SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Nov. 9, 2010-Maynard Russell of MRC Services, Greenville, Maine, has been named interim chair of the ANSI ASC B77 Standards Committee for the next 12 to 24 months. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), acting as the Secretariat for the ANSI ASC B77 Standards Committee on Passenger Ropeways, announced the appointme...

SAM Magazine-Donnelly, Idaho, Nov. 9, 2010-The Tamarack Municipal Association (TMA) has reached an agreement with creditor Credit Suisse, the Idaho Department of Lands, and the equity holders of the resort to allow payment of a land lease that is a key part of TMA's effort to open the resort to skiing and snowboarding next month. TMA, the associ...

SAM Magazine-Greenwood, Maine, Nov. 9, 2010-Mt Abram Resort is launching a non-academy race program, Le Club de Sport LaVallee/Parisien. The program will promote high school and middle school ski racing and help those athletes reach their full potential and grow in alpine racing. It will supplement and support the athlete's school program and coach...

SAM Magazine-Frisco, Colo., Nov. 5, 2010-Keystone Resort and Copper Mountain opened today, adding to the growing list of areas that are now open for the season. In Canada, Lake Louise became the first area to open. Wolf Creek, Colo., opened for the season last Saturday, and Killington joined the group on Nov. 2. The Colorado areas were aided by ...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., Nov. 5, 2010-About one-third of all skiers and riders on the mountain are on rental equipment, according to rental shop operators who took part in the 2010 Rental Equipment Survey conducted by Snowsports Industries America (SIA). Increasingly, those customers are looking for high-end demo equipment. As a result, more than ...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., Nov. 4, 2010-Whistler Blackcomb Holdings, an entity created by Intrawest for the purpose of selling public shares in Whistler Blackcomb, raised C$300 million (US$297 million) after it priced its IPO shares at C$12, a significant cut from the C$15 it hoped for initially. The offering is expected to close Nov. 9. The deal...

SAM Magazine-Boise, Idaho, Nov. 4, 2010-With winter fast approaching, Tamarack Resort's status remains as fluid as ever. In a bankruptcy court filing, Credit Suisse has declared that liquidation of Tamarack Resort is the best way to recoup as much of the $300 million owed to the resort's lender group as possible, and has asked bankruptcy judge Terr...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Nov. 2, 2010-Glen Plake and Head Ski Company are lending their considerable support to Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month (LSSM) in January, when more than 300 resorts across the U.S. will be promoting learn-to programs. Plake is returning as an ambassador for the initiative, and Head has signed on as a major partner. ...

SAM Magazine-Brownsville, Vt., Nov. 2, 2010-Ascutney Mountain Resort won't operate this winter, with operations in future years also in doubt unless a buyer can be found. The resort's outlook took a turn for the worse last summer when Steve and Susan Plausteiner, who had bought the resort out of bankruptcy in 1993 and have managed its operation...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., Oct. 29, 2010-Lack of interest from investors has led Whistler Blackcomb Holdings, a company formed by Intrawest and owned by Fortress Investment Group, to reduce the price of its IPO shares, according to several news reports. The reduction, from the planned range of C$14 to C$15 per share to the current range of C$12.5...

SAM Magazine-Taylors Falls, Minn, Oct. 29, 2010-Wild Mountain, Minn., and Boreal, Calif., both opened for business today, adding to the flurry of openings in the past week. For Wild Mountain, it marks the 35th year the area has been the first in the Midwest to open. Rates were determined by bow many Facebook fans the area had-the more "likes" t...

SAM Magazine-Orlando, Fla., Oct. 29, 2010-In response to an earlier report on saminfo.com, CNL Lifestyle Properties has informed us that some of the statements in that report may be misleading. Here's a more complete description of the change in management at Northstar-at-Tahoe: As with other CNL resort properties, CNL owns the land and all impr...

SAM Magazine-Denver, Oct. 27, 2010-After a long, warm fall, areas in the west have received significant snowfall in the past three days. In the Pacific Northwest, Mt. Hood Meadows had recorded 30 inches through Tuesday, with more expected. In Colorado and Utah, snowfalls were in the 18- to 24-inch range. And in western Canada, Fernie reported 15 in...

SAM Magazine-Newry, Maine, Oct. 26, 2010- In the wake of the SANY and NWSS fall workshops, the two groups and NSAA are planning an expanded agenda for 2011 over an eight-day stretch that, for the two events, is one day shorter. In a key and expected change, the NWSS will return to a more conventional trade show format after this year's experimen...

SAM Magazine-Andover, N.H., Oct 25, 2010-Dalbello and Elan are ending their joint distribution agreement as of Jan. 1, when Alpina Sports Corp. in Lebanon, N.H., will assume responsibility for Elan. The two companies will continue to market the 4Factor rental system, although Dalbello also plans to offer its Vantage system boot for use with other b...