WISP SOld
The Kansas City-based REIT, EPR Properties, completed its purchase of Wisp Resort for a final price of $23.5 million in December. Former Wisp owner DC Development defaulted on an approximately $30 million loan to develop a golf course and residential community near the resort, and that forced DC to seek bankruptcy protection in October 2011.


Peak buys another area
Peak Resorts Inc. announced the purchase of Alpine Valley Ski Area in Chesterland, Ohio. The northeast Ohio resort opened in 1962 and has two chairlifts, as well as four surface lifts. Jason Boyd will run the area this winter.


KSL buys 24% of whistler
Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. and KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) announced that an affiliate of KSL has entered into a purchase agreement with Intrawest to acquire Intrawest’s 9,092,500 common shares of the corporation, representing approximately 24% of the corporation’s issued and outstanding common shares, for $12.75 per common share. KSL also owns Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in California.


Utah plans olympic bid
Utah officials have announced plans to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The bid is contingent on an upcoming United States Olympic Committee (USOC) decision regarding potential bidders, and will likely face stiff competition from Reno-Tahoe and Denver. Both Reno-Tahoe and Denver had been pursuing a bid for the 2022 Games before the USOC decided to take a pass on that edition.


POwder Mtn. Sold
The Summit Series announced in December that the group agreed to purchase Utah’s Powder Mountain, for a reported $40 million. Summit Series is an American organization that hosts events for young entrepreneurs, artists and activists. The goal for Summit Series at Powder Mountain is to create a residential community on the mountain that promotes environmental responsibility and sustainability, while becoming a home base for the community and its events. Plans for the actual ski area were not disclosed.


Obituaries
Jim Spring, founder of Leisure Trends Group, and former editor of SAM Magazine, died in late October of throat cancer at the age of 75. Spring was a pioneer in retail tracking.

Emile Allais, refered to as the Father of Modern Skiing died in October 2012 at the age of 100.


People
Snowsports Industries America (SIA) presented its 3rd annual Industry Achievement Award to educator and promoter Mary Jo Tarallo.

Mount Snow, Vt., hired Dennis Kinsella as snow surfaces manager and Brian Heon is the new mountain services manager. . . At Bolton Valley, Chaz Ferris is the new terrain park manager.

At Whitetail Resort, Pa., Rodney Malcolm is the new lift ops manager. Bud Hawk was promoted to snow tubing manager and Matthew Sloan was hired as a marketing assistant.

At Steamboat, Colo., Dave Reilly was named the new terrain park manager.

As part of KSL’s minority stake in Whistler, Eric Resnick and Peter McDermott were welcomed to the Whistler Blackcomb Holdings’ board of directors. Wes Edens and Jonathan Ashley have left the board, as has CEO Bill Jensen. Dave Brownlie was appointed the new CEO of Whistler.


Supplier News
Prinoth announced a new VP of sales and marketing, Jean-Claude Perreault.

SnowMax has been restructured with Chris Perkins taking the helm as GM of global markets. Wayne Palmiter is director of technical services. Chet Kincade is the company’s eastern sales rep; Dennis Schulz will be the rep in the Midwest; and Jay Collins is the rep in the West.

After being acquired by TA Group, MyNeige has been restructured. Robin Smith is the new president, strategy and business development. Jean Petit is the chief engineer; Alex Martin will handle parts, service and shipping; Dewey Chandler will head up accounting and administration; and Eric Bengston becomes senior warehouseman. For field operations, Scott Gunnell will rep the East; Joel Peterson the Rocky Mountains, Ontario, Midwest and western Canada; Ben Siefert will be the rep in the West and in western Canada; and Sebastien Salvaggio will handle Québec.

World Cup Supply announced the addition of Jim Komarmi as director of marketing and product development.

At Kissling AG, Martin Kissling has assumed the position of CEO, replacing Dr. Esther Kissling.