SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., Dec. 13, 2012—The snow sports retail market declined 2 percent season-to-date (August through October) compared to last year. But it still reached $616 million in sales, despite significant disruptions in retail sales in the South and Northeast regions due to Hurricane Sandy, and lack of momentum from the snow-...

SAM Magazine--December 13, 2012--Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (WBH) reported financial results for the three months and year ended September 30, 2012. The corporation, which has been publicly listed for two years now, holds a 75% interest in the entities that operate Whistler Blackcomb. Thanks to its downhill bike park and Peak2Peak gondola,...

SAM Magazine--December 11, 2012--On December 7, ISB Community Bank took over ownership of the Highlands of Olympia ski area in Oconomowoc, Wisc., as well as a golf course, both of which had been operating in receivership. According to The Business Journal, ISB took over the 134-acre property and, in exchange, forgave a $2.3-million debt it held wit...

SAM Magazine—Glens Falls, N.Y., Dec. 11, 2012—To encourage skiing and riding in the state, New York areas are offering 10,000 lift tickets for just $10 each, valid for one day only—Jan. 10—at a host of the state’s resorts. Participating areas include Peek n’ Peak, Holiday Valley, Holimont, Kissing Bridge, Bris...

SAM Magazine--December 9, 2012--After filing for bankruptcy in mid-October, a federal bankruptcy judge has OKed the sale of Sno Mountain Ski Resort in Pennsylvania in order to recoup about $24 million in debt. According to the timesleader.com, documents filed by Sno Mountain show it has $171,562 in assets compared to $24.2 million debt. The debt is...

SAM Magazine—McHenry, Md., Dec. 6, 2012—The Kansas City-based REIT, EPR Properties, has completed its purchase of Wisp Resort for a final price of $23.5 million. That’s up $3 million from its initial bid of $20.5 million three weeks ago. In a separate transaction, National Land Partners acquired a nearby golf course and other real...

SAM Magazine--December 6, 2012--A federal bankruptcy judge passed down a ruling finding Yellowstone Club, Mont., founder Tim Blixseth responsible for the financial collapse of the private club and ski area. According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the judge said that "in a pattern of self-dealing," Blixseth used the Club for his own gain...

SAM Magazine—Dec. 6, 2012—Vail Resorts, Inc., will create its own skiers in the Midwest, announcing today that it has entered into agreements to purchase Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mount Brighton in Michigan, for total cash consideration of $20 million. According to the release, both ski areas serve major snow sports markets in the Mid...

SAM Magazine--December 4, 2012--Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. and KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) announced that an affiliate of KSL has entered into a purchase agreement with Intrawest to acquire Intrawest's 9,092,500 common shares of the corporation, representing approximately 24% of the corporation's issued and outstanding common shar...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Dec. 4, 2012 —Vail Resorts (VR) reported a loss of $60.6 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2012, compared to a loss of $55.7 million in the same quarter a year ago. Revenues were flat at $166.4 million for the period, a traditionally slow time for the company’s resorts. “We observed improving trends ...

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., Dec. 4, 2012—Organizers of the Bring a Friend Challenge are asking all of the estimated 100,000 people working full-time in the snow sports industry, as well as the many thousands who are working part-time, to take the “Bring a Friend” campaign personally. That means, bring a non-skiing or –riding friend to ...

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Dec. 4, 2012— Utah officials have announced plans to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The bid is contingent on an upcoming United States Olympic Committee decision regarding potential bidders, and could well face stiff competition from Reno-Tahoe and Denver. Both Reno-Tahoe and Denver had been pursuing a bid for th...

SAM Magazine--December 4, 2012--Mt. Spokane, Wash., received an amendment to its existing concession lease with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to pursue opening seven new runs, which would be serviced by a new chairlift, on an 850-acre parcel. The proposal was originally submitted in 2010 and has undergone several reviews. The...

SAM Magazine--December 4, 2012--The Summit Series announced yesterday that the group has agreed to purchase Utah's Powder Mountain. Published reports claim the price tag for the deal was $40 million. According to Wikipedia, Summit Series is an American organization that hosts events for young entrepreneurs, artists and activists. Events orga...

SAM Magazine—Mt. Hood, Ore., Nov. 21, 2012—Despite a relatively dry and warm start to the ski season nationwide, many resorts are opening as planned during the traditional Thanksgiving holiday period. Resorts in the Pacific Northwest have been aided by significant snowfalls in the past week. Alyeska, Alaska, and Crystal Mountain, Was...