Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

OnTheSnow.com has learned from SAM Magazine Publisher Jennifer Rowan that three mountain resort industry leaders will receive prestigious "SAMMY Leadership Awards" in May at the annual National Ski Areas Association convention in Florida. Yes, the industry heads south to Florida to thaw out in May.

SAM Magazine is an industry trade journal and has given the awards annually since 1998. Recipients are:

Julie Maurer, vice president of marketing for Booth Creek Ski Holdings (Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe in Calif., and Waterville Valley and Cranmore in N.H.). Maurer began her career in public relations at Northstar in 1982.

Dave Rathbun, general manager of Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. Rathbun's career started at Stratton Mt., Vt., in 1986 as a lift operator.

Tracy Samples, human resources director at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in W. Wa. She joined the Snowshoe staff in 2000.

So, why should you as a skier or rider care? That's easy to answer: They all make your experience better one way or the other, as do the thousands of resort staff members at ski resorts across the globe.