European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine i. Sti Iva sir i a chairlift at sugar both in Kaytlen it. Sug Arbuth competes with Killington in Shet but it. In u.s., skiing is an upscale sport by John Donnelly associated press _ _ earing a 1950s-Era Black ski hat with in flaps to cover his ears James Welch looked out of place in front of the sugar Bush resort base Lodge. Uphill swarms of skiers in Bright bib overalls moved their hips like slow winterized belly dancers. The sight brought a smile to Welch a 58 year old resident of Short Hills. N. J. I skied this place when it was a glint in Damon Rudd s eve " he says referring to the Man who founded the mad River Valley resort in Vermont in 1958 there have been tremendous changes in the Industry since then. It boggles my mind that so Many people have As much Money As it takes to go skiing these  ski resorts have always been playgrounds for the Rich in new England and elsewhere but the playgrounds today Are new improved and even More expensive. Once skiing was the Only thing to do at a ski area but now some vacationers Don t even bring their skis. Ski areas Are catering to a different desire among travellers and vacationers says Kathe Dill Nann spokeswoman for the National ski areas association which represents 400 of the 680 downhill ski areas in the country. People want More than just a Basic ski  a decade ago 34 million six passes were sold nationwide with ski area revenues at $405 million. In the 1984-85 season the number of passes jumped to 51.4 million while revenues soared to $1.5 billion. The recent Rise in revenues is partially due to increased real estate deals at the resorts Dillmann says. Sugar Bush is similar to Many Large resorts in the East and the West development in the last decade has Given it a new Mountain face featuring Condo chimneys interspersed with treetops and a european style Village in the Valley below. Chan welter spokesman Lor sugar Bush Valley says 10 years ago there were Only a handful of condominiums in the area. Today there Are More than 1,000. The resort s Village includes a fitness Center with Tennis and racquetball courts a school and Day care Center restaurants a Bookstore an ice Cream shop a Massage Center and a disco bar. Travelling along the spine of Vermont s Green mountains a visitor would see Mirror images of sugar Bush. At a Lilington ski area 800 condominiums have been built. Killington officials envision 2.500 condos by the year 2000, and at Straiten developers Are in the midst of building a $60 million Village that when completed will House 4,000 people include a convention Center a five Story parking garage and a shopping Complex of 30 boutiques and a general store called Bear  ski vacations now represent a More glamorous vacation said Stratton spokesman Tom Meyers. We have to compete with the Caribbean vacations the Western vacations. We Are making an Effort to provide skiers with other attractions and More amenities. We Are an attractive resort for the upscale  slope Side Straiten condos Cost from $171,500 to $495,000. The most expensive ones Are All sold. Sugar Bush s welter says skiing has become literally a fashionable sport for the Rich. Here these people Are slugging it out in Wall Street Day after Day in three piece suits Weller says. They come up Here in color coordinated outfits. They feel Good. Fashion has allowed them to do that. They Are proud to exhibit their  the added luxuries at downhill ski resorts Are not what every skier is looking for though. When i first started skiing in the 60s, skiing was it said Eric Palola a former professional ski racer. Before you got out and the Only amenity you had was the base Lodge and a cup of hot chocolate. Now it s shops different types of restaurants and skiing out the Back door of your  he said lift tickets and equipment Are now too expensive for Many people. I remember when the All Day lift ticket was $6," he says. Now it s Over $20  watching their four children ski from sugar Bush s base Lodge Fred and Terry Phillips of Middletown n.j., said their three Day ski vacation was costing them about $1,000. On top of that they had just spent $500 for skis boots and poles for their 18-year-old son. Ski area spokesmen defend the rising costs of the sport saying that improvements in technology have made skiing a better Deal for the Money. The Advent of Man made Snow keeps some resorts open from october to june. Ski lifts Are faster trails Are better groomed and advances in equipment have made the sport safer and easier to master they say. Where else can you go Tor $28 a Day and get clean rest rooms food service heat and warmth and Comfort in a Winter environment the use of millions of dollars of assets the advantages of Snow making first Aid and on top of it the thrills of downhill skiing Weller asks. Gall Boyan of Nahant. Mass., and her family say however that Many people skiing at sugar Bush probably could t afford everything the resort offered. From their rented Condo they had a Clear View of the slopes and the indoor fitness Center. I wish the sports Center was a Little More affordable says Bill Boyan 20, who is a Sophomore at Georgetown University. Imagine spending $25 an hour for a racquetball court but braving the elements on the slopes remains the key drawing card for the resorts despite the amenities. Welch in his old ski hat said he was itchy to get going with his ski runs. I love the Speed and the thrill of taking risks he said. And it s great fun to see your children ski a whole lot better than you be Ever  monday february 17, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13