SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., Nov. 17, 2017—A huge number of mountain resorts across North America—from small ski areas near urban centers to the biggest operations on the continent—have either already opened or plan to spin lifts by this weekend, marking an early start for most. However, a few operators are still waiting for sustained cold temps and natural snow, forcing them to push back previously announced opening dates.

SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Nov. 17, 2017—Longtime Rossignol sales rep Deno Dudunake was honored with the 32nd annual BEWI Award at a luncheon in Boston on Nov. 10, attended by more than 150 ski and snowboard industry executives. As a professional freestyle skier, Dudunake won the World Mogul Championship title at Heavenly, Calif., in 1977. He has been with Rossignol since 1978.

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Nov. 17, 2017—Peak Resorts has unveiled a new program aimed at making learning to ski or ride more affordable and accessible. The Peak Discovery Program, valid for ages 13 and older, includes three visits complete with a group lesson, equipment rental and helmet, and a lift ticket at any combination of the company’s Northeast resorts, for just $99. Those resorts include Attitash, Wildcat, and Crotched, N.H., Mount Snow, Vt., Hunter Mountain, N.Y., and Jack Frost Big Boulder, Pa.

SAM Magazine—Seattle, Wash., Nov. 10, 2017—REI and POWDR have formed a strategic partnership that kicks off mid-November with new adventure lifestyle programs and events at Copper Mountain and Eldora, Colo. Full programming will begin by the holiday season.

SAM Magazine—Tannersville, Pa., Nov. 10, 2017—Brian Czarnecki has been promoted to the role of chief operating officer for Camelback Resort, Pa. Previously, he served as the resort’s vice president of sales and marketing.

SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., Nov. 10, 2017—By Sunday morning, the number of ski areas open for skiing and riding in North America will just about triple, according to snocountry.com, thanks in large part to consistent cold weather and powerful snowmaking systems.

SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., Nov. 3, 2017—After Arapahoe Basin in Colorado opened for the season on Oct. 13, neighboring Loveland Ski Area kicked things off a week later on Oct. 20, and now more ski areas are spinning lifts—at least for this weekend—as cold weather and natural snow are becoming the norm in many regions across North America.

SAM Magazine—San Francisco, Calif., Nov. 1, 2017—The California Ski Industry Association (Ski California) today introduced its “Mountain Safety Guide,” a compendium resource for guests to help them make good decisions on the mountain and enjoy a safe experience. The printed version is a trail map-size guide that will be available at many of the association’s member resorts. It is also available online in digital format.

SAM Magazine—Montpelier, Vt., Oct. 30, 2017—Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) president Parker Riehle is stepping down after 19 years at the organization to open his own lobbying and public relations firm. His last day is Nov. 10. The VSAA board of directors has already begun the search for his successor to lead the association and the $1.6 billion ski and snowboard industry in Vermont.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 30, 2017—A new E-Learning Course for New Instructors is now available online from the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI). The organization developed the e-learning course to help snowsports schools onboard their new instructors as well as complement the schools’ existing on-snow training. The free course covers three key aspects of working as an instructor: what to expect, basic teaching principals, and safety considerations. PSIA-AASI members and non-members can access the course once registered on the organization's website.

SAM Magazine—West Dover, Vt., Oct. 25, 2017—Terrain park builders have until Nov. 1 to register for the few remaining spots still available for Cutter’s Camp Fall Refresher at Mount Snow, Vt., Nov. 6-8. This is the first time the event has taken place just before winter begins, and aims to provide campers with actionable lessons and best practices that can be applied to their park programs right away. 

SAM Magazine—Denver, Oct. 20, 2017—Overall occupancy at western mountain destinations for the six summer months, April through October, was boosted by bookings made in September for arrivals in September and October. With the last-minute uptick, as of Sept. 30, aggregated summer occupancy edged up 0.1 percent, while revenues are up a robust 7.2 percent compared to the same time last year. For the month of September alone, occupancy was up 1.4 percent, with a 7.3 percent increase in revenue. Inntopia released the results in its monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing, which tracks 20 destinations across several states.

SAM Magazine—Flagstaff, Ariz., Oct. 17, 2017—Arizona Snowbowl, part of the Mountain Capital Partners group of resorts, plans to purchase the 37-acre Elk Ridge Ski Area near Williams, Ariz. Pending a special use permit approval by Kaibab National Forest officials, the plan is to open Elk Ridge as soon as possible under the current operating plan. Improvements are being proposed.

SAM Magazine—Mount Snow, Vt., Oct. 11, 2017—With current general manager Kelly Pawlak leaving to assume the role of president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association, Mount Snow wasted no time naming Erik Barnes as her successor. Barnes has been with the resort for more than three decades, most recently serving as director of resort services. His first day as GM will be Nov. 4.

