SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., Oct. 22, 2015—The economics of the ski industry, the minimum wage wave and the imperative to create increasing numbers of new skiers and riders has created an instructor shortage for many resorts across America. The Fairbank Group is tackling this problem by ramping up its efforts at all three of its resorts.

SAM Magazine—Squamish, B.C., Oct. 21, 2015—Plans to build a $3.5-billion four-season ski resort northeast of Squamish, B.C., face some key Provincial decisions this fall.

SAM Magazine—Seward, Alaska, Oct. 21, 2015—While ski resorts across North America are slowly starting to open, the staff at Silverton Mountain Guides Heli Skiing scored powder turns and faceshots this week at their new base camp in Seward, Alaska. The new location complements Silverton's Colorado operation.

SAM Magazine—Pinkham Notch, N.H., Oct. 20, 2015—Wildcat Mountain was able to fire up snowmaking operations last Saturday, thanks to a cold weekend in which daytime temperatures hovered in the 20s and overnight dipped into the teens. The resort continued to make snow “non-stop” through Monday, according to its local ABC affiliate.

SAM Magazine—Victoria, Australia, Oct. 20, 2015—Australia’s Mount Hotham ski resort is investing AU$ 4.4 million in snowmaking infrastructure for 2016, the single biggest investment in snowmaking at the resort since its 2008 partnership with the government to install the Loch snowmaking dam, said GM Belinda Trembath.

SAM Magazine—Saint-Sauveur, Que., Oct. 19, 2015—Hot on the heels of Killington and Sunday River opening in the United States, Quebec’s Mont Saint-Sauveur is now the first resort open in Canada.

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Oct. 19, 2015—Peak Resorts, Inc. is arranging a $15 million line of credit to fund acquisitions and improvements at its current properties. The line of credit, being offered by the Royal Banks of Missouri, allows Peak Resorts to increase the limit to $20 million if needed.

SAM Magazine—Fairfield, Idaho, Oct. 16, 2015—If you’ve ever wanted to own a ski resort, then today might be lucky day. Idaho’s Soldier Mountain Ski Area, once owned by actor Bruce Willis, is currently for sale at the low, low price of $149,000.

SAM Magazine—Burnsville. Minn., Oct. 16, 2015—Buck Hill Ski Area, founded in 1954 by Chuck and Nancy Stone, has been purchased by current general manager Don McClure, along with partners David Solner and his wife Corrine.

SAM Magazine—Wrightwood, Calif., Oct. 16, 2015—Mountain High in Wrightwood, Calif., and Snow Valley in Running Spring, Calif., are offering reciprocal lift privileges this winter. Passholders at each area are entitled to three days of free riding at the other resort, excluding blackout holidays.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Oct. 16, 2015—While western mountain resorts just wrapped up their third consecutive record-breaking summer season, winter bookings are showing weakness for the first time in more than three years, according to Denver-based DestiMetrics.

SAM Magazine—Toronto, Ontario, Oct 16, 2015—In the yearly battle to be the first resort to open in North America, Killington, Vt., is gunning for the top. The Beast of the East has targeted Sunday, Oct.18 as its opening day, hours ahead of rival Sunday River, Maine.

SAM Magazine—Bethel, Maine, Oct. 14, 2015—On the heels of a relatively warm early fall across much of the country, Maine’s Sunday River Ski Resort plans to open for the 2015-16 season on Monday, Oct. 19. If all goes according to plan, it will be the first resort in North America to open this season.

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., Oct 14, 2015—More than 120 ski and snowboard resorts have signed up to take part in a Guinness Book of World Records biggest-lesson-ever attempt in an effort to generate press coverage and a slew of newcomers to skiing and snowboarding.

SAM Magazine—Turin, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2015—The mother and son duo of Cyndy Sisto and Nick Mir have taken ownership of Snow Ridge Ski Resort. The Adriondack resort was previously owned by Russell Horn.

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., Oct. 1, 2015—There are still several hours left to join the Guinness World Record ski and ride lesson attempt. With 103 resorts signed on by mid-afternoon, organizers hope to reach 120 by tonight’s midnight deadline.

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., Oct. 1, 2015—Resorts have until midnight tonight to register for the attempt to establish a Guinness World Record for the largest mass-participation ski and snowboard lessons. More than 80 resorts have already signed up for what may be the year’s greatest PR and photo op in winter sports, and others are invited to join the effort.

