SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 21, 2021—The nomination period is now open for SAM’s annual “10 Under 30.” Members of the mountain resort industry are invited to nominate a standout 20-something who is already making an impact at the ski area where they work, and is poised to become a leader in the industry. The chosen 10 rising stars w...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 20, 2021—Six lift maintenance teams have been chosen to participate in the inaugural Rise Up Challenge supported by Leitner-Poma of America:  Craigleith Ski Club, Ont.; Hunter Mountain, N.Y.; Jack Frost, Pa.; Purgatory, Colo.; Snowbasin, Utah; and Taos Ski Valley, N.M. The teams are competing for an education...

Special report by Katie Brinton. SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, April 20, 2021—SIA’s Snowbound Festival, a reimagined version of the former BEWI Expos, is set to launch this fall. Show details and exhibitor pricing for the multi-day Boston and Denver events dropped back in March, and buzz has been positive, said festival director Brian Stephe...

Virtual and In-Person for Summer and Fall 2021 From the cancellation of events in early 2020 to the move to virtual over the past year, we’ve changed the way we conference. However, with vaccination rates rising, the return of in-person events is hopefully in the not-too-distant future.  To help navigate this still uncertain landscape, SAM p...

SAM Magazine—Bradenton, Fla.., April 20, 2021—Western mountain resorts capitalized on short-term bookings—those made less than 30 days prior to arrival—in March and April to boost lodging occupancy and revenue at resorts in 18 mountain destinations spread across seven western states, according to the most recent Mountain Market Briefing dis...

SAM Magazine—East Rutherford, N.J., April 14, 2021—Big SNOW American Dream named Mark Dobrowolski as its new general manager. Dobrowolski has been serving as interim GM since former general manager Jim Haas died in March.  Dobrowolski joined Big SNOW, a year-round, indoor snowsports venue, as the guest experience manager in October 2019, prio...

SAM Magazine—Huntsville, Utah, April 13, 2021—Snowbasin Resort and Salomon are partnering in a program in which Salomon will provide Snowbasin with equipment for rentals and lessons. The partnership between the two northern Utah-based companies will add a community access point for Snowbasin guests and bolster offerings of Snowbasin's “Learn ...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 13, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) is undergoing a leadership shuffle at its headquarters in Broomfield, with some top executives moving to different positions, and some leaving or stepping down. Mountain division president Patricia Campbell is stepping down from her position to assume a new role as senior advisor...

SAM Magazine—DENVER, April 12, 2021 —Alterra Mountain Company plans to invest $207 million in capital improvements, including $111 million in resort projects at Steamboat, Deer Valley, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, and Mammoth Mountain; $31 million in enterprise technology systems; and $65 million in resort maintenance and planning.  “This ...

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., April 9, 2021—The Trump administration ban on J-1 and H2-B visas has officially expired, opening up the possibility once again for operators to hire nonimmigrant, temporary workers. As borders begin to open and embassies start to return to normal operations, foreign worker programs will come back to life. Whether they ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 7, 2021—The 2021 SAMMY Leadership Awards honor four individuals for their positive impact on their resorts, local communities and industry at large. This year’s class includes: Katie Brown, an involved mentor, promoter, and champion for female leaders; Robert McClendon, a coach and jack-of-all-trades; Jon Sch...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., April 5, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company has promoted Mark Brownlie from regional chief operating officer (RCOO) for the company’s Western Region to chief operating officer of resorts. Working with the COO of hospitality to drive profitability and growth, Brownlie will oversee all of the company’s 15 destination op...

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., April 1, 2021—Canadian resorts Revelstoke and Big White are both closing ahead of schedule, just as British Columbia enters a three-week lockdown amid surging Covid cases. Both closures appear to be a result of virus-related concerns, though they are not a direct result of the latest lockdown. Whistler Blackcomb, whi...

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., April 1, 2021—A special report from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) found that new, more diverse outdoor participants sought new recreation opportunities amid the Covid-19 pandemic. While these new participants stayed close to home during the pandemic, opportunities exist to entice these newcomers to expand t...

SAM Magazine—Whistler, B.C., March 29, 2021—British Columbia is implementing a three-week "circuit breaker"-style lockdown, imposing widespread restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group fitness, and worship services—and closing Whistler Blackcomb resort. All other winter resorts remain open. Affected businesses must close by midnigh...

