• Lift Maintenance
• Marketing

12th ANNUAL WHAT’S IN YOUR PARKBY: ILISSA MAIATICOIt’s remarkable that this is the twelfth year we’ve put out the call for entries to our annual terrain park contest. We received numerous submissions from all corners of the earth, and the creativity continues to be next level. We hope these interesting and elaborate ideas will once again...

• Snowmaking
• Rental

What’s In Your Park? 2015 EVENTS   Back In Blue – Ober Gatlinburg, Tenn. Held the Friday before Thanksgiving, the Back In Blue rail jam is the southeast’s earliest on-snow contest. Snowmaking beings in early October, thanks to SnowMagic. The contest is held in the area’s 300-foot by 100-foot tubing area, allowing ampl...

• Ski Area Profiles

Welcome judges! Thank you for contributing to the 2020 Terrain Park Contest. This year, we're asking you to look through the past five years of submissions to choose your favorites: 5 features and 3 local or participant-focused events. Tell us why you chose them, and how they might inspire future builds or ideas. Send your choices and comments to ...

• Marketing
• Rental

  The November issue featured the annual SAM Terrain Park Contest! While the magazine highlighted a selection of entries from each category, you can still explore all submissions—features, events, edits, and crews—here. Congratulations to the 2024 winners, and a heartfelt thank you to all the resorts that participated! Start saving your park...

• Lifts
• Marketing

We will be staying on top of the impacts on our industry from COVID-19 and sharing expert insight and resources. This page will be updated regularly with news and resources. In addition, visit our Huddle page for discussions on the current situation and our Social Good page for stories on our mountain community giving back....

• Lifts

As resorts are ramping up to open for the summer and planning for the winter, there are many concerns on the minds of resort operators. In discussion with Aspenware customers and industry leaders, three common operational themes consistently rise to the top of the list: reducing or eliminating lines for tickets, food, and other services; managing d...

• Miscellaneous

  DANIELLE KRISTMANSON AND M-J LEGAULT ORIGIN DESIGN AND COMMUNICATIONS DAVY RATCHFORD GENERAL MANAGER, SNOWBASIN, UTAH KEN GAITOR VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, SNOWSHOE, W.VA. RICK SCHMITZ, OWNER: NORDIC MOUNTAIN CO-OWNER: LITTLE SWITZERLAND, THE ROCK SNOWPARK     RSVP to Sarah Wojcik, sarahw@saminfo.com  by...

• Area Management

Stories of our mountain resort community giving back and making a difference. Do you have any social good to share? Email sarahw@saminfo.com. Arapahoe Basin Partners with Denver Public Library to Offer Accessible Ski and Ride Experience to Lower-Income Families Arapahoe Basin, Colo., and the Denver Public Library (DPL) have partnered to create ...

• Lift Maintenance
• Resort Development

SAM teamed up with North Pole Designs chief creative guy Senan Gorman to produce a weekly cartoon, apropos to the challenges our industry and its people are facing. We all need a little levity right now, so we hope these put a smile on your face.  January 12: Don't Be a Mask-hole! Calling all masked heros! Perks include a complimentary ski p...

Sooner or later, every generation gets to forge its own way. And we’ve seen, through this annual celebration of under-30 talent, how quickly a new generation can begin to shape our resorts. This year’s group is typical in that regard, as well as noteworthy for their individual accomplishments. We chose this group not because they are the 10 mo...

• Lift Maintenance
• Miscellaneous

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right? It’s a credo brought to life every year with SAM’s young guns, 10 (or, in this case, 11) individuals under 30 who are making a difference with their passion, smarts and dedication. This year’s class is no exception. From a director of food and beverage who manages a full pla...

• Legal

It was hard to tell during the Great Recession (those years were, after all, ironically good snow years), but as you read this year’s 10 Under 30 interviews, I think you will agree with me: the days of taking the public’s interest for granted are done.This generation of future leaders, forged by some of the toughest years the industry had faced...

• Miscellaneous

About six years ago, leaders across the industry looked around and asked themselves, “where are the future leaders who will take over for us when we want to retire?” A good deal of anxiety followed, as upper management didn’t see an obvious line of succession.To help clarify the outlook, SAM profiled a “Top 10 under 30” of likely candid...

• Legal
• Lifts

About five years ago, there was a general feeling among top managers that the resort industry faced a looming succession shortage. Guys (and it was mostly guys) looked around after 25, 30, or 40 years of running their resorts and they didn't see many folks capable of replacing themselves when they retired.Now, some of that was surely ego; we're tal...

