SAM Magazine—Mohawk, Mich., Aug. 23, 2021—Mount Bohemia bumped its starting wage to $20 an hour for all jobs except bartenders, who will start at $15 per hour, plus tips. The move aims to make employment at the Upper Peninsula ski area attractive in a tight labor market. “We’ve been at $15 for about four years, and initially it helped us a...

SAM Magazine—Twin Bridges, Calif., Aug. 20, 2021—California’s Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood Mountain Resort were forced to close earlier this week after the U.S. Forest Service closed the Eldorado National Forest—in which both resorts operate—in response to the growing Caldor fire, burning to the west of both resorts. Screenshot of the Cal...

SAM Magazine—Lake Geneva, Wis., Aug. 20, 2021—The Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) hosted the first in-person ski industry meeting and trade show since Covid-19 upended things. On Aug. 15-18 at Grand Geneva Resort in Wisconsin, 254 attendees from ski areas, associations, and affiliates joined 119 supplier representatives to celebrate the su...

SAM Magazine—Taos Ski Valley, N.M., Aug. 19, 2021— Taos Ski Valley has raised its starting pay for entry-level positions to $15 per hour, exceeding the living wage of $14.94 for Taos County, as stated by the MIT Living Wage Calculator. Taos Ski Valley’s living wage increase is coupled with a plan to expand staff housing, with the aim of pro...

SAM Magazine—Pinecrest, Calif., Aug. 17, 2021—California’s Dodge Ridge Ski Resort is being acquired by Mountain High Resort, Calif., owners Invision Capital and Karl Kapuscinski, Mountain High president and CEO. Karl & Audrey Kapuscinski and Frank & Sally HelmLongtime Dodge Ridge owners Frank and Sally Helm are retiring. The Helm fam...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Aug. 17, 2021—Despite rising concerns about the Covid-19 Delta variant and smoky conditions across much of the Western U.S., 18 Western mountain destinations across eight states are setting new benchmarks for occupancy, rate, and revenue. And as of July 31, that enthusiasm for mountain vacations was continuing ...

SAM Magazine–New South Wales, Australia, Aug. 16, 2021—Ski fields in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, including Perisher and Thredbo, have temporarily shut following a government imposed statewide snap lockdown, in effect Aug. 14-22. The resorts had previously been open to locals.  In a statement on its social channels, Thredbo said, “Whil...

SAM Magazine—Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, Aug. 13, 2021—Solitude Mountain Resort will increase its starting wage for hourly, non-tipped employees to $15 an hour. Starting Aug. 14, 2021, job offers for summer and winter employment will reflect the new pay scale and current, eligible Solitude employees will see wage adjustments. “I am proud to...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., August 11, 2021—Vail Resorts has named Rob Katz’s successor: Kirsten Lynch, currently the company’s chief marketing officer, will be appointed chief executive officer and elected to the Vail Resorts’ board of directors, effective Nov. 1, 2021. Kirsten LynchAt that time, Katz, CEO since 2006, will move into...

SAM Magazine— Palmerton, Pa., Aug. 11, 2021—Blue Mountain, Pa., has been sold for nearly $32 million to BMR Resort, a Denver-based LLC formed by equity firm KSL Capital Partners. KSL Capital is affiliated with KSL Resorts, which took over management of Blue Mountain in May.  Details about the management agreement remained opaque until the ...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 10, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company has promoted industry veteran Dee Byrne to the role of president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows (SVAM), effective immediately. Byrne has served as SVAM vice president of skier services since 2017. She will now report to Mark Brownlie, Alterra chief operating officer—mountain...

SAM Magazine—Barrie, Ont., Aug. 10, 2021—The lift maintenance team from Ontario’s Craigleith Ski Club and its featured up-and-coming lift mechanic Leah Parkes won the inaugural Rise Up Challenge sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America, garnering nearly 1,000 of the more than 4,000 total votes cast in the contest. Parkes and the Craigleith team w...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., August 10, 2021—SAM has launched its fourth annual Summit Series for leadership development and is calling for mentee nominations. Throughout the season-long program, mentees will engage with respected industry leaders in dialogue around the key issues of our times, gaining tangible takeaways to apply to their careers, operations, and teams. 

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., August 10, 2021—Indy Pass is expanding beyond North America with the addition of four Japanese resort partners: Geto Kogan, Tazawako, Okunakayama Kogen, and Shimokura/Panorama. Tazawako, JapanIndy Pass holders will now have up to eight days of skiing and riding in the Tohoku region of Japan’s main island, Hons...

