SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 5, 2024—More than 3,500 votes, the most ever, were cast in the 17th annual SAM Terrain Park Contest in which a total of 69 resort-submitted entries from ski areas around the globe competed for the top spot in one of four categories: features, events, edits, and park crew.  The votes have been tallied, and the ...

SAM Magazine–Keystone, Colo., Jan. 5, 2024–A collision between a skier and a ski-bike rider at a Colorado ski area has put a spotlight on safety issues around the use of snow toys and highlights a state law making it a crime to leave the scene of a serious ski crash. The Jan. 2 incident, involving a 72-year-old male skier, his daughter, and an...

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., Jan. 3, 2024—The gearbox for Hesperus Ski Area’s only lift suffered a major mechanical failure during preparations for the 2023-24 season, “making it impossible to open” for this winter, the ski area said, since a replacement gearbox for the old Riblet double cannot be sourced and the only option is to re-manu...

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Jan. 3, 2024—Longtime operations leader Donald (DJ) Koch was promoted to general manager of Hidden Valley Ski Resort, following former GM Tony Santora's appointment to general manager of Jack Frost Big Boulder, Pa., both owned and operated by Vail Resorts. Koch stepped into the new role Jan. 1, 2024.   "We are th...

SAM Magazine—White Haven, Pa., Dec. 21, 2023—Vail Resorts appointed Tony Santora as the new general manager of Jack Frost Big Boulder, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Santora previously served as GM of VR-owned Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Missouri.  A Utah native, Santora graduated from the University of Utah, where he earned his MBA from the David E...

SAM Magazine—Banner Elk, N.C., Dec. 22, 2023—A study commissioned by the North Carolina Ski Areas Association (NCSAA) found that the state’s six operating alpine ski areas had an overall economic value of $244.3 million for the 2022-23 winter season, including visitor expenditures and ski area revenues as well as indirect and induced economic...

SAM Magazine—Bethel, Maine, Dec. 22, 2023—Despite significant damage from a Monday weather event that dropped 5 inches of rain on Sunday River in a short period of time, the resort is on track to reopen with limited terrain tomorrow, Dec. 23. Waterville Valley base area operations manager Marrisa Preston jumps in mid-storm to clear the main ba...

SAM Magazine—Terrebonne, Quebec, Dec. 21, 2023—Ski areas in Quebec enjoyed a strong season in 2022-23, but while most ski areas in the province benefited from a surge in late-season skier visits, a relative handful of resorts continued to dominate the region. Overall, ski areas generated more than C$429 million (US$318 million) last season, ...

SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., Dec. 19, 2023—Several inches of rain fell across most of New England Sunday into Monday, causing many ski areas to temporarily suspend operations due to the heavy precipitation and high winds or significant local flooding, or both. According to early reports, damage to resort infrastructure appears to be limited. Damage...

SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Dec. 19, 2023—Lone Peak tram, the largest on-mountain infrastructure project in Big Sky Resort’s history, opens today. Courtesy of Big Sky ResortThe resort broke ground on the installation in summer 2022 and began load testing the new Doppelmayr/Garaventa ropeway system in November of this year.  The grand openi...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Dec. 14, 2023—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI), in partnership with Vail Resorts and the town of Vail, Colo., will host Interski 2027.Interski 2023, courtesy of PSIA-AASI The event, held every four years at different locations, will bring toge...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Dec. 13, 2023—Modest snowfall across much of the West and rate-sensitive customers weary of high prices combined to bring down on-the-books occupancy (and some daily rates) for the full winter season, according to DestiMetrics, the Business Intelligence division of Inntopia, in its most recent Monthly Market Bri...

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, Dec. 13, 2023—In order to keep Powder Mountain financially viable, CEO Reed Hastings plans to sell more real estate at the property and provide homeowners with an area of lift-served terrain that only they can access beginning in 2024-25. The rest of the 8,464-acre resort will remain open to the public.  “While many...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Dec. 8, 2023—On a Dec. 7 earnings call, Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch reported continued pass sales growth in both units and revenue for the company headed into the 2023-24 season. Pass product sales for the North American ski season increased approximately 4 percent in units and approximately 11 percent in sale...

