SAM Magazine-Boulder, Colo., Feb. 28, 200-Smith Travel Research, Inc. (STR) has acquired Boulder-based RRC Associates. The combination, according to STR head Randy Smith, substantially extends the range of professional and strategic services now offered under the STR umbrella. "We are very excited about the incredible opportunities to assist our ex...

SAM Magazine-Bretton Woods, N.H., Feb. 27, 2008-The 2008-09 Threedom Pass will subtract Loon Mountain and add Bretton Woods to original member areas Waterville Valley and Cranmore. The new lineup gives skiers and riders access to 195 trails, 12 terrain parks, and 893 acres serviced by 28 lifts. The pass goes on sale at all three areas on Mar...

SAM Magazine-Champion, Pa., Feb. 27, 2008-After years of rumored introduction, the Japanese-built Ohara DF357 snowcat has finally made it to the U.S. PBL Enterprises Inc. has put the first demo machine through its initial test runs in Colorado, and the machine is poised to make its official debut at Seven Springs Mountain Resort tonight, according ...

SAM Magazine-Burlington, Vt., Feb. 27, 2008-Snowfall totals in Vermont and Colorado continued on a record-setting pace in February, as a seemingly unending series of storms has hit many resort regions across the country. This month's storms have already shattered a 50-year-old record in Vermont. In Colorado, several resorts have set new year-to-dat...

SAM Magazine-Weathersfield, Vt. Feb. 24, 2008-Internationally recognized ski and travel journalist Paul Robbins, a wordsmith and historian for the U.S. Ski Team for 30 years and, among other accomplishments, a longtime SAM contributor, died Saturday of an apparent heart attack at his home in Vermont. Robbins, whose wit, humor and vast knowledge was...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., Feb. 22, 2008-Lindsey Vonn, Vail, Colo., became the second U.S. woman to win a World Cup downhill title, as her second-place finish in the race here today clinched the DH championship. She finished one-hundredth of a second behind Swiss Nadia Styger. To complete a banner day on the 2010 Olympics track, team member Julia...

SAM Magazine-Tamarack, Idaho, Feb. 22, 2008-The majority owners of Tamarack Resort have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the group failed to obtain an $118 million loan, which made it impossible to meet payment on an existing loan of $262 million from Credit Suisse. In all, the group owes more than $300 million to its lenders. Bo...

SAM Magazine--Lincoln, N.H., February 19, 2008--Loon Mountain announced that it will be the first ski resort in the East to partner with Bonneville Envirnmental Foundation to make SkiGreen Tags available to guests. Each Tag represents 100-kilowatt hours of wind energy and offsets 140 pounds of global warming pollution and are sold for $2. The th...

SAM Magazine--February 19, 2008, Ludlow Vt--For the second year running, the Sunday of Presidents' Day Weekend was a record-breaker for Okemo Mountain Resort. Skier and snowboarder visits were up three percent for the day, compared to last year's milestone, and up more than five percent compared to the previous best day in February 2005. Skie...

SAM Magazine - Denver, Colo., February 18, 2008 - Frontier has announced an aggressive move into the winter vacation market, with discounted fares to a variety of ski destinations including Aspen, Durango and Jackson Hole. With rates starting as low as $89 for one-way flights to Aspen and Jackson Hole from Denver, the pricing is an aggressive mo...

SAM Magazine--Tannersville, Pa., Feburary 13, 2008--Starting last week, Charles Blier became the new GM and Executive VP at Camelback Ski Area, which also runs Camelbeach water park. Blier replaces long-time GM Rich Wiseman. Blier will help oversee a 400-room development that will include a three-acre indoor water park. The fifth floor of the de...

SAM Magazine--February 5, 2008--An avalanche blocked Alpine Meadow's access road on Sunday, forcing the resort to close for the day. The slide was triggered by a control team which was running routes above the access road. The crown of the slide was estimated to be as much as 12 feet high in some places. The avalanche underscores the danger of ...

SAM Magazine - Las Vegas, Nev., February 5, 2008 - It's hard to believe that less than one hour from The Strip, you can go skiing. But while the small ski area called Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, hidden in Lee Canyon, could be one of the best-kept secrets in Nevada, things could to change if the ski area's plans for expansion are approved. ...

SAM Magazine - Monarch, Colo., January 31, 2008 - Colorado's Monarch Mountain has announced that the resort will extend its season by one week, to April 13, 2008. The resort cites exceptional year-to-date snowfall for the extension. According to Monarch, the ski area has received more than 259 inches for December and January, a record amount. "W...

SAM Magazine - Wilmington, Mass., January 31, 2008 - Verizon customers won't be able to escape the boss quite as easily when they take advantage of mid-week powder days in Vermont. The company has announced that a $55 million investment into its Vermont network means that wireless service has been expanded into nearly 60 additional Vermont communit...