by The Editors on June 10, 2013
During the summer of 2012 the City of Mammoth Lakes, California (home to Mammoth Mountain) filed for bankruptcy thanks to losing a lawsuit to a developer. Rather than throw in the towel, the City worked with Mammoth Mountain to plan for their eventual rise from the ashes and the strategies they used over the past seven months could work for almost any business that is down and feeling like there is no way out. For the entire breakdown check out this story by Robert Holmes on Urban Land.
[Link: Urban Land]
by The Editors on June 7, 2013
Rusty Gregory, the man who has helped run Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort for decades (first as Dave McCoy’s right hand and more recently as CEO) announced to the Mammoth Lakes, California Town Council this week that he is stepping down from the position, according to a story on Sierra Wave.
With little explanation, Gregory said, “In two or three weeks I’ll be announcing who will run Mammoth Mountain Ski Area next. Mammoth Mountain,” he said, “will not be run by me.”. . .After saying he would not be running the Mountain, Gregory said, “We’re making a lot of changes organizationally that are difficult to make because for us to do things in the future, we can’t do things the same way harder and faster and expect a different result.”
Sounds like more changes are coming. Wonder what those will be?
[Link: Sierra Wave]
by The Editors on April 24, 2013
It’s been a cold, hard winter for fans of June Mountain’s rocking terrain, after parent company Mammoth closed the mountain due to budgetary constraints last year. Now, it appears Mammoth Mountain is putting that all behind them by announcing that June Mountain will reopen for business in “mid-December 2013.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased to announce that June Mountain will be back in operation for the 2013-14 season,” said Carl Williams, general manager of June Mountain. “Next winter we look forward to bringing skiers and snowboarders a great on-mountain experience while also planning for June’s future, including the possibility of a new lift and enhanced snowmaking.”
Now all they need is a new way to get up the face and things will be right back on track. Might have to wait until 2015-16 for that, however. For the official word from Mammoth follow the jump.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 23, 2013
That new snowboarding reality TV show staring Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson, Frank Wells, Josh Chauvet and the rest of the Snow Park Technologies team hits the National Geographic Channel on Thursday May 9, 2013 at 8 PM EST.
Mountain Movers, National Geographic Channel’s new adrenaline-packed series presented by Chevrolet, goes behind the scenes to show viewers how these world-class, high-intensity snow competition courses are constructed. Starting Thursday, May 9, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, bundle up as the hazards of winter weather, avalanches, heavy machinery and big personalities present constant challenges. But when metal, wood and snow are finally transformed into something Mother Nature never dreamed of … it’s epic.
Normally, a show about people pushing snow around at a resort would be pretty boring. Knowing the people involved we’re guessing this could get good.
[Link: National Geographic Channel]
by The Editors on April 19, 2013
Due to the high cost of half pipe upkeep Whistler Blackcomb decided to close their halfpipe on Sunday, April 21, 2013. But that hasn’t gone over well with the shred crowd. Canadian national snowboard team member Katie Tsuyki even started a petition, according to a post on Pique News.
For Tsuyuki, now is the worst time of year to close the pipe. “It’s a big feature and it’s intimidating for some people to ride when it’s cold and icy, and I know people wait for spring for it to soften up and you have a bit of leeway before they ride that feature. It’s a great opportunity for the public, not just athletes, to get out and enjoy it,” said Tsuyuki, adding that a lot of riders also get distracted by powder and big mountain riding during the winter months, and wait for spring to ride the park and pipe.
The mountain reportedly says they’ll keep the halfpipe open if Snowboard Canada or others “provided some funding.” Otherwise, guess everyone will just have to head to Mammoth, huh?
[Link: Pique News]
by The Editors on April 2, 2013
by The Editors on March 28, 2013
Bear Mountain, Neff, and Malakye are hooking up the entire shred industry with a free day of riding at Bear tomorrow (Friday, March 29, 2013) for Office Booyz Snow Industry Day. If you work for a snow industry company just bring your most recent pay stub and a valid ID and you can ride all day. There’s no pre-registration. Just show up and ride. Springbreak! Springbreak! Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on March 26, 2013
A snowboarder who was injured after a collision with a snow cat at Mammoth Mountain in 2011 is suing the mountain according to a post on LAist.com.
Kathleen Willhide-Michiulis, 45, of Saugus was snowboarding at the resort on March 25, 2011, when snowcat driver Clifford Mann allegedly turned in front of her unexpectedly. She became entangled in the machine’s tiller, and it took rescue workers about 30 minutes to disengage her legs from it. . . Willhide-Michiulis suffered serious, debilitating injuries in the accident. Her left leg was partially amputated above the knee, her right leg sustained multiple fractures and she suffered a brain injury, according to City News Service.
The woman is also suing the Kassbohrer company for a “negligently designed” snow cat. This is like one more reason why many resorts no longer operate snow cats on the mountain when the public is on the hill. Then again, the same thing happened in Solden, Austria last week.
[Link: LAist]
by The Editors on February 26, 2013
Northern Idaho’s Silver Mountain Resort in the mining town of Kellogg is for sale in an online auction on AmeriBid and everything must go, according to a story in the Spokesman Review.
The Silver Mountain Resort auction includes an indoor waterpark, a property management contract for more than 270 condo units, another 14 commercial units, the 1,600-acre ski resort and its Morning Star Lodge, the nine-hole Galena Ridge golf course plus a restaurant and other development property. Also included in the sale is the 3-mile-long Silver Mountain gondola that carries people from Kellogg to the lodge.
The currently owner, window and door maker Jeld-Wen has decided to get out of the resort business to “focus on its core business.” The online auction runs until March 19, 2013 and any of the pieces are available for purchase. We’re currently checking out that waterpark.
[Link: The Spokesman Review] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 25, 2013
We don’t usually care about ski events, because, you know, it’s skiing. But this Under Armour War of Rails event at Bear Bear Mountain Resorts promo graphic kind of blew our minds.
It’s been less than a month since the Big Bear resorts were shut down as armed SWAT teams went door to door through Big Bear searching for rogue LA police officer and suspected murderer Christopher Jordan Dorner. It’s been a little over two weeks since Dorner died from a reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wound while the Big Bear cabin he was hiding in burned to the ground after an “accidental” fire set by law enforcement. And yet, none of this stopped Under Armour from rolling dead ahead with their guns, tanks, and ammo themed ski rail contest? Seriously?
[Link: War of Rails]
