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September 2010

Industry Report :: September 2010

SKI AREA SALES... OBITUARY... AWARDS... PEOPLE... SUPPLIER NEWS

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SKI AREA SALES
The Brown family sold Cannonsburg Ski Area, Mich., to James Wynn, an attorney in Petoskey.

The principals of Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort—Brian Fairbank, Joseph O'Donnell and Tyler Fairbank—have purchased the assets of Cranmore Mountain Resort, N.H., from Booth Creek.

Aaron and Becky Maddox bought the Snowy Range Ski Area, Wyo., which was owned and operated by the First National Bank for the past two seasons.

The Baker County commissioners voted to take over control of the Ski Anthony Lakes resort in Oregon.

Teton Pass Ski Resort, Mont., has been purchased by kiwi Nick Wood, who, along with two investors, plan to spend $3 million over the next two years to transform the area into a regional destination. Sale price was reported to be around $300,000.


OBITUARY
Sepp Kober, known as the "Father of Southern Skiing," died Aug. 3. He was 88.

Kober was one of the greatest pioneers in the development of Southern skiing. He introduced snowmaking at The Homestead, Va., which he managed for several years, and brought organized ski instruction and master planning to the region. He helped develop several ski areas from North Carolina to Arkansas and was a manufacturer’s rep for both retail and resort suppliers.


AWARDS
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) gave its annual awards to: Jeff Kubick, Copper Mountain, Terrain Master; Dick Dreyer, Arapaho Basin, Slope Groomer; Adam Makela, Eldora, Snowmaker; Richard Thorpe, Telluride, Instructor of the Year; Tony Cammarata, Arapahoe Basin, Patroller of the Year; and Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin, President’s Award.

CSCUSA also inducted six members to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame: Horst Abraham, Jake Burton Carpenter, Ernst Constam, Harry Frampton, Trygve Myhren and Sandy Treat.

Claude Péloquin of the Québec Ski Areas Association received the Jimmie Spencer Leadership Award.


PEOPLE
Robert Megnin was named director of sales and marketing for Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, Vt. Dave Beckwith was named director of snow sports for Killington and Pico. . .Vermont Ski Areas Association/Ski Vermont appointed Neil Ryan marketing manager. . .RJ Austin was promoted to director of golf for Sugarbush Resort Golf Club.

In Michigan, Nub’s Nob announced that Rebecca Behm is the new director of the area’s winter sports schools.

At Vail Resorts, Colo., Doug Lovell became Beaver Creek Resort VP and COO; John Buhler is the new VP and GM of Keystone; and Pete Sonntag is now the VP and GM of Heavenly, Calif.

In Utah, Powdr Corp appointed Jenni Smith president and GM of Park City Mountain Resort. . .At Sundance, Ewell Sterner is the new F&B director. . . At Snowbird, Mark Erekson is the new director of group sales. . .At Powder Mountain, Patrick Lundin was hired as marketing manager.

At Angel Fire, N.M., John Kitts was appointed CEO.

At Sun Valley, Ida., Brent Gillette was promoted to director of sales.

At Big Sky, Mont., Dax Shieffer has accepted the position of director of human resources.

In California, Squaw Valley USA appointed Andy Wirth CEO and Scott Clarkson VP of marketing and sales.

Mt. Bachelor, Ore., promoted Amy Ohran to director of staff resources and development and Curtis Norsen to ski patrol and risk manager.

Alyeska Resort, Alaska, hired Bob Gross to represent existing and upcoming residential and commercial development opportunities.

Ian Galbraith, director of corporate communications for Intrawest, left his position June 30. . .Island Lake Resort Group has made Doug Feely its CEO.


SUPPLIER NEWS
IDE Technologies has announced that Sam Kramer will be the North American marketing and sales director for the All Weather Snowmaker. He can be reached at (714) 841-7515 or sam.kramer@ide-americas.com.

Tori Ossola was named managing director of Snow Monsters and NextSnow.

Bonnier has named Ben Rifkin associate publisher of Ski, Skiing and Snow and Johnny Alamo was named executive director of sponsorships for Warren Miller Entertainment and NASTAR.

Emerson Bearing has announced the creation of a new division to cater to the bearing needs of amusement parks, fitness centers, ski areas and facilities with go-karts and golf carts. Richard Furtado will head the recreation division, Joe Falvey the fitness industry and Rick Piracini will oversee the ski industry.

Larry Weindruch will succeed Thomas B. Doyle at the National Ski and Snowboard Retailers Association.

The Ski Channel announced that it has entered a long-term distribution agreement with Comcast that will provide the channel’s original programming, Warren Miller movies, Greg Stump films, destination travel, instructional videos and events to Comcast On Demand customers.