SKYTRAC, NEW LIFT CO.
Skytrac, Inc. is the first new North American aerial ropeway manufacturer to be created in almost 30 years. It is headed by longtime lift builder Jan Leonard, and includes several lift industry veterans (see Supplier News, page 22, for details).

Skytrac, with a design and manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, offers a line of fixed-grip doubles, triples, and quads, to include different lift speeds, bullwheel diameters, and horsepowers, using its own components. It aims to provide high quality with value pricing, Leonard says.

The equipment will also be suited for retrofits for most current and orphaned lifts. “We want to continue working with older lifts that need to be upgraded,” Leonard says. To that end, Skytrac has developed a versatile retrofit monopod drive terminal design.

VERMONT AREAS FOR SALE
Bolton Valley is operating this winter while its owners seek equity partners or a sale. The package includes 700 acres, all lifts, and leases on the area’s base area facilities. Ascutney Mountain Resort won’t operate this winter, with operations in future years also in doubt unless a buyer can be found.
Owner Dan Purjes attempted to sell some of the resort’s lifts last summer and fall, but found no takers. No sale price for either resort has been revealed.

KSL Buys Squaw Valley
KSL Capital Partners, LLC acquired The Squaw Valley Development Company, which includes the ski operations, the Village at Squaw Valley and related real estate holdings. KSL plans to invest more than $50 million over the next five years.

KSL is a private equity firm with investments in travel and leisure, including the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa and Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Founders Eric Resnick and Michael Shannon are no strangers to snowsports. From 1985 to 1992, Shannon was president of Vail Associates, a predecessor to Vail Resorts. Resnick held a variety of positions at Vail.

WB IPO NETS $300 MILLION
Intrawest raised C$300 million (US$297 million) via an IPO in November. The sale reduced Intrawest’s stake to 24 percent. At $12 a share, and with nearly 37.8 million shares outstanding, Whistler Blackcomb has a market value of C$453 million. The new company will pay share-holders a dividend of 8.1 percent.

AWARDS
Jeremy Griffiths, Silver Star Ski patrol and safety manager, received the Canadian Ski Patrol System’s National Life Saving Award, for leading teams that resuscitated two cardiac arrest victims at the resort on Dec. 21, 2009.
SnowSports Industries America Regional Reps of the Year: Rob McLelland, Northeast; John Esterbrook, Atlantic; Tim Parker, Eastern Lakes; Brad Decker, South; Tom Blaire, Midwest; Danny Barone, Rockies; Mike Walker, Northwest; Tom Newhard, Northern Calif.; and Mike Day, West.

PEOPLE
Bill Rock has become COO of Northstar-at-Tahoe following Vail Resorts’ purchase of the management contract there. Julie Maurer, former VP of marketing and sales at Booth Creek, has become VP of marketing for both Heavenly and Northstar. . .At Squaw Valley, Heath Nielsen is VP of commercial and hospitality operations, and Monty Waugh joins as CFO. . . Michael Gregory has become terrain park manager at Mammoth Mountain’s Unbound Park. . .And in SoCal, Karl Kapuscinski now owns all shares in the company that manages Mountain High.

In the East, Ted Austin has returned to Okemo as VP of marketing; his first stint was in the late ’80s. . .Kyle Lewis has left Sugarbush to be marketing manager for the Vermont Ski Areas Association. . . Olympian Julie Parisien and veteran coach Tim Lavalle headline Le Club de Sport LaVallee/ Parisien, a non-academy racing program at Mt. Abram, Maine.

In Colorado, Jim Roberts, Beaver Creek VP of mountain operations, will retire in August after 36 years with Vail Resorts and its predecessors. . .Patrick Bragg has joined the PSIA and AASI as information services director.

SUPPLIER NEWS
Skytrac (see page 20) principals include Jan Leonard, PE, president/CEO; Alan Hepner, PE, engineering/installation; David Metivier, sales/production/installation; Carl Skylling, production/installation; and John Pentesco, PE, engineering. Other industry vets in the group are Tim Nikou, PE, engineering/installation; Jay Highlander and Adam Collins, engineering; Maynard Russell, inspections/engineering; Bruce Blair, John Schilly and Will Hartman, electrical engineering; and Chris Sweden and Dave Balding, production. The group has a collective 322 years of experience in building lifts. Russell is also interim chair of the ANSI B77 Committee on Passenger Ropeways. Tel: (801) 972-1699.

Prinoth has opened its seventh regional distribution center, in Madison, Wisc.; (801) 430-2453.