• Miscellaneous

They like chocolate. They are powder junkies. Nominated by their peers, bosses and former professors, this year’s crop of the hottest young talent in the ski industry is a varied group, working in such disparate positions as ski patrol, risk management and marketing. But, like their love of powder and Snickers bars, they share some common traits:...

• Lifts

When we debuted the "Under 30" list last year, we really had no idea what we were getting into. We thought it would be a nice way to recognize some of the hard working young people of the industry, those people who aren't quite SAMMY eligible yet but show great promise early in their careers.The response to the article, however, was far greater tha...

• Lift Maintenance

A religion major who hung with NBA stars, a park manager who fashions park features at his desk out of paperclips, and a marketing wizard who wants to bring the sex back to skiing. These are a few of SAM's 15 future leaders--the next hot commodities in the ski industry. These are the individuals who are not only here to stay, but have already made ...

• Miscellaneous
• Racing

Skip the fruitcake. Give your coworkers a sweet gift they actually want—the gift of SAM, even sweeter for the holidays.

• Lifts

Year three of the Summit Series brings together mentors from across the U.S., from large and small resorts, independent and corporate, day visit and destination markets, to share their experiences and stories with our mentees. We are incredibly fortunate to have this accomplished group of individuals leverage their knowledge and expertise to help g...

• Snowmaking
• Marketing

Thank you to everyone who applied and nominated potential mentees into the Summit Series program. We have a wonderful group of mentees participating in year three of the program.   The Mentees Mark Adamczyk, Director of Outdoor Adventure, Winter Park Resort, Colo. Mark Adamczyk left the East Coast to take a position as a lift operator in the...

• Snowmaking
• Ski Area Profiles

Thank you to everyone who applied and nominated potential mentees into the Summit Series program. We have a wonderful group of mentees participating in year three of the program.   The Mentees Mark Adamczyk, Director of Outdoor Adventure, Winter Park Resort, Colo. Mark Adamczyk left the East Coast to take a position as a lift operator in...

• Lifts

Thank you so much for your interest in the PEAK Navigator program. Please fill out the form below to be notified of future cohorts and other leadership development opportunities.

• Lifts

  We all know that opening day doesn't happen by flipping a switch. Managing a mountain resort is tough and the industry is constantly evolving and creating new challenges to meet. SAM is here to help, with news, articles, trends, podcasts, boot camps, and more to support the industry and all the people in it who make it happen. Limited wi...

• Miscellaneous

U.K. based firm, Real World Group, has developed an exceptional senior leader self-assessment called the Performance Leader Identifier. The Performance Leader Indicator is a key tool used in the Peak Navigator Program to help leaders get a read on the critical leadership behaviors that are shown to impact business success. Too often, a leader is s...

• Rental
• Resort Development

You can purchase your advance copy of Chris Diamond's books, Ski Inc 2020 and Ski Inc. below. But did you know, you can get Ski Inc. 2020 for FREE if you subscribe to SAM Magazine or renew your subscription by Oct. 27. One click here and get the book for FREE, a SAM subscription and access...

• Area Management

We are incredibly fortunate to have three wonderful facilitators and partners in the Summit Series program, which would not run without their support.

• Area Management
• Lifts

Thank you for signing up for the PEAK Navigator program presented by SANY, PSAA, and SAM taking place at the ISKINY/PSAA Expo on Sept. 18. The PEAK Navigator program is a big first step in tuning up your leadership skills. It is aimed at helping you learn how to maximize the performance of your staff and increase the success of your organization.&n...

• Area Management

Thank you for signing up for the PEAK Navigator program. The landscape of leadership in the mountain resort industry is changing rapidly and the skills required to take the industry into the future become more varied. The PEAK Navigator program is the first step in tuning up your leadership skills. On this page you will find additional inform...

• Miscellaneous
• Area Management

Thank you for your interest in leadership development opportunities from SAM and High Peaks Group. Please fill out the form below and a member of the SAM and High Peaks Group team will be in touch about other leadership development opportunities. In the meantime, check out the SAM Summit Series and listen to a few podcasts that came out of those co...

• Lifts
• Marketing

The landscape of leadership in the mountain resort industry is changing rapidly and the skills required to lead the industry into the future are becoming more varied. In an effort to support the mountain resort industry during this transition SAM Magazine has partnered with High Peaks Group—a firm specializing in leadership and team development f...

