Sun Valley gets welcome exposure

Ski area featured in September issue of Skiing magazine

By :GREGORY FOLEY

Sun Valley is getting some welcome exposure in the September 2008 issue of Skiing magazine. An eight-page photo essay in the magazine examines the effects of the Castle Rock Fire on Bald Mountain, Sun Valley's primary ski area. The raging wildfire threatened Baldy last August and September.

Photographer Chris Figenshau was given front-line access to the fire and documented events as the flames came close to Baldy. Figenshau returned to the Sun Valley/Ketchum area last winter to discover how the fire had changed skiing in the area. According to the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau, he found out that a portion of burned backcountry had become "instantly gladed and skiable." His essay includes photos of the fire and of renowned local skiers Zach and Reggie Crist enjoying the terrain.

The chamber estimates that the advertising value of the photo essay is approximately $235,000, based on the cost of running eight full-page advertisements in the magazine.

The September 2008 issue of Skiing is on newsstands now. The chamber plans to unveil a new "branding" campaign for the Sun Valley area in the October issue of the magazine.