SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Feb. 3, 2026—Nearly 7,500 total votes were cast for the six competing snowmaking teams during the 13-day voting period of the 2026 I AM a Snowmaker contest, with Seven Springs, Pa., receiving the most votes to take home the title. Contest sponsor HKD Snowmakers president Charles Santry honored Seven Springs at the HTI dinner in the Killington Peak Lodge during the National Ski Areas Association Eastern Winter Conference on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Each ski area in the contest created behind-the-scenes videos highlighting their snowmaking teams’ work, creativity, and camaraderie—with a new twist. The teams received a deck of cards featuring classic insights from HKD co-founder Herman K. Dupré and was tasked with incorporating those sayings into their videos. Voting concluded Monday, Feb. 2. 

“All of this year’s videos conveyed what it truly means to be part of a snowmaking team and a close-knit mountain community,” said Charles Santry, President and Co-Founder of HKD Snowmakers. “We are especially proud to recognize Seven Springs in Pennsylvania, the place where my father in law Herman K. Dupre invented the original HKD snowgun, as the IAM winner this year.  Herman’s pioneering spirit and passion for all things snowmaking continue to shape the way snowmaking is done at the resort. Seven Springs still lives and operates by the values Herman established: innovation, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to creating the best possible winter experience. A big thank you to Ski Area Management for coordinating the IAM and being a great partner. The Seven Springs snowmaking team will be presented with a custom-made HKD Viper table in celebration of their achievement.”

“A big thank you to Ski Area Management for coordinating this contest and being a great partner. The Seven Springs snowmaking team will be presented with a custom-made HKD Viper table in celebration of their achievement.”

This year’s contest showcased six snowmaking teams from across North America: Boyne Mountain, Mich.; Burke Mountain, Vt.; Killington Resort, Vt.; Poley Mountain, New Brunswick; Seven Springs, Pa.; and Steamboat, Colo.

“Thank you to all the teams that competed in the I AM a Snowmaker contest and congratulations to Seven Springs for bringing home the title to the birthplace of HKD Snowmakers,” said SAM publisher Olivia Rowan. “As always, it’s an honor for us to share the great things these teams do on the hill, making winter happen, oftentimes when the rest of us are asleep. Keep up the great work!”

The annual I AM a Snowmaker contest—sponsored by HKD Snowmakers—launched in 2013 and puts a spotlight on the expertise and character of a wide variety of snowmaking teams across North America from ski areas big and small.

To view all the teams’ profiles and videos, visit: https://www.saminfo.com/i-am-a-snowmaker.