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SAM Taps Whistler Blackcomb to Host 2025 Summer Ops Camp
SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three days of education, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the future of summer operations at mountain resorts. This year’s camp will also feature a partnership with the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA), bringing together a dynamic mix of resort professionals from across North America. Whistler Blackcomb has been at the forefront of year-round recreation development, balancing business innovation with environmental sustainability. With a robust lineup of summer attractions—including the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Peak...
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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., Sept. 20, 2023—SNOW Partners has appointed Dempsey Mendrzycki as the new general manager of its Big SNOW American Dream indoor ski and snowboard facility, effective immediately. Mendrzycki previously held the role of risk and safety ranger (i.e., director) for both Mountain Creek (N.J.)—also owned by SNOW Partner...

SAM Magazine—Plymouth, N.H., Sept. 19, 2023—Extreme skier-turned-media professional Dan Egan has been named general manager of Tenney Mountain, N.H. Egan previously served as GM at the ski area, which was purchased by a new ownership group last year, from 2002 to 2004. He assumed the role in August. "I'm a big believer in independently owned r...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 18, 2023—The SAM Summit Series is set to embark on its sixth year with the theme “Kickstart Your Leadership Skills.” In the annual mentor/mentee leadership development program, emerging resort leaders engage and learn from top industry veterans on a variety of topics affecting ski areas. The program aims t...