• Snowmaking
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Dec. 20, 2022—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has named industry veteran Peggy Hiller as its new CEO, effective Jan. 16, 2023. Hiller succeeds Nick Herrin, who was hired as CEO in 2016 and stepped down in June 2022 to become senior vice presi...

• Miscellaneous
• Lift Maintenance

SAM Magazine— Beaupré, Quebec, Dec. 19, 2022—The Quebec Building Authority (RBQ) found that Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) did not follow proper operating procedures during morning start-up of its gondola on Dec. 10, resulting in an unoccupied cabin detaching from the haul rope and falling to the ground, according to a Dec. 16 report. The resort has b...

• Racing

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Dec. 19, 2022—Consistent, and in some cases, abundant snowfall across many western mountain resorts compared to last year gave November bookings a boost, particularly for November and December arrivals. But economic variables have prevented 2022 from sustaining the rebound recovery of 2021, and are likely to rem...

• Snowmaking

SAM Magazine—Beaupré, Quebec, Dec. 12, 2022—A gondola cabin fell from the haul rope of the Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) L’Étoile Filante gondola before operating hours on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 10. No one was injured in the incident. The resort has been closed since Saturday, and an inspection is ongoing.  “A full inspection procedure ...

• Resort Development
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Lakeshore, Calif., Dec. 9, 2022—China Peak Mountain Resort has been sold to Mountain High Resort and Dodge Ridge, Calif., owners Invision Capital and Karl Kapuscinski, Mountain High president and CEO. Former owner Tim Cohee will remain general manager "for the foreseeable future" and also be involved in shaping the guest experience...

• Lifts

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits. We celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE STEVE DUKE, CRESTED BUTTE, CO Steve Duke was named director of mountain operations at Cr...

• Lifts

So far, the early 2022-23 ski season is a tale of inches and feet: Feet of snow and earlier than planned openings in the West; mere inches of snow in the East and delayed openings. Stowe Mountain Opening Day As colder temps settle in later this month, the East hopes to catch up. And everybody is looking forward to a good holiday period, especiall...

• Resort Development
• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Nov. 29, 2022—The Indy Pass has added four Northeastern Alpine and Nordic ski areas to its 2022-23 lineup, making for 21 total participating ski areas in the Eastern region this year to date.  Included are Peek'n Peak in New York and Tussey Mountain, Pa., on the Alpine side, and cross country areas Catamount Outdo...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Nov. 28, 2022—An estimated 37,000 spectators descended on Killington Resort this weekend for the sixth annual Killington Cup, a women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup event. The resort’s new K-1 base lodge also made its debut over the weekend, opening to an eager public.  The record-breaking crowds began arriving on ...

• Ski School
• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass, Nov. 23, 2022—After a two-year Covid delay, the Snowbound Expo debuted in Boston this past weekend, Nov. 18-21, drawing 20,000 skiers and riders from around New England. The reimagined version of the longtime event included dozens of speakers, hardgoods and softgoods retailers promoting their newest wares, a learn-to...

• Resort Development

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Nov. 22, 2022—Vail Resorts released its 2021-22 EpicProgress report last week, detailing strides the company made last year towards its goal of a zero net operating footprint by 2030.  The company is “ahead of schedule,” according to the report, achieving 100 percent renewable electricity across its North A...

• Safety

SAM Magazine—West Bolton, Quebec, Nov. 22, 2022—Former Mont Glen owner Peter White and his company Optikinvest Inc. could not secure the financing to re-acquire the ski area, and it has been purchased by another unnamed buyer who reportedly plans to keep Mont Glen private as it has been for the last 15 years. White entered into an agreement to ...

• Area Management
• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, Nov. 17, 2022—Utah’s Powder Mountain has appointed Kevin Mitchell as its new general manager. Mitchell assumed the role Nov. 7, after serving as GM of California’s Homewood Mountain Resort for a decade. He replaces former GM Mark Schroetel, who moved to the tech industry after eight years at Powder Mountain.  “O...

• Lifts
• Safety

SAM Magazine—Petaluma, Calif., Nov. 17 2022—Ski California debuted an updated digital version of its Mountain Safety Guide earlier this week, Nov. 15. Designed by the association and its member resorts in California and Nevada, the new version is a play off the group's existing Mountain Safety Guide, and will serve as a comprehensive tool to ed...

• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance
• Area Management

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Nov. 16, 2022—Lodging in Western mountain destinations wrapped up the summer season with mixed results, and on-the-books occupancy for November through April is down 4.8 percent year-over-year, according to the latest Market Briefing by DestiMetrics, part of the Business Intelligence division of Inntopia.  But the aver...