MOUNT SNOW RECEIVES EB-5 PROGRAM OK

The business plan for Peak Resorts’ $52 million EB-5-funded projects at Mount Snow, Vt., was approved by the USCIS in May— a shot of good news for the recently maligned EB-5 economic development program. The money has already been raised from foreign investors and will be released once USCIS approves the first I-526 investor petition. Two major components of the offering include a new 120 million gallon snowmaking pond and the related infrastructure, as well as a new 36,000-square-foot base lodge at Mount Snow’s Carinthia area. Mount Snow built the snowmaking pond last summer, but the delayed release of funds forced Peak to invest $12 million out of pocket, an amount that will be reimbursed.

POWDR BUYS ELDORA

In a long-rumored move, Powdr Corp. purchased Eldora Mountain Resort in June. This amplifies Powdr’s presence in Colorado and serves as a strategic complement to its other Colorado resort, Copper Mountain. Eldora is one of the most accessible mountain resorts on the Front Range and has a strong local following. It maintains a niche with families and beginners, which is one reason Powdr acquired the resort.

SKIER VISITS: WEST UP, EAST DOWN

National skier visits were up ever so slightly to 53.9 million, a 0.6 percent increase YOY, thanks to record visits out West that offset steep declines in the East. Buoyed by prolific early season snow, Utah hosted more than 4.4 million visits, up 13 percent YOY and 5 percent more than the previous record. Colorado ski resorts eclipsed 13 million visits for the first time ever. New Mexico resorts beat the previous five-year average by 20 percent with nearly 1 million visits. And Washington and Oregon resorts were up a combined 141.5 percent from the 2014-15 season. In the East, however, lean snow and warmth had the expected effect. Coming off a record 2014-15, Vermont ski areas were down 32 percent YOY with 3.2 million total visits. Ski NH reported total alpine, Nordic, and tubing visits were down 31 percent. The Midwest region had its worst season ever, and Southeast resorts were down more than 30 percent from last season.

PEOPLE

Out East, Peter Graves has been named interim director of NENSA. … The Hermitage Club, Vt., promoted Mike Quinn to vice president and GM, and Aaron Sherritt will take over as mountain manager. … Mike Roth has joined the team at Gunstock as the new director of marketing and sales. Roth replaces Bill Quigley, who left for a position with New Hampshire Motor Speedway. … Mario Boisvert has resigned his position as GM of Val Saint-Come, Que. He will remain active on the board as a mentor for new GM Maxime Legros.

In the Rockies, Bill Baum has retired from his position as general counsel for Intrawest Colorado. … Brian Krill will be taking over as executive director of the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. … Philip Diana has been appointed as Solitude Mountain Resort’s director of lodging operations. … After nearly 40 years with Powdr, chief sustainability officer Brent Giles is retiring. … Nicholas Herrin is the new CEO of PSIA-AASI.

Nick Cohee has joined China Peak, Calif., as director of skiing. … After serving in an interim role, John McCleod has been officially named president and GM of Mt. Bachelor, Ore. ... At Lee Canyon, Nev., Dan Hooper, who had been running many of the area’s guest services departments, takes over as GM.

Di Whitney has joined Silverton Mountain Guides Alaska Heli as the vice president of operations.

Christopher Nicholson is the new president and CEO of Canada West Ski Areas Association. Debbie Muirhead, Thierry Keable, and Shawn Balog join Nicholson on CWSAA’s board of directors. … Arlene Schieven is now the president and CEO of Tourism Sun Peaks.

The National Ability Center welcomed new COO Kevin Stickelman.

Bob Dart was posthumously awarded the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Julius Blegen award for service to the sports of skiing and snowboarding.

OBITUARIES

Industry legend John Christie died on April 27. Christie held various positions including GM at Sugarloaf, president of the Maine Ski Council and Ski Maine Association; VP GM of Mount Snow, president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, and owner of Saddleback, Maine. He was 79.

Otto Egger died on May 23. A pillar at Stratton Mountain, Otto was a member of the ski school for over 50 years, as well as the emcee and accordion player for the Stratton Mountain Boys.

SUPPLIER NEWS

In Vermont, Mark Yardley joined Darn Tough as VP of sales. … Liftopia hired Kyle Opuszynski as its first northeast account director. … Inntopia opened a new office in Burlington and plans to almost double its workforce.

HKD Snowmaking and World Cup Supply are both celebrating their 25th anniversaries this year.

SunKid Conveyors is marking two milestones: it’s been 20 years since its first installation was completed, and its recently completed its 3000th installation.

Blizzard/Tecnica hired Pearson Neal as national competition services manager.

Ratnik Industries was awarded Business Exporter of the Year by the Victor Business Awards.