SAM Magazine—June Lake, Calif., April 25, 2013—June Mountain is set to reopen next December after a year in mothballs. The resort will continue to target families and entry-level skiers and snowboarders, with tentative plans for lift and snowmaking upgrades down the road.

 “Next winter we look forward to bringing skiers and snowboarders a great on-mountain experience while also planning for June’s future, including the possibility of a new lift and enhanced snowmaking,” June Mountain general manager Carl Williams said in a release.

SAM Magazine—Minneapolis, Minn., April 25, 2013—Vail Resorts has purchased longtime Twin Cities retailer Hoigaard’s, complementing it purchase last fall of Afton Alps.

SAM Magazine—Hope, B.C., April 22, 2013—Sunshine Valley RV Resorts has purchased The Manning Park resort, which went into receivership four years ago. Manning Park manages Nordic and Alpine facilities in addition to campgrounds.

SAM Magazine--April 22, 2013--Vail Resorts, Inc., reported certain ski season metrics for the comparative periods from the beginning of the ski season through April 14, 2013 and for the prior year period through April 15, 2012. The reported numbers are adjusted as if Kirkwood, Calif., was owned in both periods, but exclude the newly-acquired Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton areas. Season-to-date total lift ticket revenue was up 10.2% and dining revenue and ski school revenue rose 13.1% and 11.6% respectively. Retail and rental revenue increased 8.9% over the same period last year.

SAM Magazine--April 22, 2013--Earl Holding, the owner of Sun Valley, Idaho, and Snowbasin, Utah, died on April 19 at the age of 86. Holding, who primarily made his fortune with Sinclair Oil, bought Sun Valley in 1977 and oversaw its transformation into an internationally-recognized four-season resort. Holding's Snowbasin underwent a similar transformation before hosting events during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Holding is survived by his wife, Carol, and three children.

SAM Magazine--April 19, 2013--Orville A. Slutzky, age 96, the beloved co-founder of Hunter Mountain, N.Y., passed away peacefully on April 18, 2013, in the company of loved ones. Orville was born in Hunter on February 13, 1917 and was raised on his parents’ farm in Jewett, N.Y.

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., April 18, 2013—It’s a season for extended seasons. Following the postponed closing dates at many Northeastern areas this April, several Colorado resorts have extended their seasons, too. A late-season storm cycle has dropped several feet of snow on the mountains, and a couple of feet on the Front Range, closing golf courses and ballfields and leaving locals with few outdoor options other than skiing and riding.

SAM Magazine—Catskill, N.Y., April 18, 2013—The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has proposed a five-year, $74 million expansion of the Belleayre ski center that could double the area’s annual visits. The plan, developed largely before ORDA took over control of Belleayre from the Department of Environmental Conservation in November 2012, will be open to public comment through late June.

SAM Magazine—Georgetown, Colo., April 16, 2013—The U.S. Forest Service has accepted the master development plan for Loveland Ski Area, setting the outline for expansion and improvement plans for the next decade or more. Specific projects included in the plan will still be required to undergo the usual environmental approval process, but the decision indicates that the proposed developments are aligned with the Forest Service’s resource management plan.

SAM Magazine--April 11, 2013--U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today announced a series of meetings in Colorado, Utah and California that will focus on the development of a ski area water rights clause impacting ski facility operations on national forests.

SAM Magazine--April 10, 2013--Mt. Bachelor, Ore.'s Ski Area Improvement Project was given the green light after no appeals were filed with the Deschutes National Forest during the 45-day appeal period, which ended on April 1, 2013.

The approval initiates the first updated master development plan for Mt. Bachelor in 32 years. The 10-year development plan includes new year-round activities, services and infrastructure.

