SAM Magazine-Vail, Colo., June 2, 2008-In yet another headline-making move, Vail Resorts has axed the company's relationship with Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA), the non-profit marketing group which represents the state's ski industry. CSCUSA plans to continue operations on behalf of its 22 remaining members, but with a much smaller budget. R...

SAM Magazine-Minturn, Colo., May 27, 2008-Residents of this small mountain town between Vail and Beaver Creek voted 87 percent in favor of development of a private ski and golf resort outside of the community. The ski resort and golf community, a project spearheaded by the Ginn Company, will feature approximately 1,700 homes and condos, an 18-hole ...

SAM Magazine-Revelstoke, B.C., May 27, 2008-The first season was a good one for Canada's newest resort. Revelstoke Mountain ceased winter operations on April 27, chalking up 44 percent more skier visits than expected. Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing, owned by the resort, also posted strong numbers, with skier visits up 20 percent. Revelstoke...

SAM Magazine-Dubai, UAE, May 27, 2008-Ski Dubai, the indoor skiing center in the most unlikely of locations, has hosted its two-millionth visitor, reaching the mark after just two and a half years of operation. "It was very exciting for us to welcome our two millionth customer here," said Mike Mahoney, GM at Ski Dubai. "The figure proves that we...

SAM Magazine-Mammoth Lakes, Calif., May 27, 2008-Mammoth Mountain has eliminated 15 primarily middle-management positions, cutting the year-round workforce by five percent. The job cuts are expected to save the company approximately $1 million in benefits and salaries, and were, according to resort officials, a response to the weakening economy. Th...

SAM Magazine-Mammoth Lakes, Calif., May 26, 2008-Skiers and snowboarders have one more week to enjoy spring conditions at Mammoth Mountain. Cool temperatures and a foot of fresh snow over the Memorial Day holiday spurred the resort to stay open anothr week, through June 1. "I know this is very last minute, but so was the snow," said Mammoth M...

SAM Magazine-Bend, Ore., May 22, 2008-GM Matt Janney and three other executives at Mt. Bachelor have lost their jobs after a disappointing season punctuated by persistent operational problems and customer dissatisfaction with a 30 percent increase in season pass prices over the past two seasons. The changes come less than a year after Janney, a...

SAM Magazine-Mt. Buller, Australia, May 19, 2008-Australia's first sixpack highlights more than $25 million (AUD) worth of investment across the country as the 2008 ski season is primed for kickoff. The lift, at Mt. Buller, is the first of its kind for the nation. Other investments include a whopping AUD $16.25 million in snowmaking improvements at...

SAM Magazine-Denver, May 19, 2008-With snow still falling in the Rocky Mountains and the bean counters working overtime at many resorts after record seasons in both snowfall and skier days, a few areas are keeping the good times alive by reopening or extending their seasons. New York State's Windham Mountain is reopening on Saturday, May 24 to h...

SAM Magazine - Denver, Co., May 15, 2008 - Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Rob Perlman has announced that he will be departing the industry marketing group to take a position at Steamboat Ski Resort. Perlman, who headed up the statewide marketing organization for six years. At Steamboat Perlman will assume the position of vice presid...

SAM Magazine--Woodbury, Conn., May 16, 2007--SAM Magazine has announced the recipients of the 2008 SAMMY Leadership Awards and the third annual SAM Diversity Award. They are: 1) David Amirault, Interactive Services Manager at Freeskier magazine. Dave, also known as Digi Dave, is a web genius who has been pioneer online for resorts and now freesk...

SAM Magazine-Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, May 15, 2008-Cardrona Valley has received approval to build New Zealand's first access gondola. The $16.6 million gondola project will transport visitors from the Cardrona Valley floor to the ski facilities on the Pisa Range-Snow Park NZ, Waiorau Snow Farm and a third planned ski area, Roaring Meg Resort. The ...

SAM Magazine-Georgetown, Colo., May 15, 2008-Loveland ski resort is taking a look at the Dry Gulch area northeast of the ski area's lift-accessed terrain for a snow cat skiing operation. The Dry Gulch sector is part of the resort's permitted area, and a 1997 USFS master plan for the ski area identifies the area as suitable for guided skiing operati...

SAM Magazine-Portland, Me., May 15, 2008-The state of Maine, along with New Hampshire areas Loon Mountain and Bretton Woods, has joined the chorus of Eastern areas announcing record visits last winter. Maine's ski and snowboard industry tallied 1.42 million visits during the 2007-08 winter season. That beats the previous record of 1.36 million ...

SAM Magazine-Queenstown, N.Z., May 9, 2008-While resorts in North America are winding down their seasons, New Zealand areas are gearing up for opening day next month. Storms are starting to roll into New Zealand's mountains as resorts in the southern hemisphere: both Mt. Hutt and Coronet Peak are reporting more than 10 cm of snow from the first rou...