SAM Magazine-Aspen, Colo., May 21, 2010-More than 500 salaried employees at Aspen Skiing Co. will be wearing helmets while working on the slopes next season. The Aspen areas join Vail Resorts and Intrawest areas in requiring helmets for large portions of their labor forces. At the same time, the Aspen resorts expanded their helmet requirement fo...

SAM Magazine-Sacramento, Calif., May 19, 2010-Over a half million more visitors flocked to California ski and snowboard resorts during the 2009-10 winter, according to the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC). CTTC credited both a long snow season and the California Department of Transportation's (Caltran) proactive plan to keep the roads ...

SAM Magazine--May 19, 2010--Bonnier Corp. announced that it is placing five of its brands under a new publishing unit, which will include "Ski," "Skiing," "Snow," "Saveur" and "Garden Design." The unit will be headed up by "Saveur" publisher Merri Lee Kingsly and will establish a stronger position in the luxury and lifestyle market. "All of thes...

SAM Magazine-Ludlow, Vt., May 18, 2010-Okemo Mountain Resort has received the Vermont Governor's Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety in the Service Sector. "Workplace safety is crucial for the health and well-being of our workforce and for the vitality and productivity of our businesses," Governor Jim Douglas said. "With changes in technology...

SAM Magazine--Mt. Crested Butte, Colo., May 10, 2010--Late last week, Deputy Regional Forester Jim Peña affirmed Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond's refusal to consider the Snodgrass Mountain expansion proposal in a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with public involvement. This expansion would add 276 acres of new terrain to Cre...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., May 7, 2010-Snowsport retail sales finished up 4 percent over last season as volume hit $2.94 billion compared to $2.82 billion a year ago, although fewer units were sold this season, according to the latest figures from Snowsports Industries America. Retailers maintained higher prices in part because inventories starte...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., May 7, 2010-Whistler Blackcomb took the top spot in onthesnow.com's annual Visitor's Choice awards. This is the second time in the past three years that Whistler Blackcomb has topped the list. Onthesnow.com gives visitors the opportunity to write reviews of North American resorts and rank them in five categories: fav...

SAM Magazine-Killington, Vt., May 7, 2010-Killington Resort received the Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention for a pair of projects that eliminate more than 1,400 gallons of heating fuel and save more than 70,000 kWh of electricity annually. In the first of two projects, Killington partnered with Effici...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., May 7, 2010-Mary Jo Tarallo has been named executive director of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month (formerly Learn a Snow Sport Month), a new position that demonstrates the continuing growth of the program. "I am pleased to be working with our industry colleagues on this important and energetic initiative, not only t...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., May 7, 2010-The U.S. ski industry recorded 59.7 million visits, the second best season ever, according to the preliminary 2009/10 Kottke National End of Season Survey, despite a weak economy and without the catalyst of an exceptional snow year. According to the study, all regions except the Northeast achieved sub...

SAM Magazine-Cody, Wyo., May 7, 2010―Sleeping Giant ski area, revived as a non-profit area last season after five years of hibernation, lost $316,288 in its first season, according to figures released by executive director Hamilton Bryan and reported by the Associated Press. Below-normal snow and a short season are partly to blame, he added. ...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., Apr. 30, 2010-Vail Resorts is purchasing the remaining 30 percent interest in its majority-owned retail joint venture, Specialty Sports Venture (SSV), held by affiliated entities of Tom and Ken Gart, for $31 million. The transaction is expected to close today. SSV has more than 145 sporting goods retail/rental loc...

SAM Magazine--April 30, 2010--During its annual meeting, the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSAA) announced the recipients of several awards. First, Keith Petrie was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Petrie managed Mt. Hood Meadows, Anthony Lakes, Mt. Spokane and Multopor Ski Bowl and served as chairman of the PNSAA Board of D...

SAM Magazine--April 28, 2010--The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named five member ski areas as the recipients of its annual Sustainable Slopes Grant program. The ski areas winning cash grants include Alta, Utah, Crested Butte, Colo., Grand Targhee, Wyo., Mt. Abram, Maine, and Stevens Pass, Wash. The grants, this year totaling $100,000, are...

SAM Magazine-Boulder, Colo., Apr. 27, 2010-Preliminary SIA Snow Sport RetailTRAK data show that snow sport retail sales increased 13 percent in March 2010 compared to March 2009, at the height of the recession. The sales spurt pushed sales for the entire 2009-10 season up 4 percent over 2008-09, according to the Leisure Trends Group. Nearly ever...