SAM Magazine—Norden, Calif., Dec. 29, 2021—“WE ARE BURIED—it feels like March,” said Sugar Bowl general manager Greg Dallas on Tuesday as the resort was preparing to reopen after a historic, multi-day winter storm dropped more than 10 feet of snow since Christmas Eve, closing highways and forcing Sugar Bowl and several other California re...

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., Dec. 29, 2021— In the middle of a busy holiday period, ski area operators in some pockets of the country are being forced to respond to growing regional Covid case numbers and outbreaks among staff with policy updates and operational changes .  At this time last year, Covid infection rates were trending flat or down....

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Dec. 20, 2021— The Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) published a new manual, Teaching Children Snowsports, to support instructors in helping kids learn to ski and ride.  With NSAA estimating more than half of ski and snowboard lessons are t...

SAM Magazine—Sandpoint, Idaho, Dec. 14, 2021—Schweitzer has converted a former assisted living facility in nearby Sandpoint into employee housing for winter and summer seasonal staff. Schweitzer HR director Scot Auld, Schweitzer CEO and president Tom Chasse, and Schweitzer chief development officer Lance Badger in a room at Schweitzer's Hemlock...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., December 14, 2021—The Indy Pass has added Montana ski area Blacktail Mountain to its growing list of resorts in the Northern Rockies, bringing its total number of partners to 77 in North America, 81 worldwide.  “We are very excited to join the Indy Pass coalition and look forward to welcoming Indy Pass holders f...

SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., Dec. 14, 2021—A newly released study from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA), and Snow Sports Insights (SSI) shows a continuing shift in buying, working, and travel trends towards midweek outdoor participation, increased travel, and online shopping.  Midweek partici...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Dec. 14, 2021—Despite a slow start to the 2021-22 winter, as of Nov. 30, aggregated reservations, rates, and revenue for the coming winter at Western destinations were comparing favorably to the last two seasons, according to the latest Monthly Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of In...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Dec. 10, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) reported a 47 percent increase in season pass units for the 2021-22 season, as of Dec. 5, 2021, and a 21 percent increase in sales dollars. Year over year, this equates to an increase of 700,000 pass units, according to Liftblog.com. The pass sales numbers were part of Vail's first...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Dec. 8, 2021—Vail Resorts has entered into an agreement to purchase Seven Springs, Pa., from Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Inc. As part of the $125 million deal, the company will also acquire Hidden Valley Resort, Pa., and the operations of Laurel Mountain Ski Area, Pa. The transaction is expected to close this ...

SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., Dec. 3, 2021—Most open ski areas are reporting strong attendance and positive visitor feedback over the Thanksgiving holiday, with loosened outdoor Covid protocols restoring a cautious sense of normalcy to the mountains. Heading into this weekend, cold temps and new snow are allowing more resorts to start turning li...

SAM Magazine—Teton Village, Wyo., Dec. 2, 2021—Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) increased its minimum wage for all non-tipped positions from $15 per hour to $18 per hour, effective immediately. The wage increase aims to help with employee recruitment and retention by supporting staff to live and work in the Jackson Hole community. “We con...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Nov. 24, 2021—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has shared new guidance for ski area operators regarding the Nov. 4 OSHA emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring businesses with 100 employees or more to implement and enforce a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy. Although OSHA has been court ordered ...

SAM Magazine—Truckee, Calif., Nov. 24, 2021—Two small ski areas on opposite sides of the country are set to reopen after years of closure: Kingvale Terrain Project, Calif., and Tapawingo (aka Woodbury Ski Area), Conn. Eric Anderson and Day Franzen Kingvale After shuttering in 2011, the all-terrain-park Kingvale Terrain Project, located just ...

SAM Magazine—Porte-de-Savoie, France, Nov. 22, 2021—The French government issued a new national protocol requiring masks in lifts lines and on chairlifts at the country’s 250 ski areas this winter. The protocol does not require guests to provide immunization records for access, but the French Ski Areas Association (Domaines Skiables De Franc...

SAM Magazine—Lakeside, Mont., Nov. 19, 2021—The owners of Mission Ridge, Wash., have purchased Blacktail Mountain Ski Area in Lakeside, Mont. Blacktail has been on the market since 2017.  The purchase price was not published. At one point, the 1,000-acre ski area was listed for sale on Craigslist for $3.5 million. Transition of ownership will...

