SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 18, 2025—Maddie Baldwin and the lift maintenance crew at Bogus Basin, Idaho, were voted the winners of the 2025 Rise Up Challenge. 
The challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA), highlighted up-and-coming lift mechanics and their lift maintenance teams from five ski areas across North America: Bogus Basin; Burke Mountain, Vt.; Giants Ridge, Minn.; Marmot Basin, Alberta; and Mission Ridge, Wash.
Each resort produced a behind-the-scenes video featuring a rising-star lift mechanic, and the videos were posted to SAM’s website and social media for readers to watch and then vote for their favorite. Bogus Basin won with 1,540 votes of the 3,893 total votes that were cast.
Baldwin and Bogus Basin will receive a $3,500 education grant furnished by LPOA. The company is also rewarding the efforts of the four other lift mechanics and their teams this year with a $1,500 grant for runner-up Mission Ridge and $500 grants for the three other participating resorts.
"Congratulations to Maddie, to Bogus Basin, and to all of the participants in this year’s challenge,” said LPOA president and CEO Daren Cole. “The Rise Up Challenge recognizes and supports the work of lift maintenance teams across the industry, whose dedication, training and initiative keep the lifts spinning and the people skiing. We are happy to award Maddie for her work as well as provide additional educational grants to all the participants.”
“The Rise Up Challenge is a big part of how we elevate the next wave of leaders,” said SAM publisher Olivia Rowan. “Our industry literally runs on the skill of lift mechanics. Each of these videos shows the craft, discipline, and pride behind the job.”
“A huge thank-you to LPOA for sustaining support of this important recognition, now in its fifth year,” she added. “Kudos to Maddie and Bogus Basin and the other four resorts for sharing their stories.”
Watch all five videos here: https://www.saminfo.com/contest-awards/rise-up-challenge