SAM Magazine--April 10, 2013--Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) is reported that winter 2013 ended with the highest level of skier/rider visits in the resort’s history. The end of season total of approximately 502,222 visits surpasses the previous record set during the winter of 2008, a winter that saw significantly more in season snowfall as this winter. The increase in skier visits of 5% over last year was achieved despite below average snowfall that was 60% of average at the base and 80% of normal at mid-mountain and only one inch above last season on the upper mountain.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., April 8, 2013—Ryan Bell of CNL Financial Group, Ross Boisvert of McIntyre Ski Area, Rob McSkimming of Whistler Blackcomb, and Justin Rowland of Ski Apache have earned the 2013 SAMMY Leadership Awards, given annually to individuals who will shape the future of the winter resort industry. This is the 14th year for the Awards.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., April 8, 2013—The 13th annual SAM Magazine Cutter’s Camp West session at Timberline, Ore., May 13-17 has filled all available slots. “We urge would-be campers to get on the waiting list as soon as possible” by sending an email to liz@saminfo.com, said SAM publisher Olivia Rowan.

SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., April 5, 2013—Father and son team Brian and Tyler Fairbank have formed The Fairbank Group, LLC to manage and oversee its group of businesses that includes Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Cranmore Mountain Resort and Bromley Mountain, as well as EOS Ventures, Bullwheel Productions and other endeavors. As part of the new structure, Tyler Fairbank becomes president of Jiminy Peak, supplanting his father.

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., April 5, 2013—Snowsports retail sales reached $3.1 billion for the season through February, up 2 percent compared to August through February 2011-12, according to the SIA RetailTRAK retail audit conducted by Leisure Trends Group for Snowsports Industries America (SIA). Backcountry gear showed the greatest growth.

Sales in January and February were healthy compared with the past four seasons, and that helped offset relatively lackluster sales earlier in the season.

SAM Magazine—Canton, Mass., April 4, 2013—Ski Blue Hills Management is seeking a longer-term lease for the state-owned Blue Hills Ski Area here so that it can make capital improvements to the area. Typically the state offers five-year leases, and Ski Blue Hills operated this past winter on a one-year extension to its former lease.

SAM Magazine—Scranton, Pa., Mar. 28, 2013—Local real estate group Jefferson-Werner, headed by developer Charlie Jefferson, is said to be close to buying Snö Mountain winter resort and water park. The group plans to restore the area’s original name, Montage, and bolster marketing efforts.

Jefferson-Warner is expected to pay $8 million for the resort, which was recently bought out of bankruptcy by National Penn Bank, the largest creditor at the time, for $4.6 million.

Jessica Kalinoski is slated to be the new general manager.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Mar. 28, 2013—Powdr Corp.’s new License 2 Ride season pass program gives youths six areas for the price of one. Passholders ages 17 and under (18 and under for Killington and Mt. Bachelor) at any one of six participating Powdr resorts receive lift privileges at all six.

As an extra perk, passholders who currently have a 2012-13 youth/teen pass, or who purchase their 2013-14 season pass by May 1, 2013, will save $200 on a week at summer camp at one of Woodward’s four locations in the United States.

SAM Magazine--March 28, 2013--Following an inspection by the Department of Toxic Substances Control in September 2010, which found several violations relating to a used-oil tank, Heavenly Valley, Calif., settled the matter this week by agreeing to pay a civil penalty of $94,000, an adminstrative fee of $26,000, and another $30,000 to Western States Project, which supports and enhances the environmental enforcement programs of its members.

SAM Magazine--March 28, 2013--New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced yesterday that he will launch a full financial audit of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) after a report by his office found that financial issues persist at a time when its operations have been expanded to include Belleayre Mountain.

SAM Magazine--March 22, 2013--Thanks to improved snow conditions in January and February, skier visits among Colorado Ski Country USA's (CSCUSA) 21 member resorts partially rebounded from an early-season deficit, increasing 1.3 percent over the two months, compared to the same two months last year. From opening through December 31, 2012, CSCUSA resorts dropped 11.5 percent from the same period the season before. For the 2012-13 season to date (through February 29, 2013), CSCUSA member resorts are down a total of 4.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Mar. 22, 2013—With the season winding down, it's time to look ahead and see how you can stay on top of your game for next year in the ever-changing world of freestyle terrain. Registration for SAM’s eastern Cutter's Camp at Mount Snow (Carinthia), Vt., closes on March 26 at 5 p.m., and there are only a few spots left.

SAM Magazine--March 21. 2013--According to the Star Gazette, a federal judge has approved the sale of Greek Peak, N.Y., after a private auction on Tuesday. The highest bid was $6.76 million by two local businessmen, John Meier and Marc Stemerman. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which became the main lender and receiver after the ski area's main lender went under, did not register any objection.

