• Marketing
• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., Oct. 10, 2023—The Indy Pass has added more than 50 new alpine and Nordic resorts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan for the 2023-24 season. Sales of the pass have also reopened with limited supply available after sales were halted in April due to “overwhelming demand.” Would-be purchasers must join a waitlis...

• Marketing
• Environment

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 9, 2023—Ski areas across North America are invited to nominate their snowmaking teams to participate in the ninth annual “I AM a Snowmaker” contest, presented by HKD Snowmakers. The “I AM” contest highlights the importance of snowmakers and their unique role in mountain operations and the success of the ...

• Rental

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2023—The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has named Ashley Walden its new CEO. Walden assumed the role in September, and replaced Mike Pratt, who retired after 38 years with the organization. The first woman to fill the top spot at ORDA, Walden will oversee all entities under the OR...

• Marketing
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 5, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort (Colo.) vice president and COO Jody Churich has been promoted to the role of senior vice president and COO of Vail Resorts West Region, effective Oct. 16. She succeeds Doug Pierini, who is leaving the company as of Oct. 6. Courtesy of Sarah McLear, Breckenridge Ski Resort In...

• Rental
• Marketing

SAM Magazine—Windham, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2023—Today, the Windham Mountain Club, formerly known as Windham Mountain, unveiled its rebranding and capital upgrades for the 2023-24 winter season and beyond. The mountain will continue to be open to the public, with season passes and ticket products available, but will also offer private club memberships...

• Marketing
• Ski Area Profiles

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2023—The Ski Areas of New York and Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association held their annual joint SKI NY-SKIPA Expo in Lake Placid, Sept. 25-27, with more than 350 ski area personnel, supplier partners, and experts on hand to learn, network, and have a little fun at the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olym...

• Marketing

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 29, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) reported a drop in full-year net income for fiscal 2023, EBITDA that was essentially flat, and an increase in season-to-date pass sales for the 2023-24 season. VR's fiscal year ended on July 31. Key info in the year-end report, for the fiscal year ended July 31: Net income was d...

• Ski Area Profiles
• Marketing

SAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 29, 2023—The U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum has named the eight-member class of 2023, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual Snowsports History Celebration in Park City, Utah, in March 2024.  The inductees are: Les Otten  Resort developer Les Otten had a prof...

• Ski School
• Rental

SAM Magazine—Portland, Maine, Sept. 29, 2023—The New England Summit’s first year in Portland, Maine, drew 375 attendees, including representatives from 75 suppliers and 39 ski areas, for two days of educational sessions, meetings, and networking events, Sept. 18 and 19.  Dirk Gouwens, executive director of Ski Maine, the state trade associa...

• Ski Area Profiles
• Marketing
• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Wolfurt, Austria, Sept. 28, 2023—Doppelmayr Holding SE reported a record $1.116 billion (946 million euros) in revenue during its 2022-23 business year, up 6.7 percent over the previous year. Of note, this is the first time that the company’s North American market outpaced the Austrian market. North American sales accounted for 2...

• Miscellaneous
• Ski Area Profiles

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE KATIE VAN RIPER and JUSTIN SOINE, POWDER MOUNTAIN Powder Mountain has hired Katie Van Ri...

• Miscellaneous
• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company announced today that Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain and Camelback Resort will join the Ikon Pass for the 2023-24 season.   Located in Tannersville, Camelback is the largest snowsports resort in the Poconos, with 166 skiable acres. Blue Mountain, in Palmerton, has the state's...

• Miscellaneous
• Ski Area Profiles

SAM Magazine—Silverton, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Colorado’s Silverton Mountain has been sold for an undisclosed amount to Andy Culp and Brock Strasbourger, owners of Aspen-based Heli Adventures, a heli-skiing and adventure travel company.  “It’s an honor to be in this position,” Culp said in an interview with the Aspen Daily News. “My...

• Miscellaneous

 SAM Magazine—Idaho Springs, Colo., Sept. 21, 2023—Burwell Enterprises has sold Echo Mountain to Jogan Inc., LLC, for an undisclosed amount in a deal that closed Monday. The Burwell family acquired Echo in 2016 for $3.8 million, resurrecting the small ski area—located just 36 miles from downtown Denver—from bankruptcy.  “Our goal with ...

• Lifts
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Sept. 20, 2023—In a move toward sustainable operations, Montana’s Big Sky Resort has transitioned to 99 percent renewable diesel fuel to power its snowcats, trucks, and other heavy equipment.  Also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), renewable diesel is derived from agricultural byproducts such as animal ...