SAM Magazine—Mt. Hood, Ore., Dec. 8, 2023—Legendary snowboarder Shaun White is part of a trio of big names making a significant investment in We Are Camp, the parent company of Windells action sports camp and High Cascade snowboard camp, which White attended as a youth, helping to propel his career.  We Are Camp operates action sports camps f...

SAM Magazine—Warrensburg, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2023—Hickory Ski Center is getting a lifeline to fund payment for liability insurance that will allow the ski area to open its lifts for the first time since 2015.  Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems CEO Erik Mogensen and Unofficial Networks publisher Tim Konrad are providing financial assistance to pay a $...

SAM Magazine—Saint-Côme, Quebec, Dec. 1, 2023—The coroner’s report about the Jan. 29, 2023, death of a 6-year-old girl at Val Saint-Côme resort in Quebec calls into question ski area staff training and safety practices, as the investigation revealed several missteps during the accident.   According to the report, Lily Leblanc was in a sk...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Dec. 1, 2023—Vail Resorts has entered into an agreement to acquire Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland from CPI Property Group (CPIPG), the majority owner of Remontées Mécaniques (French for “ski lifts”) Crans Montana Aminona (CMA) SA, which controls and operates all the resort's lifts and supporti...

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Nov. 30, 2023—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday named Salt Lake City as the “preferred city” to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Once a preferred host has been selected, no other cities are permitted to apply to host the same Games, making Salt Lake now the sole candidate for ...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Nov. 27, 2023—Vail Resorts lost its appeal of the Park City planning commission’s decision to deny approval to Park City Mountain for installing two new chairlifts that would effectively replace three existing chairlifts.  At the heart of the court’s decision were two issues that have been the source of ire a...

SAM Magazine—Wardsboro, Vt., Nov. 22, 2023—Inconsistency has been the theme so far in this young winter season across North America. Stratton Mountain Opening DayThere's been just enough snow and cold to get some ski areas’ lifts spinning, while others wait for their window to make enough snow for a good product. Several areas have had to pus...

SAM Magazine—Kirkwood, Calif., Nov. 16, 2023—Ricky Newberry has been named VP and GM of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Newberry comes from Heavenly, where he’s served as VP of mountain operations since 2021. However, he started his 23-year ski industry career at Kirkwood in 1999, straight out of college, on the ski patrol. Both ski areas are owned...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Nov. 16, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has appointed Ron Cohen, president and COO of Mammoth Mountain, Calif., and Rob Perlman, president and COO of Steamboat, Colo., to the newly created roles of executive vice president (EVP), regional operations.Rob Perlman In that capacity, both will serve on Alterra’s executive leade...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Nov. 15, 2023—The boom in summer lodging business at Western mountain destinations cooled this past summer, with revenues flat compared to the prior season, and winter business appears to be following a similar pattern. That's the news according to the latest monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the busine...

SAM Magazine— Jackson, N.H., Nov. 15, 2023—Amidst a variety of news coming out of the ski area recently, ski industry veteran Gareth Slattery has been named general manager of Black Mountain, N.H. Slattery worked for 17 years at Cannon Mountain, where he climbed the ranks in positions that included patrol director and risk manager. He most rece...

SAM Magazine—New York, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2023—The Mountain Collective team held its annual NYC winter kick-off event at the Carroll Place gastropub in the Village on Nov. 2. The gathering followed an in-person Mountain Collective team board meeting, which was attended by executives of participating resorts, including Snowbird president Dave Fields...

SAM Magazine—Olympic Valley, Calif., Nov. 10, 2023—Palisades Tahoe employee Brian Gimbert, 34, of Tahoma, CA, died as a result of a collision involving a snowmobile early Thursday morning, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported. Officials at the resort said the accident happened during snowmaking operations on the Alpine side of Palisades...

SAM Magazine—Kimberley, British Columbia, Nov. 10, 2023—Kimberley Alpine Resort named Christine Schultheis as its new general manager. Schultheis, a charted professional in human resources with a degree in economics, joined parent company Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) in 2010 serving administrative roles in human resources, and most rec...

SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Nov. 8, 2023—The producers of two of the largest consumer ski shows in the nation—Snowbound Boston, and Snowvana in Portland, Ore.—reported a record number of attendees, vendors, and sales at their events this past weekend. Snowbound's pre-show reception: Mary Walsh, Snowboarder; Tim Smith, Waterville Valley; Je...

SAM Magazine—Detroit Lakes, Minn., Nov. 6, 2023—Detroit Mountain has named Tom Thiel as its new general manager. Thiel, a former beverage sales manager and self-described outdoor enthusiast, will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the city-owned facility that offers downhill and cross-country mountain biking in summer and 4...

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE CHARLES BLIER, CAMELBACK RESORT Charles Blier joins Camelback Resort as the vice preside...

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Nov. 2, 2023—More North American ski areas are opening for the season after late-October snowstorms pummeled various regions this past week and cooler temps allowed other areas to fire up their snowmaking systems. Here is a rundown of some recent and soon-to-come opening dates. Courtesy of Sommet Saint-Sauveur Ea...

SAM Magazine—Bear Valley, Calif., Nov. 2, 2023—California Mountain Resorts Company (CMRC) has acquired Bear Valley. It’s the third acquisition in three years for the growing Golden State conglomerate, which is headed by CEO Karl Kapuscinski. CMRC, which has owned Mountain High since 1997, purchased California’s Dodge Ridge in 2021 and China...

SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Oct. 27, 2023—Arapahoe Basin announced it will open for the season on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 8:30 a.m. It will run the Black Mountain Express to provide access to the High Noon trail. Opening day will feature complimentary duct tape and donuts for the first guests in line, a Halloween band, and a costume contest with pri...

Private and semi-private ski resorts have been around for decades. There are several private clubs in New York state and the province of Ontario, and The Hermitage and Quechee Club in Vermont, for example. But it's not easy for an existing resort to move in that direction, as Windham Mountain, N.Y., learned as it launched its rebrand as Windham Mou...

SAM Magazine—Cherry Creek, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2023—Officials at Cockaigne Resort announced on Monday that the ski area, including food and beverage operations, will not open for the 2023-24 season. The 462-acre property, including a 10,000-square-foot lodge built in 2019, has been for sale on-and-off for the past year, and was relisted this summer ...

This report was updated on Oct. 26. SAM Magazine—Nederland, Colo., Oct. 25, 2023—Colorado Public Radio (CPR) reported that 71 percent of ski patrollers and medical staff at Eldora Mountain Resort have signed cards in favor of holding a union election. This is the latest such unionization effort among ski area staff following lift mechanics an...

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., Oct. 24, 2023—The third annual Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit (MT2030) took place Oct. 18-19 in Vail, drawing more than 500 attendees from more than 40 U.S. and international mountain communities.From left: Kate Wilson (Vail Resorts), Darcie Renn (Alterra), Raj Basi (POWDR), and Tom Bradley (Boyne Resorts...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 19, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) has chosen Trent Poole to become vice president and GM of Hunter Mountain Resort, effective Oct. 30. He succeeds Russ Coloton, who is retiring after serving 44 years as president of Hunter. An 18-year VR veteran, Poole has a background in finance, project management, and mountain ...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., Oct. 18, 2023—A week after announcing that it would not open for the 2023-24 season, owners of New Hampshire’s Black Mountain have reconsidered after reaching an operating agreement with Indy Pass and its parent company Entabeni. Black Mountain officials announced on Oct. 11 that the ski area would remain closed d...

SAM Magazine—Sandia Park, N.M., Oct. 16, 2023—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) and Sandia Peak Ski Company have entered a joint venture agreement for the operation of Sandia Peak Ski Area, located 35 miles northeast of Albuquerque, N.M. This is MCP’s third New Mexico ski area, bringing the company’s total portfolio to 14 ski, bike, and golf ...

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Oct. 12, 2023—Plans for a proposed gondola connecting Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort have been withdrawn following initial disapproval from the Agency of Natural Resources, according to reporting by the News & Citizen.  Stowe, owned by Vail Resorts, and privately-held Smugglers’ Notch have r...

SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort has promoted Jon Copeland, current vice president of mountain operations, to vice president and COO.  Copeland will lead mountain and base area operations, food and beverage, ski and snowboard school, summer operations, and other areas of business, while driving partnersh...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has initiated the purchaseof Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (MWHS) in Blue River, BC, Canada. Officials at Alterra said the addition will complement the company’s BC-based CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures operation, and is expected to be completed late this year, pending...

SAM Magazine—Stratton, Vt., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has named Matt Jones president and COO of Vermont’s Stratton Mountain Resort. He most recently served as the VP and general manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort in California. Jones will report to Alterra’s regional COO, Patrice Malo, and will be responsible for overseeing...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023—Out of a strong field of more than 75 nominations,10 talented mountain resort industry up-and-comers have been selected to participate in the sixth annual SAM Summit Series, a mentorship program aimed at developing future mountain resort industry leaders. The 10 mentees hail from areas of all sizes loca...

SAM Magazine—Edmonton, Alberta, Oct. 10, 2023—Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, founded in 1955, has transitioned to new ownership—business partners Chuck and Lara Amerongen and Derek and Anna Look. The independently owned ski area is located about 20 miles southwest of Edmonton.  Rabbit Hill was purchased from former owner Jim Sutherland whose fath...

SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., Oct. 10, 2023—The Indy Pass has added more than 50 new alpine and Nordic resorts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan for the 2023-24 season. Sales of the pass have also reopened with limited supply available after sales were halted in April due to “overwhelming demand.” Would-be purchasers must join a waitlis...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 9, 2023—Ski areas across North America are invited to nominate their snowmaking teams to participate in the ninth annual “I AM a Snowmaker” contest, presented by HKD Snowmakers. The “I AM” contest highlights the importance of snowmakers and their unique role in mountain operations and the success of the ...

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2023—The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has named Ashley Walden its new CEO. Walden assumed the role in September, and replaced Mike Pratt, who retired after 38 years with the organization. The first woman to fill the top spot at ORDA, Walden will oversee all entities under the OR...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 5, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort (Colo.) vice president and COO Jody Churich has been promoted to the role of senior vice president and COO of Vail Resorts West Region, effective Oct. 16. She succeeds Doug Pierini, who is leaving the company as of Oct. 6. Courtesy of Sarah McLear, Breckenridge Ski Resort In...

SAM Magazine—Windham, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2023—Today, the Windham Mountain Club, formerly known as Windham Mountain, unveiled its rebranding and capital upgrades for the 2023-24 winter season and beyond. The mountain will continue to be open to the public, with season passes and ticket products available, but will also offer private club memberships...

SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2023—The Ski Areas of New York and Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association held their annual joint SKI NY-SKIPA Expo in Lake Placid, Sept. 25-27, with more than 350 ski area personnel, supplier partners, and experts on hand to learn, network, and have a little fun at the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olym...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 29, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) reported a drop in full-year net income for fiscal 2023, EBITDA that was essentially flat, and an increase in season-to-date pass sales for the 2023-24 season. VR's fiscal year ended on July 31. Key info in the year-end report, for the fiscal year ended July 31: Net income was d...

SAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 29, 2023—The U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum has named the eight-member class of 2023, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual Snowsports History Celebration in Park City, Utah, in March 2024.  The inductees are: Les Otten  Resort developer Les Otten had a prof...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Maine, Sept. 29, 2023—The New England Summit’s first year in Portland, Maine, drew 375 attendees, including representatives from 75 suppliers and 39 ski areas, for two days of educational sessions, meetings, and networking events, Sept. 18 and 19.  Dirk Gouwens, executive director of Ski Maine, the state trade associa...

SAM Magazine—Wolfurt, Austria, Sept. 28, 2023—Doppelmayr Holding SE reported a record $1.116 billion (946 million euros) in revenue during its 2022-23 business year, up 6.7 percent over the previous year. Of note, this is the first time that the company’s North American market outpaced the Austrian market. North American sales accounted for 2...

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE KATIE VAN RIPER and JUSTIN SOINE, POWDER MOUNTAIN Powder Mountain has hired Katie Van Ri...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company announced today that Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain and Camelback Resort will join the Ikon Pass for the 2023-24 season.   Located in Tannersville, Camelback is the largest snowsports resort in the Poconos, with 166 skiable acres. Blue Mountain, in Palmerton, has the state's...