SAM Magazine--March 18, 2013--Wisp Resort in Maryland announced the promotion of industry (and Wisp) veteran Jerry Geisler to GM today. Geisler has worked at Wisp Resort for 37 years beginning as a ski instructor in 1975. Geisler replaces Tim Prather.

SAM Magazine—Enfield, N.H., Mar. 15, 2013—Whaleback Mountain is shutting its doors for the year, and as a business, on Mar. 17. Owners Evan Dybvig, Frank Sparrow, and Dylan Goodspeed posted a message on their website Thursday that the mountain would be ceasing operations at the end of the coming weekend.

SAM Magazine--March 15, 2013--More consistent snowfall and stronger economic metrics combined to deliver impressive gains for the mountain lodging industry according to the most recent data released by the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). Actual occupancy for February 2013 was up 14.2 percent compared to last February and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was up 2.6 percent. Further evidence of the demand for mountain vacations, the booking pace for reservations taken in February for arrivals in the next six months (February-July) was up a dramatic 20.4 percent.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Mar. 13, 2013—More than 153,000 children and adults from 34 states registered for beginner lessons during January 2013 as part of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month/Bring a Friend (LSSM/BAF)—an increase of more than 50,000 compared to 2012, and an increase of more than 130,000 since the initiative’s first effort in January 2009.


SAM Magazine—Salida, Colo., Mar. 13, 2013—Monarch Mountain is teaming with fellow Colorado resorts Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Steamboat in a reciprocal pass deal for 2013-14.

SAM Magazine—Missoula, Mont., Mar. 12, 2013—Tom Maclay, who has long sought to develop a destination resort at Lolo Peak in the Bitterroot Mountains, has lost control of his property to Met Life Agricultural Investments through foreclosure.

Missoula County Sheriff Carl Ibsen signed a sheriff’s deed over to Met Life on Feb. 27, five days after a one-year deadline for Maclay to redeem his loan from Met Life. Maclay’s 3,000-acre ranch and home were sold at a sheriff’s auction to Met Life on Feb. 22, 2012.

SAM Magazine—March 12, 2013—Today several joint pass promotions were released giving skiers and snowboarders more options than ever. First up, The Mountain Collective added three resorts to its 2013/14 offering: Mammoth Mountain, Snowbird and Whistler/Blackcomb. The Collective was created last year when Alta, Aspen/Snowmass, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows and Jackson Hole got together and offered up two days at each of its resorts, plus discounts, for $349. For next season, the price will remain at $349 for a limited pre-season sale, which starts today.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Mar. 12, 2013—SlopeXchange.com, which aimed to help skiers and riders re-sell their day lift tickets in resort parking lots, came to a swift end after NSAA threatened to sue the site.

Early this year, slopexchange.com hit the Internet with what its founders thought was a clever idea: help skiers and riders re-sell the unused time on their daily lift tickets. The site’s founder explained it thusly in an email to Ski Areas of New York (SANY):

SAM Magazine—Bartlett, N.H., Mar. 8, 2013—According to an on-line survey conducted by SAM Magazine, 33% of respondents say that summer opportunities will be the most important factor in the future growth of mountain resorts. To address this growing trend, SAM Magazine will hold its fourth annual Summer Ops Camp at Attitash, N.H., September 15 to 17. This hands-on educational and networking event gathers resort managers, operators and suppliers from across North America to explore the exciting opportunities in four-season attractions.

SAM Magazine—Virgil, N.Y., Mar. 8, 2013—Greek Peak is scheduled to be sold at auction in Syracuse, N.Y., on Mar. 19, either in its entirety or in various lots. The resort includes the winter resort as well as a year-round adventure center, hotel and indoor waterpark.

SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., Mar. 7, 2013—Snowfall over the December holidays and into January helped raise snowsport retail sales 7 percent in January 2013 compared to January 2012.

The latest data come from the SIA RetailTRAK, compiled by the Leisure Trends Group.

