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November 2009

Industry Reports :: November 2009

LOVELAND FIRST TO OPEN... TWO NY AREAS TO REOPEN... MAINE AREAS TEAM UP... INTRAWEST TO RECOMMEND HELMETS... FORECLOSURE FOR MOONLIGHT... OBITUARIES... PEOPLE... SUPPLIER NEWS... KARMA ARMY BATTLES THEFT

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LOVELAND FIRST TO OPEN
Loveland Ski Area, Colo., was the first to kick off the season on October 7. In a surprise move, the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, Nev., was the second, opening three hours later on the same day. Rounding out the early season openers were Arapahoe Basin, Colo., and Boreal, Calif., both of which opened on October 9.


TWO NY AREAS TO REOPEN
Both the Hickory Ski Center and Big Tupper are planning on reopening this season. Hickory, which was closed for the last four years, was sold to a developer who agreed to reinvigorate the skiing operation. With new snowmaking and grooming capabilities, the area will open with three surface lifts.

At Big Tupper, which closed its doors 10 years ago, it’s a group of locals who have taken on the task of reopening the area. Area residents formed ARISE, Area Residents Intent of Saving Their Economy, and have worked tirelessly at the area to clear trails and get lifts in working order. And they do so with the new owner’s blessing. Big Tupper plans to open on a limited basis.


MAINE AREAS TEAM UP
Sugarloaf and Sunday River have partnered with three small Maine ski areas to introduce new people to skiing and snowboarding. Lost Valley, Titcomb Mountain and Camden Snow Bowl will offer the $89 Maine Learn to Ski and Ride Card, which is good for three days. On the first day, card carriers receive a ticket, rentals and a lesson at one of the three smaller areas. The second day includes a ticket and rentals at one of the three smaller areas. On the third day, the card holder gets a ticket and rentals at either Sunday River or Sugarloaf.


INTRAWEST TO RECOMMEND HELMETS
Intrawest announced that starting this season, the company will recommend that all visitors at all of its North American resorts wear helmets. In addition, there will be mandatory helmet requirements for all youth participants in ski and snowboard school programs, as well as students participating in freestyle terrain park programs, regardless of age. Parents will no longer have an opt-out option. The age span requirements will vary from resort to resort, but will be between three and 12, 13, 14 or 17.

As for employees, by 2010-2011, Intrawest will require employees to wear a helmet while on duty in the terrain parks, and staff at the ski and snowboard schools will be required to use a helmet if they are participating in any program that requires guest use.


FORECLOSURE FOR MOONLIGHT
The Lehman Brothers Commercial Bank filed papers in Montana seeking a foreclosure on Moonlight Basin in late September. The filing asks that the ski area be sold so that the lenders can recoup $78 million in principal and $8.3 million in interest. Lehman is also seeking the right to bid on the property.


OBITUARIES
Marvin H. “Bud” Peterson died on October 4, 2009, at the age of 82. Peterson was a GM at Boston Mills and Brandywine ski resorts and in 1973 became president of the two areas.

Joe Parkinson, 79, died in late July. Parkinson is best known as the founder of the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA) in 1969. Parkinson worked for many years as GM at Glen Ellen ski area (now part of Sugarbush) and founded VSAA during this time. Eventually, he left the area to head up VSAA full time until his retirement in 1996.

U.S. National Ski Hall of Famer Gertrude “Jerry” Louise Nunn died in late August at the age of 87. Nunn was a lifelong member of the National Ski Patrol, the first female Forest Service Snow Ranger, and she and her husband spent many years guiding programs at Arizona Snowbowl. Nunn is perhaps best known for her involvement in the development of the Avalauncher.


PEOPLE
Organizers of Learn a Snowsport Month will now have Glen Plake as their official national spokesman.

Matt Skinner has left Telluride to become director of marketing for the Bonnier Mountain Group, which runs Ski, Skiing, Warren Miller and NASTAR.

Sunday River, Maine, promoted Steve Boulanger to director of ski patrol

. . .Jeff Hawksley was named director of competition and wellness at Saddleback.

Bruce McCulley became the new GM at Whiteface Ski Center, N.Y

. . . Holiday Valley hired Richard Sandler as GM and Angela Hogan as assistant GM of the resort’s new lodging, the Tamarack Club. . .Greek Peak Mountain Resort Hope Lake Lodge and Indoor Waterpark adds Lindsay Wright as the new group sales director, Jeffrey Kryger as director of hotel sales and marketing, Brian Hammond as guest services manager, and Christopher Ryan as GM.

Matt Grenier was named general manager at Paoli Peaks Resort, Ind.

In Colorado, Vail Resorts promoted Heidi Kercher-Pratt to VP and chief marketing officer. Pat Campbell is the new VP and COO at Breckenridge. . .Paul G. Toner was promoted to senior VP and COO of RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality (VRH). VRH also hired David Abraham as VP of Breckenridge Hospitality and GM of One Ski Hill Place. . .Dee Byrne is the new business development manager at the Aspen/Snowmass ski and snowboard schools.

Ski Utah added Brandon Ott as the new marketing manager.

Grand Targhee, Wyo., appointed Peter Baker to director of F&B.

At Angel Fire, N.M., Larry Hansen is the new executive director of business development and wife Kathy Hansen is the new resort F&B manager.

In California, Squaw Valley named Kyle Crezee as director of human development.

Mt. Rose, Nev., appointed Thomas Monarrez as F&B manager and Kayla Anderson is the new PR/Web manager. Susan Hahn was promoted to office manager.

Red Mountain Resort, B.C., hired Mike Hakkola as marketing and communications manager.


SUPPLIER NEWS
Happy anniversary to PistenBully and Vermont Ski Areas Association, which both turned 40 this year.

MountainGuard announced the appointment of Tim Bruce as a claims specialist.

In order to celebrate its 125th year in business, Gregory & Appel Insurance will donate $62,500 to 125 central indiana charities.

Ski Butlers has launched a new website at www.SkiButlers.com.

SkiData announced that Alpine Meadows, Calif., will feature the company’s hands-free chairlift access and remote purchasing this coming season.


KARMA ARMY BATTLES THEFT
The theft of skis and boards is being addressed by the Karma Army (KarmaArmy.com), led by Senan Gorman of North Pole Designs.

Gorman has developed a cost-effective RFID Theft Prevention System that can stop and deter ski and board theft, and literally catch bad guys in the act. The ammunition: RFID-chipped Karma Army dog tags and sticker packs. A consumer places a sticker on his board; the sticker continually communicates with the dog tag. If a thief carries that board through a monitored barrier, the communication link is broken. The sticker alerts resort security and local police that the board is being stolen. “It’s also possible to trigger a strategically positioned security camera at the exit point,” Gorman says.