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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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SAM Magazine—Kimberley, British Columbia, Nov. 10, 2023—Kimberley Alpine Resort named Christine Schultheis as its new general manager. Schultheis, a charted professional in human resources with a degree in economics, joined parent company Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) in 2010 serving administrative roles in human resources, and most rec...
SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Nov. 8, 2023—The producers of two of the largest consumer ski shows in the nation—Snowbound Boston, and Snowvana in Portland, Ore.—reported a record number of attendees, vendors, and sales at their events this past weekend. Snowbound's pre-show reception: Mary Walsh, Snowboarder; Tim Smith, Waterville Valley; Je...
SAM Magazine—Detroit Lakes, Minn., Nov. 6, 2023—Detroit Mountain has named Tom Thiel as its new general manager. Thiel, a former beverage sales manager and self-described outdoor enthusiast, will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the city-owned facility that offers downhill and cross-country mountain biking in summer and 4...
SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Nov. 2, 2023—More North American ski areas are opening for the season after late-October snowstorms pummeled various regions this past week and cooler temps allowed other areas to fire up their snowmaking systems. Here is a rundown of some recent and soon-to-come opening dates. Courtesy of Sommet Saint-Sauveur Ea...
SAM Magazine—Bear Valley, Calif., Nov. 2, 2023—California Mountain Resorts Company (CMRC) has acquired Bear Valley. It’s the third acquisition in three years for the growing Golden State conglomerate, which is headed by CEO Karl Kapuscinski. CMRC, which has owned Mountain High since 1997, purchased California’s Dodge Ridge in 2021 and China...
SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., Oct. 27, 2023—Arapahoe Basin announced it will open for the season on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 8:30 a.m. It will run the Black Mountain Express to provide access to the High Noon trail. Opening day will feature complimentary duct tape and donuts for the first guests in line, a Halloween band, and a costume contest with pri...
Private and semi-private ski resorts have been around for decades. There are several private clubs in New York state and the province of Ontario, and The Hermitage and Quechee Club in Vermont, for example. But it's not easy for an existing resort to move in that direction, as Windham Mountain, N.Y., learned as it launched its rebrand as Windham Mou...
SAM Magazine—Cherry Creek, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2023—Officials at Cockaigne Resort announced on Monday that the ski area, including food and beverage operations, will not open for the 2023-24 season. The 462-acre property, including a 10,000-square-foot lodge built in 2019, has been for sale on-and-off for the past year, and was relisted this summer ...
This report was updated on Oct. 26. SAM Magazine—Nederland, Colo., Oct. 25, 2023—Colorado Public Radio (CPR) reported that 71 percent of ski patrollers and medical staff at Eldora Mountain Resort have signed cards in favor of holding a union election. This is the latest such unionization effort among ski area staff following lift mechanics an...
SAM Magazine—Vail, Colo., Oct. 24, 2023—The third annual Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit (MT2030) took place Oct. 18-19 in Vail, drawing more than 500 attendees from more than 40 U.S. and international mountain communities.From left: Kate Wilson (Vail Resorts), Darcie Renn (Alterra), Raj Basi (POWDR), and Tom Bradley (Boyne Resorts...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 19, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) has chosen Trent Poole to become vice president and GM of Hunter Mountain Resort, effective Oct. 30. He succeeds Russ Coloton, who is retiring after serving 44 years as president of Hunter. An 18-year VR veteran, Poole has a background in finance, project management, and mountain ...
SAM Magazine—Jackson, N.H., Oct. 18, 2023—A week after announcing that it would not open for the 2023-24 season, owners of New Hampshire’s Black Mountain have reconsidered after reaching an operating agreement with Indy Pass and its parent company Entabeni. Black Mountain officials announced on Oct. 11 that the ski area would remain closed d...
SAM Magazine—Sandia Park, N.M., Oct. 16, 2023—Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) and Sandia Peak Ski Company have entered a joint venture agreement for the operation of Sandia Peak Ski Area, located 35 miles northeast of Albuquerque, N.M. This is MCP’s third New Mexico ski area, bringing the company’s total portfolio to 14 ski, bike, and golf ...
SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Oct. 12, 2023—Plans for a proposed gondola connecting Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort have been withdrawn following initial disapproval from the Agency of Natural Resources, according to reporting by the News & Citizen. Stowe, owned by Vail Resorts, and privately-held Smugglers’ Notch have r...
SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort has promoted Jon Copeland, current vice president of mountain operations, to vice president and COO. Copeland will lead mountain and base area operations, food and beverage, ski and snowboard school, summer operations, and other areas of business, while driving partnersh...
SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has initiated the purchaseof Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (MWHS) in Blue River, BC, Canada. Officials at Alterra said the addition will complement the company’s BC-based CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures operation, and is expected to be completed late this year, pending...
SAM Magazine—New York City, Oct. 11, 2023—Ski Utah held its annual media event in Soho on Oct. 5, taking the opportunity to share in-person details of last year’s record winter in Utah and the latest news, including Powder Mountain’s announcement on Oct. 2 that it pulled all available lots as it moves forward on its rebranding process. ...
SAM Magazine—Stratton, Vt., Oct. 11, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company has named Matt Jones president and COO of Vermont’s Stratton Mountain Resort. He most recently served as the VP and general manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort in California. Jones will report to Alterra’s regional COO, Patrice Malo, and will be responsible for overseeing...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 10, 2023—Out of a strong field of more than 75 nominations,10 talented mountain resort industry up-and-comers have been selected to participate in the sixth annual SAM Summit Series, a mentorship program aimed at developing future mountain resort industry leaders. The 10 mentees hail from areas of all sizes loca...
SAM Magazine—Edmonton, Alberta, Oct. 10, 2023—Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, founded in 1955, has transitioned to new ownership—business partners Chuck and Lara Amerongen and Derek and Anna Look. The independently owned ski area is located about 20 miles southwest of Edmonton. Rabbit Hill was purchased from former owner Jim Sutherland whose fath...
SAM Magazine—Granby, Colo., Oct. 10, 2023—The Indy Pass has added more than 50 new alpine and Nordic resorts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan for the 2023-24 season. Sales of the pass have also reopened with limited supply available after sales were halted in April due to “overwhelming demand.” Would-be purchasers must join a waitlis...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 9, 2023—Ski areas across North America are invited to nominate their snowmaking teams to participate in the ninth annual “I AM a Snowmaker” contest, presented by HKD Snowmakers. The “I AM” contest highlights the importance of snowmakers and their unique role in mountain operations and the success of the ...
SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2023—The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has named Ashley Walden its new CEO. Walden assumed the role in September, and replaced Mike Pratt, who retired after 38 years with the organization. The first woman to fill the top spot at ORDA, Walden will oversee all entities under the OR...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 5, 2023—Breckenridge Ski Resort (Colo.) vice president and COO Jody Churich has been promoted to the role of senior vice president and COO of Vail Resorts West Region, effective Oct. 16. She succeeds Doug Pierini, who is leaving the company as of Oct. 6. Courtesy of Sarah McLear, Breckenridge Ski Resort In...
SAM Magazine—Windham, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2023—Today, the Windham Mountain Club, formerly known as Windham Mountain, unveiled its rebranding and capital upgrades for the 2023-24 winter season and beyond. The mountain will continue to be open to the public, with season passes and ticket products available, but will also offer private club memberships...
SAM Magazine—Lake Placid, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2023—The Ski Areas of New York and Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association held their annual joint SKI NY-SKIPA Expo in Lake Placid, Sept. 25-27, with more than 350 ski area personnel, supplier partners, and experts on hand to learn, network, and have a little fun at the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olym...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 29, 2023—Vail Resorts (VR) reported a drop in full-year net income for fiscal 2023, EBITDA that was essentially flat, and an increase in season-to-date pass sales for the 2023-24 season. VR's fiscal year ended on July 31. Key info in the year-end report, for the fiscal year ended July 31: Net income was d...
SAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 29, 2023—The U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum has named the eight-member class of 2023, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual Snowsports History Celebration in Park City, Utah, in March 2024. The inductees are: Les Otten Resort developer Les Otten had a prof...
SAM Magazine—Portland, Maine, Sept. 29, 2023—The New England Summit’s first year in Portland, Maine, drew 375 attendees, including representatives from 75 suppliers and 39 ski areas, for two days of educational sessions, meetings, and networking events, Sept. 18 and 19. Dirk Gouwens, executive director of Ski Maine, the state trade associa...
SAM Magazine—Wolfurt, Austria, Sept. 28, 2023—Doppelmayr Holding SE reported a record $1.116 billion (946 million euros) in revenue during its 2022-23 business year, up 6.7 percent over the previous year. Of note, this is the first time that the company’s North American market outpaced the Austrian market. North American sales accounted for 2...
SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company announced today that Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain and Camelback Resort will join the Ikon Pass for the 2023-24 season. Located in Tannersville, Camelback is the largest snowsports resort in the Poconos, with 166 skiable acres. Blue Mountain, in Palmerton, has the state's...
SAM Magazine—Silverton, Colo., Sept. 28, 2023—Colorado’s Silverton Mountain has been sold for an undisclosed amount to Andy Culp and Brock Strasbourger, owners of Aspen-based Heli Adventures, a heli-skiing and adventure travel company. “It’s an honor to be in this position,” Culp said in an interview with the Aspen Daily News. “My...
SAM Magazine—Idaho Springs, Colo., Sept. 21, 2023—Burwell Enterprises has sold Echo Mountain to Jogan Inc., LLC, for an undisclosed amount in a deal that closed Monday. The Burwell family acquired Echo in 2016 for $3.8 million, resurrecting the small ski area—located just 36 miles from downtown Denver—from bankruptcy. “Our goal with ...
SAM Magazine—Big Sky, Mont., Sept. 20, 2023—In a move toward sustainable operations, Montana’s Big Sky Resort has transitioned to 99 percent renewable diesel fuel to power its snowcats, trucks, and other heavy equipment. Also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), renewable diesel is derived from agricultural byproducts such as animal ...
SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., Sept. 20, 2023—SNOW Partners has appointed Dempsey Mendrzycki as the new general manager of its Big SNOW American Dream indoor ski and snowboard facility, effective immediately. Mendrzycki previously held the role of risk and safety ranger (i.e., director) for both Mountain Creek (N.J.)—also owned by SNOW Partner...
SAM Magazine—Plymouth, N.H., Sept. 19, 2023—Extreme skier-turned-media professional Dan Egan has been named general manager of Tenney Mountain, N.H. Egan previously served as GM at the ski area, which was purchased by a new ownership group last year, from 2002 to 2004. He assumed the role in August. "I'm a big believer in independently owned r...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 18, 2023—The SAM Summit Series is set to embark on its sixth year with the theme “Kickstart Your Leadership Skills.” In the annual mentor/mentee leadership development program, emerging resort leaders engage and learn from top industry veterans on a variety of topics affecting ski areas. The program aims t...
SAM Magazine—Windsor, Colo., Sept. 18, 2023—With plans to open by Thanksgiving, 12-acre Hoedown Hill will become Colorado’s newest skiing, snow tubing, and sledding area. The project is the dream of Martin Lind, a third-generation Windsor resident and owner of real estate development firm The Water Valley Company. Hoedown Hill is located a...
SAM Magazine—Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sept. 15, 2023—The thirteenth SAM Summer Ops Camp drew ski area and aerial adventure operators, experts, and suppliers from all over North America to Steamboat, Sept. 10-12, for three days of learning, networking, and hands-on fun in the name of growing non-winter business. The host resort provided atte...
SAM Magazine—Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 14, 2023—The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is committing $10 million in capital improvements and is working with a locally-based company to grow four-season recreational opportunities—including the return of alpine skiing—at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County. ...
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Sept. 14, 2023—After a slow start, the summer of 2023 will likely finish down slightly from last year for lodging properties in Western mountain destinations, but will still come very close to last summer's revenue record. According to the most recent monthly Market Briefing released by DestiMetrics, the busines...
SAM Magazine—Norway, Mich., Sept. 11, 2023—Norway Mountain, idle since 2017, has been purchased by a local family who plans to reopen the 160-acre ski and snowboard area situated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the 2024/25 season. The Norway property, existing infrastructure, and an additional 50 acres outside of the area was purchased b...
SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass., Sept. 8, 2023—The producers of Snowbound and Snowvana, two of the largest remaining consumer ski shows in the nation, report a record number of ski resorts and exhibitors have signed up to participate in the events this fall. PowderDaze, a retail sales event in Colorado at which local resorts often sell passes, ...
SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, Sept. 6, 2023—Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings became the majority owner of Powder Mountain following a $100 million investment. Hastings acquired a minority stake in the ski area back in April. The new investment will develop the qualities that make Powder special, with a focus on bolstering infrastructure and...
SAM Magazine—Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 6, 2023—Cleanup is underway at Lee Canyon after Tropical Storm Hilary caused significant flooding with flows of rock and debris settling in the base area that nearly buried lift load stations, forcing the resort to shut down its summer operations for the season. “Our team is working with heavy machin...
SAM Magazine—Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, Sept. 6, 2023—Just days after it reported its first dusting of snow for the season, Solitude, Utah, will unveil the first phase of its new Solitude Bike Park on Friday, Sept. 8, with four new downhill mountain bike trails—six miles total—that range from easy to difficult. “With this initial pha...
SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Aug. 29, 2023—Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI) is making a series of executive changes to accommodate its growth and to align itself for future expansion. PGRI owns five North American mountain resort properties—Jay Peak, Vt.; Mt. Washington Alpine Resort, B.C.; Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Colo.; Wintergreen Re...
SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., Aug. 28, 2023— More than 1,000 wildfires have scorched Canada this summer, marking the country’s fourth consecutive year of grappling with severe drought conditions. Courtesy of Panorama Mountain ResortMountain communities in British Columbia have been directly impacted and ski areas have stepped up to help. In a h...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 28, 2023—The 2023 Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America, highlighted up-and-coming lift mechanics and their lift maintenance teams from six ski areas across North America: Arapahoe Basin, Colo.; Deer Valley, Utah; Killington Resort, Vt.; Mansfield Ski Club, Ont.; Mt. Hood Meadows, Ore.; and Pow...
SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, Aug. 24, 2023—Alterra-owned Deer Valley has partnered with Extell Development Company to operate the planned skiable terrain that was part of Extell’s adjacent Mayflower Mountain Resort project, adding 3,700 acres of terrain that will connect to Deer Valley’s existing network of trails, nearly tripling the skia...
THIS REPORT WAS UPDATED ON AUG. 25. SAM Magazine—Las Vegas, Aug. 23, 2023—Lee Canyon Ski and Snowboard Resort has closed its summer mountain operations for the season after an initial assessment of the damage caused by flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Hilary led the U.S. Forest Service to indefinitely extend its closure of the ...
SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 22, 2023—Alterra Mountain Company closed on the purchase of Schweitzer in Idaho, bringing the company’s total year-round mountain destinations to 17 properties throughout North America. “With the acquisition of Schweitzer, we are excited to expand our presence within the Pacific Northwest skier market,” said ...
SAM Magazine—Lake Geneva, Wis., Aug. 21, 2023—Midwest ski operators and industry suppliers descended on Grand Geneva Resort & Spa for the Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) annual meeting and tradeshow, Aug. 13-16. Attendance for this year’s conference was strong, with Amy Reents, executive director of MSAA, reporting record attendance ...
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Aug. 17, 2023—Data from research firm DestiMetrics, a division of Inntopia, has revealed that travelers to the western United States are booking summer lodging closer to their planned arrival date this year compared to previous years, but they’re still booking. This was comforting news, after data in March ...
SAM Magazine—Australia, Aug. 17, 2023—Warm temperatures in July and into August have put a damper on snow conditions at Australian ski areas, but snow earlier this week and cold weather forecasted for the coming days have operators looking optimistically at a strong finish to the season. Hotham Mountain “The whole of Australia experience...
SAM Magazine—Turin, N.Y., Aug. 9, 2023—An apparent EF-3 tornado with peak wind speeds of 140 mph damaged all three chairlifts and several structures at Snow Ridge Ski Resort on Monday evening. The National Weather Service reported that the tornado touched down around 7:42 p.m. in the town of Lewis, N.Y., where it uplifted the roofs of two ho...
SAM Magazine—Banff, Alberta, Canada, Aug. 9, 2023— A power outage on the Banff Gondola, owned by attraction and hospitality company Pursuit, stranded hundreds of sightseers at the top of Sulphur Mountain Monday night, leading some to eventually hike down in the middle of the night. The Globe and Mail newspaper suggested that as many as ...
THIS REPORT WAS UPDATED ON AUG. 14 SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Aug. 4—The role and impact of reciprocal pass agreements has been put in the spotlight as Indy Pass has requested its partner resorts terminate their reciprocal deals with Ski Cooper, Colo., whose large and growing roster of pass partnerships has put it in position to potentially ...
SAM Magazine—Teton Village, Wyo., Aug. 4, 2023 – After 31 years of ownership, Jay, Connie, and Betty Kemmerer have sold Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) to a group of local investors for an undisclosed amount. Owners of JHMR Connie, Betty and Jay KemmererThe Kemmerers, who purchased JHMR in 1992, said their highest priority was maintaining J...
SAM Magazine—Frisco, Colo., Aug. 3, 2023—Copper Mountain hosted the third annual Ski Conservation Summit on July 26. The event brings together local land managers and resort operators to share best practices and techniques to advance conservation efforts in their local environments. Courtesy of Copper MountainThis year, eight Colorado ski areas...
