SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., May 7, 2010-Snowsport retail sales finished up 4 percent over last season as volume hit $2.94 billion compared to $2.82 billion a year ago, although fewer units were sold this season, according to the latest figures from Snowsports Industries America. Retailers maintained higher prices in part because inventories starte...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., May 7, 2010-Whistler Blackcomb took the top spot in onthesnow.com's annual Visitor's Choice awards. This is the second time in the past three years that Whistler Blackcomb has topped the list. Onthesnow.com gives visitors the opportunity to write reviews of North American resorts and rank them in five categories: fav...

SAM Magazine-Killington, Vt., May 7, 2010-Killington Resort received the Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention for a pair of projects that eliminate more than 1,400 gallons of heating fuel and save more than 70,000 kWh of electricity annually. In the first of two projects, Killington partnered with Effici...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., May 7, 2010-Mary Jo Tarallo has been named executive director of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month (formerly Learn a Snow Sport Month), a new position that demonstrates the continuing growth of the program. "I am pleased to be working with our industry colleagues on this important and energetic initiative, not only t...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., May 7, 2010-The U.S. ski industry recorded 59.7 million visits, the second best season ever, according to the preliminary 2009/10 Kottke National End of Season Survey, despite a weak economy and without the catalyst of an exceptional snow year. According to the study, all regions except the Northeast achieved sub...

SAM Magazine-Cody, Wyo., May 7, 2010―Sleeping Giant ski area, revived as a non-profit area last season after five years of hibernation, lost $316,288 in its first season, according to figures released by executive director Hamilton Bryan and reported by the Associated Press. Below-normal snow and a short season are partly to blame, he added. ...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., Apr. 30, 2010-Vail Resorts is purchasing the remaining 30 percent interest in its majority-owned retail joint venture, Specialty Sports Venture (SSV), held by affiliated entities of Tom and Ken Gart, for $31 million. The transaction is expected to close today. SSV has more than 145 sporting goods retail/rental loc...

SAM Magazine--April 30, 2010--During its annual meeting, the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSAA) announced the recipients of several awards. First, Keith Petrie was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Petrie managed Mt. Hood Meadows, Anthony Lakes, Mt. Spokane and Multopor Ski Bowl and served as chairman of the PNSAA Board of D...

SAM Magazine--April 28, 2010--The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named five member ski areas as the recipients of its annual Sustainable Slopes Grant program. The ski areas winning cash grants include Alta, Utah, Crested Butte, Colo., Grand Targhee, Wyo., Mt. Abram, Maine, and Stevens Pass, Wash. The grants, this year totaling $100,000, are...

SAM Magazine-Boulder, Colo., Apr. 27, 2010-Preliminary SIA Snow Sport RetailTRAK data show that snow sport retail sales increased 13 percent in March 2010 compared to March 2009, at the height of the recession. The sales spurt pushed sales for the entire 2009-10 season up 4 percent over 2008-09, according to the Leisure Trends Group. Nearly ever...

SAM Magazine-Las Vegas, Apr. 27, 2010-Resorts as far-flung as Alyeska, Alaska, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, and Sugarloaf, Maine, are operating into May this year. They are among dozens of areas that have extended their seasons this year. Late and abundant snow has enabled Alyeska Resort to operate well into May. The base at the top of ...

SAM Magazine-Albuquerque, N.M., Apr. 27, 2010-El Nino lived up to its billing, bringing abundant snow across New Mexico this past winter. And that fueled a 23 percent increase in visits compared to 2008-09, according to Ski New Mexico. The visit total was 964,793, making this the best year since 2000-01. Ski New Mexico executive director George ...

SAM Magazine--April 26. 2010--Thanks to passenger numbers that were off by about 9,000, the resort community at Steamboat Springs will have to pony up more than $2.4 million to the airlines. According to the "Steamboat Pilot," Steamboat's Local Marketing District (LMD) is in charge of the airline program and it is not unheard of that the community ...

SAM Magazine--April 26, 2010--Intrawest, a leader in the development and management of experiential destination resorts, today announced that it has successfully completed the refinancing of its corporate debt which was due in December 2009. The Company repaid its prior lenders in full and has completed a new loan, which is scheduled to mature in 2...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Apr. 22, 2010-Andy Daly, who variously managed Copper Mountain , Eldora, Beaver Creek, and Vail Associates, has earned the 2010 Lifetime Achievement award of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Daly's career began in 1970 when he took a job at Aspen Highlands. By winter's end, Daly accepted a job as a ski pat...