SAM Magazine—Wardsboro, Vt., Nov. 17, 2021—A recent spate of mild weather has forced several ski areas from the Northeast to the Rockies to delay their planned opening day until the weather cooperates long enough for snowmaking crews to work their magic. Steamboat released an informative video on Facebook about why they were delaying their open...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Nov. 17, 2021—Powdr co-president and CFO Justin Sibley has been named chief executive officer of the company. He steps into the role following the departure of co-president Wade Martin. Sibley will be responsible for leading Powdr’s future development, which includes exploring adventure lifestyle spaces beyond sk...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Nov. 16, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) is implementing new operational plans and guest service procedures for winter 2021-22, including limited peak ticket sales, changes to lift loading and unloading, and forecasted lift line wait times. The changes aim to prioritize passholders and improve the guest experience. “Ba...

SAM Magazine—Steamboat Springs, Colo., Nov. 12, 2021—Steamboat Ski Resort & Corporation (SSRC) president and chief operating officer Rob Perlman has been promoted to Alterra Mountain Company as regional chief operating officer of its central region, which includes Deer Valley and Solitude, Utah, and Steamboat and Winter Park, Colo.Shea, S...

SAM Magazine—Aspen Snowmass, Colo., Nov. 12, 2021— Beginning with the next pay period, Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) will increase starting hourly pay to $17 per hour for all non-tipped or commissioned positions in Aspen Snowmass and at the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum, Idaho—up from the previous minimum of $15.60 per hour. Many second-, third- an...

SAM Magazine—Bradenton, Fla., Nov. 12, 2021—Western mountain destinations nailed down their best aggregated summer ever for occupancy, daily rates, and revenue, according to the Monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. Bookings for the winter are also on a very strong pace, ahead of 2019 for bot...

SAM Magazine—McCall, Idaho, Nov. 11, 2021—Brundage Mountain’s new ownership group, which acquired the ski area in November 2020, has a 10-year plan to transform the mountain into a multi-season destination resort. Upgrades include new ski-in/ski-out accommodations, a revitalized base village, expanded lifts and terrain, and an array of new re...

SAM Magazine—Vienna, Austria, Nov. 9, 2021—As of Nov. 8, skiers and riders looking to hit the slopes in Austria will need to demonstrate proof of vaccination or recovery from past infection to travel into the country, access ski lifts, stay in any type of accommodation (including chalets, holiday apartments, mountain huts, etc.) or visit bars a...

SAM Magazine—Jeffersonville, Vt., Nov. 3, 2021—With weather across North America still quite variable, some resorts have been able to start the season ahead of schedule while others still eagerly await the colder temperatures that will allow them to meet their opening day goals. Opening day at KeystoneResorts like Palisades Tahoe, Boreal, and M...

SAM Magazine—Calgary, Alberta, Nov. 2, 2021—Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) will require guests to show proof of vaccination to access lifts and indoor services this winter at all of its ski areas, including Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse, and Kimberley Alpine Resort in British Columbia, Nakiska in Alberta, and Mont Sainte-Anne and...

SAM Magazine—Terrebonne, Que., Nov. 2, 2021—The Quebec government will require proof of vaccination (a vaccine passport) for people age 13 and older to use ski lifts and access certain services offered in day lodges at the province’s ski areas this winter, according to the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ). Mont-Sainte-Anne in QuebecThe man...

SAM Magazine—Thompsonville, Mich., Nov. 1, 2021—Crystal Mountain COO John Melcher will succeed Jim MacInnes as chief executive officer, effective Dec. 1. Melcher has been COO since 2017. MacInnes is stepping back after 36 years in resort operations to focus more on long-term strategy including leadership development, capital allocation, real es...

SAM Magazine—Mt. Hood, Ore., Oct. 28, 2021—Mt. Hood Meadows aims to make working at the resort more attractive with higher wages, benefits, and increased housing opportunities as the winter season approaches.  Meadows is raising its base pay to $15 per hour and will increase wages for all team members by $1.25 per hour. The entry-level wage i...

SAM Magazine—Bridgton, Maine, Oct. 22, 2021—Boyne Resorts has acquired Shawnee Peak, Maine. Transition of the resort’s ownership has begun immediately, with all Shawnee Peak team members being retained under Boyne Resorts’ ownership. Longtime Shawnee owners the Homer family will maintain a visible role at ski area for the near future.  In...