• Snowmaking
• Lifts

  The ski industry is on the cusp of a major shift. Nearly 40 percent of U.S.-based resort general managers are age 60 or over, according to NSAA. When all of these leaders retire, they’ll take about 3,000 years of experience with them.Enter the young guns. Our industry has long thrived on superstars in supporting roles, but perhaps more th...

• Ski School
• Snowmaking

  This year’s 10 are an impressive bunch. From Alberta to Massachusetts, nominations poured in from operations big and small; from urban ski hills with 300 feet of vertical to mega resorts with more than a million annual skier visits. Many of this year’s group received multiple nominations, one from people who work at competing or neighbo...

• Snowmaking

  This year’s “10 Under Thirty” seem to defy the easy classification of their titles. From a finance director who understands the atomization and nucleation involved in snowmaking to a marketing director who can and still does run the kitchen cash register, these 10 wear multiple hats—and wear them well.The 10 hail from across North Ameri...

• Marketing
• Risk Management
• leadership

 Three mentors answer tough questions, posed by a group of inquiring young managers, about handling thorny issues around risk.

• Marketing

Resort leaders speak frankly about the essentials for sustainable resorts: commitment, culture, collaboration, and a champion.

• Marketing

  This year’s 10 Under 30 know how to hustle. The staff accountant from A-Basin will crunch numbers, bus tables, shovel walkways and remit 1099s all in the same day. The tramway supervisor at Ober can not only shorten a haul rope and change a circuit card, she also makes snow and sells tickets. These men and women are happy to get their han...

• Snowmaking
• Marketing

SAM Magazine is always on the look out for the freshest talent for our annual "10 Under 30," which profiles up-and-coming employees in their 20s who are rapidly making an impact in our industry and are well on their way to doing big things. The nomination period for SAM's annual "10 Under 30" typically opens in March and runs through mid-April. Ke...

• Resort Development
• Lifts

Packages are all-inclusive of two nights of lodging at the Steamboat Grand, all meals, sessions, workshops, outdoor demos, drink tickets, activities, and a welcome bag. All package prices are per person. Double occupancy packages will need two registrants to complete. Pricing for Summer Ops Camp 2023—September 10-12, 2023—at Steamboat is as fo...

• Lifts
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

Season two of the SAM Summit Series kicked off in November with a new group of 10 talented up-and-comers who were chosen from dozens of nominations gathered in the fall. This group will benefit from the insights and knowledge of an incredible collection of 10 industry leaders who will serve as advisers throughout the series.

• Ski School
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

In year two of the SAM Summit Series—a collaborative leadership development project where industry up-and-comers learn from respected resort bigwigs—our 10 mentees take a more active role in the program, increasing their opportunities to learn the ropes from 10 renowned industry leaders.

• Snowmaking

For year two of the SAM Summit Series, we were very fortunate to have ten up-and-coming leaders in the mountain resort industry as our mentees. These mentees either applied or were nominated to participate in the program.

• Lifts
• Rental

New hires, outstanding employees, mid-level managers...give them the tools they need to make your business successful.Give them the gift of SAM! A subscription to SAM (Ski Area Management) magazine keeps your team in the know on the latest news and industry trends and inspires new ideas, dialogue, and initatives to help your ...

• Safety

Welcome to the Technology Mountain Department, where we've gathered SAM content on contactless technology. From topical information about how to plan for summer and winter operations to easy steps to maintain customer and employee expectations, this department covers a lot of ground.  TECH SOLUTIONS 2021 Explore our spotlight on tech products ...

• Lift Maintenance
• Snowmaking

The team at SAM–Rick, Sharon, Donna, Dave, Sarah B., Sarah W., and Cole–look back at 2020 with a mix of emotions. We feel so grateful to be part of this resilient and strong industry and are also proud of the work we did this year producing important content, bringing the industry together, and inserting humor here and there where appropriate. ...

• Ski Area Profiles
• Legal

For year two of the SAM Summit Series, we were very fortunate to have nine incredibly respected and influential leaders serving as mentors to a group of 10 up-and-coming resort staffers. This group of accomplished individuals leverages their knowledge and experience to collectively help guide, mentor, and advise the participants throughout the Summit Series.

Thank you to this esteemed group of mentors for taking the time to encourage and grow our industy's future leaders.

Thank you so much for your interest in a group subscription to SAM. Group subscribers are entitled to discounted subscription rates based on the number of subscriptions in a group. Don't miss our December Deals group subscription offer! Create or level up your group to save up to 30% off and receive 1 free issue per person. LEARN MORE. Our g...