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 29, 2021—With vaccinations accelerating in many locations across the U.S., resort travel planning has begun returning to normal, according to the latest analysis from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The pace and timing of rebookings, and longer lead times for bookings, indicate growing co...

Resorts Maggie Murray and Jesse True, Arapahoe Basin, Colo.  Arapahoe Basin welcomed Maggie Murray as its new finance director and Jesse True as its new marketing director.  Murray began her career at Morgan Stanley in Boston before realizing that office towers were not her natural habitat. Her background includes top finance roles in local n...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 24, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) officially unveiled its 2021-22 Epic Pass lineup today, dropping pass prices 20 percent “across the board,” which the company calls a “historic move.” It brings prices down to 2015-16 levels, when Epic Pass provided access to 11 resorts compared to more than 70 resorts tod...

SAM Magazine—Whitefish, Mont., March 22, 2021—A group of 20 to 30 protesters gathered on and around the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort Sunday morning to bring awareness to what organizers allege is a “culture of racism and non-inclusion” among the resort's staff and management. Whitefish acknowledged the protests and said it is addressing ma...

SAM Magazine—Tannersville, Pa., March 22, 2021—A chair carrying three passengers detached from the haul rope and fell to the ground Sunday afternoon at Camelback Resort, Pa.  According to sources at the resort, the chair that fell was nearing the top terminal when passengers felt an unusual shaking, and the lift came to a jolting stop. Th...

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, mostly known for the $1,400 payments to individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000, extends several benefits to business as well. Most important for the owners, managers, and shareholders of winter sports businesses are provisions that include the following:   Sma...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., March 15, 2021—With just two months to go in the winter season, lodging at mountain destinations regained lost ground, according to the most recent Mountain Market Briefing distributed by DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia.  Year over year, actual occupancy for February was down 1...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 15, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) saw year-over-year business levels improve during January and February, with season-to-date visits down 8.2 percent through March 7 compared to the prior year. Lift revenues declined 8.9 percent for the period, while ski school, food and beverage, and retail/rental revenues declin...

SAM Magazine—Sundance, Utah, March 12, 2021—The new owners of Sundance Mountain Resort are wasting no time making improvements to the Utah resort founded by Hollywood luminary Robert Redford. Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners, which acquired Sundance in December 2020, plan to install two new chairlifts, expand parking, and ...

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., March 11, 2021—It’s March, which means next season’s passes are going on sale. Many are offering financing options and carrying over Covid-related assurances. Prices seem to be holding steady and even rising, although a number of resorts are adding value, like spring access and reciprocal tickets, and offering disc...

Nearly one-fifth of the population has received at least a first dose of vaccine, according to the latest Virus Tracking report from the Insights Collective. As the vaccines continue to roll out, they will reinforce a long, downward trend in Covid cases that began in early January. Nationally, new cases are approaching 50,000 a day, on average, dow...

SAM Magazine—East Rutherford, N.J., March 8, 2021—Big SNOW American Dream general manager Jim Haas, 70, died Saturday, March 6, due to complications caused by Covid-19. Haas is the second active ski area leader to die from issues related to Covid-19. Ober Gatlinburg, Tenn., president Bruce Anders died in January at age 64.  Haas was the f...

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 4, 2021—Details of the 2021-22 Ikon Pass were released today, and they are nearly identical to the pre-Covid passes for 2020-21. Now encompassing 44 resorts, the primary options are the Ikon Pass, the more limited Ikon Base Pass, and four-day Ikon Session Pass. The first two come with many of the same benefits as for ...

SAM Magazine—Donnelly, Idaho, March 3, 2021—Tamarack Resort has unveiled a new community-focused lift pass to reward local students for their commitment to school and to support increased access to outdoor recreation. The SKY (Students-Kids-Youth) Pass will provide free, year-round Tamarack lift access to local K-12 students in the Va...

SAM Magazine—Oliver, BC, March 3, 2021—An employee of Baldy Mountain Resort in British Columbia died Friday, Feb. 26, from injuries sustained after reportedly becoming stuck beneath a grooming machine. He was 70 years old.  "Despite the efforts of other employees and emergency first aid attendants on the mountain, the 70-year-old man did ...