SAM Magazine—Bondville, Vt., Sept. 30, 2015—Bill Nupp has been promoted from interim manager to president and chief operating officer of Stratton Mountain Resort, effective immediately.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 30, 2015—Total mountain revenue for Vail Resorts (VR) increased 11.6 percent to $1.4 billion for the 2015 fiscal year, fueled largely by a 10.1 percent increase in season pass and ticket prices and a 6.5 percent increase in total skier visits. The results also include one month of peak season operating results from Perisher, Australia, a purchase that the company closed on in July.

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., Sept. 30, 2015—Chamonix’s Mont-Blanc Valley is now part of the Mountain Collective 2015/16 season pass program. Chamonix is the Collective’s first European resort, and the fourth international destination, joining Thredbo, Australia; Hakuba Valley, Japan; and Valley Nevado, Chile. The Collective now has 14 member resorts in all.

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., Sept. 30, 2015—According to CBC.ca, Crystal Mountain, a day ski area in West Kelowna, B.C., will not open for the 2015-16 winter season.

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., Sept 29, 2015—In the never-ending debate over which resort is the best, Ski magazine released its 2016 Top 10 list of Western North American resorts today. The publication’s readers voted Whistler Blackcomb, B.C., as number one for the second straight year. The resort is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Dec. 12.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Sept. 29, 2015—There are only two days left to enter SAM’s 11th Annual Terrain Park contest, sponsored by Burton Snowboards. The magazine aims to showcase the most unique terrain park features and innovative park contests from last season. Start sorting through your creations and submit your entry for the feature and/or events categories.

The annual ISKINY-PSAA Expo Sept. 21-23, 2015, at Lake Placid, N.Y., attracted more than 370 ski resort, vendor, and guest attendees from across North America. Two major themes dominated the gathering: the guest experience and risk management.

Before diving into business, though, the fun kicked off with a tour of the operational areas at Whiteface Resort, followed by a friendly golf tournament.

The near-record turnout at this year's New England Summit Sept. 15-17 showed how much excitement there is in the region as resorts anticipate what El Nino will bring—including the possibility the Northeast is looking at another record-breaking snowfall year. Show organizer Bo Bigelow of the Ski Maine Association said the Summit drew 290 ski area attendees and an overall total attendance of 452 including exhibitors and speakers. Sessions were well attended, and the trade show hall was standing room only. 

SAM Magazine—New Hampshire, Sept. 21, 2015—It’s been a busy year with multi-resort companies and independent ski areas rolling out new pass partnerships (see Blue Pages, SAM Sept. issue). And now, it’s about to become even busier with the entry of the MiniMIX pass in New Hampshire.

Available for only $199, the pass includes two lift tickets and one tubing session at each of the following resorts: Pats Peak, King Pine and McIntyre. The MiniMIX doesn’t have any blackout dates, additional fees or surcharges.

The continued growth in summer resort operations lured more than 160 attendees representing 50 resorts, along with 34 vendor partners, from across North America to SAM’s 6th annual Summer Ops Camp at Camelback Resort, Pa., Sept. 9-11. The three-day conference addressed several aspects of “The Serious Business of Summer Fun” and provided several opportunities to demo a variety of summer activities and different ways to program them.

SAM MAGAZINE—Zanesfield, Ohio, Sept. 18, 2015—The lodge at Mad River Mountain caught fire and was destroyed Wednesday night. The resort was closed at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. There is currently no information as to the cause of the fire.

Reports indicate that part of the A-frame brick and mortar building is still standing. However, the main portion of the lodge, better known as the Loft, was constructed from wood and is now destroyed.

SAM MAGAZINE—Cortland, N.Y., Sept 16, 2015—Greek Peak is purchasing Toggenburg. During a press conference at Toggenburg today, former owner Jim Hickey and the new owners—who are also co-owners of Greek Peak Mountain Resort—Marc Stemerman and John Meier, addressed the details.

SAM Magazine—Taos, N.M., Sept. 16, 2015—Taos Ski Valley is increasing its minimum wage to $10 an hour, making it one of the higher paying resorts in the country for entry-level employees.

As one of the largest private employers in the state, the resort decided to increase the minimum wage to ensure it retains and recruits the best employees possible. Currently, the statewide minimum wage in New Mexico is $7.50.

SAM Magazine—Mt. Hood, Ore., Sept. 16, 2015—Mt. Hood Meadows has appointed three employees, Steve Warila, Jeremy Riss and Matt Troskey, to new vice president roles in an effort to restructure and provide year-round recreational and hospitality experiences.

SAM Magazine—Toronto, Ont., Sept. 16, 2015—The C.J. Group of Companies has acquired the media brands of Toronto-based SBC Media. The acquisition includes eight magazines, all SBC websites, social media accounts and assets, which will now operate under C.J. Oyster Publishing, a division of the C.J. Group.