SAM Magazine—Oliver, B.C., August 5, 2021—An above average fire season continues to ravage parts of North America, in some cases causing significant disruptions at ski resorts. Baldy Mountain Resort in British Columbia is the latest area to be impacted.  Land scorched by flames during the 2021 wildfire season in B.C. (Courtesy BC Wildfire Ser...

SAM Magazine—Warren, Vt., August 5, 2021—Sugarbush Resort raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour for all non-tipped positions. To maintain the pay differential, the resort will also make wage adjustments for other eligible staff members. New hires will reflect the new pay scale, and eligible current employees will receive a wage adjustment, ef...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., August 4, 2021—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has partnered with grassroots organization Women of Winter to host three education events specifically for women in snowsports who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Women of Win...

SAM Magazine—Fabius, N.Y., Aug. 4, 2021—Toggenburg Mountain in upstate New York was acquired by Peter Harris, president of Intermountain Management, which owns nearby Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain. Harris, who purchased the ski area from John and Christine Meier, owners of Greek Peak Mountain Resort, also in upstate New York, plans to cl...

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. RESORTS JULIE CALDER, JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) promoted Julie Calder to vice president of guest experience, a new position created to lead JHMR’s strategic initiative to elevate the guest experience...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., July 28, 2021—There is one week of voting left in the inaugural “Rise Up Challenge,” a new contest highlighting the skilled, young lift mechanics who will keep ski area lifts spinning for decades to come. A $3,500 educational grant, courtesy of sponsor Leitner-Poma of America, goes to the winning resort to suppor...

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., July 23, 2021—As a relentless series of heat waves broil the West, exacerbating an already significant drought, wildfire season is off to an ominous start. North American ski areas have been fortunate not to be in the direct path of any fires thus far, but indirect impacts from smoke and closures are still be...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., July 20, 2021—Snow Valley, Calif., Ski Marmot Basin, Alberta, Titus Mountain, N.Y., and Montage Mountain, Pa., have all joined the Indy Pass roster for winter 2021-22, bringing the Indy Pass coalition up to 72 resort partners in 27 states and provinces. Snow Valley is Indy Pass’s first resort partner in Southern C...

SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, July 20, 2021—Deer Valley Resort, Utah, will increase starting wages to $15 per hour for the resort’s hourly, non-tipped positions. Wage adjustments will also be made for eligible staff members to maintain a differential in pay.  Deer Valley staff members eligible for the wage increase will see t...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., July 15, 2021—Western mountain destinations will likely set new seasonal records for occupancy, rate, and revenue this summer, according to the latest monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. Bookings for the coming winter are already strong as well. The report ...

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., July 14, 2021—After a months-long search, Timberline Lodge, Ore., has promoted two longtime staff members to general manager roles: Rose Phillips will serve as GM of ski area operations, and Scott Skellenger will be the GM of hotel operations. Rose Phillips and Scott Skellenger “The results of this extens...

SAM Magazine—Conway, N.H., July 14, 2021—Overall winter visits to Ski NH’s 33 alpine and cross-country member ski areas during the 2020-21 season totaled 2,295,424 (including alpine skiing, cross country skiing, and tubing visits), which statistically mirrors the 10-year average. The results are better than expected given that many ski areas ...

SAM Magazine—Woodstock, Vt., June 30, 2021—Despite a reputation as spandex-clad uber athletes, cross country skiing participants are, in their own words,  a more low-key sporting type: active year-round in the outdoors in a variety of casual, human-powered pursuits. This and other insights stem from "Cross Country Ski Consumer Sentiment," a r...

SAM Magazine—Snowbird, Utah, June 29, 2021—Snowbird can now meet up to 100 percent of the resort's electrical power needs through its new onsite Snowbird Power Systems. The system, currently in its testing phase, allows the resort to make its own power, vastly reducing Snowbird's dependence on the traditional electrical grid and that grid’s ...

SAM Magazine—New South Wales, Australia, June 25, 2021—Ski areas in Australia and New Zealand are beginning another pandemic-tinged winter season. Strong demand, increased capacity, and greater familiarity with Covid protocols offer a promising picture, although variables like vaccine rollouts and staffing challenges remain in play.  Thredbo ...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., June 24, 2021—A robust rebound is underway in summer visitation at Western mountain destinations, according to the latest information in the monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. Compared to a year ago, lodging occupancy during May was up more than five-fold,...

