CNL BUYS TRIPLE PEAKS
CNL Lifestyle Properties, Inc. has purchased Okemo, Vt., Crested Butte, Colo., and Mount Sunapee, N.H., from Tim and Diane Mueller’s Triple Peaks LLC, and is leasing the properties back to Triple Peaks to manage the ski, golf, hospitality and conference operations under a long-term lease. Purchase price is reportedly $132 million, including $82 million in cash. Triple Peaks is said to be providing $50 million in financing to CNL as part of the agreement.


SEVEN SPRINGS BUYS LAUREL MOUNTAIN
Seven Springs, Pa., closed an agreement with Somerset Trust Company to purchase the ski assets at Laurel Mountain State Park. The closing took place in late November and represents the next step in the local community’s push to revive skiing operations at the currently dormant ski area.


LOCKE RETURNS TO LAKE LOUISE
Charlie Locke, the former owner of Lake Louise, has reacquired a 50 percent share in the resort from Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR). As part of the agreement, Locke will assume the role of managing partner for Lake Louise.

Under the new agreement, Lake Louise will be operated by The Lake Louise Ski Area Ltd., and will continue its association with RCR. It is expected that Locke will oversee all day-to-day operations of the resort. The change in ownership will likely overturn the RCR ban on terrain parks.


OBITUARIES
Stu Campbell, 65, died December 4 after a battle with cancer. Campbell headed up the ski schools at Stowe, Keystone and Heavenly Valley, and was an editor for many years at Ski Magazine.

Otto Werlin, 82, retired GM of Loveland Ski Area, died November 25. Werlin started at Loveland in 1964 when the area had just two lifts and a rope tow and there were no other major Colorado resorts aside from Vail (just two years old), Winter Park, Arapaho Basin and Berthoud. Throughout his 28-year career at the area, he oversaw the major expansion of not only his resort, but the growth of Colorado skiing through his role as director at Colorado Ski Country USA.

Uel Gardner, 75, died from complications after surgery on November 15. Gardner began his ski industry career at Cannon Mountain, N.H., in the 1950s and then moved over to Bethel, Me., where he helped build Sunday River. In the 1970s, Gardner moved south and worked at both Massanutten and Wintergreen. Gardner also served on the NSAA board of directors.


PEOPLE
NSAA hired David Byrd, an attorney and former journalist, as its new director of education and risk.

Vermont Ski Areas Association hired Kathy Murphy as its new director of marketing.

In Massachusetts, Jiminy Peak named Jason Shepard the new children’s program manager. Paul Fogel is the new manager of John Harvard’s Restaurant and Brewery and Michael Noyes was promoted to director of volunteer ski patrol. Filling his position as assistant director is Paul Descauteau. David Benoit will serve as director of professional ski patrol.

Intrawest appointed Frank DeBerry to president and COO at Mountain Creek, N.J.

Steve Rice became a CNL Lifestyle Company VP and managing director.

At Angel Fire, N.M., Mike Smith is the new director of guest services.

In Colorado, Durango Mountain Resort promoted Mike McCormack to senior VP of mountain operations. Sven Brunso became VP of sales and marketing and Judy Wachob is the new VP of village services. . .At Vail Resorts, Mark Schoppet moves up to chief accounting officer.

At Snow King, Wyo., Tom Fortune is the new director of recreation.

At Park City, Utah, Kevin Donovan is the new executive chef.

At Squaw Valley, Calif., Jim Huntington is the new F&B director.


SUPPLIER NEWS
In October 2008, CHS Snowmakers entered into an agreement with Brian Scheid of High Peaks Chairlift Painting to be the company’s midwest sales representative. CHS Snowmakers represents Turbocristal, Niedner Snowhose, HTM, and Drift snowmaking additive. Brian can be reached at (608) 215-0222 or at chairliftpaint@yahoo.com.

SE Group, which turned 50 this past year, received the New England Ski Museum’s Spirit of Skiing Award at the Museum’s 31st annual meeting Oct. 25 at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods.

Johnson Controls has hired Emily Hinman, who previously worked at Mount Sunapee, to manage the manufacturing, distribution and sales of Snomax Snow Inducer.

Prinoth LLC announced that Marvin Collins has joined the N.H. regional distribution center as instructor for the University of Prinoth.