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September 2014

Industry Report :: September 2014

SUNAPEE WINS RIGHTS TO LAND IN COURT DECISION... BLACKJACK AND INDIANHEAD MERGE... PAJARITO TRANSFERRED TO LOS ALAMOS COUNTY... MOUNT BALDY FOR SALE... FAIRBANK GROUP TO OFFER FREE GEAR... AWARDS... PEOPLE... SUPPLIER NEWS

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SUNAPEE WINS RIGHTS TO LAND IN COURT DECISION

After a seven-year court battle, a state judge agreed with the operators of Mount Sunapee Resort, N.H., that its leasehold boundary is the same as the state park’s north and west boundaries, as the resort has claimed. Sunapee can now consider terrain expansion options within this 175-acre portion of its leasehold and on 656 acres of adjacent land owned by the resort.


BLACKJACK AND INDIANHEAD MERGE

Blackjack LLC, owner of Blackjack Mountain Resort, Mich., has executed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of nearby Indianhead Mountain Resort, a combination that would unite two of the best and most well known ski resorts in the upper Midwest into a single ski and snowboard experience.


PAJARITO TRANSFERED TO LOS ALAMOS COUNTY

The Los Alamos Ski Club announced that a 2/3 majority of voting members approved the transfer of Pajarito Mountain Ski Area to Los Alamos County and the management group that operates Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort in New Mexico. The partnership willensure the future of skiing and year-round recreational activities at Pajarito, said outgoing Los Alamos Ski Club president Philip Rae. Sipapu is located 70 miles east of Pajarito.
The first order of business, say the new managers, will be to improve Pajarito's snowmaking infrastructure to ensure a full operating season—one that includes daily operation (historically, Pajarito's lifts turn Fridays through Sundays when there is sufficient snowfall). The group hopes to open around Thanksgiving.


MOUNT BALDY FOR SALE

A British Columbia Supreme Court ruled in favor of a sale of Mount Baldy in a foreclosure case brought by a secured creditor. G-Force RealEstate Inc., is the marketing agent and has received a conduct of sale to sell substantially all of the assets of Mount Baldy Ski Corporation and related companies.


FAIRBANK GROUP TO OFFER FREE GEAR

A year ago, Killington and Elan surprised the resort industry by offering free skis to beginners who completed a multi-day learning program. Now, the Fairbank Group’s Bromley, Vt., and Cranmore, N.H., are following suit.

The free gear offers include Rossignol and Elan skis at Cranmore and Bromley, respectively, that beginners can keep after they complete a three-day lesson. Participants will also receive steep discounts on boots, poles and apparel.

Cranmore has teamed with Rossignol to become a Rossignol Experience Center and to introduce a new “GET Skis Package” for beginners. One hundred lesson-and-gear packages ($299) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The packages include three days of TBL ski lessons, Rossignol rental equipment, and lift access during each lesson. At the end of the third lesson, guests receive a pair of mounted Rossignol Experience 74 skis to keep.

Similarly, Bromley will launch its Kidsrule "Super Duper Ski Package" with a special promotion featuring Elan skis. It involves six lessons for $599 and includes a pair of free Elan skis with bindings. Upon completion, the newcomers will also receive a free Bromley season pass.


AWARDS

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Olympic snowboard slopestyle gold medalists Jamie Anderson and Sage Kotsenburg won three 2014 ESPY Awards in July. Anderson was named Best Female Action Sports Athlete and Best Female U.S. Olympian, while Kotsenburg was chosen as Best Male U.S. Olympian.


PEOPLE

Loon Mountain, N.H., announced that Rob Bevier will be the resort’s new snowsports director. . .Karl Stone, who headed up marketing at Ski NH, announced he is moving on.

Mount Southington, Conn., announced that Jay Dougherty is the new president and GM of the resort.

At Marquette Mountain, Mich., Jessie Melichor is the new GM.Brandy Ream is the new executive director at Spirit Mountain, Minn.

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, Nev., named Jim Seely its new director of marketing.

Taos Ski Valley, N.M., named Jesse Keaveny as chief marketing officer.

Ski Tahoe, Nev., has welcomed Billy Jesberg as the new creative director.


SUPPLIER NEWS

Prinoth Ltd., has moved its western Canadian offices to a new location in Calgary, Alberta. The new offices are only 10 minutes from the previous location. The new address is: Prinoth, 285071 Frontier Road, Rockyview, Alberta, T1X 0K3. The phone number is (403) 279-7271.