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Regional news: Steamboat Ski Area names new vice president

Matt Stensland
Steamboat Today
David Hunter
Special to the Daily |

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — A replacement has been named to fill the role of Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. Vice-President of Mountain Operations Doug Allen.

David Hunter, the former director of mountain operations at Colorado’s Eldora Mountain Resort and the current director of North American sales for the Prinoth snowcat manufacturer, will begin his new job May 29.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Steamboat team and community,” Hunter said in a news release. “I look forward to working with an amazing group of people and to continue providing exceptional resort experiences for guests and employees.”



Hunter will oversee slope maintenance, snowmaking, lift operations, lift maintenance and ski patrol departments.

He will work closely with Ski Corp.’s senior management on business planning, budgeting, construction and expansion plans.

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“I’ll think he’ll be a great addition,” said Jim Schneider, vice president of skier services.

The ski area is currently in the process of refurbishing its 30-year-old gondola.

With Allen’s retirement, director of lift maintenance Kurt Castor is overseeing the gondola refurbishing, which will be well underway when Hunter starts work.

“He’ll pick up where Doug left off and see it through to its completion for sure,” Schneider said.

The ski area is aiming for a June 30 opening date for the gondola, the new mountain coaster and miniature golf course.

The golf course is essentially done with the exception of putting down the turf and adding landscaping.

Hunter began his 30-year career in the ski industry as the assistant mountain manager and race director at Mount Tom Ski Area in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He was then promoted to general manager.

Hunter moved to Colorado in 1997, where he was Eldora’s snowmaking manager and director of sales before becoming the director of operations in 2004.

Hunter was responsible for budgeting and implementing capital projects as well as overseeing a number of departments, including lift maintenance and operations, grooming, snowmaking and ski patrol. After 15 years at Eldora, Hunter joined the Prinoth team as director of North American sales.

“Dave’s nearly 30 years’ experience in the ski industry — on the operations side as well as the supplier side — make him a great fit for the job,” said Steamboat Ski Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Perlman in a news release. “His leadership will be a great addition to Steamboat’s incredibly experienced mountain operations team.”

Hunter plans to move to Steamboat with his wife, Linda, and two small children.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@steamboattoday.com or follow him on Twitter @sbtstensland.


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