SAM Magazine—Hancock, Mass., April 21, 2026—Packed house for older fixed grip roundtable.The 49th annual Lift Maintenance Seminar (LMS) returned to Jiminy Peak, April 13-16, drawing a sold-out crowd of roughly 415 ski area operations professionals, supplier representatives, state officials, and experts from all over North America to engage in a...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 20, 2026— National Ski Patrol (NSP) is surveying more than 300 ski area senior leaders to gather input that will help shape how the organization develops its education and training programs as well as its partnership efforts and revenue streams. It’s the first time in its 85-year history NSP has surveyed sk...

SAM Magazine—Canmore, Alberta, April 20, 2026—Climate/snowpack presentation. Credit: Reese Brown.The Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA) Annual Conference drew 72 attendees from across North America to 1988 Winter Olympic venue Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta, Canada, April 8-10, 2026. Attendance was up compared to the last three years...

SAM Magazine—Denver, April 17, 2026—Nearly 2,000 current and former ski and snowboard instructors have joined a collective action Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit against Vail Resorts, according to reports citing consent forms filed in federal court in Colorado last week.  Quint et al. v. Vail Resorts, Inc., was first filed in 2020 by three B...

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight personnel moves in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to awards, obits, and supplier news, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE TROY HAWKS, GIANTS RIDGE, MN Giants Ridge has appointed Troy Hawks as marketing director. Most recently, Hawks...

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• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 16, 2025—SAM’s Supplier News roundup delivers a quick look at the latest business moves shaping the mountain resort industry. From mergers and acquisitions to new services, partnerships, and product expansions, this snapshot keeps operators up to speed on the companies and solutions driving change across the ...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., April 13, 2026—Economic news conspired with abysmal snowfall and record-breaking warm temperatures during March to continue to drag down the 2025-26 winter season. Despite a weak booking pace, though, western mountain lodging properties in 17 resort destinations are looking at strong early numbers for the upcomi...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., April 13, 2026—A new leadership structure at Purgatory Resort includes general manager Dave Rathbun moving into the role of chief executive officer of Purgatory Resort Holdings, the company overseeing the resort’s affiliated businesses, owned by Mountain Capital Partners. In addition, Josh Benson will become senio...

• Ski Inc. Series

Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems owner Erik Mogensen has transformed this legacy ski area and designated it as his laboratory. It’s the perfect pitch here, but how will it translate elsewhere?   (This is the fourth and final stop on the author’s Revival Road Trip.) By Andy Bigford At midafternoon on the first Saturday in March, with the sun ...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 13, 2026—Nominations are now open for SAM’s annual “10 Under 30,” presented with support from Snow Operating. The program recognizes young professionals who are making meaningful contributions at their resorts and demonstrating strong potential for future leadership. Resort leaders are encouraged to nomi...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., April 8, 2026—Shaydar Edelmann has been appointed as vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. He succeeds Beth Howard, who is retiring at the end of the ski season after 41 years with Vail Resorts, but will “remain engaged” during a leadership transition period.  “I’m incredibly honored...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 6, 2026—Pat Campbell and Geraldine LinkThe National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) will recognize two longtime industry leaders at its 2026 National Convention and Tradeshow, May 4–7 in Carlsbad, Calif., awarding Pat Campbell the Lifetime Achievement Award and Geraldine Link the Industry Impact Award.  Camp...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 6, 2026—Nominations are now open for the sixth annual Rise Up Challenge. Hosted by SAM and sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA), the contest recognizes up-and-coming lift maintenance professionals and the teams that support them. Six resorts will be selected to produce videos offering a behind-the-scene...

SAM Magazine—Denver, April 2, 2026—SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia has joined Ikon Pass as a partner resort and Giants Ridge, Minn., has been added as a bonus mountain on the 2026-27 pass.  Matt Bowers, Alterra Mountain Company senior vice president of marketing, said British Columbia has some of the best mountain experiences i...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., March 31, 2026—Indy Pass has added seven new alpine ski area partners in the Midwest, Alps, and Japan as well as three cross country ski centers ahead of its public sales period for the 2026-27 pass, which begins at noon EDT on April 3. The new alpine partners added to the pass are Whitecap Mountain Resort, Paul Bun...