The next generation of leaders are SAM readers.  SAM offers discounted magazine subscriptions for college students and professors teaching industry-related courses. Explore the options below or reach out to karolyn@saminfo.com if your program has different needs.    50% Off Individual Subscriptions College students interested in subscribin...

• Snowmaking

We gathered a few frequently asked questions about subscriptions to SAM. Got a question that isn't answered here? Let our circulation manager Karolyn know! She responds to phone calls at 603-714-2964, emails at karolyn@saminfo.com, and the occasional carrier pigeon. Frequently Asked QuestionsHow many issues do you print a year? We print six issue...

• Area Management
• Snowmaking

  Get six issues of SAM magazine, plus unlimited digital access to our archives.   Learn more about our December Deals subscription promotions here.    SAM is here to support your team as a resource. A subscription to SAM includes: Six issues, annually, of SAM (Ski Area Management) Access to the SAM Digital Ar...

Do you have an up-and-coming leader on your team? Tell us about them!

• Legal
• Lift Maintenance

Thank you for registering for the SAM Digital Archives!  Over the past 56 years, SAM Magazine has gathered a wealth of knowledge from industry experts, leaders, and the community at large. We are now able to share that knowledge with all of you through the launch of the brand-new SAM Digital Archives.  It’s al...

• Legal

Thank you for attending Summer Ops Camp 2018 at Aspen Snowmass!Our gracious presenters have provided their presentations for campers to review, in case you missed a session or want to reference them.  Summer Market Intelligence  Tom Foley, Inntopia   Summer Ops 2.0 Claire Humber & Jason Hoover, SE Group & Maura Trumble...

• Lifts

Hang tight!   This article, and many more, will be arriving with your September issue very soon. Look out for your copy as you can only read this article in the magazine. Don't have a subscription? Click on the link to sign up and we'll make sure you are on the list starting with this issue. As an added bonus, mention code WEB18 and get...

• Lifts

Welcome to the Mountain Biking Mountain Department, where we explore all things biking for mountain resorts and communities. We're sharing archived content from SAM magazine that pertains to anything biknig, from constructing downhill mountain bike parks to integrating ebikes into your resort's community. Stay tuned for more content on biking, as t...

• Cross Country / Snowshoeing
• Summer

Welcome to the SAM Spotlight where we share a collection of information-rich articles about a certain subject, all picked from the SAM Digital Archives. Here we shine the spotlight on risk management and safety. Enjoy and let us know the topics you'd like to see in the SAM Spotlight by emailing sarahw@saminfo.com.   THINKING ABOU...

• Snowmaking
• Lifts

We at Beardsley Publishing are committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy policy applies to both our websites (www.saminfo.com, and www.adventureparkinsider.com), including our associated events, programs, and newsletters controlled by Beardsley Publishing. This Privacy Policy governs our data collection, processing, and usage practices. It...

• Lift Maintenance
• Lifts

PodSAM is the podcast channel of SAM Magazine, featuring content from interviews, SAM Huddles, events, and more. Listen here as we share these conversations.

Listen to all PodSAM episodes.

• Ski School
• Lifts

by Year 2017 – Amy Ohran, Christopher Nicolson, Ethan Mueller 2016 – Steve Wright, Halley O’Brien, Elia Hamilton, Phoebe Cates 2015 – Beth Howard, Ryan Locher, Hiram Towle 2014 – Patricia Campbell, Kevin Stickelman, Laura and Matt O’Brien 2013 – Ryan Bell, Ross Boisvert, Rob McSkimming, Justin Rowland 2012 – Jody Churich, Matt...

• Resort Development
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

Cutter's Camp 2022 Recap

The 18^th annual Cutter’s Camp at Timberline, Mt. Hood, Ore., May 16-20, 2022, was a sold-out event. Freestyle terrain professionals from resorts of all sizes and regions in North America and worldwide descended on Timberline for the five-day event. Attendees engaged in seminars, workshops, roundtables, networking activities, and one-one-on-hill operator coaching, and discussed topics ranging from risk management and feature design and construction to events and progression and much more. Check out the full slideshow below.

• Lifts
• Miscellaneous

    SAM's twelfth Summer Ops Camp—an immersive, hands-on educational and networking event—went to Tremblant, Quebec, Sept. 7-9, 2022, for three days of learning about the serious business of summer fun. The camp curriculum focused on developing a sustainable year-round business model that creates long-term balance for revenue and staffing b...