LAYTON -- Representatives for hundreds of thousands of recreation skiers left Davis County with "nothing but positive things to say about the area," Sunday. That's according to Barbara Riddle, executive director of the Davis Convention & Visitors Bureau, which hosted the 330,000-member National Ski Council Federation (NSCF), Thursday-Sunday, here. They were representatives of 25 ski councils from across the country, as well as officials of the umbrella NSCF, which held its annual convention at the Davis Conference Center, Friday-Sunday. Highlights included a visit to several area private clubs, including Club Fahrenheit and Bogey's, "and they had an absolutely fantastic time," Riddle said. "They were very impressed with the quality of our clubs." Saturday night's "farewell dinner" at Antelope Island also proved to be popular, she said. "They had western music, we gave them a bandanna and western hat as souvenirs, and had a western cookout.

"Some of them actually went out on Sunday afternoon and took advantage of the lunch cruise and kayaking and horseback riding," Riddle said.

"Overall, it was extremely positive and exciting. We look forward to seeing the investment pay off. We asked them to come back, and visit with a few thousand of their friends," she added.

The conference brought seasoned skiers heading large groups of recreational skiers, as well as world travelers, to Davis County.

For instance, Randy Lew, president of the Far West Ski Association, oversees a six-state group that includes 10 ski club councils and 160 ski clubs.

"Our total membership is 40,000-45,000," he said of the group that encompasses California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

"We promote recreational skiing. A lot of our clubs are social organizations. We travel all over North America, and we'll do a ski trip to Europe, Costa Rica, Thailand, China."

As part of China's effort to boost itself into First World Nation status, it is even promoting ski tourism, although at least one NSCF official said "they're not ready" to handle high visitor numbers yet.

Steve Cuzen, past president of that same group, said NSCF had held a board meeting in Ogden several years ago. And one of NSCF's first conventions was in Park City, in the late 1990s.

John Sieler, from Tulsa, Okla., said he "usually skis by Park City" when visiting Utah, and is part of the Flatline Ski Association which represents "a few thousand members" in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

Councils were represented from Metropolitan New York, Chicago, Connecticut, western and eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia, to relatively close Colorado groups from Steamboat Springs and Durango.

"Our clubs are all over the place," as far as makeup and member interests, NSCF president Mark Harris said. "Ski clubs can be smaller, tight-knit, some retain retirees, others middle-aged, and there are singles clubs."

The federation works to promote enjoyment of all snowsport activities, including downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, and telemark skiing. Many of its clubs promote activities year-round.

Davis CVB sales manager Joe Coles and former assistant director Susan Liston traveled to the group's previous convention in Crested Butte, Colo., last September, presenting a formal bid in an effort to win this year's gathering.

"It's very exciting to the county, mostly because of the potential in months and years after the conference that skiers will be directed, drawn to Davis County," CVB executive director Barbara Riddle said in mid-September of last year.

The visitors had lunch Friday at Snowbasin, were hosted by several local restaurants, and attended a farewell dinner at Antelope Island Saturday night.

In the meantime, bookings for hotel room nights have been up over 2005, and more groups have booked meetings. Venues include not only the Conference Center, which is poised to be expanded, but the FairPark, hotel conference facilities, the Wight House, and others. (See separate story on p. A13.)



tbusselberg@davisclipper.com