Snow Hunter, June 17, 2009--The International Ski Federation has launched a campaign to help get more children around the world in to snow sports. Their 'Bring Children to the Snow' - SnowKidz - is aimed at children aged 4-14, and their parents. The campaign uses some 'approachable super heroes' figures who take care of children and youngsters a...

Snow Hunter, Whistler, B.C., June 16, 2009--A report in Canada's Globe & Mail newspaper says that the 7,000-year-old Horstman Glacier has lost half its volume in the past century, and that the rate of melt has accelerated in the past decade with more than 10 per cent lost since 1999. The glacier which re-opens for summer ski and boarding later...

SAM Magazine-Boulder, Colo., June 17, 2009-Several former members of Bonnier Publications' Mountain Sports Media have formed a new company, High Country Media, which will unveil a suite of print, digital, membership, and radio properties in September 2009. These include a relaunched Mountain Sports + Living magazine, a direct-to-consumer membership...

SAM Magazine-Salt Lake City, June 17, 2009-The Utah ski and snowboard industry closed the 2008-09 winter season with a total of 3,972,984 skier days, down 6.5 percent from the previous year's record total of 4,249,190. The showing for Utah was typical for the Rocky Mountain region, according to NSAA's national tally. The region as a whole exper...

Snow Hunter--June 10, 2009--A new international ski body, the European Ski Federation, has been established by the Austrian, French, Italian, and Swiss ski federations. They say they do not intend to compete with the International Ski Federation, but that the Alpine nations of central Europe planned to stand together in the face of the current eco...

Snow Hunter--Austrialia, June 10, 2009--More of New Zealand's ski areas opened at the weekend, joining Mt Hutt in enjoying a great start to the winter after a snowy May. In Australia, the country's major ski areas opened although with scant snow cover on Saturday, June 6th - the traditional opening weekend. After the unexpected large pre-season...

SAM Magazine--Killington, Vt., June 11, 2009--At the Vermont Ski Areas Association's annual meeting, the industry trade group announced that Vermont's ski resorts recorded 4,068,696 skier visits for the 2008-09 season. Last year the state hosted just over 4.35 million, but this season's number is on par with the five-year average....

SAM Magazine-Boulder, Colo, June 11, 2009-Colorado resorts tallied 11.85 million visits in 2008-09, a 5.5 percent decline from the previous year, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) said today at its 46th annual meeting. The group's 22 member resorts, which include all major areas except those owned by Vail Resorts, hosted an estimated 6.79 million s...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., June 8, 2009-Vail Resorts' revenue fell by 21 percent and earnings declined by 29 percent in the fiscal third quarter, as destination visits remained down from the previous year. The quarter, which ended April 30, includes a major portion of the resorts' ski and ride season. Earnings came to $61.6 million, down from...

SAM Magazine-Flagstaff, Ariz., June 8, 2009-The United States Supreme Court has decided not to review the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the Untied States Forest Service and Arizona Snowbowl, clearing the way for Snowbowl to develop snowmaking using reclaimed water. Snowbowl GM J.R. Murray told SAM that the area will ...

SAM Magazine--Salt Lake City, Utah, June 3, 2009--Delta Airlines has announced that it is offering a non-stop flight from Salt Lake City to Tokyo. The maiden voyage of this service was made today, among much fanfare between the two destinations. According to published reports, the Governor's Office of Economic Development estimates that the new ...

SAM Magazine--June 3, 2009--A U.S. bankruptcy judge approved the $115 million purchase of the Yellowstone Club, Mont., by CrossHarbor Capital Partners. CrossHarbor will pay $35 million in cash and take on $80 million of the $375 million debt owed to Credit Suisse and the holders of loans arranged by Credit Suisse. In previous rulings, Credit Sui...

SAM Magazine--Lakewood, Colo., June 3, 2009--According to the 2008-09 NSAA National Demographic Study, helmet usage among skiers and riders in the U.S. increased 12 percent to 48 percent of all skiers and riders interviewed. Other data includes:77 percent of children 9 and under wear helmets; 66 percent of kids between 10 and 14 wear helmets; an...

SAM Magazine-Steamboat Springs, Colo., June 3, 2009-Steamboat Ski and Resort pulled out of a joint venture that was planning to build a $7 million high-speed people mover gondola connecting the Wildhorse Meadows development and the public Meadow parking lot with the base area. Instead, Resort Ventures West (RVW), the Wildhorse developer, will insta...

SAM Magazine--March 28, 2009--In just two months, Utah's unique liquor laws will change, most notably, the elimination of Utah's private club system, which required patrons to pay a membership fee. Beginning July 1, the state will no longer require patrons to be "members," but will require drinking establishments to scan the IDs of anyone under 35 ...