The titles and brands now owned by the C.J. Group are: Snowboard Canada; SBC Skateboard; SBC Skier; SBC Wakeboard; SBC Business; SBC Ski & Snowboard Resort Guide (Annual); Snowboard Canada Women’s Annual; and SBC Surf.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Sept., 15, 2015—Intrawest Resort Holdings Inc., reported a major financial improvement in fiscal 2015, increasing revenues by 14 percent and cutting its net loss for the year by 96 percent. The improvements were due to the addition of 100 percent ownership of Blue Mountain, Ont., and the restructuring and refinancing that occurred in December 2013, respectively.

On a same-store basis, calculated as if Blue Mountain had been wholly owned both years, revenues rose 6 percent.

SAM Magazine—Wildwood, Mo., Sept., 15, 2015—Peak Resorts Inc, reduced its spending for its fiscal first quarter, ending July 31, 2015, helping to reduce its net loss to $7.1 million, compared to a net loss of $8.2 million during the previous year’s first quarter. The company cited lower interest expense for much of the improvement. Revenue was nearly flat for the spring/summer period, $5.43 million vs. $5.6 million in the year-earlier period.

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Sept. 15, 2015—Friends and associates of Jan Leonard, who died suddenly on Aug. 26, will host an evening dedicated to the aerial lift pioneer at the Deer Valley Resort Snow Park Lodge on Oct. 14. The event will recognize Leonard’s achievements in lift engineering and manufacturing. A cocktail reception at 4-6 p.m. will precede a program set for 6-9 p.m.

SAM Magazine—Teton Village, Wyo., Sept. 15, 2015—Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) has completed its new employee housing units, located in the town of Jackson. The three-building complex, which can house 94 workers, is the first of its kind for the Jackson Hole community.

SAM Magazine—Blue River, B.C., Sept. 15, 2015—Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing has named Tim Foster, former GM of Beaver Valley Ski Club and Mount Baldy Ski Area, as its new GM. With more than 25 years of experience in the ski industry, Foster’s key priorities will be to create strong guests experiences and concentrate on long-range plans at the resort.

SAM Magazine—Donner Summit, Calif., Sept. 14, 2015—Sugar Bowl Resort has named Greg Dallas, former COO of Mammoth and June Mountain, as its new CEO. Dallas will lead all aspects of resort operations, including Sugar Bowl Resort, Royal Gorge Cross Country, the Village at Sugar Bowl real estate, and homeowner services.

Dallas succeeds Rob Kautz, who had a 40-year run at Sugar Bowl, including the past 27 years as president and CEO. Kautz announced his retirement at the end of last ski season, and remains a project consultant and company board member.

SAM Magazine—Nederland, Colo., Sept. 14, 2015—Brent Tregaskis, former general manager at Big Bear Mountain Resorts, is now the GM at Eldora Mountain Resort, Colo. The news comes just one week after Chris Riddle, vice president of marketing, announced his retirement after 41 years with sister resort Snow Summit.

“The opportunity presented itself recently. This is the best time for me to leave the valley and head for Colorado,” Tregaskis said.

SAM Magazine—New York, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2015—More than 4,000 ski resorts, brands, and athletes signed up for .ski domain extensions in just the first 10 hours that it became publically available last week, according to officials at StartingDot, the Internet registry that started the campaign three years ago.

Now, less than one week after the launch, the tally is 5,000 and counting. Companies have been snapping up domain names at the rate of 200 a day after the opening flurry of activity, according to a StartingDot spokesman.

SAM Magazine—Donnelly, Idaho, Sept. 14, 2015—This season, skiers and riders at Tamarack Resort will have access to an additional 100 acres of in-bounds, hike-to terrain that hasn’t been open since 2009. Tamarack will reopen the Wildwood trail system on the northern section of the mountain when natural snow conditions allow. The area is not covered by snowmaking and was closed after a lift servicing this terrain was removed. The reopening augments existing out-of-bounds terrain at the south side of the resort.

SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., Sept. 1, 2015—Breckenridge residents will vote Nov. 3 on whether to impose a new 4.5 percent admissions (i.e., lift ticket) tax that would be used as long-term funding for parking and transit projects. The Breckenridge Town Council announced the ballot measure in July, but has since negotiated with Vail Resorts to exclude season passes and summer lift tickets from the tax.

SAM Magazine—Aug. 28, 2015—A memorial service for Jan Leonard, the principal in Skytrac lifts and former president of Doppelmayr who died Aug. 26, will take place Sept. 1.

