WATER FIGHT WON
A federal district court in Colorado has struck down a U.S. Forest Service water policy that would have required resorts to transfer ownership of valuable water rights to the U.S. government without compensation.

The court’s decision affects 121 ski areas operating on National Forest System lands in 13 states. The ruling will remove the controversial water requirement from ski area permits that were renewed in 2011 and 2012 and preclude the Forest Service from including the requirement in future ski area permits. As a result, ski areas continue to own and control their water for area operations and guest services.


BRIAN HEAD SOLD
Brian Head Resort in southern Utah announced that as of December 20, the area is under new ownership. The resort was purchased for an undisclosed amount out of receivership from Zion's First National Bank. The new owners are Brian Head Acquisition Partners, LLC, formed out of two groups, one from California and one from Missouri.


ESPN LOOKS AT POTENTIAL NEW VENUE FOR X GAMES
ESPN has announced that it is entertaining new venues for the coveted X Games with a final announcement due in April 2013. For 2013 and 2014, the X Games will be held in Aspen, Colo., where they have been held since 2002. After that, ESPN has announced a list of eligible winter destinations that include Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Park City, Utah; Le Massif, Quebec; and Aspen. The city that is chosen will host the games for three years. According to ESPN’s press release, “The aim is to explore different options and determine what is best for the progression and growth of the X Games franchise. Official proposals from the qualified entities are due to ESPN by April 2.”

Past winter X Games have generated up to $10 million in revenue for the host location and attracted 20,000 to 25,000 spectators a day, plus a global reach of 232 million on TV.


SUNBURST SOLD
Jim and Kim Engle, owners of Sunburst in Wisconsin, announced an agreement to sell their resort to Rob and Jennifer Friedl, who, according to the Engles, will “continue to focus on families and to take Sunburst to a new level, even better than what we know now.”

The Engles plan to help with the transition to the new owners over the coming years.


JUNE OPENS BACKCOUNTRY
Residents and visitors can now access backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing in and around June Mountain for the rest of the winter season. The Forest Service approved a plan that outlines how Mammoth Mountain, owner of June Mountain, will manage the ski area this season, even though June Mountain is not in operation.

Approval required management plans regarding issues such as public access, administrative access to facilities and communication sites, avalanche control, ski patrol duties and safety concerns. Patrollers are authorized to prohibit access to the area during avalanche control activities.


OBITUARIES
Richard “Dick” Needham, longtime editor of Ski Magazine (23 years) and one-time editor of SAM Magazine, died in mid December at the age of 73. Needham also published several books about skiing and hosted two radio shows on the sport.

Frank W. Schneider, the first full-time executive director of Ski Areas of N.Y., a position he held from 1979 to 1985, died on January 10.


PEOPLE
At Bromley, Vt., Bill Cairns was named president.

Vail Mountain, Colo., appointed Davy Ratchford director of sales and marketing.

Powdr Corp., in Utah, named Krista Parry senior VP and chief innovation officer of Powdr Enterprises. Also at Powdr Enterprises, Jody Churich was named senior VP and COO of Camp Woodward.


SUPPLIER PEOPLE
Active Interest Media announced that Andy Hawk has joined the Outdoor Group division as director of snowsports and new business development.

Andy Bigford was named group publisher of Bonnier Corp.’s Mountain Group.

Brook Bingham joins the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association as director of sponsorship sales.

Congratulations to Bill Moss of Hans Hall Inc., for 50 years in the mountain resort industry. Moss started as an Alta patroller in 1962 and went on to work at Snowbird and PistenBully, before his last 13 years with Hans Hall.