SAM Magazine—Jay, Vt., Oct. 22, 2021—Jay Peak Resort will offer free lift tickets, free hot dogs, and free mini-instructional lessons on the first day of winter operations. The “Day for the Devoted” is open to the first 1,000 people who register through the resort’s website. The resort typically opens for the winter season on the Friday a...

SAM Magazine—Danbury, N.H., Oct. 20, 2021—Industry veteran Erik Barnes has been named general manager of Ragged Mountain ski area. Barnes replaces Jay Gamble, who recently accepted the role of general manager at Wintergreen Resort in Virginia. Both resorts are operated by Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. Barnes previously served as the vice presiden...

SAM Magazine​​—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 20, 2021—Three Vail Resorts (VR) properties have new general managers, and the company’s Midwest region has a new vice president.Donnelly and Crichton All four leaders were promoted from within the company.   Susan Donnelly takes over as general manager of Crotched Mountain Resort, N.H. Donnelly f...

SAM Magazine​​—Montville, N.J., Oct. 20, 2021—SNOW Operating has launched SNOW Partners, the new parent entity to preside over the company’s various operating businesses. Based in Montville, N.J., SNOW Partners comprises the ownership and executive teams for both the company’s resort operating and resort services divisions.  With this...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Oct. 15, 2021—After Powdr launched its new Fast Tracks pay-for-faster-lift-access program, reaction from skiers and snowboarders was swift—and largely negative. In response to the feedback, Powdr posted “A letter to the community regarding Fast Tracks” from co-presidents Wade Martin and Justin Sibley.  The ...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Oct. 15, 2021—As Western mountain destinations close in on a record summer, winter bookings are pacing ahead of the past two years as well. That good news comes from the latest Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. Based on data from 290 participating properties in ...

SAM Magazine—Pagosa Springs, Colo., Oct. 14, 2021—Wolf Creek will open this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16 and 17, with its Nova and Lynx lifts operating 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The resort received 14 in. of fresh snow from a recent storm, allowing it to at least be the first ski area in North America to announce its intentions to kickoff of the 20...

SAM Magazine—Twin Bridges, Calif., Oct. 14, 2021—Significant damage sustained from the Caldor Fire—a 221,000-acre conflagration that tore through the Tahoe Basin in late August and September—will impact operations at Sierra-at-Tahoe for the coming season, according to the latest from the resort. In an update posted to the resort’s social...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 11, 2021—Nominations are open for the 7th annual I AM a Snowmaker contest, presented by HKD Snowmakers. The contest highlights the hard work, determination, and camaraderie of snowmakers, and recognizes how critical they are to the success of the mountain resort industry. “I’m blown away by the popularity...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 11, 2021—Registration is open for the new Summit Series Bootcamps, a series of online learning courses SAM developed in partnership with leadership-training experts, industry executives and topic experts (check out who they are here). Each of the five bootcamps focuses on a specific topic or issue where leade...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Oct. 11, 2021—Powdr is launching Fast Tracks, a daily ticket or season pass upgrade option for express lift access via dedicated lanes at four of its resorts: Copper Mountain, Colo., Killington, Vt., Mt. Bachelor. Ore., and Snowbird, Utah. Fast Tracks will be available to purchase in advance beginning Nov. 1. “U...

SAM Magazine—Newry, Maine, Oct. 8, 2021—Sunday River, Maine, will install a new Doppelmayr D-Line eight-passenger bubble lift for the 2022-23 winter season. It will be the third lift of its kind in North America, all of which are at Boyne Resorts-owned properties—Big Sky Resort, Mont., installed the Ramcharger 8 in 2018, and Loon Mountain, N....

SAM Magazine—Petoskey, Mich., Oct. 8, 2021—A leadership shuffle at Boyne Resorts will see several key players expanding and shifting their regional responsibilities. Kelley, McGregor, Keen, ScambioChief operating officer of Eastern operations Rich Kelley is retiring after 44 years in the industry. Other Boyne stalwarts are being moved into plac...

PEOPLE JULIE GERMOND and KYLIE SIMPSON, STEAMBOAT, Colo.Kylie SimpsonJulie Germond Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation added two new directors to its team: Kylie Simpson was named director of conference catering, and Julie Germond joined in the newly created role of director of resort transformation. Simpson reports to Rob Spence, vic...