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colorado, Feb. 23, 2021—Pocket Outdoor Media (POM), which has been accumulating active lifestyle content and services, significantly expanded its reach by acquiring Outside Magazine and the entire Outside Integrated Media, including Outside Studio, Outside TV, and the Outside GO travel business.  Separately, it also ...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Feb. 23, 2021—Waterville Valley Resort, N.H., and Saddleback Mountain, Maine, are joining the Indy Pass through the end of the current 2020-21 season for the 2021-22 season. Both resorts will provide two days of skiing and riding to all Indy Pass holders during both seasons. There are no blackout dates for the remai...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, Wyo., Feb. 18, 2021—Teton Gravity Research (TGR) and the Indy Pass will explore the spirit of independent ski and snowboard areas around North America in a film and video project titled “In Pursuit of Soul.” The project will produce digital and social storytelling at 12 independent resorts throughout the winter season,...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Feb. 18, 2021—January snow and a drop in both Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations combined to give a boost, albeit small, to business across the West, according to the monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing from Inntopia. For the month, lodging occupancy was down 29.1 percent, average daily rate fell 12.3 percent,...

SAM Magazine—Rome, Italy, Feb. 16, 2021—Many of Italy’s ski resorts were ramping up to open this week, some starting Monday, Feb. 15, when the government’s ban on recreational skiing at resorts was set to expire—making snow, grooming, preparing facilities, staffing up, etc. However, resorts were informed at 7 p.m. on Sunday that health mi...

SAM Magazine—Neihart, Mont., Feb. 10, 2021—George Willett has sold Showdown Montana to his daughter, Katie Boedecker, after nearly 48 years of running the resort.Katie Boedecker and George Willett Boedecker, who grew up at Showdown, has worked many positions at the ski area, including general manager for the last three years. She joins a very ...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Feb. 10, 2021—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) 2021 winter conference and trade show was held virtually, Feb. 1-5. Attendees participated in educational sessions, networking events, and trade show hours from wherever they happened to be. The event was, of course, different than the traditional winter gathe...

The latest virus tracking reports from Insights Collective are showing light at the end of the tunnel, with new cases and hospitalizations declining.  Only Oregon, Puerto Rico, Arkansas and Vermont saw an increase in cases. We are cautiously optimistic. View the recent virus tracking report.  ...

SAM Magazine—Collingwood, Ont., Feb. 9, 2021—The province of Ontario will allow ski resorts to gradually start reopening to the public soon, following a six-week (or longer) closure.Calabogie Peaks On Monday, the province lifted the Emergency Declaration that forced resorts to close beginning on Dec. 26, 2020, just before the key Christmas hol...

Cross-country ski areas across Canada and the US were surveyed the second week of January with some promising results reported. Some of the key findings: Revenues were higher than had been projected, healthy season pass sales for more than half of the respondents (some with 20% or greater growth) and day pass sales have increased for more than...

SAM Magazine—Warren, Vt., Feb. 5, 2021—Sugarbush Resort, in partnership with Green Lantern Solar, has installed a new solar array at Lincoln Peak. The array has a capacity of 133 kilowatts (kW), and will generate 190,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) over the course of a year. This is the latest installation funded by the two organizations, and the firs...

SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Feb. 5, 2021—Boyne Resorts has made a renewable energy purchase commitment with CMS Enterprises, a CMS Energy subsidiary, that offsets electric energy consumption at its resorts and facilities throughout North America as of Jan. 1, 2021.  The purchase is among numerous environmental initiatives and newly e...

This report is excerpted from a longer report by Gfeller Laurie LLP. We thank Charles Gfeller for sharing it with SAM. SAM Magazine—West Hartford, Conn., Feb. 5, 2021—Many ski areas and ski industry vendors have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns. In the business world generally, this has led to a wa...

Yesterday, viewers were entertained with bad lumberjack jokes and live tiki chainsaw-carving with North Pole Design's Senan Gorman and SAM publisher Olivia Rowan. The event was held during the Supplier Direct Connect as part of the virtual NSAA Winter Conference. Attendees could vote for a tiki design ahead of the event, and Gorman crafted the one ...

