SAM Coverage
The Editors
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NSAA National Convention Explores Ski Industry’s Challenges and Opportunities
SAM Magazine—Carlsbad, Calif., May 8, 2026—Nubs Nob Ski Area takes home the 2026 Conversion Cup.The 2026 National Ski Areas Association National (NSAA) Convention and…
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U.S. Skier Visits Drop 14% in 2025-26 Amid Weak Western Snowfall
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., May 5, 2026—U.S. ski areas recorded an estimated 52.6 million skier visits in the 2025-26 season, down roughly 14 percent and…
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Lee Cowie to Succeed Founder Steve Brown as accesso CEO
SAM Magazine—Twyford, United Kingdom, May 4, 2026—Chief operating officer Lee Cowie will become CEO of accesso Technology Group as part of a planned leadership…
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SAM Summer Ops Camp Heads to Gatlinburg
SAM Magazine—Gatlinburg, Tenn., May 4, 2026—The 14th annual SAM Summer Ops Camp is headed to Gatlinburg, Tenn., Sept. 1-3, 2026. Known as the gateway…
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One Staff Member Killed, Another Injured After Work Basket Falls at Mt. Hood Skibowl
SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., May 1, 2026—Two Mt. Hood Skibowl employees were in a work carrier when it fell from the line of the…
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Exclusive: Snow Partners to Launch New Multi-Mountain Product, Expand Snow Triple Play
SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., May 1, 2026—Snow Partners is launching a new multi-mountain frequency product, Snow Pass. The pass will provide two days of access…
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Parents Charged with Endangerment After 5-Year-Old Falls from Lift
SAM Magazine—Claysburg, Pa., April 23, 2026—The parents of a 5-year-old boy who fell from a chairlift March 1 at Blue Knob All Season Resort…
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Vail Resorts Visits, Revenue, and Pass Sales Down
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 23, 2026—Skier visits, lift revenue, and other season-to-date metrics reported by Vail Resorts were down for the North American ski…
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New Products :: May 2026
New operations and guest experience products for operators to consider. SkiHill: Climber LV 800 Pro The SkiHill Climber LV 800 Pro is a remote…
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Global Skier Visits Hit Record 399M for 2024-25
SAM Magazine—Grenoble, France, April 21, 2026—Global skier visits reached a record 399 million in the 2024-25 season, surpassing the previous high of 392 million…
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2026 Lift Maintenance Seminar Popular, Impactful
SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., April 21, 2026—Packed house for older fixed grip roundtable.The 49th annual Lift Maintenance Seminar (LMS) returned to Jiminy Peak, April 13-16,…
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National Ski Patrol Conducting Its First Survey of Ski Area Leaders
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 20, 2026— National Ski Patrol (NSP) is surveying more than 300 ski area senior leaders to gather input that will…
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CCSAA Conference 2026: Networking and Snow Farming at Canmore
SAM Magazine—Canmore, Alberta, April 20, 2026—Climate/snowpack presentation. Credit: Reese Brown.The Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) Annual Conference drew 72 attendees from across North…
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Mountain Spy :: Summer Edition
The Spy reopens 20 years of case files to ask, “Have we gotten better at selling summer?” Twenty years of Mountain Spy have produced…
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Nearly 2,000 Ski and Snowboard Instructors Join Labor Suit Against Vail Resorts
SAM Magazine—Denver, April 17, 2026—Nearly 2,000 current and former ski and snowboard instructors have joined a collective action Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit against…
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Thoughts and Predictions
SAM readers look into the crystal ball. After four straight seasons with more than 60 million U.S. skier visits, 2025-26 may be the winter…
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Snow People — April 2026
In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier…
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Supplier News Roundup
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 16, 2025—SAM’s Supplier News roundup delivers a quick look at the latest business moves shaping the mountain resort industry. From…