SAM Magazine-Angel Fire, N.M., July 6, 2010-Angel Fire Resort has named John Kitts CEO, effective July 23. He will oversee Angel Fire's five principal businesses-operations, membership, timeshare, resort development and real estate sales. Kitts had been the resort's CFO for the past two years. Kitts succeeds Pat Brunstad, who had been CEO and di...

SAM Magazine-Harbor Springs, Mich., July 1, 2010-Are Superpipes becoming an endangered species? As at some other resorts around the country, Nub's Nob's Superpipe was the least-used piece of real estate at the area. So the area reshaped the walls and built a new race arena slope to provide a home for aspiring racers. The venue is specifically de...

SAM Magazine-Stratton, Vt., July 1, 2010-Stratton Mountain Resort will stage the first Vermont Solutions Festival Aug. 27-28, held in collaboration with the state of Vermont, to celebrate sustainability, sport and wellness. "The Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing is excited to be a partner in the new development of the Vermont Solution...

SAM Magazine-Cannonsburg, Mich., July 1, 2010-The Brown family, which has owned and operated Cannonsburg Ski Area for more than three decades, has sold the resort to James Wynn, an attorney in Petoskey. The sale also includes Arnold Transportation, a ferry boat company operating out of Mackinaw City. Both Cannonsburg and Arnold Transportation have ...

SAM Magazine-Park City, Utah, July 1, 2010-Jenni Smith has been appointed president and general manager of Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) by parent company Powdr Corp. Most recently, Smith served as vice president of resort administration and development at PCMR. She replaces Peter Curtis, president and GM since 2004, who is retiring. Smith's new...

SAM Magazine-Salt Lake City, June 24, 2010-The Utah ski and snowboard industry closed the 2009-10 winter season last Sunday with a total of 4,048,153 skier days, up two percent from the 2008-09 season's 3,972,984. The two percent increase signals success for the industry in light of the current economic climate, according to Ski Utah. Ski Utah pres...

SAM Magazine--June 23, 2010--A five-year-old plan for a ski area on St. Mary's Glacier outside of Denver was voted down by Clear Creek County's commissioners. According to the Denver Post, the three-member board voted 2-1 to reject the plan for Eclipse Snow Park. The 284-acre property was bought for $1.65 million in 2005 by Michael Coors. At fir...

SAM Magazine-Truckee, Calif., June 22, 2010-Boreal Mountain Resort will reopen for a weekend of skiing and riding July 10-11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. The area's Castle Peak Quad will service a variety of park features. Lift tickets will cost $20. More details will be available shortly, according to the resort....

SAM Magazine-Salt Lake City, June 22, 2010-The U.S. Forest Service has denied Solitude Mountain Resort's request to expand lift-served ski and snowboard terrain onto the adjacent Silver Fork, a side canyon to Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon that is popular with backcountry skiers. Among other issues, the proposal conflicted with a 2003 forest plan for...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., June 22, 2010-Intrawest is exploring the sale of Whistler Blackcomb, according to the Wall Street Journal. WSJ says that Intrawest has talked with Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin about a potential acquisition. Potanin has expressed interest in Whistler Blackcomb in the past. Possible price for any such sale is not ...

SAM Magazine-North Conway, N.H., June 18, 2010-Cranmore Mountain, now run by Jiminy Peak principals Brian Fairbank, Joseph O'Donnell and Tyler Fairbank, will get nearly $7 million in improvements in the next six months, providing a facelift in time for winter operations set to begin in November 2010. CNL Lifestyle Properties is providing the capita...

SAM Magazine-Huntsville, Utah, June 17, 2010-Snowbasin Resort has filed a Master Plan with Weber County's Ogden Valley Destination and Recreation Resort Zone to build a sprawling resort village. The plan calls for up to 2,400 residential units, most of which would be built near the existing base lodge, and encompass hotels, condominiums and town...

SAM Magazine-Crested Butte, Colo., June 17, 2010-The U.S. Forest Service will conduct a formal review of a recent appeal decision that nixed Crested Butte's proposal to expand onto Snodgrass Mountain. The associate deputy chief for the National Forest, Gloria Manning, will review the earlier decision, which upheld forest supervisor Charlie Richm...

SAM Magazine-North Conway, N.H., June 17, 2010-The principals of Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort-Brian Fairbank, Joseph O'Donnell and Tyler Fairbank-have purchased the assets of Cranmore Mountain Resort from Booth Creek Resorts. The new owners plan to make major upgrades and improvements. CNL Lifestyle Properties, which already has business relationshi...

SAM Magazine-Denver, Colo., June 10, 2010-Colorado skier and rider visits for the 2009-10 season, including non-member resorts, are once again approaching the 12 million visit threshold, ending the year at 11.86 million, according to Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA). At its 47th annual meeting today, the organization reported that its 22 member re...

