• Ski Patrol

SAM Magazine—Detroit Lakes, Minn., Nov. 6, 2023—Detroit Mountain has named Tom Thiel as its new general manager. Thiel, a former beverage sales manager and self-described outdoor enthusiast, will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the city-owned facility that offers downhill and cross-country mountain biking in summer and 4...

• Rental
• Ski Patrol

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits, we celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE CHARLES BLIER, CAMELBACK RESORT Charles Blier joins Camelback Resort as the vice preside...

• Ski School
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Nov. 2, 2023—More North American ski areas are opening for the season after late-October snowstorms pummeled various regions this past week and cooler temps allowed other areas to fire up their snowmaking systems. Here is a rundown of some recent and soon-to-come opening dates. Courtesy of Sommet Saint-Sauveur Ea...

• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Bear Valley, Calif., Nov. 2, 2023—California Mountain Resorts Company (CMRC) has acquired Bear Valley. It’s the third acquisition in three years for the growing Golden State conglomerate, which is headed by CEO Karl Kapuscinski. CMRC, which has owned Mountain High since 1997, purchased California’s Dodge Ridge in 2021 and China...

• Area Management
• Ski Area Profiles

SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Oct. 27, 2023—Arapahoe Basin announced it will open for the season on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 8:30 a.m. It will run the Black Mountain Express to provide access to the High Noon trail. Opening day will feature complimentary duct tape and donuts for the first guests in line, a Halloween band, and a costume contest with pri...

• Ski Patrol
• Ski Area Profiles

Private and semi-private ski resorts have been around for decades. There are several private clubs in New York state and the province of Ontario, and The Hermitage and Quechee Club in Vermont, for example. But it's not easy for an existing resort to move in that direction, as Windham Mountain, N.Y., learned as it launched its rebrand as Windham Mou...

• Summer
• Ski Area Profiles

SAM Magazine—Cherry Creek, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2023—Officials at Cockaigne Resort announced on Monday that the ski area, including food and beverage operations, will not open for the 2023-24 season. The 462-acre property, including a 10,000-square-foot lodge built in 2019, has been for sale on-and-off for the past year, and was relisted this summer ...

• Summer
• Lifts

This report was updated on Oct. 26. SAM Magazine—Nederland, Colo., Oct. 25, 2023—Colorado Public Radio (CPR) reported that 71 percent of ski patrollers and medical staff at Eldora Mountain Resort have signed cards in favor of holding a union election. This is the latest such unionization effort among ski area staff following lift mechanics an...

• sustainability

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., Oct. 24, 2023—The third annual Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit (MT2030) took place Oct. 18-19 in Vail, drawing more than 500 attendees from more than 40 U.S. and international mountain communities.From left: Kate Wilson (Vail Resorts), Darcie Renn (Alterra), Raj Basi (POWDR), and Tom Bradley (Boyne Resorts...

• Snowmaking
• Racing

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 19, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) has chosen Trent Poole to become vice president and GM of Hunter Mountain Resort, effective Oct. 30. He succeeds Russ Coloton, who is retiring after serving 44 years as president of Hunter. An 18-year VR veteran, Poole has a background in finance, project management, and mountain ...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., Oct. 18, 2023—A week after announcing that it would not open for the 2023-24 season, owners of New Hampshire’s Black Mountain have reconsidered after reaching an operating agreement with Indy Pass and its parent company Entabeni. Black Mountain officials announced on Oct. 11 that the ski area would remain closed d...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Sandia Park, N.M., Oct. 16, 2023—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) and Sandia Peak Ski Company have entered a joint venture agreement for the operation of Sandia Peak Ski Area, located 35 miles northeast of Albuquerque, N.M. This is MCP’s third New Mexico ski area, bringing the company’s total portfolio to 14 ski, bike, and golf ...

• Environment
• Ski Patrol

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Oct. 12, 2023—Plans for a proposed gondola connecting Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort have been withdrawn following initial disapproval from the Agency of Natural Resources, according to reporting by the News & Citizen.  Stowe, owned by Vail Resorts, and privately-held Smugglers’ Notch have r...

• Environment
• Ski Patrol

SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort has promoted Jon Copeland, current vice president of mountain operations, to vice president and COO.  Copeland will lead mountain and base area operations, food and beverage, ski and snowboard school, summer operations, and other areas of business, while driving partnersh...

• Summer
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has initiated the purchaseof Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (MWHS) in Blue River, BC, Canada. Officials at Alterra said the addition will complement the company’s BC-based CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures operation, and is expected to be completed late this year, pending...