SAM Magazine--March 7, 2013--Vail Resorts, Inc. announced its second quarter results of fiscal 2013 ended January 31, 2013. Total net revenue of the mountain, lodging and real estate categories was $422.5 million compared to $373.3 million during the same period last year while total operating expenses went from $255.1 million in 2012 to $282.5 million for the same quarter in 2013. Resort reported EBITDA increased 17% to $142.6 million. Net income rose 30.5% to $60.6 million compared to $46.4 million in 2012.

SAM Magazine--March 5, 2013--According to published reports, Sunrise Park Resort in Arizona is being investigated for the Norovirus, a very contagious virus. The area has been cooperating with federal, state, county and tribal agencies (the area is owned by the White Mountain Apache Tribe) after several customers became ill after visiting over the weekend of February 23 and 24. Food and water sources have been ruled out as the cause. The virus was likely brought to the area by an individual or group and is spread by contact and can affect people of all ages.

SAM Magazine—Scranton, Pa., Mar. 1, 2013—Snö Mountain’s biggest creditor, National Penn Bank, was high bidder at a bankruptcy auction today in Philadelphia. The bank outbid an investment group that has also invested in the resort.

DFM Realty, an affiliate of National Penn Bank, Boyertown, bid $4.6 million, said trustee Gary Seitz. An investment group, calling itself Montage Mountain Resort LP, bid $4.5 million. A third bid, from Camelback owner Arthur Berry, was for $1 million.

SAM Magazine—Henniker, N.H., Mar. 1, 2013—Pats Peak Ski will launch Operation Cascade Basin this summer, a planned expansion that will add a new triple chairlift and 20-plus acres of new terrain encompassing up to six new trails and glades over the next three years.

SAM Magazine—Palmerton, Pa., Mar. 1, 2013—Blue Mountain Ski Area and Resort will start construction on a $20 million water park project this spring, with opening projected for May 2015.

The outdoor park, called Summit Splash, will include a wave pool, water slides and a lazy river. The themes for the various activities will reflect the region’s history, which includes mining, railroads, and canals.

In our latest installment of the SAM CAM, SAM Magazine visited Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Pa., for the opening of their new Pirates Riglet Park. The park, Burton's 27th Riglet park installation, is designed to introduce children between the ages of 3 and 6 to snowboarding in a mountain-like environment on a flat surface that allows quicker progression and more fun for the kids.

SAM Magazine—Windham, N.Y., Feb. 26, 2013—Windham Mountain Resort has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Windham Country Club to make the club part of the resort. A majority of the club’s shareholders have approved the sale to Windham Mountain Partners, the ownership group behind Windham Mountain.

SAM Magazine—Scranton, Pa., Feb. 26, 2013—Auction bids for Sno Mountain are due Thursday in Philadelphia, with several bidders said to remain interested in the facility. If a substantial bid is received, a sale could be completed at a Mar. 6 Bankruptcy Court hearing.

SAM Magazine—Kellogg, Idaho, Feb. 26, 2013—Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg has extended an online auction deadline in hopes of receiving additional qualified bidders.

An original January deadline to sell parts of the resort, ski area, golf course and other properties was canceled and the deadline extended to March 19. Terms of the auction were restructured as well, to make it easier for potential bidders to choose which elements of the resort they wish to bid on.

To date, 20 potential buyers have reviewed the resort’s financial records.

SAM Magazine—Centennial, Wyo., Feb. 20, 2013—Downhilling and drinking, more or less in that order, have long gone hand in hand. But it’s still notable that Snowy Range Ski Area here has received final approval from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to operate a microbrewery as a part of its base lodge operations. This is believed to be the first microbrewery at a U.S. ski area.

The State of Wyoming and Albany County had approved the microbrewery permit in late 2012; the USFS permit was the last requirement.

SAM Magazine—Peninsula, Ohio, Feb. 21, 2013—Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resorts, Mad River Mountain, and the newest addition to Peak Resorts, Alpine Valley Ski Area, are offering the Ohio Pass—four resorts on one pass. Pricing for adults ages 13-69 will be $399, and $349 for a juniors ages 5-12.

SAM Magazine—North Conway, N.H., Feb. 19, 2013 —With the addition of Cranmore, the White Mountain Superpass now encompasses four resorts—Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, Waterville Valley, and Cranmore. The unrestricted passes go on sale next week.