SAM Magazine--June 11, 2010--Following the annual general meeting of the Québec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ), the members have elected a new president, Christian Dufour, client experience director for Mont Saint-Sauveur, Mont Avila and the Mont Saint-Sauveur Water Park. At age 33, Dufour becomes the youngest president to date of the association...

SAM Magazine--June 11, 2010--During its 47th annual meeting, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced the addition of a major new component to its 5th grade passport program: one complementary ski lesson, including rental equipment, for 5th grade passport holders who are new to the sport. Lessons will be provided during the month of Januar...

SAM Magazine--Stratton, Vt., June 9, 2010--The Vermont Ski Areas Association announced at its annual meeting that Vermont's ski resorts recorded 4,125,082 skier visits for the 2009-10 season. This marks a 1.4 percent increase over the prior season's tally and tracks with the 5-year average. "With below-average snowfall, below-average days of op...

SAM Magazine--June 9, 2010--www.skiinfo.co.uk reports that the number of ski areas open worldwide continues to rise despite more areas closing for the season in Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. That's because the southern hemisphere's ski season has kicked off at resorts in Chile and New Zealand and, next week, Australia, Canada and France...

SAM Magazine-Antalya, Turkey, June 8, 2010-Delegates at the 47th International Ski Congress of the International Ski Federation (FIS) decided to advance ski halfpipe, women's ski jumping, and snowboarding slopestyle and team snowboardcross toward possible inclusion in the 2014 Olympics. The FIS is proposing that ski halfpipe for both men and wom...

SAM Magazine--Vail, Colo., June 3, 2010--Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts were selected by the International Ski Federation (FIS) Council to host the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships. This will be the third FIS World Championships for the resorts, which previously hosted the 1989 and 1999 Championships. "Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts are hono...

SAM Magazine-Beloeil, Quebec, May 27, 2010-After more than 30 years as the driving force behind Ski Press, Jean-Marc Blais has left the company. "The time has come for a new chapter in my life. I am leaving Ski Press today for new and exciting challenges," he told friends via email. Blais got his start in publishing in 1979 when, as a ski club o...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., May 28, 2010-Vail Resorts (VR) has acquired Mountain News Corporation (MNC), which operates OnTheSnow.com. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Following the acquisition, Chad Dyer will continue to oversee operations as global managing director. Craig Altschul remains as global editor-in-chief of the site....

SAM Magazine-Hardyston, N.J., May 27, 2010-Crystal Springs Resort, an upscale resort company based here, has purchased Mountain Creek resort from Intrawest. The acquisition creates a comprehensive four-season resort destination: Spanning five miles through four townships (Vernon, Hardyston, Hamburg, Franklin), the combined resorts encompass 15,000 ...

SAM Magazine-North Woodstock, N.H., May 26, 2010-New Hampshire alpine ski and snowboard resorts recorded a total of 2,228,571 alpine skier and snowboarder visits in 2009-10, a slight decline of 2.6 percent from the winter of 2008-09, which was the third best on record in New Hampshire. The season was 4 percent above the state's 10-year average for ...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., May 25, 2010-Active Interest Media (AIM) and veteran snow sports editor/publisher Andy Bigford will produce the "Snow Show Daily" at the 2011 SIA Snow Show Jan. 27-30, 2011, according to Snow Industries America president David Ingemie. "No other company can match the combination of snow sports experience, relationships,...

SAM Magazine-Los Angeles, May 24, 2010-The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver produced and Universal Sports is taking a unique look at many of the heroes, highlights and human stories from the 2010 Olympics in "Visions of Vancouver," a documentary premiering on Universal Sports network on Monday, May 24, at 7 p.m. ET. The show will feature Olympic medalist...

SAM Magazine-Shaver Lake, Calif., May 24, 2010-The purchase of Sierra Summit Mountain Resort by ski industry veteran Tim Cohee closed last Friday after a brief delay, due to the issuing of a new 40-year Special Use Permit by the United States Forest Service. As SAM reported earlier, Cohee immediately returned the resort to its former name, China Pe...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., May 21, 2010-Vail Resorts plans to spend $75 million to $85 million on resort projects for the 2010-2011 ski season. Major projects include a high-speed quad at Vail to upgrade the area's original Back Bowls Chair 5, currently a triple chair, a new 14,750 square foot restaurant atop the Heavenly Gondola, and continu...

SAM Magazine-Aspen, Colo., May 21, 2010-More than 500 salaried employees at Aspen Skiing Co. will be wearing helmets while working on the slopes next season. The Aspen areas join Vail Resorts and Intrawest areas in requiring helmets for large portions of their labor forces. At the same time, the Aspen resorts expanded their helmet requirement fo...