SAM Magazine—Denver, June 23, 2021—Skier visits for the 2020-21 season at Colorado Ski Country USA’s (CSCUSA) 22 member ski resorts were up 7.6 percent from the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, but trailed the five-year average by 3.7 percent. Total statewide skier visits—which includes non-member ski areas’ estimated numbers—reached ...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., June 22, 2021—The Indy Pass added Eagle Point Resort, Utah, and Sundown Mountain Resort, Iowa, to its growing coalition of 68 independent ski areas. Passholders will have access to two days of skiing and riding at both hills for the 2021-22 season.  “We are proud to be a part of the Indy Pass and its amazing col...

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, June 15, 2021—Utah’s 15 alpine ski areas saw 5,301,766 skier days during the 2020-21 winter season, breaking the previous record of 5.13 million skier days in the 2018-19 season, an increase of nearly 3.5 percent. Ski areas had a successful winter despite the limitations and adjustments most had in place to ...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., June 15, 2021—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) presented awards in growth, sustainability, safety, and marketing during a virtual ceremony June 11. The online event was again hosted by “The Snow Report” star Halley O’Brien. “This is a special award year,” noted NSAA president and CEO Kelly Pawla...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., June 14, 2021—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Bill Jensen, former Vail Resorts mountain division president and Intrawest CEO, and Tim Silva, longtime Sun Valley, Idaho, general manager and former Northstar, Calif., GM. Jensen and Silva were recognized at NSAA’s 2...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., June 11, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company named Ron Cohen president and COO of Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain, Calif., effective immediately. He will oversee all operations at both resorts, and will lead significant developments planned for Mammoth, Alterra’s largest and most visited destination. Cohen has served ...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., June 11, 2021—The Katz Amsterdam Foundation, founded by Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz and his wife Elana Amsterdam, has determined a new nationwide focus on racial justice work. A $29.3 million donation from Katz and Amsterdam will support that. Rob Katz and Elana Amsterdam Katz exercised stock appreciation rights...

SAM Magazine—Denver, June 10, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR, and Vail Resorts have joined forces to develop the Climate Collaborative Charter, a unified effort to combat climate change through shared sustainability and advocacy commitments.  “The idea for the four of us to unite in this pledge to combat climate change...

SAM Magazine—June 9, 2021, Lakewood, Colo.—National Ski Patrol (NSP) named Chris Castilian as its new chief executive officer. Castilian succeeds former executive director Meegan Moszynski as the head of the non-profit organization. Castilian was hired by the board of directors following a wide-ranging search that attracted more than 250 applic...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., June 8, 2021—Skier visits in the U.S. totaled 59 million during the 2020-21 winter season, according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). It was the fifth best season on record and a strong improvement upon the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, which tallied 51.1 million visits. Despite the challenges of...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., June 8, 2021—Vail Resorts, Inc. (VR) reported third-quarter gains compared to the prior year's quarter, with both quarters heavily influenced by different Covid limitations and restrictions. VR also reported strong early season pass sales for the 2021-22 North American ski season, and provided its outlook for the...

SAM Magazine—June 7, 2021—Despite significant pandemic-related operating constraints, Quebec resorts recorded 6.1 million skier visits in 2020-21, exceeding the province’s 10-year average of 5.9 million visits, according to preliminary numbers from the Quebec Ski Areas Association’s (ASSQ) Economic and Financial Study. Tremblant, Quebec P...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., June 3, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company named Rob Rohn president and COO of CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures, effective immediately. Rohn will oversee operations and be responsible for driving growth at the Banff-based outlet, which includes 11 luxury lodges, a fleet of helicopters, and 140 guides. He will repor...

  RESORTS NICK LAMBERT, BOYNE RESORTS  Boyne Resorts, Mich., named Nick Lambert chief marketing officer, effective June 1, 2021. He succeeds Ian Arthur, who is retiring after six years with the team. Lambert was the vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s Sunday River Resort, Maine, and Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, Tenn. In h...

SAM Magazine—Denver, June 1, 2021—Jared Smith will serve as president of Alterra Mountain Company, effective June 7, 2021. Smith, who will report to CEO Rusty Gregory, will be responsible for overseeing and developing Alterra’s 15 mountain destinations.  Smith comes to Alterra from Live Nation Entertainment. There, he most recently served a...

