and Pro-Fit Ski & Sport and four locations of Freestyle in Virginia.

Winter Feels Good Campaign Launches Third Year

Three years ago, SnowSports Industries America (SIA) launched Winter Feels Good, a campaign to raise national public awareness of snowsports activities. On December 1, 2005, Winter Feels Good launched its third season with a re-tooled web site at www.winterfeelsgood.com. The updated site includes a new feature called the “Feels Good-O-Meter,” which will allow visitors to easily locate specialty retail stores, alpine resorts, and Nordic Centers throughout North America.

Winter Feels Good focuses on spreading word about the health benefits of winter sports. Members of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team have joined the effort, promoting opportunities for children and adults to earn a Presidential Active Lifetime Award or Presidential Champion Award through participation in winter activities.

Winter Feels Good also sponsors a companion effort called Winter Trails, which will offer a chance to try out snowshoeing and/or cross country skiing free at over 100 participating locations on January 7, 2006. More information on Winter Trails can be found at www.wintertrails.org.