SAM Magazine—Albuquerque, N.M., Feb. 19, 2013—Sandia Peak closed for the season yesterday, President’s Day, a month earlier than usual, after receiving just 32 inches of snow this winter.

Managers said they would keep the lifts and other equipment ready to reopen if the weather cooperates in the next few weeks, but they didn’t hold much hope for that. A storm was expected to sweep through the northern part of New Mexico later this week, but it’s not expected bring more than three inches of snow.

SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Feb. 19, 2013—A group of 15 skiers emerged mostly without injury after they were caught by an inbounds avalanche last Saturday afternoon at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. One skier was evacuated by toboggan with a knee injury.

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Feb. 19, 2013—Between the Alpine successes at the FIS World Championships and several podium finishes at the pre-Olympic World Cup competitions at Sochi, Russia, last week, U.S. competitors achieved several noteworthy results.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 15, 2013—As the economy improved and snow piled up at many western resorts during January, so did occupancy, as well as reservations for the coming six months. That’s the latest news from the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP).

Data come from 260 lodging properties in sixteen destinations across Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, and Oregon.

SAM Magazine--February 14, 2013--Mt. Bachelor, Ore., received the go-ahead from the Forest Service for an improvement project that will take place over the next 10 years. According to ktvz.com, Mt. Bachelor originally submitted the proposal in 2010, and after the Deschutes National Forest completed an environmental impact statement, which was put out for public comment, the Forest Service signed off on the master plan on February 13.

SAM Magazine—Boreal, Calif., Feb. 14, 2013—A new terrain-based instructor training program, the USASA Experience / Level 100 Coaches clinic, launched at Boreal Feb. 11-12. The project developed from a partnership between Burton and the U.S.A. Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA), an organizing body for recreational and competitive snowboarding and freeskiing as well as coach training.

SAM Magazine—Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 14, 2013—The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) held its 20th annual conference at the Red Rock Resort Casino and Spa outside Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 7-10. In addition to showcasing new products and innovations, the conference hosted its first-ever certification test for individual inspectors, and spent a good deal of time reviewing the new ASTM standards that will govern the industry going forward.

SAM Magazine—Girwood, AK, Feb. 11, 2013—Alyeska's Tram reopened to the public this past Saturday, which had been closed for over a month after a wind-related accident damaged one of its cabins. The tram will operate with a specially-designed car to serve as ballast on one side while the damaged cabin is repaired.

SAM Magazine—Big Bear, Calif., Feb. 7, 2013—A fired police officer who threatened to bring "warfare" to the Los Angeles Police Department has killed three people, including two policemen, and launched a manhunt that led pursuers to his burned-out truck in the Bear Mountain ski area parking lot. The resort closed for the day Thursday in response to the potential threat.

SAM Magazine--June Lake, Calif., Feb. 5, 2013-—Residents and visitors can now access backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing in and around June Mountain Ski Area for the rest of the winter season. The Forest Service approved a plan this week that outlines how Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA), owner of June Mountain, will manage the ski area this season, even though June Mountain is not in operation.

SAM Magazine—San Francisco, Calif., Feb. 5, 2013—The self-proclaimed California Ski and Snowboard Safety Organization (CSSSO), headed by individuals critical of resort safety practices, has released a "Family Safety Report Card" in an effort to prod California areas to become more proactive regarding skier/rider safety. The report card rated 36 safety features at 25 resorts and graded them for safety. Overall grades ranged from B to F.

SAM Magazine—Schladming, Austria, Feb. 5, 2013—U.S. ski racing champion Lindsey Vonn fell hard during the women’s super G event at the World Championships earlier today and was flown by helicopter to a hospital. According to U.S. Ski Team medical director Kyle Wilkens, Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture. She will be out for the remainder of this season but may heal in time to compete during the 2013-14 World Cup season and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, according to her medical team.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 4, 2013—The mood and attendance at the annual SIA Snow Show were better than many suppliers, and perhaps retailers as well, had anticipated. Final figures aren’t available, but traffic appeared at least as strong as last year, and showgoers expressed optimism about the current season and future prospects.

As always, the show provided a peek at the trends and new gear that will excite customers in 2013-14.