SAM Magazine—Aug. 26, 2015—Jan Leonard, a principal in Skytrac lifts and former president of Doppelmayr, died this morning.

His Skytrac partners, David Metivier, Alan Hepner, and Carl Skylling, have presented the following open letter to the industry:

To all our friends, industry patrons and trade partners,

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 26, 2015—Registration for SAM’s sixth annual Summer Ops Camp—a series of seminars, workshops, and site visits that explore the state of the art in summer operations—closes Monday, Aug. 31. A few spots are still available for the camp, Sept. 9-11 at Camelback, Pa.

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Aug. 20, 2015—A number of ski associations in the U.S. are plotting to pull off the “world’s largest ski and snowboard lesson” Jan. 8, 2016, with the goal of having it officially recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The goal is also to use this stunt as a kickoff event for Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and the Bring a Friend learn-to campaigns.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 19, 2015—Summer lodging revenue is up 14 percent and occupancy is up 8 percent compared to last summer, according to data collected among lodging properties at 19 western mountain destination resorts in six states. In July alone, revenue was up 13.8 percent and occupancy 7.9 percent, according to DestiMetrics, the Denver-based firm that collects and analyzes the data.

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Aug. 13, 2015—It knows how long skiers and riders have been standing in a lift line, and now it has the capability of giving them a head’s up about lengthy wait times. Vail Resorts’ latest EpicMix app addition, EpicMix Time, will give users access to real-time, up-to-the-minute wait times. The feature will be live across Vail Resorts’ four Colorado resorts for the 2015-16 season, with information on 55 core lifts, with plans to expand the technology to its other ski areas in upcoming seasons.

SAM Magazine—Wrightwood, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015—Mountain High is giving skiers and riders added assurance that they will get more value out of their season passes by introducing the Winter Guarantee, which applies credits to those who use their season pass less than five days. Offered only to Mountain High Powder Alliance pass holders, the program applies credits of up to 50 percent of the purchase price of a 2016-17 season pass.

SAM Magazine—Nelson, B.C., Aug. 12, 2015—Whitewater ski resort has signed on to the Powder Alliance making it the second Canadian resort to participate in the season pass program that also includes 12 U.S. ski areas. Now, Whitewater season passes are also good for three days of skiing and snowboarding at each of the other 13 locations, with some restrictions on weekends and holidays.

SAM Magazine—Norden, Calif., Aug. 11, 2015—More season pass partnerships among ski areas in the U.S. and internationally are being unveiled as the 2015-16 season approaches. Sugar Bowl, Woodward Tahoe, and Royal Gorge—all located atop Donner Summit—have partnered to offer skiers and riders unrestricted access to their facilities for the 2015-16 season.

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Aug. 11, 2015—Stowe Mountain Resort and Taos Ski Valley have joined the Mountain Collective that now includes skiing and riding access at ski areas in six U.S. states, Alberta and B.C., Canada, and Australia.

SAM Magazine—Hood River, Ore., Aug. 7, 2015—The 12th OITAF-NACS Symposium will be held Sept. 8-11 at the Hood River Inn. Themed “Trams, Dams, and Bridges,” the gathering brings together ropeway operators, manufacturing companies, engineers, inspectors and others to discuss and analyze leading issues impacting ropeway transportation around the world.

SAM Magazine—Idaho Springs, Colo., Aug. 6, 2015—Echo Mountain is re-opening its slopes to the general skiing and snowboarding public once again this winter. The Front Range Ski Club purchased the area in 2012 and turned it into a private race training center. It continues to manage the 226-acre area, but plans to open Dec. 10 with a renewed focus on the family and beginner guests.

Day lift tickets are currently listed at $49, and season passes start at $159.

SAM Magazine—Reno, Nev., Aug. 3, 2015— With Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe increasing its minimum wage to $11 an hour, ski area employees in the Tahoe region may be hoping for an all-out bidding war among resorts.

SAM Magazine—New York, July 31, 2015—New York State and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) have entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement with Borrego Solar, a San Diego-based firm that develops, finances, and implements solar energy projects, to supply power to state-owned Belleayre, Gore Mountain, and Whiteface ski areas.

SAM Magazine—Beijing, China, July 31, 2015—Beijing has been selected to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, beating out Almaty, Kazakhstan, by a 44 to 40 vote. It will be the first city to host both a summer and winter Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that Beijing was awarded the Games because it aligned with the IOC’s goal to bring a "stronger focus on sustainability, legacy, and transparency" to the event.