SAM Magazine-Sacramento, Calif., May 19, 2010-Over a half million more visitors flocked to California ski and snowboard resorts during the 2009-10 winter, according to the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC). CTTC credited both a long snow season and the California Department of Transportation's (Caltran) proactive plan to keep the roads ...

SAM Magazine--May 19, 2010--Bonnier Corp. announced that it is placing five of its brands under a new publishing unit, which will include "Ski," "Skiing," "Snow," "Saveur" and "Garden Design." The unit will be headed up by "Saveur" publisher Merri Lee Kingsly and will establish a stronger position in the luxury and lifestyle market. "All of thes...

SAM Magazine-Ludlow, Vt., May 18, 2010-Okemo Mountain Resort has received the Vermont Governor's Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety in the Service Sector. "Workplace safety is crucial for the health and well-being of our workforce and for the vitality and productivity of our businesses," Governor Jim Douglas said. "With changes in technology...

SAM Magazine--Mt. Crested Butte, Colo., May 10, 2010--Late last week, Deputy Regional Forester Jim Peña affirmed Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond's refusal to consider the Snodgrass Mountain expansion proposal in a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with public involvement. This expansion would add 276 acres of new terrain to Cre...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., May 7, 2010-Snowsport retail sales finished up 4 percent over last season as volume hit $2.94 billion compared to $2.82 billion a year ago, although fewer units were sold this season, according to the latest figures from Snowsports Industries America. Retailers maintained higher prices in part because inventories starte...

SAM Magazine-Whistler, B.C., May 7, 2010-Whistler Blackcomb took the top spot in onthesnow.com's annual Visitor's Choice awards. This is the second time in the past three years that Whistler Blackcomb has topped the list. Onthesnow.com gives visitors the opportunity to write reviews of North American resorts and rank them in five categories: fav...

SAM Magazine-Killington, Vt., May 7, 2010-Killington Resort received the Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention for a pair of projects that eliminate more than 1,400 gallons of heating fuel and save more than 70,000 kWh of electricity annually. In the first of two projects, Killington partnered with Effici...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., May 7, 2010-Mary Jo Tarallo has been named executive director of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month (formerly Learn a Snow Sport Month), a new position that demonstrates the continuing growth of the program. "I am pleased to be working with our industry colleagues on this important and energetic initiative, not only t...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., May 7, 2010-The U.S. ski industry recorded 59.7 million visits, the second best season ever, according to the preliminary 2009/10 Kottke National End of Season Survey, despite a weak economy and without the catalyst of an exceptional snow year. According to the study, all regions except the Northeast achieved sub...

SAM Magazine-Cody, Wyo., May 7, 2010―Sleeping Giant ski area, revived as a non-profit area last season after five years of hibernation, lost $316,288 in its first season, according to figures released by executive director Hamilton Bryan and reported by the Associated Press. Below-normal snow and a short season are partly to blame, he added. ...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., Apr. 30, 2010-Vail Resorts is purchasing the remaining 30 percent interest in its majority-owned retail joint venture, Specialty Sports Venture (SSV), held by affiliated entities of Tom and Ken Gart, for $31 million. The transaction is expected to close today. SSV has more than 145 sporting goods retail/rental loc...

SAM Magazine--April 30, 2010--During its annual meeting, the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association (PNSAA) announced the recipients of several awards. First, Keith Petrie was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Petrie managed Mt. Hood Meadows, Anthony Lakes, Mt. Spokane and Multopor Ski Bowl and served as chairman of the PNSAA Board of D...

SAM Magazine--April 28, 2010--The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named five member ski areas as the recipients of its annual Sustainable Slopes Grant program. The ski areas winning cash grants include Alta, Utah, Crested Butte, Colo., Grand Targhee, Wyo., Mt. Abram, Maine, and Stevens Pass, Wash. The grants, this year totaling $100,000, are...

SAM Magazine-Boulder, Colo., Apr. 27, 2010-Preliminary SIA Snow Sport RetailTRAK data show that snow sport retail sales increased 13 percent in March 2010 compared to March 2009, at the height of the recession. The sales spurt pushed sales for the entire 2009-10 season up 4 percent over 2008-09, according to the Leisure Trends Group. Nearly ever...

SAM Magazine-Las Vegas, Apr. 27, 2010-Resorts as far-flung as Alyeska, Alaska, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, and Sugarloaf, Maine, are operating into May this year. They are among dozens of areas that have extended their seasons this year. Late and abundant snow has enabled Alyeska Resort to operate well into May. The base at the top of ...