SAM Magazine—Timberline Lodge, Ore., Oct. 11, 2017—Since September, winter storms have been dropping a fair amount of snow on the high country out West, stoking the excitement of skiers and riders. Adding to the excitement, Timberline Lodge and Ski Area on Mt. Hood, Ore., laid claim to being the first ski area to open when it spun the Palmer Chairlift on Sunday, Oct. 8. Weather permitting, the lift will be open Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., for advanced skiers and snowboarders.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 9, 2017—The board of directors of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has named Kelly Pawlak as NSAA’s new president and CEO. Pawlak, who is vice president and general manager at Mount Snow Resort, Vt., will assume the position Jan. 1, 2018.

SAM Magazine—Wrightwood, Calif., Oct. 6, 2017— Ski Resort Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate, has sold Mountain High Resort to Mountain High Reunited (MHR), an investment group that includes current president and CEO Karl Kapuscinski, the resort’s senior management team, and MHR Investors. Terms of the sale were not released. The current management team will remain in place and continue to operate the resort.

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Oct. 5, 2017—Christopher Bub has transitioned into the role of chief financial officer for Peak Resorts after serving as the company’s vice president and chief accounting officer since 2016. Bub succeeds Stephen Mueller, who is stepping down as CFO, a position he’s held since joining Peak Resorts in 2001.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 3, 2017—Vail Resorts (VR) reported fiscal 2017 full-year results last week, including EBITDA of $593 million. That represents growth of 31 percent compared to 2016, due in large part to inclusion of results from Whistler Blackcomb and Stowe in 2017.

This October edition of Snow People includes happenings to prominent people in the mountain resort industry since our last edition in early August.

SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., Sept. 27, 2017—The mercury dropped over the weekend in the western high country, and a handful of resort snowmaking crews took advantage of the cold temps.

SAM Magazine—West Dover, Vt., Sept. 25, 2017—By popular demand, Cutter’s Camp returns to the East with a new “Fall Refresher” format to be held at Mount Snow in southern Vermont, Nov. 6-8. With winter starting for many resorts right after Camp concludes, terrain park professionals will be able to immediately apply the lessons and best practices they learn to their park operation.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Sept. 20, 2015—There are only 10 days left to enter SAM’s 13th Annual Terrain Park Contest, sponsored by Burton Snowboards. The November issue will showcase the most unique terrain park features, as well as the most innovative park events, from the 2016-17 season, but only if you enter. So start sorting through your creations, and submit your entries for the feature and/or events categories.

Beaver Creek, Colorado. Photo credit: Jack Affleck, Vail Resorts.SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 20, 2017—The trend of slipping occupancy and rising revenues that began last winter in Western destinations has continued through most of the summer, according to the monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing released by Inntopia. And the trend may get worse before it gets better.

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and MuseumSAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 20, 2017—Eight noted ski and snowboard athletes and sport builders form the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017. They are freestyle icon “Airborne” Eddie Ferguson, freestyle’s somersault king Hermann Gollner and legendary cross-country coach Marty Hall; the late, Steve McKinney, world record holder in alpine speed skiing; snowboard pioneer Shaun Palmer; ski mountaineers and twin brothers Mike and Steve Marolt; and Thom Weisel, a passionate fund raiser for the U.S. Ski Team.

SAM Magazine—Carrabassett Valley, Maine, Sept. 15, 2017—Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine will offer cat skiing this winter on its Burnt Mountain terrain, which until this season was only accessible for those willing to hike or skin. The resort will be one of only a small handful of U.S. ski areas east of the Rockies to offer cat skiing, with Subarbush, Vt., and Mount Bohemia, Mich., a couple of the others.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Sept. 12, 2017—Parker Riehle, recently named as the new president of the National Ski Areas Association, is not taking the job, after all. He has told NSAA that, for personal reasons, he is declining the offer. As a result, Michael Berry will remain president until a new candidate is chosen and completes the transition.

SAM Magazine—Lebanon, N.H., Sept. 11, 2017—Industry veteran Mike Colbourn is now president of SnoCountry, Inc., a not-for-profit winter resort trade association best known for hosting and disseminating daily snow conditions reports. He takes over for Tom Cottrill, who is retiring after leading the organization for the last 22 years. Colbourn is only the third president in SnoCountry’s nearly 50 years of existence, following Cottrill and founder Phil Camp.

SAM Magazine—Warren, Vt., Sept. 11, 2017—Sugarbush Resort has adopted Tenants for Turns, a program originally developed and implemented by resorts out west—including Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Stevens Pass, Wash.—that incentivizes local property owners to supply affordable housing to resort employees.

SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Aug. 31, 2017—Boyne Resorts has appointed John McGregor, current senior vice president of mountain operations, as the new senior vice president and chief operating officer of the company’s day resorts, and Rick Kelley, current president and general manager of Loon Mountain, N.H., as senior vice president of mountain operations for the company. Additionally, Jay Scambio, the company’s director of mountain sports development, becomes president and general manager at Loon Mountain.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Aug. 31, 2017—Vail Resorts has named Taylor Ogilvie as the new vice president of the company’s urban ski areas. Ogilvie was previously general manager of Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin. In addition to oversight of Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan, he will continue as the general manager at Wilmot Mountain.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Aug. 28, 2017—Parker Riehle is the new president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Riehle—who is currently the president of Ski Vermont, the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA)—will assume the position on Jan. 1, 2018, replacing Michael Berry, who is retiring after 25 years.

SAM Magazine—Vernon, N.J., Aug. 22, 2017—SNOW Operating has entered into a long-term partnership with Mountain Creek Ski Resort, N.J., to manage the resort’s winter ski, snowboard, and snow tubing businesses, as well as the mountain biking operation in summer. As part of the agreement, SNOW Operating CEO Joe Hession is now the resort president. The rest of the team will be transitioning into the role over the next few months with the resort’s owners, the Koffman family of Binghamton, N.Y.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., and Park City, Utah, Aug. 21, 2017—After a short breather from ski resort ownership consolidation, the newly formed entity of KSL Capital Partners and Aspen SkiCo is at it again—this time entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is anticipated to close prior to the upcoming 2017-18 ski season.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 18, 2017— According to the most recently released data from the Monthly Market Briefing compiled by DestiMetrics, an Inntopia company, lodging occupancy for the full summer is up only a slight 0.4 percent. However, strong gains in the Average Daily Rate (ADR) at those same properties have boosted summer revenues 7.7 percent compared to the same time last year. The report covers 20 destinations and 290 lodging companies in the Western U.S.

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 17, 2017—Registration for SAM’s eighth annual Summer Ops Camp—a series of seminars, workshops, and site visits that explore the state of the art in summer operations—closes Aug. 25. A few spots are still available for the Camp, Sept. 5-7 at Killington, Vermont.

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., Aug. 16, 2017—As it undergoes a multi-million dollar capital development, including the installation of a new six-passenger chairlift, Eldora Mountain Resort unveiled its new branding and a “Closer to You” campaign, which celebrates the mountain’s 56-year history as Boulder County’s mountain playground.

SAM Magazine—Princeton, Mass., Aug. 16, 2017—Season pass partnerships between unaffiliated resorts continue to evolve in a variety of ways. One of the newest is between Wachusett Mountain, Mass., and Stratton, Vt.

SAM Magazine—Glenwood Springs, Colo., Aug. 1, 2017—Season pass holders at Sunlight Mountain Resort can now receive three free ski days at Kiroro ski area on Japan’s North Island as Sunlight expands its global alliances. Passholders can also access more free ski days at areas in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington.

News of staff changes and hires at resorts, suppliers, and the National Parks Service.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Aug. 1, 2017—Geoff Buchheister, previously vice president for Vail Resorts’ urban ski areas, is now vice president and general manager for Keystone Resort. He succeeds Mike Goar, who is transitioning to COO at Heavenly Mountain Resort, with additional oversight of the company’s Kirkwood Mountain and Northstar California resorts.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 1, 2017—The as-yet-unnamed joint venture of KSL Capital Partners and the owner of the four Aspen resorts, Henry Crown and Company, has completed its $1.5 billion purchase of Intrawest Resort Holdings. Upon closing of the deal, Thomas Marano, Intrawest's chief executive officer, resigned his position, KSL's Bryan Traficanti was named interim chief executive officer, and Aspen’s David Perry was named president and chief operating officer. A search for a new chief executive officer is underway.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., July 25, 2017—Inspired by the environmental commitment of Whistler Blackcomb, a recent Vail Resorts (VR) acquisition, VR will aggressively pursue a comprehensive sustainability commitment across all its resorts, called “Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint.” The pledge commits VR to zero net emissions by 2030, zero waste to landfill by 2030, and zero net operating impact to forests and habitat.

SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., July 25, 2017—Breckenridge held the grand opening of Epic Discovery at Alpine Camp last week, marking the expansion of its summer offerings. Guests were treated to a scenic ride up the Colorado SuperChair on Peak 8 for the debut of Breck’s Gold Summit Climbing Wall, along with the resort’s observation tower and interpretive hiking loop. An aerial adventure course at Alpine Camp will follow later this summer.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., July 21, 2017—Wells Fargo has entered into an agreement with USI Insurance Services to sell Wells Fargo Insurance Services (WFIS), inclusive of the Safehold Special Risk program business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

SAM Magazine—Silverton, Colo., July 21, 2017—As Silverton Mountain begins its 16th year, the resort has teamed with six other ski areas that will give Silverton passholders 20 days of free skiing during the 2017-18 ski season.

