SAM Coverage
Lifts
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Powderhorn Launches Limited Three-Year Pass Tied to 60th Anniversary, Lift Investment
SAM Magazine—Mesa, Colo., Feb. 11, 2026—Rendering of the new Wild West Express lift.As it approaches its 60th anniversary season, Powderhorn Mountain Resort is introducing…
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Back Down to Earth
Tariffs and inflation were among the primary causes for a dip in North American lift installations. Lift construction returned to pre-Covid levels in 2025…
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Rope Tow Renaissance
Speed, culture, and economics are pushing resorts to reconsider the most old-school lift on the mountain. It was a cold December evening in 2020…
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Construction Site :: November 2025
From new (and big) lifts to renovations, terrain expansions, and snowmaking upgrades, these major projects were nearing completion as winter grew closer. Wachusett Mountain, MA Wachusett…
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Wind Hold
Aerial lifts are susceptible to wind, but experience, technology, and teamwork help manage the risks. One of the most confounding realities of the uphill…
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Construction Site :: September 2025
Projects include new lifts, a rebuilt lodge, and a snowmaking upgrade. Lutsen Mountains, MN A fast-moving fire claimed one of Lutsen’s base village…
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Voting Opens for 2025 Rise Up Challenge
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 4, 2025—The 2025 Rise Up Challenge is underway, and voting is officially open. Now in its fifth year, this video…
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Idea Files :: July 2025
A portable mock control panel for training lift operators. CONTROL PANEL TRAINER Monarch Mountain (Colo.) lift operations supervisor Robert Clarkson wanted to make it…
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Construction Site :: July 2025
These ski areas got an early start to their major construction projects. Snowshoe, WV Alterra-owned Snowshoe is replacing its Shavers Center lodge this summer.…
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New Products :: March 2025
Weather, operations, and marketing products and services for resort operators to consider. CHS Snowmakers: Chairlift Water Tender The Chairlift Water Tender (CWT) is a…
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Cooling Off
Despite fewer lifts being built, it was still a busy construction season as ski areas continue to upgrade their on-mountain transport. After two gangbuster…
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Construction Site :: November 2024
New lifts and snowmaking upgrades at ski areas big and small, for-profit and nonprofit, across North America. Mont Grand-Fonds, QC Compagnie des Montagnes…
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New Products :: November 2024
A wide variety of products and services—from hardware to software, and staffing help to safety—for ski area operators to consider.
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Lift Operations Supplier Guide
This supplier directory spotlights the companies driving progress in lift operations and supporting the teams who keep mountain transportation moving. These partners are committed…
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Construction Site :: September 2024
New lifts, terrain, snowmaking, and lodges will breathe new life into a number of ski areas this winter. HOLIDAY MOUNTAIN, NY Mike Taylor is…
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The Winner of the 2024 Rise Up Challenge is…
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 28, 2024—The 2024 Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America, highlighted up-and-coming lift mechanics and their lift maintenance teams…
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Construction Site :: July 2024
Across North America, a variety of impactful—and, in several cases, difficult—projects got underway before the start of summer. This story is from the SAM…
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Heavy Lifting
Insights about operating lifts year-round. For many resorts, adding spring, summer, or fall operations means running lifts thousands of additional hours per year. A…