FEATURES VOL. 65, NO. 1, JANUARY 2026
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ON THE COVER Killington, Vt., upgraded its Superstar quad to a new Doppelmayr UNI-G series six-pack, one of just five six-place chair installations in North America. It took a whole team of folks to make it happen. From left to right, standing: Kirsten Ericksen, Jordan Spear, Corey Tredtin, Scott Harrison, Mike Solimano, and Tait Germon. From left to right, kneeling: Reid Farley, Amy Laramie, Matt Kinsman, Sam Budusky, and Chris Condon.
Cover design: Joerg Dressler
58 2025 LIFT CONSTRUCTION
SURVEY: BACK DOWN TO EARTH Tariffs and inflation were among the primary causes driving lift construction back to pre-Covid levels, with 37 new aerial lifts, many of them fixed-grips, installed in North America last year. By Peter Landsman
64 UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
80 WINTER WIDOWS: A SURVIVAL GUIDE
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A few intriguing ownership models may portend a return to the days when ski area owners hung cables instead of hosting analyst calls. By Andy Bigford
Advice with humor and heart for surviving the winter when you love someone who is married to the mountain. By Shannon Dunfey Konvicka, with Kara Young
68 GLOBAL TRENDS IN SUMMER OPS
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72 KEEPING TRACK IN RENTAL
An inside look at what summer travelers want and what is working at mountain destinations worldwide. By MJ Legault 68
Rental departments generate a lot of data. Here’s how three ski areas stay on top of it all—and why it matters. By Rick Kahl 76 WHERE CLIMATE MEETS COMMUNITY Mountain communities on the frontlines of climate change are scaling their strategies outward. By Katie Brinton
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