SAM Magazine-Revelstoke, B.C., May 3, 2007-Revelstoke Mountain Resort has closed on its purchase of Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing, which was announced in January. The deal, worth $6 million, gives Revelstoke Mountain Resort access to 500,000 acres of skiable terrain with annual snowfall that regularly exceeds 40 feet. Combined with the recent acquis...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., May 1, 2007-Sales at specialty ski and snowboard shops were down 1 percent in dollars for the August-February period, from $1.67 billion in 2005-06 to $1.65 billion this past season, according to The SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Retail Audit conducted by Leisure Trends Group. Unit sales declined 0.5 percent, as incr...

SAM Magazine-Bern, Switzerland, Apr. 30, 2007-A study conducted by Bern University's Research Institute for Leisure and Tourism predicts a rocky ride for Swiss ski resorts over the next 25 years as global warming causes a shift to reduced business in winter and increased business in summer. The study, commissioned by resorts in The Bernese Oberl...

SAM Magazine-Los Angeles, Apr. 30, 2007-Mountain sports are poised to become TV stars. Steve Bellamy, founder and former president of The Tennis Channel, will launch The Ski Channel-a "TV destination for the mountain lifestyle," he told SAM-as early as winter 2008. To help make this a reality, The Ski Channel has entered into a long-term affilia...

SAM Magazine-Scranton, Pa., Apr. 27, 2007-As part of a $13 million statewide package of grants and low-interest loans, the State of Pennsylvania has awarded a $5 million Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund (MELF) loan to Sno Mountain to assist with the development of snowmaking at the resort. Sno Mountain, formerly known as Montage Mountain, was purc...

SAM Magazine-Vashon Island, Wash., Apr. 27, 2007-As any local fueling up at the local java joint on a powder day will tell you, coffee and skiing go together like Vegas and drive-through weddings. The caffeine-skiing connection just became a bit closer as the Jarden Company, owner of such brands as Mr. Coffee, has announced the acquisition of K2 in...

SAM Magazine-Aspen, Colo., Apr. 25, 2007-RockResorts, owned by Vail Resorts, will manage Aspen's venerable Hotel Jerome for Elysian Worldwide and Lodging Capital, once this investment group completes its purchase of the 92-room icon. The Jerome sits in the heart of downtown Aspen and is recognized as one of the finest small hotels in ski country...

SAM Magazine-Brand, Austria, Apr. 25, 2007-The Austrian resort Brand has announced the biggest lift upgrades to date of any European resort for the summer of 2007. The improvements include a massive tram, akin to the Whistler/Blackcomb project, which will link Brand with neighboring resort Burserberg. The new Gulmabahn lift crosses a valley between...

SAM Magazine-Bridgton, Me., Apr. 25, 2007-Shawnee Peak Ski Area received the Red Cross Real Hero award for Environmental Service and Outreach for being the first Maine area to purchase renewable-energy certificates to offset 100 percent of its electrical energy use. Shawnee Peak's wind energy purchase powers everything electrical on the mountain, f...

SAM Magazine-Copper Mountain, Colo., Apr. 25, 2007-In an aggressive move to build upon its freeride programs, Copper plans to build an indoor training facility for athletes who are interested in improving their terrain park skills. Current proposals include trampolines, bungee systems, synthetic snow ramps and foam crash pits. The resort will co...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., Apr. 25, 2007-Vail Resorts (VR) and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) raised more than $225,000 for local conservation projects, thanks to the generosity of Vail guests. Starting in September 2006, VR asked guests at its five mountain resorts to contribute $1 on purchases of season passes, online lift tickets, and...

SAM Magazine-Sugarloaf, Me., Apr. 20, 2007-Following three major April snowstorms, several eastern areas have pushed their closing dates into the latter half of April. Among those open until Apr. 29 are Sugarloaf, Le Massif, Que., and Stowe, and (possibly) Sugarbush, Jay Peak, Vt., and Wildcat, N.H.; the last of these had previously extended its...

SAM Magazine-Lyndonville, Vt., Apr. 19, 2007-Facing a shortage of qualified middle managers, a group of senior managers in the Northeast have helped create the first-ever Resort Industry Leadership Institute (RILI), a management training program for mid- and senior-level managers. The Institute will take place at Lyndon State College, Vt., June 13-...

SAM Magazine--Woodbury, Ct., April 18, 2007--In recognition of the accomplishments of up-and-coming personnel in the winter sports industry, SAM Magazine has chosen Chris Bates (Cataloochee Ski Area), Chris Jarnot (Vail Resorts), and Jeff Summers (Wolf Mountain) as the winners of the 10th Annual SAMMY Future Leadership Awards. Winter Park's Bob Hol...

SAM Magazine-Breckenridge, Colo., Apr. 17, 2007-The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) will host its 35th anniversary get-together at Breckenridge January 12 to 19, 2008. The organization's Annual Meeting and Challenge Cup (AMCC) is expected to attract more than 1,000 individuals representing 77 clubs from across the country. Since its foundin...