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• Business
• Finance

Despite the economy, the numbers look good for last season. Add a comment The annual Economic Analysis of United States Ski Areas (EA) for the 2009-2010 ski season tells a mostly positive story. The report shows a strong rebound in skier visits from the 2008-09 season, but with relatively flat spending per skier visit, and reduced ski a...

• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance
• Utility Vehicles

New technologies in snow grooming equipment are leading to smoother rides, both inside and outside the cats. Add a comment Improved winches is the theme this year in snow groomers. Both Prinoth and PistenBully have them. Enhanced electronics are also part of this year’s improvements, along with a couple of new trail grooming cats ai...

• Ticketing
• Finance
• Business
• Computers & Automation

New ticketing systems are leading to an increase in profits and a decrease in payroll and fraud. Add a comment The horse-drawn carriage, the telegraph, the candle——at some point in time, all technologies disappear into obsolescence, to be superseded by something better. Now, in the winter resort industry, electronic ticketing appe...

• Risk Management
• Terrain
• Safety
• Skiing
• Snowboarding

Advances in riding equipment are making the backcountry more accessible than ever. But how do we keep guests safe? Add a comment Out of bounds. For many skiers, the words resonate with excitement and sex appeal—the thrill that comes with exploring the wilderness and semi-wilderness beyond ski-area boundaries and the kind of renegade...

• New Products
• New Ideas
• SIA
• Conferences / Trade Shows

This year's SIA Snow Show was a bonanza of new ideas. Here are some of our favorites. Add a comment The 2011 SIA Snow Show in Denver attracted 18,045 attendees, a six-year high, and showcased more than 3,100 exhibitors representing 845 snow sports brands, including 125 new exhibitors. SAM scoured the floor in search of the latest and ...

• Real Estate
• Business
• Opinion
• Internet

Is by-owner real estate renting taking a bite out of profits? Some say yes, some say no. Add a comment VRBO. HomeAway. Chances are, if you are a property manager at a destination resort, or just travel a fair amount, you’ve encountered these by-owner rental websites. They have garnered a significant share of the destination lodging ...

• Business
• Finance
• Regulation
• Legal

Changes in credit and debit card processing fees make it possible to reduce costs--but only if you know how. Add a comment Many people who carry a balance on a credit card may be familiar with the consumer-friendly changes enacted with the Card Act of 2009. For ski area operators, there have been other changes going on that are going ...

• Obituary

An excerpt from Paul Augustine's eulogy, given by his son, John P. Augustine. Add a comment [Within days of one another, two industry greats from the Midwest died-George Petritz from Crystal Mountain, Mich, and Paul Augustine from Afton Alps, Minn. The following is an excerpt from Augustine's eulogy, given by his son, John P. Augustine. T...

• Marketing
• Public Relations / Publicity
• Ski School
• Ticketing

How effective is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month? Add a comment Consider: Two ‘never evers’ who took lessons as part of the January promotion three years ago at Loon, N.H., are now full-time ski and snowboard instructors. At Park City, 13 percent of the 3,000 never-evers who participated in last year’s January lesson promotion ...

• Diversity
• Conversion
• Business

Programs coast to coast are bringing all sorts of newcomers to winter sports. Add a comment As the diversity buzz grows stronger through the snowsports industry, pockets of successful programs are taking the seeds they have planted and building something bigger.Consider this: in a three-month period this past fall and winter, the lead...

• Retail
• Customer Service
• Mountain Spy

Mountain Spy Liz Eren take on specialty shops to find out about the local ski areas. The results show that there is a lot of work yet to be done in the area of valuable partnerships between resorts and shops. Add a comment QUESTION: I'M IN TOWN FOR THE WEEK AND WAS WONDERING IF YOUR SHOP WORKED WITH ANY LOCAL RESORTS FOR TICKET DISCOUNT...

• Opinion
• News
• Lifts
• Politics
• Business

DEALS, DEALS, DEALS... RETAIL BUSINESS IS BACK IN THE BLACK... TALE OF TWO INDUSTRIES... UNTAPPED MARKETS EVERYWHERE... MICHELLE AND THE KIDS COME TO VAIL... CONGRESS TAKES UP SUMMER BIZ AGAIN... TIME TO REPLACE AGING LIFTS?... SHORTSWINGS... Add a comment Deals, Deals, DealsYes, this has been a solid season for resorts across the cou...

• Industry Reports
• News
• Business
• Obituary
• People

TENNEY AUCTIONED... INTRAWEST MOVING HEADQUARTERS... SELKIRK CELEBRATES 30 YEARS... OBITUARIES... PEOPLE... SUPPLIER NEWS... Add a comment TENNEY AUCTIONEDTenney Mountain, N.H., was sold in a foreclosure auction for $500,000 to an investment company that plans to resell the ski area. The investment company was the only bidder at the a...