SAM Magazine—Whitefish, Mont., Oct. 7, 2021—Longtime Whitefish Mountain Resort director of marketing and sales Nick Polumbus will succeed Dan Graves as resort CEO after Graves retires in April 2022. From left to right: Joe Bryant (WSI Board Member), John Kuelbs (WSI Board Member), Bill Foley (WSI Chairman Of The Board), Dan Graves (Whitefish Mo...

SAM Magazine—East Rutherford, N.J., Sept. 30, 2021— Big Snow will remain closed through October after a fire that occurred in the early morning hours on Sept. 25. Photo from Hasbrouck Heights Fire DepartmentThe fire at the Big Snow American Dream indoor ski dome was well contained to a small area near the top of the slope, but the operation wil...

SAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 29,2021—Eight legends have been inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame this year, headlined by Pennsylvania resort and snowmaking icon Herman Dupré.Herman Dupré Others include plastic boot inventor and ski gear innovator Sven Coomer; ballet skiing protégé and freestyle skiing legend Alan S...

SAM Magazine—Reno, Nev., Sept. 28, 2021—Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Nev., plans to invest roughly $7.5 million to expand the Lakeview area of the mountain. The plan includes replacement of the 41-year-old Lakeview Triple with a new high-speed lift, new skiable terrain, and improvements to existing terrain ahead of the 2022-23 winter season. It’s esti...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Sept. 28, 2021—The Indy Pass has added four new resorts, bringing its total partners up to 80 ski areas ahead of its third season on the market. Seven Oaks, Idaho, The Rock Snowpark, Wisc., and Manning Park and Sovereign Lake, B.C., are the latest independents to join the roster.  Sovereign Lake Nordic Club in Nel...

SAM Magazine—Huntsville, Utah, Sept. 27, 2021—A significant new capital plan for Snowbasin, Utah, which includes lifts, terrain, snowmaking, and parking upgrades, will also introduce a base area village and a new 300-room Club Med resort hotel on-site. A lift replacement and parking addition are already underway for the 2021-22 season, while a...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 24, 2021—Vail Resorts’ (VR) Q4 earnings, released yesterday, show season pass sales for the 2021-22 North American season were up 42 percent in units and 17 percent in sales dollars as of Sept. 17. The earnings news was coupled with the unveiling of a $320 million capital plan that includes 19 new chairli...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 20, 2021—Vail Resorts’ (VR) 2021-22 winter operating plan for its 34 North American resorts includes a variety of new Covid safety measures, such as requiring vaccinations for all staff, requiring proof of vaccination for anyone age 12 and up dining at certain indoor outlets, and mandating masks in ...

SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., Sept. 15, 2021—Aspen Skiing Company (SkiCo) will require all active employees to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 by Nov. 15. The new policy is unrelated to President Joe Biden’s announcement less than a week ago that he plans to instruct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to require that all e...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 15, 2021—Nearly 100 emerging leaders were nominated or applied to be mentees in the forthcoming SAM Summit Series, a season-long mentor/mentee program aimed at developing future leaders in the mountain resort industry. Of that list, 11 have been chosen to participate. The mentees hail from ski areas of all siz...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Sept. 15, 2021—By the end of August, western mountain destinations were poised to set all-time records for daily rates and revenue—despite wildfires and smoky conditions in many destinations, and a spike in cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19. Summer at Mammoth Mountain ResortBut some headwinds were coolin...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 14, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company and Share Winter Foundation have entered a multi-year collaboration highlighted by a donation to Share Winter of nearly $4 million in the form of cash and in-kind services, including lessons, lift tickets, equipment rentals, and meal vouchers. The partnership aims to create a more div...

SAM Magazine—Reno, Nev., Sept. 13, 2021—Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour for all positions that were previously below, and will provide a five percent cost-of-living increase for year-round and full-time employees. The resort will also require employees to be vaccinated for Covid-19 ahead of the start of its 2021-2...

SAM Magazine—Olympic Valley, Calif., Sept. 13, 2021—After a year of in-depth research and discovery, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has changed its name to Palisades Tahoe, a nod to the sheer granite faces and chutes that compose some of the mountains’ more extreme terrain.  In August 2020, the resort committed to eliminating the word "squaw"...

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., Sept. 9, 2021—Canada’s federal government relaxed travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated, non-essential travelers this week, a promising development for destination market resorts. Non-essential international travelers who have had a full course of a Health Canada-approved Covid-19 vaccine no longer need to q...