2011, by Waheenie

Ski bums, college students and old crusty hippies can all appreciate the recently launched rideshare websites. These websites will save you money, time, and gas, but most importantly they will reduce harmful emissions and alleviate traffic on congested roads and passes.

Here's an overview of a couple new ski carpool websites:

Backcountryride.com

This hyperlocal site is focused on backcountry skiers in Jackson Hole. With a user friendly interface and a variety of methods to connect with rides (including text messages!), this site can save you from hating on Idaho commuters who refuse to stop for skiers.

Only a few weeks since it launched, check out the impressive impact so far:

Miles Saved:	376.30
Gas Saved:	18.89 gal
CO2 Reduced:	365.02 lbs.
Money Saved:	$54.54
Trips Saved:	41

TheSkiLift.org

Created by University of Colorado law student Rich Masana and a Colorado School of Mines engineering physics grad Mike Hurowitz, Skilift.org uses social media to pair skiers and snowboarders who want to carpool to any resort- worldwide. Users are required to make a profile, similar to Facebook, but skiing and snowboarding is the focus. Profile information includes what kind of music you like, and whether you smoke, in order to match people with the most compatible ride.

Some of the features of the website include:

Carpooling or ridesharing, where members can fill empty seats in their cars and make a little cash, or save money on gas by finding a ride.
A global list of ski resorts that includes an almost entirely comprehensive list of every ski resort in every country in the world.
User ratings to keep people honest and give carpoolers a way to warn other members of a bad driving experience.
A social network that allows members to search for, befriend and message people, or find those with similar preferences to carpool with.
A posting wall - see what people are up too and catch updates from friends.

The creators are also working to add a private instructors forum as well - allowing people to offer discounted private lessons to compete with resorts that currently have a large share of that market.

So there are no excuses! It's easier than ever to get or give a ride to the mountain. Join a network today.

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