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. “Given the high potential for publicity and the very low risk, why wouldn&rsq...

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 ar...

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. “After an extensive nationwide search and deliberate process, the Intrawest leadership team is proud to promote from within and have Bill Nupp ...

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 operat...

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 no...

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. In March 2014, one of Crystal’s chairlifts incurred a deropement, and three chairs fell to the ground. Four guests were taken to the hospital. As a result, the BC S...

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 anniversar...

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.

Mount Sunapee's Bruce McCloy and Jay Gamble proudly display their "trophy" on a Pats Peak-mobile. SAM Magazine—Newbury, N.H., Sept. 29, 2015—Golf lore is filled with a number of classic slugfests played out on the greens, like the 1949 Motor City Open between Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum, or the 1981 Millio...

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 Whitefa...

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 s...

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 includ...

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 i...

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. Greek Peak Mountain Resort owners Marc Stemerm...

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 em...

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. Meadows COO Jake Bolland said, “This reorganization is designed to prope...

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 own...

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 ref...

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...

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 receptio...

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. “JHMR is proud to be able to provide much needed hous...

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...

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 ...

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...

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 af...

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 ar...

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...

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. In a prepared statement, Kay Leonard and family said they "would like everyone to know that a celebration of Jan Leonard’s life has been scheduled for T...

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, It is with great sad...

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. Summer Ops Camp is a...

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...

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, ...

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...

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, t...

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, ...

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 facili...

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. Stowe is the first ski area in the East to sign on to the partnership. “As the only Eastern res...

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 transpo...

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 ren...

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. The pay increase sets the starting wage at Mt. Rose $2.75 above Nevada’s $8.25 per hour minimum wage, and $2 more than Californ...

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 sk...

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&...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, July 30, 2015—Let the rebranding begin: Officials at Vail Resorts unveiled a new brand campaign that combines Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons into one name, Park City. A new logo combines the Canyons’ insignia with the existing color palette of Park City Mountain Resort, with the tag line &ldquo...

Artist rendering of the new 2.3 megawatt Community Solar facility being installed in Hancock, Mass. SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., July 29, 2015—Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, widely lauded for being the first ski area in the U.S. to install a wind turbine in 2007, continues to distinguish itself as one of the “greenest&rdq...

SAM Magazine—Snowbird, Utah, July 27, 2015—Richard Daniel “Dick” Bass, partner and chairman of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort and the first person to climb the highest point on each of the seven continents, died Sunday, July 26, 2015 at the age of 85 surrounded by family in Dallas, Texas. Bass suffered from pulmonary fibrosi...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., July 21, 2015—Summer revenues among lodging properties at 19 mountain destinations in six mountain states are up 12.5 percent over last year, while future reservations are up 6.8 percent. The figures, compiled by DestiMetrics, are based on occupancy and bookings for the six months from May through October. ...

SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., July 15, 2015—The SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Board of Directors has chosen Nick Sargent, former vice president of global business alliance at Burton Snowboards, as its incoming president. Sargent will begin in a transitional role Aug. 24 before succeeding David Ingemie as president following the 2016 S...

SAM Magazine—Vancouver, B.C, July 15, 2015—SBC Media has filed for bankruptcy and closed its 10 magazine titles, including Snowboard Canada, SBC Skier, SBC Business, SBC Skateboard, and SBC Wakeboard. Officials at SBC said investors that stepped in 2014 to help support the media group made the decision to cut additional funding. Scot...

SAM Magazine—Santiago, Chile, July 14, 2015—A heavy storm that dumped more than five and a half feet of snow on Portillo, and nearly three feet of new snow in other areas of the central Chilean Andes and parts of Argentina, has allowed several ski resorts to open after a delayed start to the season. Valle Nevado opened today, July 15...

SAM Magazine—Sydney, Australia, July 13, 2015—After what local ski area operators described as the worst start to a season in 50 years, a cold winter storm system continues to deliver freezing air across southeast Australia and new snow to the mountains. Meteorologists are calling it the “Antarctic vortex,” and in Sydney, it...

SAM Magazine—Mt. Hood, Ore., July 13, 2015—This summer Mt. Hood Meadows is growing its presence in Portland by expanding an existing office in the city into an “alpine lifestyle center,” called Altitude. The space, which is set to open Labor Day Weekend, will include a mountain retail store and après bar, a ski and sn...

SAM Magazine—West Windsor, Vt., July 10, 2015—An eight-member committee is working to form a non-profit organization that would manage and maintain the assets of the West Windsor Town Forest, including reopening Mt. Ascutney ski area. Officials estimate it will cost $905,000 to purchase Ascutney and the 1,581-acre town forest; and ab...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., July 7, 2015—Mark Dorsey, CEO of the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI), is stepping down to assume a similar role with another association outside of the ski and snowboard industry. “This is a terrific opportunity for Mark, and...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., July 2, 2015—Vail Resorts is increasing its minimum wage for entry-level positions to $10 an hour. Effective Sept. 26, the pay hike will affect nearly 7,500 of Vail’s 25,000 employees in eight states, including workers in housekeeping, lift operations, food preparation, and retail sales.

Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but 29 states and Washington, D.C., have minimum wages above that level.

SAM Magazine–Donnelly, Idaho, July 2, 2015–Tamarack Resort will restart its mountain bike operation, which hasn’t been running since 2007, on July 4. But instead of providing uphill access via chairlift, Tamarack will offer a shuttle service and bike rentals. The services will begin July 4. The 10-passenger shuttle will run fro...

SAM Magazine—Athena, Ore., June 29, 2015—The listings of ski areas for sale recently grew by two, as Spout Springs, Ore., went on the market for $1.25 million and Marshall Mountain, located seven miles northeast of Missoula, Mont., is also for sale for $2.95 million. John Murray has owned Spout Springs since 1999, and said he wants t...

SAM Magazine—Sheridan, Wyo., June 29, 2015—The board of directors of the Antelope Butte Foundation (ABF) signed a purchase and sale agreement with the U. S. Forest Service on June 19, paving the way for the purchase of the ski area located in the Bighorn Mountains near Dayton, Wyo. Mark Weitz, ABF board president, said the Foundation...

SAM Magazine—Truckee, Calif., June 29, 2015—In a move to dampen the danger of accidental fires, the Tahoe Donner Association has implemented a smoking ban on all its properties. The ban, effective through the end of the year, prohibits smoking at all amenities, common areas, and other association-owned properties. The Truckee Fire Prote...

SAM Magazine—Steamboat Springs, Colo., June 26, 2015—Rob Perlman has been named president and chief operating officer of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation effective July 1, 2015, by parent company Intrawest Holdings. “After an extensive nationwide search and deliberate process, the Intrawest leadership team is proud to pro...