SAM Magazine-Albuquerque, N.M., Apr. 27, 2010-El Nino lived up to its billing, bringing abundant snow across New Mexico this past winter. And that fueled a 23 percent increase in visits compared to 2008-09, according to Ski New Mexico. The visit total was 964,793, making this the best year since 2000-01. Ski New Mexico executive director George ...

SAM Magazine--April 26. 2010--Thanks to passenger numbers that were off by about 9,000, the resort community at Steamboat Springs will have to pony up more than $2.4 million to the airlines. According to the "Steamboat Pilot," Steamboat's Local Marketing District (LMD) is in charge of the airline program and it is not unheard of that the community ...

SAM Magazine--April 26, 2010--Intrawest, a leader in the development and management of experiential destination resorts, today announced that it has successfully completed the refinancing of its corporate debt which was due in December 2009. The Company repaid its prior lenders in full and has completed a new loan, which is scheduled to mature in 2...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Apr. 22, 2010-Andy Daly, who variously managed Copper Mountain , Eldora, Beaver Creek, and Vail Associates, has earned the 2010 Lifetime Achievement award of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Daly's career began in 1970 when he took a job at Aspen Highlands. By winter's end, Daly accepted a job as a ski pat...

SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., Apr. 22, 2010-Thanks to a late-season surge of destination visits, Vail Resorts (VR) saw business increase over the season's final weeks. Through Apr. 18, total skier visits at Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, and Heavenly were up about 2.3 percent compared to the previous year. In Idaho, Sun Valley saw vi...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo.,Apr. 19, 2010-Dennis Eshbaugh, president and CEO of Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, N.Y., has received the 2010 Sherman Adams Award from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Over the past 23 years, under Eshbaugh's leadership, skier visits at Holiday Valley have grown more than fourfold. During this ti...

SAM Magazine-Carroll Valley, Pa., Apr. 19, 2010-Liberty Mountain Resort has entered into an agreement to purchase the adjacent Carroll Valley Resort. The properties will be combined and operated under Liberty management. "We're extremely excited with this acquisition," said Eric Flynn, Liberty president and GM. "Years ago, both properties were d...

SAM Magazine-Denver, Colo., Apr. 19, 2010-In some of the most solid results for the mountain travel industry during the past 12 months, lodging occupancy was up 9.6 percent in March compared to March 2009, according to the latest data released by the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). This was the third consecutive month with year-over-year ...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Apr. 16, 2010-The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has honored 12 member resorts with its annual Safety Awards, which recognize resorts that have done an outstanding job of educating employees and guests about skiing and snowboarding responsibly. The 2009-10 winners are: Best Safety Week Program (tie) Vail M...

SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Apr. 13, 2010-Indianhead, Ragged, Jay Peak, Crested Butte, and Copper have won the 2009/10 Marketing Awards presented by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The 2009/10 Guest Service Awards winners are MacIntyre, Thunder Ridge, Sugar Bowl, Crested Butte, and Beaver Creek. The awards are presented annually to ...

SAM Magazine-Ishpeming, Mich., Apr. 7, 2010-The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame has extended the deadline for submitting nominations for the class of 2010 to Apr. 30. The change was made to accommodate athletes who competed in the 2010 Olympic Games, but the extension applies to all potential nominees. Individuals nominated and elected to th...

SAM Magazine-McLean, Va., Apr. 7, 2010-Snow Sports market sales reached $2.7 billion in February, a 3 percent gain in dollars sold compared with August through February last season, according to the SIA Retail Audit conducted by the Leisure Trends Group. Warmer weather in states north of the Mason-Dixon Line, less snow in the Rockies and wetter and...

SAM Magazine--The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at Beaver Creek, Colorado, on April 9, 2010. This year's inductees are: Jack Benedick, U.S. Ski Team; Stu Campbell, ski instructor; Doug Coombs, ski mountaineer; Sepp Kober, heritage; Paul Robbins, journalist; Ansten Samuelstuen, heritage; Chris Waddell, U.S. S...

SAM Magazine--Deer Valley, Utah, April 2, 2010--Last week a Federal District Court judge awarded Deer Valley Resort injunctive relief against Christy Sports until January 2015. In sum, the court order stops Christy Sports from renting out any skis from its Deer Valley Resort store location. The case first started when, in 2006, Christy Sports ac...

SAM Magazine-Woodbury, Conn., April 1, 2010-SAM Magazine is proud to announce the recipients of the 13th annual 2010 SAMMY Leadership Awards. They are: 1) Julie Maurer, vice president of marketing for Boothcreek. Julie first joined Northstar-at-Tahoe in 1982 as a PR assistant and quickly moved up to marketing director. Under various owners, Jul...