Wintersports Roundup: Wildcat sold, Bode in POC & new Snowbird VP

For the second time in as many weeks, a New Hampshire ski area has changed hands. Peak Resorts said it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire all Wildcat Mountain Ski Area assets and attractions in Pinkham Notch, N.H. Waterville Valley Ski Area was acquired from Booth Creek Resorts last week by a group of local investors led by New England’s Sununu family.

”Wildcat Mountain is a legendary ski resort known to many in the industry and it has a lot of history,” Peak Resorts CEO Tim Boyd said in a release. “I am pleased to add Wildcat Mountain to Peak Resorts because it offers a unique, year-round experience in a one-of-a-kind location and there are opportunities for growth and improvement over the long-term that we can consider and are familiar with delivering at all of our resorts.”

Parties involved expect to finalize the purchase pending approval by the U.S. Forest Service. Adding to its portfolio of resorts located in six U.S. states, including Attitash and Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire and Mount Snow in Vermont, Wildcat Mountain becomes the 12th ski resort currently owned and operated by Peak Resorts.

Bode puts on POC for World Cup opener

Starting with the World Cup opener in Soelden, Austria, this weekend, U.S. skier Bode Miller will join the POC team using its helmets and goggles.

Miller, the U.S. Ski Team’s most successful male racer ever, and winner of one gold, three silver and one bronze Olympic medals, has been “at the top of the list of the athletes we wanted to collaborate with,” according to Stefan Ytterborn, POC’s CEO and founder.

Ytterborn said that when he started POC five years ago, “I went to meet with Bode’s agent, Ken Sowles, in Burlington, close to Bode’s hometown Franconia. I knew then chances were small. He was in the middle of a contract, and at the time, we really didn’t have the capacity to support him. Since then, I’ve been sending product info, samples and little notes, just not to lose the initiative, if the opportunity would pop up.”

Now that it has, Miller will sport the POC brand on what many observers of ski racing are speculating may be his last season on the World Cup tour.

Dave Fields named new Snowbird VP of resort operations

Dave Fields has been promoted to the role of vice president of resort operations of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. Fields’ new position will provide greater oversight in the day-to-day operations of the resort and help focus Snowbird’s efforts on providing first-class customer service at all levels of the organization, it said. 

“In Dave’s 11 years at Snowbird, he’s shown tremendous leadership and an ability to work seamlessly with all of our various departments, our employees and our community,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “Snowbird is known for its terrain, snow and Tram. We are committed to adding outstanding customer service to that list and Dave is going to help us achieve that goal.”

During his tenure at Snowbird, Fields has risen from the position of assistant director of public relations to the director of marketing, tickets and entertainment and special events — departments he will continue to oversee as vice president of resort operations.

–Peter Kray

On Oct. 6, 2010, veteran journalist Peter Kray joined the SNEWS team and is now editor of the new SNEWS WinterSports channel. We trust you are enjoying the full offering of WinterSports news. Be sure to email your friends and let them know the best WinterSports news has arrived — just in time for the start of the winter season. Got WinterSports news? Send your WinterSports news to Kray at pkray@snewsnet.com. Subscribers can also post WinterSports news releases directly to the SNEWS website. Email us at snewsbox@snewsnet.com to learn about posting your own news releases, or for any other questions or comments. We love to hear from our readers!