SAM Magazine—Palo Alto, Calif., May 25, 2021—Liftopia’s assets were recently relaunched as Catalate. As SAM reported in December, Liftopia Inc. entered an assignment for the benefit of creditors (ABC) to liquidate the company’s assets after it was unable to pay money owed to clients—mostly ski areas that sold lift tickets, season pass...

SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., May 25, 2021—Virginia-based developer Alpine-X plans to build a new indoor snowsports resort in the Washington, D.C., area. The resort, Fairfax Peak, is the first of 20 such sites planned for North America.   Envisaged as a destination resort, Fairfax Peak will feature an indoor snowsports venue, upscale hotel, gra...

SAM Magazine—Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, May 20, 2021—Amber Broadaway has been selected as the new president and chief operating officer of Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah, beginning June 1. She succeeds Kim Mayhew, who is retiring after holding Solitude’s top spot since 2015. Broadaway currently serves as vice president of guest services ...

SAM Magazine—Fairfield, Idaho, May 19, 2021—Soldier Mountain opens its new mountain bike park May 21, after a raging wildfire last summer prevented the park’s 2020 grand opening.  "We're excited to be opening our bike park," said Soldier Mountain general manager Paul Alden. "These trails are built to world-class standards, and we look forw...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., May 13, 2021—Lodging properties in Western mountain destinations finished the 2020-21 winter season up 4.8 percent in room nights compared to the truncated 2019-20 season, while a drop in average daily rate (ADR) led to an overall revenue decline of 5 percent. ADR for the winter was 10 percent below that for 20...

SAM Magazine—Denver, May 13, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company has established a new public charity, the Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation. The Community Foundation will provide financial support to members of the North American communities in which Alterra operates.  “If this last year has taught us anything, it’s that the most i...

SAM Magazine—Sun Valley, Idaho, May, 12, 2021—Sun Valley Company has chosen Pete Sonntag to become vice president and general manager of Sun Valley Resort effective June 7. Sonntag will be responsible for all day-to-day operations of the resort and report to Bruce Fery, CEO of Sun Valley parent company Grand America Hotels & Resorts. C...

SAM Magazine—Palmerton, Pa., May 12, 2021—KSL Resorts, an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, will manage Blue Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania. KSL Resorts quietly began managing Camelback Resort two years ago, also located in the Poconos Mountains. Details about the timeline or what the management agreement entails have not been released. “W...

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., May 7, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) has named new senior leaders to three of its Colorado resorts: Jody Churich, VP and COO of Breckenridge; Tara Schoedinger, VP and GM of Crested Butte; and Chris Sorensen, VP and GM of Keystone. All three will assume their new roles June 7. Jody Churich, Tara Schoedinger, and Chri...

SAM Magazine—White Pass, Wash., May 6, 2021— Kevin McCarthy is stepping down as White Pass GM on July 1 after 36 years at the helm. Former COO Rikki Cooper will succeed McCarthy as GM.  “Trying to fill Kevin McCarthy's shoes is an impossible task,” said Cooper. “He has faithfully led this company since the year I was born, and his deter...

SAM Magazine—May 6, 2021, Ludlow, Vt.—With Memorial Day on the horizon, resorts are sharing summer start dates and deals. Many East Coast and Midwest areas are targeting May openings, while lots of the western operations are eyeing mid to late June. A handful of operators with snowpack and inclination plan to continue offering skiing and riding...

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., May 3, 2021—Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) held its annual spring conference virtually, April 26-29. It drew 650 attendees, who participated in daily educational sessions and two special awards presentations.  CWSAA CEO Christopher Nicholson said that initial feedback and poll responses from attendees ha...

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., April 27, 2021—The 2021-22 Indy Pass goes on sale today, and has also added three more partner resorts to its roster: Powder Mountain, Utah, Mt. Ashland, Ore., and West Mountain, N.Y. The pass will provide two days of access to 66 North American ski areas next winter.  “The addition of Powder Mountain, Mt. Ashla...

By Mark E. Battersby The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) includes lots of potential benefits for winter resorts, especially smaller ones. Here's a more detailed look at some of the key provisions that were originally included in the March 22 report on saminfo.com.  Funding, We’ve Got Funds The State Small Business Credit Initiative (...

SAM Magazine—Glenwood Springs, Colo., April 26, 2021—Four new ski areas have signed on to the Freedom Pass for 2021: Cherry Peak and Eagle Point, Utah; Red River, N.M.; and Snow Valley, Calif. Like the other members, all are independent areas.  Each partner on the Freedom Pass offers three (3) free days with no blackouts to season pass holder...