Waterville Valley Resort and the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers (WVBBTS) / Snowsports Educational Foundationhave announced a joint project that is expected to yield significant upgrades in snowmaking for the 2014/15 season. T

It’s 50 years for Camelback in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. The resort reports a sprawling 533,000 square foot Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia indoor water park at the base will be open by March 2015.

New Hampshire ski areas continue to move forward after enjoying the sixth best ski season on record. This summer brought a lengthy list of capital improvements and news from across the state with new lifts, trails and glades being cut, extensive snowmaking improvements, and other additions. 

Sugarbush Resort has announced several changes to its senior management team. Candice White, who has served as Vice President of Marketing for the past six years, is stepping into a newly-created role as Vice President of Communications and Brand Management. White will continue to be responsible for the Sugarbush brand, will oversee all resort communications and press relations, and will continue to oversee guest services.  She will also work to develop several strategic partnerships for the Resort.

Ted Fisher of Charlotte, Vermont, has accepted the new position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  He is a graduate of the University of Vermont where he earned a BA in History and Economics. Fisher’s prior experience includes serving as Marketing & Sales Director for Kilawatt Technologies, Marketing and Public Relations Director for Burlington City Arts, Sales Manager for Gardener’s Supply, and Vice President/Regional Sales Manager for Vermont Federal Bank.  Early in his career, Fisher worked at Killington Resort,  and he and his family have been avid Sugarbush skiers for over two decades.

John Hammond, currently Vice President of Mountain Operations, will take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the resort’s winter rental and repair operation.

Jim Westhelle, Vice President of Lodging and Facilities, will assume the additional responsibility of overseeing future real estate development. Westhelle was instrumental in finalizing the resort’s most recent Rice Brook Residences project, which has sold fourteen of fifteen homes. He, along with local architecture firm The Design Group, is leading the early planning phase for the next development project which will be located adjacent to Rice Brook.

Win Smith, president and majority owner of the resort, says of the changes, “I have the strongest team I’ve ever had at Sugarbush—from the executives right down to the hourly wage earners--and it’s great to be able to promote my team and watch them grow and succeed. Ted Fisher will be a great addition to the existing team, and I look forward to his arrival.”

Photo: Candice White new Sugarbush VP of Communication and brand Management at Sugarbush (Sugarbush Resort)

Midwestern shredders will want to check out the new summer and fallTreetops snowboard and freestyle camps taking place in northern Michigan.

Rob Bevier has been named Loon Mountain’s new Snowsports Director. Bevier comes to Loon from Okemo Mountain Resort, where he has worked since 1991 - most recently as Assistant Director for the resort’s Ski and Ride School. 

How would you like to ski, ride and stride all over Michigan this winter every day of the season for just $550? 

Okemo Mountain Resort’s Operation Snowburst returns for a second season of snowmaking improvements to include the addition of 100 new, energy-efficient tower guns.

Several Heartland ski areas allow mountain biking on their summer slopes, but if you’re looking for lift served riding, there are four choices.

New gondola cabins, additional ski terrain, improved snowmaking and two new snowcats highlight $7 million in capital improvements at Vermont’s Stratton Mountain Resort this summer.

Skiers and snowboarders at Okemo Mountain Resort this winter will view their ride up the mountain through the bright orange tint of a retractable, transparent dome.  A  new, high-speed, six-pack bubble chairlift with heated seats – the first of its kind in North America - is under construction at the Ludlow, Vt. resort.

Dennis Barquinero named general manager at the Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vt.

One of Wilmot Mountain’s most popular chairlifts, aka Chair 5, was down for much of last season much to the chagrin of its many patrons, but there’s some good news.

One of the top summer attractions in the Heartland and around the Great Lakes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, last summer drew over 1.3 million visitors last summer that came to climb the dunes and enjoy this pristine environment. 

Jim Seely, a Las Vegas native and current member of the resort’s marketing staff, has been named Director of Marketing for  Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort (LVSSR).

With 130-some years as a Heartland tourist destination you could hardly call Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, sedate.

A plan to expand its race and training terrain at Golden Peak has been submitted to the U.S. Forest Service by Vail Resorts. The plan increases available terrain by 68 acres, allowing for some 41 acres of additional trails, three surface lifts and more snowmaking.

Blackjack LLC, owner of Blackjack Ski Resort, has executed an agreement to acquire next door neighbor Indianhead Mountain Resort, and the deal is expected to be consummated by the end of the month. 

New jet non-stop service to Jackson Hole, Wyo. is set to be offered from 13 cities for the 2014-15 season. The announcement follows a successful season that showed an increase of 10 percent coming through the airport and a record number of skier days set at 530,000.