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SAM Throwback

  • Move Over, Adrenaline

    March 2018

    Move Over, Adrenaline

    Cross Country Mountain biking looks to be one of the first potential summer operations to be able to open amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out this article from March 2018.

  • Year-Round Passes

    March 2020

    Year-Round Passes

    Season pass sales are being heavily impacted by COVID-19, one product resorts are looking at are year-round passes.

Magazine Archives

November 1999

  • Push to The Latest: No
  • 138 reads
  • Industry Reports, multiple titles
    Mountain Creek Lodge Destroyed by Fire; Whitetail Purchase Completed; Lookout Pass Sold; Vail Expansion to Open this Season; Major New Sponsorships for Skiing; Doe Mountain Has New Owners; Jackson Hole to Open Backcountry; Sierra Club Sues Wachusett; Killington Gets...Smaller; Fresh Tracks Magazine On the Press; Big Tupper Closes; Salomon Moves, Sues and Discontinues; Telluride Terrain Expansion Stalled; Timberline Proposes Link to Government Camp; People; Supplier News.
  • Growth Issues: Crossroads in Colorado
    This commentary opens a special section exploring the question of expansion vs. conservation as demonstrated by a series of events in Colorado. The commentary asks the question, is a longstanding partnership between the ski industry and the U.S. Forest Service unraveling? The question is important because of recent moves by the forest service that seem to point toward a shift in the forest service's philosophy from multiple recreation use to restrictive ecosystem protection.
  • The Lynx: Coming to a Ski Area Near You?
    Best's piece explores the issues behind the elusive Canada lynx, which if designated as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January, 2000, would spell major consequences for the ski industry. This article is part of a special section on environmental questions facing skiing in the U.S.
  • Vail's Category III Project: A Case Study
    This piece (Part of a special section on the environment) details Vail's journey through the planning and approval process for the Cat III (Blue Sky Basin) expansion on U.S. Forest Service land and what it means for the future. It includes a sidebar explaining the precedents set by the 10th Circuit's decision to uphold the forest service's approval of Cat III
  • Forest Service Plan would Limit Colorado Skiing
    This article (part of a special section on environmental matters facing skiing) explains the impacts of the forest service's preferred Alternative D for its management of White River National Forest, which would limit ski area expansions, generally lowering the quality of skiing in Colorado.
  • Methow Valley: A Profile in Profit
    This piece, about Washington's Methow Valley, now a cross-country paradise, explains how a popular summer resort area increased year-round profits by developing its winter possibilities.
  • Against All Odds in New Jersey
    When Intrawest took over the former Vernon Valley/Great Gorge, N.J., and turned it into Mountain Creek, the first team to arrive found lots of potential and a big chore in updating a jury-rigged snowmaking system. The choice was to replace the delivery system with new technology.
  • Tubes, Skibikes and the Zorb, What's Next?
    A roundup of the alternative sliding equipment (not skis or snowboards) available for rent at ski areas. Includes a list of manufacturers and contact names.
  • Innovation Returns to Breckenridge
    This article details the construction of the country's first double-loading six-passenger lift. It happened to replace the world's first high-speed quad on Peak 9 at Breckenridge, Colo. The Super6 was designed by Poma.
  • Two Legal Sides to the Fence
    This article outlines two legal cases involving skiers who were injured as a result of collisions with fences. The author analyzes the outcomes and puts into perspective possible steps that can be taken by ski areas to lessen the risks for guests.
  • Heads Up: New National Safety Call to Action
    A story about the NSAA's recent kickoff of its Safety Initiative 2000 to help ski areas educate guests about the Your Responsibility Code. It comes complete with suggested table cards, cup designs and an icon that's easily identifiable.
  • Alcohol-Server Training Reduces Risk
    With a sidebar on the Top 10 tips for safe service, this piece talks about proper training and how it will lead to reduced liability and happier guests at the bar.
  • Skiing With Style: Sugar Bowl 60 Years
    This is a book review of "Skiing with Style" by Robert Frohlich with S.E. Humphries. It's a celebration of the people and trends that made Sugar Bowl what it is today.
  • OSHA Clarifies Lift-Tower Climbing
    This article outlines new regulations as a result of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's clarified position on fall protection for climbers of ski lift towers.
  • The Future of Booking Rooms Starts with a Click
    This article explores the trend toward real-time online bookings and some of the ways in which ski resorts can take advantage of customers set up and willing to make reservations via the Internet.
  • Finding the Best Teen Workers
    The article points out a number of steps and procedures resort managers can take to ferret out and capture the most motivated teen workers for a seasonal workforce in this first of a two-part series. Part two explains ways to retain the best of those workers.
  • Seth Says: How Not to Use E-mail
    Seth's humourous account of a fictitious, multi-message e-mail correspondence between a customer and resort illustrates the point that ski resorts need to pay careful attention to the way they do Internet business.
  • Letters
    A letter from Dick Tillson, president of Ski Hawaii, on our "Helicopter Rescue Options" story in September, 1999, and Alfred Auer whose issue of SAM was "destroyed by the dogs."
  • Construction Site
    Projects, mostly new lift construction, at Snowshoe, W.V.; Alpine Valley, Wisc.; Jay Peak, Vt.; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Deer Valley, Utah; Welch Village, Minn.; and Gore Mountain, N.Y.
  • Idea Files
    Snowmobile flasher on sleds at Seven Springs, Pa.; a plug saver for stop gate connections at Rocking Horse Ranch, N.Y. and using hay bales to stop tubers who release from the tow rope at Fernwood Resort, Pa.
  • Blue Pages
    Skiing and Clinton's Enviro Legacy (Roadless Initiative); Moshe Alamaro and His Urban Iceberg (making snow mounds for New England water sources); K2 Launches Mod X in Mid-season; USFS Hosts Recreation Summit; The Aspenization of Mad River Glen (replacing the Vermont area's single with a new . . . single); Still the Greatest Snow on Earth (Utah Travel Council wins court challenge); Will the Dynastar Infomercial Pay Off?; SIA Set to Distribute its "Toolbox" (Z-Sport Marketing Study recommendations); and Short Turns re: large 2000 Olympics and year-end results for ASC, INtrawest and Vail Resorts.
  • End Page
    Rotating wire rop spool with suspended ATV; leveling a lift tower with various-length bolts; Snowmaking web page by a proud father; Funny signs at resorts.
  • Pre-Season Bookings
    Linda provides a look into pre-season bookings for the 1999-2000 season across the continent.
  • Stop the Music, I Want to Get Off
    John's take asks, what's so wrong about serenity and quiet? John speaks to the ways various ski areas use music on the slopes.
  • Parents Ski Free?/Will the 1999 Outdoor Retail Summer Market Leave a Meaningful Mark? Erwin Wieland Retires; Doug Waugh, Alex Lowe Die
    Turner's piece says to heck with children-ski-free programs, gain more publicity by offering a parents-ski-free package: no kid, no ride; Roger Lohr wonders about the future of outdoor sports; a report about Erwin Wieland of Kassebohrer retiring; an obit for Doug Waugh, inventor of the Pipe Dragon and a brief on the death of Alex Lowe.
  • A Very Special Section
    The memo outlines the section in the Novemebr issue dealing with the U.S. Forest Service's Alternative D, the relationship between the Forest Service and ski areas and the Canada lynx controversy.
  • Cover image
    The November cover is a humourous rendition of two Canada lynxs posting a no-skier sign in their territory--it refers to the U.S. Forest Service plan to rewrite a service philosophy leaning toward a less-recreation more-preservation bent in its Alternative D.
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