As the U.S. and the world seek to escape the shadow of Covid-19, important steps are being taken on many fronts. Some of these may pose short-term challenges, but all are aimed at long-term recovery. Wonder why those $1,400 checks are so high on President Biden’s wish list? Curious to know how soon air travel might return to normal? Looking for o...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Feb. 2, 2021—Soldier Mountain and Pomerelle Mountain Resort, Idaho, have joined the Indy Pass. Each resort will provide Indy Pass holders two days of access through the end of the 2020-21 season. The pass now includes access to 16 ski areas in the Pacific Northwest, and 61 North American ski areas in all.  Sol...

SAM Magazine—East Madison, N.H., Jan. 29, 2021—Highway West Vacations will be providing full property management for New Hampshire’s King Pine Ski Area, Purity Spring Resort, Tohkomeupog Summer Camp for Boys, and Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, effective March 1, 2021. The Hoyt family will remain owners of the resort entities and retain...

SAM Magazine—Peterson, Utah, Jan. 29, 2021—A new private mountain resort development in Utah aims to open to members for skiing and riding next winter. Called Wasatch Peaks Ranch, it's located 35 minutes north from Salt Lake City, 10 miles south of Snowbasin Resort.  Wasatch Peaks Ranch encompasses 12,740 acres, including a planned 3,000 ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 28, 2021—Given the challenges the people in our industry are experiencing right now—and the need for resilience is greater than ever—SAM and High Peaks Group have relaunched the Summit Series Bootcamp: Resilient Leadership Training program to provide leaders at all levels of an organization with the too...

Virus cases are dropping. So are positivity rates and hospitalizations. Nearly 20 million Americans have begun receiving vaccines. The week’s Virus Tracker from the Insights Collective shows how the pandemic is affecting major resort destination communities and the markets they serve. And the news is looking up. Check out the full report her...

SAM Magazine—Boischatel, Quebec, Jan. 25, 2021—More than 4,000 total votes were cast during the seven-day voting period in the 2021 HKD I AM a Snowmaker contest, which showcased four snowmaking teams from resorts across North America: Blue Mountain, Ont.; Eldora, Colo.; Okemo Mountain, Vt.; and Squaw Valley, Calif. Voting concluded Monday, Jan....

SAM Magazine—Paris, France, Jan. 20, 2021—Ski resorts in France had hoped they could start up their lifts and welcome skiers and riders on Feb. 1, but rising Covid-19 infections and worries over the new variant of the virus have led French tourism minister Jean Baptiste Lemoyne to declare that resorts, among other businesses, must remain closed...

With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the traditional education opportunities have moved online. We know it's a busy time, so SAM pulled together a chronological list of online educational content available to mountain resort operations so it's easier to see what important webinars, Huddles and Town Halls might be worth checking o...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Jan. 18, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) reported that season-to-date visits at its North American resorts are down 16.6 percent for the season through Jan. 3, compared to the prior year through Jan. 5, periods that include the Christmas and New Year's holidays for both years. That translated for declines in several key m...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Jan. 15, 2021—Overall seasonal occupancy held steady during December from the previous month, but was down 18.6 percent compared to December 2019, according to the latest DestiMetrics Market Briefing from Inntopia. The average daily rate (ADR) also declined, by 10.6 percent, leading to a 27.2 percent drop in lod...

Despite the growing availability of vaccines, the pandemic continues to demand attention. A new strain is putting more people, including kids, at risk of infection. States and localities continue to tweak protocols in response to high infection rates and climbing daily death counts, requiring attention and adaptation. Employees are becoming more in...

SAM Magazine—Woodstock, Vt., Jan. 13, 2021—As part of a research initiative and in partnership with Snow Sports Insights, the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) published the results of the most recent consumer survey conducted during the first two weeks of December. CCSAA also included results of a retailer survey conducted aroun...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Jan. 12, 2021—Since the Christmas holiday period, coronavirus cases have been rapidly on the rise in several major western ski states and feeder markets, according to the latest tracking report from the Insights Collective. As the national vaccination effort continues, record case counts have been recorded, and Arizona had ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 11, 2021—Online voting for the 2021 HKD and SAM “I AM a Snowmaker” contest is now open, and continues through midnight (EST) on Monday, Jan. 18. Since it debuted in the winter of 2013-14, the annual I AM contest highlights the hard work, determination, and camaraderie of snowmakers, and recognizes ...