SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., Oct. 9, 2025—As insurers exit Oregon and available insurance premiums skyrocket in response to the state’s legal climate, in which recreational liability waivers are unenforceable, outdoor recreation providers, including ski areas, are in a precarious position. Timberline, which operates on Mt. Hood, addres...

• Snowmaking News

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 8, 2025—Nominations are now open for the 11th annual “I AM a Snowmaker” contest, hosted by SAM magazine and presented by HKD Snowmakers. The contest offers the opportunity for a handful of resorts to showcase their snowmaking teams and the work they do via creative, behind-the-scenes videos.  Nominations s...

SAM Magazine—Enfield, N.H., Oct. 3, 2025—Whaleback Mountain has named Khara Benoit as its new general manager. Benoit has spent the past four years at Whaleback managing the lodge, events, food and beverage, and daily operations, a role that allowed her to combine her passion for the mountain with her commitment to creating community-centere...

• leadership

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 news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE KATHY HASTINGS, STEAMBOAT RESORT, CO Steamboat Resort has promoted Kathy Hastings to vice president of food an...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 30, 2025—In his comments about Vail Resorts’ fourth quarter and full year results reported yesterday, CEO Rob Katz acknowledged that the company plans to make some changes to its strategy to combat declines in Epic Pass sales and visitation to its North American resorts. "The results from this past season...

• Technology Headline News

SAM Magazine—Tannersville, Pa., Sept. 29, 2025—Nearly 160 ski area and supplier personnel descended on Camelback Resort last week for the National Ski Areas Association’s Mountain Technology Symposium, where IT teams, business analysts, and industry vendors gathered to explore how technology can help shape the future of the ski industry.Sever...

SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., Sept. 26, 2025—Snow Partners, parent company of Mountain Creek Resort, Big Snow American Dream, and the Snow Triple Play pass, has formed a strategic partnership with the Mountain Collective pass program. The agreement allows Snow Triple Play pass holders to save $100 on a Mountain Collective pass for the 2025-26 ...

• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Mesa, Colo., Sept. 25, 2025—Subject to approval of the U.S. Forest Service, Powderhorn Mountain Resort will replace the 1972 West End double chairlift with a high-speed detachable quad lift in the summer of 2026.The upper terminal for the planned West End Express will be lower than the existing double to ease terrain access. Source...

SAM Magazine—Warren, Vt., Sept. 25, 2025—A fire late Wednesday night destroyed the clubhouse at Sugarbush Resort Golf Club, which housed the golf pro shop and Hogan’s Pub, resort officials said. The Warren Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze around 10:30 p.m., with crews from Waitsfield, Fayston, Moretown, and Waterbury assistin...

SAM Magazine—Slinger, Wis., Sept. 24, 2025—Schmitz Brothers Resorts has hired longtime ski industry leader Greg Fisher as the new general manager of Little Switzerland ski area, effective immediately.   Fisher has 25 years of mountain resort experience, much of it in leadership roles. He most recently served for five years as general manager...

SAM Magazine—Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Sept. 23, 2025—Les Sommets, which owns and operates five resorts in Quebec, has promoted three long-standing employees to corporate vice president roles.Simon Pagé Simon Pagé was named executive vice president and deputy general manager of the company. Isabelle St-Germain was appointed as VP of finance, an...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., Sept. 23, 2025—After Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems acquired the Black Mountain ski area business and its assets (equipment, buildings, lifts, and other infrastructure) last year, the Black Mountain Community Corporation—the entity formed as the financial vehicle to fund and run the ski area—has now closed on its...

SAM Magazine—Ellicottville, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2025—L to R: Brandon Quinn from GetSkiBots, NSAA's Earl Saline, Ski Big Bear (Pa.) GM Lori Phillips, and NSAA's Mike Lane at the trade show.The annual joint conference and expo hosted by Ski NY and the newly rebranded and reorganized Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Association (PORA, formerly Pennsylv...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, September 17, 2025—On Aug. 28, Park City Mountain bike patrollers voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, forming the Park City Bike Patrol Association. The vote came after patrollers and trail workers petitioned over the summer to unionize. Credit David Jackson/Park Record The move gives p...

SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., Sept. 16, 2025—Indy Pass will end sales for the 2025-26 season at midnight on Thursday, Sept. 18, the company said today. With the cap reached, this will be the final sales window of the year. “We’re not going to compromise the sport and culture of independent skiing by prioritizing profit over our passholders,...