SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., April 5, 2013—Father and son team Brian and Tyler Fairbank have formed The Fairbank Group, LLC to manage and oversee its group of businesses that includes Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Cranmore Mountain Resort and Bromley Mountain, as well as EOS Ventures, Bullwheel Productions and other endeavors. As part of...

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., April 5, 2013—Snowsports retail sales reached $3.1 billion for the season through February, up 2 percent compared to August through February 2011-12, according to the SIA RetailTRAK retail audit conducted by Leisure Trends Group for Snowsports Industries America (SIA). Backcountry gear showed the greatest ...

SAM Magazine—Canton, Mass., April 4, 2013—Ski Blue Hills Management is seeking a longer-term lease for the state-owned Blue Hills Ski Area here so that it can make capital improvements to the area. Typically the state offers five-year leases, and Ski Blue Hills operated this past winter on a one-year extension to its former lease. Bl...

SAM Magazine—Scranton, Pa., Mar. 28, 2013—Local real estate group Jefferson-Werner, headed by developer Charlie Jefferson, is said to be close to buying Snö Mountain winter resort and water park. The group plans to restore the area’s original name, Montage, and bolster marketing efforts. Jefferson-Warner is expected to pay...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Mar. 28, 2013—Powdr Corp.’s new License 2 Ride season pass program gives youths six areas for the price of one. Passholders ages 17 and under (18 and under for Killington and Mt. Bachelor) at any one of six participating Powdr resorts receive lift privileges at all six. As an extra perk, passholder...

SAM Magazine--March 28, 2013--Following an inspection by the Department of Toxic Substances Control in September 2010, which found several violations relating to a used-oil tank, Heavenly Valley, Calif., settled the matter this week by agreeing to pay a civil penalty of $94,000, an adminstrative fee of $26,000, and another $30,000 to Western States...

SAM Magazine--March 28, 2013--New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced yesterday that he will launch a full financial audit of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) after a report by his office found that financial issues persist at a time when its operations have been expanded to include Belleayre Mountain. "ORDA...

SAM Magazine--March 22, 2013--Thanks to improved snow conditions in January and February, skier visits among Colorado Ski Country USA's (CSCUSA) 21 member resorts partially rebounded from an early-season deficit, increasing 1.3 percent over the two months, compared to the same two months last year. From opening through December 31, 2012, CSCUSA...

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Mar. 22, 2013—With the season winding down, it's time to look ahead and see how you can stay on top of your game for next year in the ever-changing world of freestyle terrain. Registration for SAM’s eastern Cutter's Camp at Mount Snow (Carinthia), Vt., closes on March 26 at 5 p.m., and there a...

SAM Magazine--March 21. 2013--According to the Star Gazette, a federal judge has approved the sale of Greek Peak, N.Y., after a private auction on Tuesday. The highest bid was $6.76 million by two local businessmen, John Meier and Marc Stemerman. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which became the main lender and receiver after the s...

SAM Magazine--March 18, 2013--Wisp Resort in Maryland announced the promotion of industry (and Wisp) veteran Jerry Geisler to GM today. Geisler has worked at Wisp Resort for 37 years beginning as a ski instructor in 1975. Geisler replaces Tim Prather. Wisp emerged from bankruptcy in December 2012 under new ownership—EPR Properties, a REIT ...

SAM Magazine—Enfield, N.H., Mar. 15, 2013—Whaleback Mountain is shutting its doors for the year, and as a business, on Mar. 17. Owners Evan Dybvig, Frank Sparrow, and Dylan Goodspeed posted a message on their website Thursday that the mountain would be ceasing operations at the end of the coming weekend. In their letter, they said th...

SAM Magazine--March 15, 2013--More consistent snowfall and stronger economic metrics combined to deliver impressive gains for the mountain lodging industry according to the most recent data released by the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). Actual occupancy for February 2013 was up 14.2 percent compared to last February and the Average Daily...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Mar. 13, 2013—More than 153,000 children and adults from 34 states registered for beginner lessons during January 2013 as part of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month/Bring a Friend (LSSM/BAF)—an increase of more than 50,000 compared to 2012, and an increase of more than 130,000 since the initiative&rsquo...

SAM Magazine—Salida, Colo., Mar. 13, 2013—Monarch Mountain is teaming with fellow Colorado resorts Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Steamboat in a reciprocal pass deal for 2013-14. For 2013-14, three days at Monarch are included in the purchase of the Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus ($419), which includes unlimited skiing at Winter P...