Vail Mountain Hires New COO Shaydar Edelmann

"I'm excited to work alongside this talented team to continue pushing what's possible" — Shaydar Edelmann, Vail Mountain's new COO, is already making promises. Edelmann, currently vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, will take over for Beth Howard this fall. He's got a reputation for being a "thoughtful, innovative leader" with 25 years of experience in the snow sports industry. That's what Vail Resorts is counting on to keep Vail Mountain ahead of the game.

Edelmann's background is impressive — he's worked at Park City Mountain, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, and Woodward Tahoe, among others. He's helped establish California's first recycled water snowmaking system and managed multi-million dollar construction projects. Locals will want to know how that experience translates to Vail Mountain. Make no mistake, he has big shoes to fill, following Beth Howard's retirement.

The short version: Edelmann's a seasoned pro with a passion for mountain culture. He's committed to "building on Vail's legacy" and "embracing new ideas"; but what does that mean for Western Slope skiers? We're not getting a clear answer on that yet. Jody Churich, senior vice president of Vail Resorts' destination resorts, says he's the "ideal person" for the job, but we're still waiting to hear specifics on how he plans to improve the resort experience for locals. Edelmann's community involvement is worth watching - he currently serves on several boards, including the Tahoe Fund and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. He's also worked with the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. That kind of experience could be valuable in building relationships with local businesses and organizations.

Folks around here will be interested to see how he engages with the community and addresses concerns about crowds, pricing, and environmental impact. His commitment to developing high-performing teams will be put to the test as he navigates these complex issues. The community will be waiting to see how his leadership style plays out in practice, particularly when it comes to balancing the needs of tourists with those of local skiers and snowboarders.

Vail Mountain is one of the most popular resorts in the state, attracting millions of visitors each year. That's a lot of pressure on the new COO to deliver. He'll need to balance competing demands, and his success will depend on making tough decisions that benefit both the resort and the community. The question is, can he deliver on his promises and take Vail Mountain to the next level? His ability to do so will be closely watched by locals and industry observers alike.