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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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SAM Magazine—Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Nov. 6, 2018—American company Wisconsin Resorts Inc. purchased Searchmont Resort in Ontario, Canada, from the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporationon Nov. 1. The $2 million deal includes all land, buildings, and equipment. Wisconsin Resorts owns and operates four other ski areas: Alpine Vall...

SAM Magazine—Cherry Creek, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2018—Cockaigne Ski Resort in upstate New York was set to spin lifts again this winter for the first time in seven years, but unanticipated challenges have caused a delay of the resort’s grand reopening. Cockaigne closed in 2011 after a fire destroyed its iconic base lodge, which served as the Aust...

SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Nov. 6, 2018—A series of storms dropped nearly four feet of snow in parts of the Rockies this past week, priming some Colorado resorts to open earlier and expand accessible terrain.Breckenridge and Keystone, both of which were set to open Nov. 9, will now open Nov. 7 thanks to the new snowfall. Both resorts have rece...

SAM Magazine—Mesa, Colo., Nov. 2, 2018—Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Colo., is bolstering its management and financial resources. Owners Andy Daly and Ken, Tom, and John Gart of The Gart Companies have brought on ZOMA Capital of Denver as an equity partner to help fund future upgrades at the resort. The owners have also entered into an operating ...

In SAM’s monthly Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. This report was written by Katie Brinton. JODY CHURICH, PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT, UTAH Jody Churich has become senior director of skier services for Park City Mountain and is responsible for the overall quality ...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 31, 2018—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has elected two new members to its board of directors: Wesley Kryger, president of Greek Peak and Toggenburg ski areas, and J.R. Murray, GM of the Arizona Snowbowl. In September 2018, Kryger and Murray were voted in to replace two vacancies left by retiring b...

SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Oct. 31, 2018—It’s the most wonderful time of the year; Halloween decorations are about to come down and snow is in the forecast. Resorts are getting ready to scan passes and spin lifts, with several already open thanks to serious snowmaking and a helping hand from Mother Nature. Oct. 19 was a busy day acr...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 26, 2018—After closing on its recent acquisition of Triple Peaks LLC, which includes Okemo, Vt., and Mount Sunapee, N.H., Vail Resorts has created a new “Northeast regional structure,” which entails leadership shuffling, layoffs, and promotions. Doug Pierini, previously VP and GM of Kirkwood, Calif., is...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 23, 2018—Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has collaborated with Halley O’Brien Productions and Terrain Based Learning creator SNOW Operating to produce a new three-video series: “How to Ski: A Beginner’s Guide.” The videos are the...

SAM Magazine— Sheridan, Wyo., Oct. 18, 2018—In 2004, a family dispute forced Fun Valley Inc. to shut down the slopes at Antelope Butte ski area. Fourteen years later, Antelope Butte’s lifts will spin again thanks to the hard work of a community coalition, the Antelope Butte Foundation. The foundation has been working since 2011 to reopen Ant...

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., and Newry, Maine, Oct. 18, 2018—Killington Resort in Vermont and Sunday River in Maine will be the first mountain resorts in the East to open for skiing and riding when first chairs go up at each area on Friday, Oct. 19. Killington will be open for passholders before opening to the general public on Saturday, and c...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 17, 2018—SAM (Ski Area Management) magazine’s sister publication Adventure Park Insider has launched the 3rdannual State of the Industry survey. This annual effort collects data about summer and aerial adventure operations to help operators benchmark their businesses and inform decisions regardi...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 16, 2018—SAM has launched an open call for nominations to become a mentee for the second year of its successful Summit Series. The season-long program, aimed at developing future industry leaders, creates a public dialogue between established and respected industry leaders and up-and-coming resort staffers. Thes...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Oct. 16, 2018—Western destinations are poised to achieve the region’s fifth consecutive summer record for both occupancy and revenues, according to Inntopia's monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing. As of Sept. 30, occupancy for May through October is up two percent compared to the same time last year. The figure includes b...

SAM Magazine—Arapahoe Basin, Colo., Oct. 16, 2018—Arapahoe Basin will open for daily operation for the 2018-19 ski and snowboard season on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, Lifts will be spinning soon at A-Basin. Photo: Dave Camaramaking A-Basin the first area to open seven days a week. The Black Mountain Express lift will start turning at 9:00 a.m., givi...