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  • SAM Taps Whistler Blackcomb to Host 2025 Summer Ops Camp

    SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three days of education, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the future of summer operations at mountain resorts. This year’s camp will also feature a partnership with the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA), bringing together a dynamic mix of resort professionals from across North America.   Whistler Blackcomb has been at the forefront of year-round recreation development, balancing business innovation with environmental sustainability. With a robust lineup of summer attractions—including the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Peak...

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Prepare for a COVID Winter with Resilient Leadership Training

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 16, 2020—In response to the COVID-19 impact on resorts and their leaders, the SAM Summit Series is offering a Resilient Leadership Training bootcamp this fall. Managing teams during the pandemic calls for a new and different set of leadership skills. Resilient Leadership Training will help r...

Mixed Bag: Resorts Detail Opening dates and Operating Plans

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Sept. 16, 2020—More resorts are releasing 2020-21 operating plans and opening dates, as operators shift their focus from summer to winter. The range of plans is highly varied, reflecting COVID-19 considerations and the specific circumstances of individual resorts.Killington will open later than usual this season. ...

SnoCountry, O’Brien Strengthen Partnership

SAM Magazine—Lebanon, N.H., Sept. 15, 2020—A partnership between Halley O’Brien Productions and SnoCountry, Inc. will bring “The Snow Report-TV presented by SnoCountry," a new branch of The Snow Report brand owned and operated by Halley O’Brien Productions, to nearly 40 major markets, including NBC4 New York and NBC Boston. The sponsored ...

PSIA-AASI Creates 2020-21 COVID Guide

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Sept. 15, 2020—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has released “Navigating the 2020-21 Snowsports Season,” a COVID-era guide for snowsports schools and instructors. The guide positions adaptability as the key focus for lesson providers ...

Donor Subsidizes Saddleback Passes for Area School Kids

SAM Magazine—Rangeley, Maine, Sept. 14, 2020—An anonymous donor has made a $100,000 gift to the Saddleback Mountain Foundation to be used to subsidize Saddleback Mountain season passes for every child in Rangeley schools for the next five years. The Laker Pass, named after the Rangeley school nickname of “Lakers,” this year is $329 at full...

Alterra Offers Glimpse of Winter Access Plans

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 14, 2020—Alterra Mountain Company said it will prioritize access for season passholders and will require day lift tickets to be purchased in advance online for its 15 resort destinations this winter. In addition, many Ikon Pass partner resorts are not requiring passholders to make a reservation in advance of arrival, ...

Wildfires Rage Near Western Resorts

SAM Magazine—Lakeshore, Calif., Sept. 10, 2020—Snow may be falling in the Rockies, but wildfires are raging up and down the West Coast. The impacts could be far-reaching for ski resorts touched by the conflagrations. China Peak, Calif., found itself directly threatened by the 167,000-acre-and-growing Creek Fire as it hit the backside of the sk...

Staying Safe as Recreational Activity Grows

COVID practices and safety are key as consumers shift their focus, from fear and isolating to getting out and being active. With demand for recreation picking up, a range of businesses are adopting creative strategies and technology to enhance protections and manage the increase in volume. See the details in the latest weekly Briefing Sheet from th...

Grade School Programs: PSAA Suspends, CSCUSA Moves Forward

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 9, 2020—The Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA) membership is suspending its popular 4th & 5th Grade Snow Pass, while Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) begun selling its various pass products for the 2020-21 winter season—with new restrictions.  In its statement, PSAA said: “Due to our cu...

Winter Openings on the Calendar

SAM Magazine—Sept. 9, 2020—A cold snap earlier this week marked the end of summer in Colorado, as a storm dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of the region. With eyes turning toward winter, resorts have begun rolling out opening dates and operating plans for the 2020-21 season. Loveland's webcam caught the first snow on Chet's Dream ...

NSAA Unveils COVID Safety Signage

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Sept. 9, 2020—During a Sept. 8 webinar, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) presented a series of sign templates that convey messages about physical distancing, face covering requirements, hand sanitization, and other COVID safety measures. The templates are available for ski areas to use for on-site signage,...

Insights Collective Examines the Current COVID Scene

The Insights Collective presents its take on Vail's access reservation system, Labor Day coronavirus mitigation, thermal scanning and facial recognition cameras to monitor the health of air travelers, and how hotels and resorts can offer alternative formats for meeting planners. Read the full report. ...

Ikon Pass Adds Red Mountain, B.C.

SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 1, 2020—Red Mountain in British Columbia, Canada, is now a partner resort on the Ikon Pass. Ikon Passholders now have access to a total of 44 destinations for the 2020-21 season.  Independently-owned Red Mountain is among the 10 largest ski areas in North America with 3,850 acres of skiable terrain. Since 2013, ...

Indy Pass Adds Resorts, Lodging Partners for 2020-21

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Sept. 1, 2020—For its second season, the Indy Pass has added 11 resorts and dozens of independent lodging properties for the 2020-21 season. The adult pass provides two days at 55 resorts for $199. The Indy Pass has also added discounts at lodging properties and an assurance program in case Indy Passholders use thei...

Agency Proposes COVID Funds for Vermont Ski Areas

SAM Magazine—Montpelier, Vt., Aug. 31, 2020—Vermont's Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has proposed that federal aid funds be given to the state's ski areas for COVID-related mitigations. The money is part of a proposed $133 million targeted to businesses that were shut out of earlier COVID relief efforts. ACCD said the fund...