SAM Magazine--Park City, Utah, October 5, 2005--Last week, American Skiing Company announced the promotion of Stan Hansen to senior vice president of real estate. Until now, Hansen was the president and managing director of ASC's Mount Snow resort in Vermont. In his new position, Hansen will have the responsibility for the planning and executio...

September 27, 2005, From World Snow News--In a new brochure, Vail Ski Area in Colorado is claiming that it contains more pisted runs than any other ski area in the world. It is currently unclear whether the claim refers to the length of piste, the area of piste or possibly to the amount of terrain groomed each night. Whistler Blackcomb in Cana...

SAM Magazine-Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 26, 2005-Three ski-area legends lead this year's group of inductees for the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame: David D. R. (Darcy) Brown, long-serving president of Aspen Resorts Corporation in Colorado; Walter Foeger, who developed Vermont's Jay Peak Ski Resort; and Erich Sailer, one of American's top race coaches,...

SAM Magazine--Lakewood, Colo., September 15, 2005--The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced today that it would be moving its 2006 national trade show and convention from New Orleans to Marco Island, Fla. Thanks to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the fate of New Orleans and its ability to host business conventions is in doubt, prom...

SAM Magazine--Running Springs, Calif., September 15, 2005--In the race of the firsts, Snow Valley, Calif., fired up its snowguns at 2:30 a.m. on September 12, becoming the first ski area to make snow. While the snowmaking was fired up for testing purposes, marketing manager Kevin Somes took the opportunity to make a few turns. Snow Valley also p...

SAM Magazine--Salt Lake City, Utah, September 9, 2005--The executive board of Ski Utah announced this week that it would replace executive director Kip Pitou. A nationwide search for a new director will be conducted immediately. According to the press release, last season's record snowfall and resort visits, coupled with additional funding from ...

SAM Magazine--Donner Summit, CA, September 9, 2005--Joining several ski areas across the country, Boreal Mountain Resort will devote all of its slopes to freestyle terrain for the upcoming season. In total, the area will spend $700,000 on the new terrain, which will include 100 rails, jumps and funboxes, as well as a 450-foot-long superpipe that wi...

SAM Magazine-Evergreen, Colo., Sept. 2, 2005-Thirty years after a small ski area called Squaw Pass closed its doors here, new owners are transforming the overgrown slopes into Echo Mountain Snowboard and Ski Park. For 2005-06, the park will have a triple chair, handle tow, 600 vertical feet, and 30 acres of terrain features, along with a new base l...

SAM Magazine--Minnesota--Spirit Mountain in Duluth and Welch Village, south of the Twin Cities, will offer an unlimited season pass good at both areas, whihc are unaffiliated. The Spirit Village Pass goes on sale today for $369. "The joint promotion really highlights the benefits of a cooperative marketing effort, rather than a competitive sales...

SAM Magazine-Vail, Colo., Sept. 2, 2005-Vail Resorts' cash contribution of $50,000 makes it a gold-level sponsor of the City and County of Denver's efforts to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The focal point of this effort will be a concert at Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheater on Monday, Sept. 12 by the Dave Matthews Band. Promoters beli...

SAM Magazine-Seattle, Wash., Aug. 18, 2005-Acordia Resort & Recreation is partnering with Markel Re's SMART (Specialized Markel Alternative Risk Transfer) division. "The addition of SMART as a key partner will allow us to expand the scope and competitiveness of the Resort program," said John Roberts, managing director of Acordia Alternative Risk. ...

SAM Magazine-Durango, Colo., Aug 10 2005-Hank Thiess will become general manager and COO for Durango Mountain Resort in September, with responsibility for all aspects of resort operations. That includes the mountain, village, lodging, food and beverage and sales and marketing. He replaces Bill Rock, who left in June to become GM at Snowshoe, W.Va. ...

SAM Magazine-Durango, Colo., Aug. 9, 2005-The signature Snow Monsters event, the NextSnow SEARCH, will stage a special "All Stars" event that will serve as the warm-up act for NBC's opening-day coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics, which begin in Torino, Italy, on Feb. 11. The event will air from 2 to 3 p.m. EST; it will actually take place in Keys...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., Aug. 9, 2005-SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is launching a pilot education seminar series, "Capitalizing on Today's Business Environment," in September. Workshops will focus on sales, marketing and effective small business practices, with separate tracks for retailers, suppliers, and reps. The seminars will take place...

SAM Magazine--Wrightwood, Calif., July 14, 2005--Mountain High Resort in southern California was bought by Valor Equity Partners and former GM Karl Kapuscinski and key members of his management team. Valor is a Chicago-based private equity investment fund and licensed Small Business Investment Company. Kapuscinski will now become president and CEO ...