SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 10, 2026—Madarao Mountain Resort in Japan and Beidahu Ski Resort and Lake Songhua Resort in China have joined Ikon Pass for winter 2026-27. The additions bring the total number of ski areas accessible on the pass to 80 worldwide, including 14 in Asia.  Ikon Pass holders will have access to seven days each at the thr...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Sept. 9, 2026—Alterra Mountain Company plans to invest more than $350 million across its portfolio for the 2026-27 season, with projects ranging from continued terrain expansion at Deer Valley Resort to nearly $9 million in remote avalanche control systems in California, along with snowmaking upgrades, guest amenitie...

• Summer Operations News

SAM Magazine—Gatlinburg, Tenn., Sept. 8, 2026—A total of 115 ski area personnel and industry suppliers from around the world gathered in Gatlinburg, Sept. 1-3, for the 2026 SAM Summer Ops Camp to share a bustling, and hot, few days together across three mountaintop venues for a vendor showcase, classroom sessions, and hands-on experiences at th...

SAM Magazine—Jefferson, N.H., Sept. 8, 2026—Indy Pass has added more than 30 new partners, including a headlining partnership with Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vt. The additions push the pass above its 300-resort guarantee, made in spring, and have anchored a fall pass sale that opened to waitlist members Sept. 1 and the general public today. Th...

SAM Magazine—Bartlett, N.H., Sept. 5, 2026—Vail Resorts named Deirdre Riley general manager of Attitash Mountain and Wildcat Mountain, effective Sept. 7. Riley most recently served as general manager of Vail Resorts’ Crotched Mountain, N.H., for the past two seasons. “With more than 25 years in the ski industry, Deirdre’s experience span...

SAM Magazine—Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sept. 3, 2026—After previously spending nine years in the role, Rob Perlman has returned as president and chief operating officer of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation (SSRC), effective immediately. Since November 2023, Perlman had served as executive vice president of regional operations for Alterra M...

• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Tremblant, Quebec, Sept. 3, 2026—Mont Tremblant will add 62 acres of skiable terrain served by a new high-speed quad chairlift for the 2027-28 season in the Versant Soleil area of the resort, which is also the future home of the new Club Med Tremblant that’s scheduled to open in 2028. A new beginner area will open this winter in ...

• Snowmaking News

SAM Magazine—Jeffersonville, Vt., Sept. 2, 2026—Significant snowmaking equipment and infrastructure upgrades are underway at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, aimed at improving efficiency and production ahead of the 2026-27 winter season. The upgrades also mark Smuggs’ 70th year in operation and the first full season under the ownership of Bear Den...

SAM Magazine—Lincoln, N.H., Sept. 2, 2026—Loon Mountain Resort plans to add 272 acres of inbounds tree skiing for the 2027-28 winter season in an area called Black Ridge. Enterprising skiers and riders have accessed this terrain in the past; it will now officially become part of Loon’s acreage, and will increase the resort’s total skiable t...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Ashland, Ore., Sept. 2, 2026—Rachel Canada has been appointed as the new general manager of nonprofit Mt. Ashland Ski Area, effective Sept. 2. As general manager, Canada will oversee year-round operations and help guide the organization through several major initiatives, including the planned replacement of Mt. Ashland’s historic...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., Sept. 1, 2026—Indy Pass goes back on sale today for consumers who have been on the waitlist since the product sold out in April. The pass plans to add 30 to-be-named partner ski areas for 2026-27. Remaining inventory will be available for the general public to purchase Sept. 8, the same day that all the additional p...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 31, 2026—Three separate lawsuits have been filed in Colorado since March that all involve major ski area ownership groups. Two of the complaints were brought by consumers seeking class-action status and involve anti-trust allegations. The third was brought by a Vail Resorts shareholder. None of the three have yet made ...

SAM Magazine—New South Wales, Australia, Sept. 1, 2026—The Blue Cow area, which is closed as of Sept. 1, at Perisher in Australia. (screenshot from Perisher webcam, Sept. 1)Winter in the Southern Hemisphere has served variable conditions to ski areas on different continents, with some operations closing early and others basking in powder.  Ac...

SAM Magazine—Vernon, N.J., Aug. 25, 2026—Snow Partners’ new Snow Pass will include access to 14 different ski areas across North America in its inaugural winter season and the Snow Triple Play will have 23 participating ski areas, seven more than last winter, available on the pass for 2026-27.  Snow Pass holders get a total of 28 days—two...

SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Aug. 21, 2026—Risky business: Layne Anderson from Powder Ridge and MSAA's Bo Bigelow talk on-hill safety with Zander Kestly of Camber Risk and Safety and AlpenRisk's Mark Petrozzi.The Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) welcomed an upbeat crowd of 503 ski industry professionals to its annual Summer Meeting and ...