MOUNTAIN CREEK SOLD
Intrawest sold Mountain Creek to Crystal Springs Resort, a New Jersey-based resort company that previously owned the ski area and water park 12 years ago. Purchase price was not disclosed.

The acquisition creates a four-season resort that encompasses 15,000 acres of year-round amenities including golf courses, spas, and hotels in addition to Mountain Creek’s facilities. New items planned for the mountain recreational menu are mountain luge, ziplines, and lift-accessed water slides.


SECOND BEST SEASON FOR SKI AREAS
The U.S. ski industry recorded 59.7 million visits, the second best season ever, according to the preliminary 2009/10 Kottke National End of Season Survey.

According to the study, all regions except the Northeast achieved substantial gains in total visits from the prior year. The Pacific Southwest led with a 15 percent increase in skier visits, and the Midwest and Southeast also experienced notable gains of 7 percent. The Northeast decreased by less than 3 percent.

Visitation gains occurred despite a 14 percent decrease in overall snowfall.


NO GO FOR CRESTED BUTTE
In early May, Deputy Regional Forester Jim Peña affirmed Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond’s refusal to consider the Snodgrass Mountain expansion proposal in a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with public involvement. This expansion would add 276 acres of new terrain to Crested Butte Mountain Resort , which would be serviced by three lifts, a conveyor and a gondola connecting the two areas.

Crested Butte will now take its case to the Chief of the Forest Service, Tom Tidwell.


OBITUARY
Carl Spangler, 61 died unexpectedly in April. Spangler was instrumental in developing Vermont’s Killington Ski Resort during the 1980s and 1990s.


AWARDS
The National Ski Areas Association gave its annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Andy Daly, long-time Vail CEO and now a partner in PNP Supply; and the Sherman Adams Award went to Holiday Valley’s Dennis Eshbaugh.

Cranmore’s Jimmy Mersereau received the Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously. Mersereau was Cranmore’s long-time operations director.

The New Hampshire ski industry honored Thom Perkins, Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, with its Al Merrill Award.

The Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association (PNSAA) gave its Industrial Strength Award to Hollis “Gene” Rice, founder of Liftram, Inc. PNSAA’s Tower of Excellence award went to Eric Lars Bakken, the mountain manager at 49 Degrees North. Keith Petrie received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Finally, Kim DiRienz was honored as Forest Service Partner of the Year.


PEOPLE
Mary Jo Tarallo was named executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month.

In Maine, Saddleback announced that Christopher C. Farmer, Esq., is the new GM, replacing Warren Cook.

At Smugglers’ Notch, Barbara Thomke is stepping down as PR director.

Windham Mountain, N.Y., appointed George Driscoll to director of marketing and sales.

Ober Gatlinburg, Tenn., hired John Cossaboom as its new winter sports director.

Mammoth Mountain, Calif., hired Ron Cohen as director of government relations and environmental affairs.

Alyeska Resort, Alaska, welcomed Melanie Steinberg as senior retail manager.

Christian Dufour, director of client experience for Mont Saint-Sauveur, Mont Avila and the Mont Saint-Sauveur Water Park, was elected president of the Québec Ski Areas Association.

Whistler Blackcomb named Tabetha Boot interim PR and communications director during the maternity leave of Christina Moore.


SUPPLIER NEWS
Nils Ericksen, P.E., and Kirsten Ericksen, VP of Ericksen Associates, Inc., have formed two new companies: Alpine Engineering, LLC to replace the 32-year-old Ericksen Associates, and EAI Construction, LLC to provide specialized services for small construction projects.

Snow Economics announced that Mark Horton has joined the HKD snowmaking team. Horton will assist in HKD equipment sales and service, and specifically take the lead in the introduction of HKD’s new automated snowmaking technology.

Snownet Inc., the distributor of Areco snowmaking products, added Ken Showalter as a sales and service rep.

Sno-Star Pipeline has been operating as a division of Pioneer Pipe since 1995, but now the company will go by the corporate name, Pioneer Pipe. In addition to carbon steel pipe, the company offers external coatings, internal linings and Zap-Lok.