SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., April 13, 2026—Economic news conspired with abysmal snowfall and record-breaking warm temperatures during March to continue to drag down the 2025-26 winter season. Despite a weak booking pace, though, western mountain lodging properties in 17 resort destinations are looking at strong early numbers for the upcomi...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., April 13, 2026—A new leadership structure at Purgatory Resort includes general manager Dave Rathbun moving into the role of chief executive officer of Purgatory Resort Holdings, the company overseeing the resort’s affiliated businesses, owned by Mountain Capital Partners. In addition, Josh Benson will become senio...

• Ski Inc. Series

Indy Pass and Entabeni Systems owner Erik Mogensen has transformed this legacy ski area and designated it as his laboratory. It’s the perfect pitch here, but how will it translate elsewhere?   (This is the fourth and final stop on the author’s Revival Road Trip.) By Andy Bigford At midafternoon on the first Saturday in March, with the sun ...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 13, 2026—Nominations are now open for SAM’s annual “10 Under 30,” presented with support from Snow Operating. The program recognizes young professionals who are making meaningful contributions at their resorts and demonstrating strong potential for future leadership. Resort leaders are encouraged to nomi...

• leadership

SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., April 8, 2026—Shaydar Edelmann has been appointed as vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. He succeeds Beth Howard, who is retiring at the end of the ski season after 41 years with Vail Resorts, but will “remain engaged” during a leadership transition period.  “I’m incredibly honored...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., April 6, 2026—Pat Campbell and Geraldine LinkThe National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) will recognize two longtime industry leaders at its 2026 National Convention and Tradeshow, May 4–7 in Carlsbad, Calif., awarding Pat Campbell the Lifetime Achievement Award and Geraldine Link the Industry Impact Award.  Camp...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 6, 2026—Nominations are now open for the sixth annual Rise Up Challenge. Hosted by SAM and sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA), the contest recognizes up-and-coming lift maintenance professionals and the teams that support them. Six resorts will be selected to produce videos offering a behind-the-scene...

SAM Magazine—Denver, April 2, 2026—SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia has joined Ikon Pass as a partner resort and Giants Ridge, Minn., has been added as a bonus mountain on the 2026-27 pass.  Matt Bowers, Alterra Mountain Company senior vice president of marketing, said British Columbia has some of the best mountain experiences i...

SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., March 31, 2026—Indy Pass has added seven new alpine ski area partners in the Midwest, Alps, and Japan as well as three cross country ski centers ahead of its public sales period for the 2026-27 pass, which begins at noon EDT on April 3. The new alpine partners added to the pass are Whitecap Mountain Resort, Paul Bun...

• Lift Operations News

SAM Magazine—Beaupré, Québec, March 31, 2026—Rendering of the new gondola cabins. Credit: Doppelmayr.Mont-Sainte-Anne has ordered three new lifts to replace four existing lifts as part of a CA$100 million investment plan that operator Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) is undertaking in partnership with the Québec government to modernize ...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., March 27, 2026—Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company have been named in a federal antitrust class-action lawsuit challenging pricing and competitive practices tied to their Epic and Ikon passes, respectively. Filed March 23 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the complaint alleges the compan...

SAM Magazine—Pierce County, Wash., March 27, 2026—Linnea Hansen has been named the new president and COO of Washington’s Crystal Mountain, effective immediately. She will report to Alterra Mountain Company regional chief operating officer and executive vice president of the Western Mountain Division Ron Cohen. “Linnea is a strong leader w...

SAM Magazine—Durango, Colo., March 27, 2026—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) plans to invest more than $37.5 million in capital improvements across its Power Pass network ahead of the 2026-27 season in the United States and the 2026 season in South America, with projects focused on snowmaking expansion, lift infrastructure, and terrain developme...

SAM Magazine—Charlemont, Mass., March 23, 2026—Berkshire East and Catamount Resorts in Massachusetts have joined Bear Den Partners, formalizing an ownership transition that brings the Schaefer family’s two ski areas into a growing portfolio alongside Vermont’s Burke Mountain and Smugglers’ Notch. The move folds Berkshire East and Catamou...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., March 23, 2026—The SAMMY Leadership Award Class of 2026 includes four terrific leaders whose spheres of influence and positive impact extend far beyond their office walls. This year’s SAMMY honorees are: Kari Brandt, risk manager, Sugar Bowl, Calif.; Jay Dougherty, president and general manager, Mount Southington, ...