SOLDIER MOUNTAIN GIVEN AWAY
Actor Bruce Willis has handed over the keys of his small Idaho ski area, Soldier Mountain, to a local nonprofit group. The actor announced last April that he was looking for a new entity to run Soldier, which includes two chairs and one rope tow on permitted Forest Service land.


BIG TUPPER ON ICE... FOR NOW
Big Tupper ski area is closing its doors due to the cost of a lawsuit, according to Jim LaValley, chairman of Adirondack Residents Intent on Saving Their Economy (ARISE). The group has operated Big Tupper on a voluntary basis since 2009, while plans for a larger resort have been taking shape.

The lawsuit itself stems from that larger plan for a proposed Adirondack Club and Resort, of which Big Tupper ski area would be a part. The ski resort was in line to receive a complete renovation after funding was approved earlier this year, but the lawsuit, filed by Protect the Adirondacks, the Sierra Club, and other preservationists concerned about an adverse impact on the Adirondack Park, has derailed the plan.

LaValley said that, even if the ski area could obtain funding for this year’s operations, the lawsuit will likely drag on for several years—too long for the volunteers to continue operating the resort by themselves.


OBITUARY
George W. Jervas, owner of Bousquet Ski Area, Mass., for more than 30 years, died in late August at the age of 76. Jervas died doing what he loved best—working at the hill.


PEOPLE
Mont Saint-Sauveur, Québec’s Christian Dufour was awarded the Jimmie Spencer Leadership Award.

Snowsports Industries America, with publishing partner Active Interest Media, announced the appointment of Andy Hawk as publisher and Cindy Hirschfeld as managing editor of the SIA Snow Show Daily.

In Vermont, Sugarbush tapped ski professional Russell Kauff to head its ski and ride school.

The Olympic Regional Development Authority named Aaron Kellett the new GM for Whiteface Ski Center, N.Y.

Ski Utah welcomes Susie English as its new director of communications. . . Powdr Corp., Utah announced several promotions: Herwig Demschar was named senior VP of international business development; Chris Nyberg moves from Killington/Pico to president and COO of Powdr’s resort division; Mike Solimano was promoted to president and GM of Killington/Pico.

In Colorado, Vail Resorts CFO, Jeffrey Jones, announced his retirement. Also at Vail, Vishwatej Nath was named new executive chef of the new on-mountain restaurant, The 10th.

At Jackson Hole, Wyo., Anna Cole was appointed to communications manager. . .Tom Spangler is the new GM at Hogadon Ski Area.

Mammoth Mountain, Calif., promoted Michael Gregory to director of terrain parks and added Sam Poffley as the park manager at Unbound.

Up in B.C., Whistler’s CFO, Kevin Smith, resigned. Michelle Leroux is back at Whistler as PR and communications manager. . .At Silver Star, Marke Dickson is the new director of sales and marketing. . .Rod Kessler has resigned as COO of Revelstoke.

Over at Sunshine Village, Alberta, Dave Riley was named senior VP and COO.


SUPPLIER NEWS
Mountain Travel Symposium was sold by Ralf Garrison to Michael J. Pierson Associates, Inc. Garrison will continue to operate the Mountain?Travel Research Program (MTRiP).

Mountain Sports International, Inc., announced the appointment of Jessica Kunzer as communications and marketing director.

Snow Park Technologies named Josh Chauvet as resort program marketing director.

www.XCSkiResorts.com has undergone a facelift to better serve visitors and the worlds of recreational and travel-oriented XC skiing and snowshoeing.

Trask Decrow Machinery has hired Jennifer Avery as office manager.

Jerrad Wells is the new CEO at Eldorado Climbing Walls.

Rossignol Group NA announced that Ron Steele is its new president. In addition, Rossignol promoted Kurt Hoefler to VP of sales. Thor Verdonk is the new director of alpine product development and Matt Rihm was promoted to alpine product manager.

Peter Weaver will assume the role of global CEO for the Tecnica Group.