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  • SAM Taps Whistler Blackcomb to Host 2025 Summer Ops Camp

    SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three days of education, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the future of summer operations at mountain resorts. This year’s camp will also feature a partnership with the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA), bringing together a dynamic mix of resort professionals from across North America.   Whistler Blackcomb has been at the forefront of year-round recreation development, balancing business innovation with environmental sustainability. With a robust lineup of summer attractions—including the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Peak...

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“A Day for Jake” to Honor Burton Founder Jake Carpenter

SAM Magazine—Burlington, Vt., Feb. 26, 2020—Burton Snowboards has organized “A Day for Jake,” Friday, March 13, 2020, to honor the memory and legacy of the company’s founder, Jake Burton Carpenter, who died in November. Thirteen mountain resorts around the world are celebrating by offering free lift tickets to snowboarders of all ability ...

Presidents' Week Crowds Boost Business for Many

SAM Magazine—Burlington, Vt., Feb. 27, 2020—Many resorts saw the usual uptick in crowds over Presidents' Day weekend and into the midweek, despite some experiencing a mixed bag of weather prior to the holiday. The weekend, and the holiday week in the Midwest and Northeast, was strong all along the northern tier and in the Rockies.At Cannon Moun...

Western Lodging Softens Despite Ample Snow

SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 20, 2020—Despite widely-reported exceptional skiing and riding, lodging occupancy is slipping year-over-year at many Western resorts, according to the most recent Market Briefing released by DestiMetrics from Inntopia. However, rates continue to creep up, allowing lodging properties to maintain healthy revenue results....

Marquette Mountain Under New Ownership

SAM Magazine—Marquette, Mich., Feb. 20, 2020—A staple of the Upper Michigan ski scene is changing hands. Peter and Lois O’Devero have sold Marquette Mountain and its surrounding 330 acres to Eric and Sarah Jorgensen of Hartland, Wis., owners of transportation company JX Enterprises Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Founded in 1...

Report: Colorado Has a New Ski Area. Or Does It?

by Tom WinterWhat has been billed as “Colorado’s first new ski area in nearly 20 years” looks suspiciously like a backcountry ski guide operation. The “ski area,” Bluebird Backcountry, plans to open approximately 1,500 acres of skiable terrain with 2,200 feet of vertical drop to the general public on Feb. 15. Three hundred acres of this i...

Snow People - February

Snow People is our monthly roundup of happenings to the people of and around the mountain resort industry. Send any personnel news to: news@saminfo.com. CHRIS JARNOT, MAYFLOWER MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, UTAH Industry veteran , and former SAMMY winner, Chris Jarnot has accepted a consulting role with Extell Development Company (EDC), focusing on Extell’...

NSAA Eastern Conference Draws Big Crowd

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Feb. 7, 2020—Following a strong western meeting in Squaw Valley, the 2020 National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Eastern Winter Conference and Trade Show was held at Killington Resort, Feb. 4 and 5. A big crowd of 677 ski area operators, suppliers, and speakers gathered for informative sessions, great skiing and rid...

White Pine Ski Area Up for Sale

SAM apologizes for a previous rendition of this article that had inaccuracies. Please note this was updated on Febuary 9, 2020 to reflect requested changes.  SAM Magazine—Sublette County, Wyo., Feb. 7, 2020—The White Pine Ski Area and Resort outside Pinedale, Wyoming, is being put up for sale by the majority owners of Citizens to Save Whi...

Squaw/Alpine Gondola Lawsuit Dropped, Project Moving Forward

SAM Magazine – Olympic Valley, Calif., Feb. 6, 2020 – The Granite Chief Wilderness Protection League reached an agreement with Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to dismiss the lawsuit against the approval of the Squaw’s Base-to-Base Gondola. The lawsuit originally challenged the adequacy of the environmental analysis and the County Board ...

Winter Jam NYC Brings Snowsports to Central Park

SAM Magazine—New York City, Feb. 5, 2020—Roughly 15,000 people came out to play on the snow and ice for Winter Jam NYC, held Saturday, Feb. 1 in New York City’s Central Park. Presented by NYC Parks, the Olympic Regional Development Authority, I Love NY, and I Ski NY, the free event featured a variety of winter sports and activities for visito...

Outdoor Participation Report Highlights Alarming Trends

SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 4, 2020—The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), released its annual study of participation in outdoor recreation activities, and the results are sobering. According to the 2019 Outdoor Participation Report, Americans are staying inside more and more while engaging less frequ...

SIA Rebrands Consumer Expos

SAM Magazine—Denver, Feb. 4, 2020—After finalizing its acquisition of the Denver and Boston Ski and Snowboard Expos from BEWI Productions, Snowsports Industries America (SIA) has rebranded the events and unveiled the 2020 dates. The newly minted “Snowbound” consumer expos will take place Nov. 6-8, 2020 in Denver, and Nov. 19-22 in Boston, M...

Arctaris Acquires Saddleback

SAM Magazine—Rangeley, Maine, Jan. 31, 2020—Boston investment firm Arctaris Impact Fund completed a reported $6.5 million acquisition of Saddleback Mountain ski area from the Berry family on Friday afternoon. The resort has been closed since 2015 when the Berrys couldn’t secure financing to replace the primary chairlift, and have been seeki...

Registration for Cutter’s Camp is Open

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Jan. 29, 2020—Registration is open for the 18th annual spring session of Cutter's Camp, May 11-15, 2020, at Timberline, Mt. Hood, Ore. The weeklong program for terrain park professionals features on-hill and classroom workshops, including the return of one-on-one customized operator coaching. Program highlights incl...

Outdoor Industry Association Introduces Climate Action Corps

SAM Magazine—Denver, Jan. 29, 2020—The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) unveiled its new climate and sustainability initiative, the Climate Action Corps, at its annual sustainability meetings in Denver ahead of the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show. The aim of the Climate Action Corps is to support outdoor brands, retailers, manufacturers, and sup...