SAM Magazine—Denver, July 21, 2017—While occupancy at Western mountain destinations for the summer months (May through October) is up a mere 0.2 percent year-over-year, aggregated revenues as of June 30 jumped 8.4 percent from the same period a year ago, thanks to robust gains in average daily rate (ADR). Occupancy for the month of June dipped 0.5 percent, but revenues were up 6.5 percent, according to Inntopia’s monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing.

SAM Magazine—Franklin, Wis., July 19, 2017—Schmitz Brothers LLC, which operates Little Switzerland and Nordic Mountain ski areas in Wisconsin, has reached a purchase agreement and long-term lease deal with ROC Ventures to take over ski hill operations of The Rock Snow Park in Franklin, Wisconsin.

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., July 19, 2017—Aspen Skiing Company’s chief operating officer, David Perry, left the company Monday to become a full-time consultant in launching the as-yet-unnamed SkiCo/KSL Capital Partners joint venture, which recently got the green light from regulators to move forward with its acquisitions of Intrawest and Mammoth Resorts.

SAM Magazine—North Vancouver, B.C., July 19, 2017—Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver has been acquired by GM Resorts, a company that was just incorporated in March by CM Asset Management Co. Ltd. (CM Canada). The rumored $200 million price tag was not confirmed in a news release announcing the deal. See SAM’s earlier report about the sale HERE.

SAM Magazine—Orlando, Fla., July 19, 2017—Accesso Technology Group plans to acquire The Experience Engine (TE2) in a deal valued at around $80 million, which is the largest acquisition in the company’s history. Both technology companies currently serve leisure, attraction, and hospitality operations around the world, including ski resorts, theme parks, hotels, quick service food, and healthcare, among others.

SAM Magazine—Claysburg, Pa., July 18, 2017—Sustainable Hospitality and Development, a limited partnership formed by a group of six investors from Pittsburgh, has purchased Blue Knob All Seasons Resort in Pennsylvania. The group acquired the resort from Richard Gauthier, 79, whose family purchased Blue Knob in 1983. The sale is not expected to disrupt operations.

SAM Magazine—North Vancouver, B.C., July 17, 2017—After its owners put it on the market last year, Grouse Mountain near Vancouver appears to have found a buyer. Citing sources familiar with the transaction, The Globe and Mail reported last week that the China Minsheng Investment Group, which is connected to the Chinese central government, is buying the resort for $200 million. The transaction is expected to close in the coming days.

SAM Magazine—Wrightwood, Calif., July 11, 2017—The Powder Alliance reciprocal pass program has added La Parva, Chile, and Bogus Basin, Idaho, to its list of participating resorts for the 2017-18 winter, bringing the total to 16 resorts in four countries. Anytime season passholders at any of the participating resorts get three free days at the other 15.

Robert Ward Parker, a 10th Mountain Division veteran who became a major figure in the post-World War II ski industry, died June 29 in Grand Junction, Colo., at the age of 94.

SAM Magazine—Denver, July 10, 2017—Denver will host the winter and summer Outdoor Retailer trade shows for the next five years, industry and elected officials said last week. Starting in January 2018, show organizer Emerald Expositions will host three shows in Denver each year—the OR Summer Market, plus the combined Winter Market + Snow Show in January, and a new apparel-oriented OR Winter Market in November.

SAM Magazine—Biwabik, Minn., July 10, 2017—Giants Ridge in northern Minnesota has hired industry veteran Fred Seymour as its new general manager. Seymour’s prior experience includes time as senior manager of alpine services for Hyland Hills Ski Area in the Three Rivers Park District in Bloomington, Minn., as well as general manager and consultant for four Denver-based properties. Most recently, Seymour was general manager at Hidden Valley Ski Area in Missouri.

Welcome to the July edition of Snow People, where we highlight happenings to prominent ski industry and supplier personnel. 

SAM Magazine—Concord, N.H., June 29, 2017—Legendary ski racer and ski industry pioneer Tom Corcoran died at his home in South Carolina on Tuesday. He was 85.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., June 28, 2017—Vail Resorts (VR) has appointed Mike Goar, current vice president and chief operating officer of Keystone Resort, Colo., to be Heavenly Mountain Resort chief operating officer, with additional oversight of the company’s Kirkwood Mountain and Northstar California resorts. He will assume his new responsibilities later this summer.