Ian Cumming, Park City ski industry icon and Powdr Corp. figure, dies at 77
Ian Cumming, an influential figure who helped shape the ski industry in Park City and statewide, died Friday, surrounded by family in Jackson, Wyoming. He was 77.
Dave Fields, general manager and chief operating officer of Snowbird, confirmed Cumming’s death in a statement to The Park Record. The Cumming family owns a majority interest in Snowbird.
Cumming played a role in the beginning of Powdr Corp. in the 1990s, serving as a board member for the company founded by his son, John Cumming, as it purchased Park City Mountain Resort and eventually grew into one of the country’s largest ski resort operators. Powdr Corp. sold PCMR to Vail Resorts in 2014 following a high-profile lawsuit and still owns a number of ski areas throughout the West and Vermont, as well as the Gorgoza Park tubing park near Pinebrook.
Nathan Rafferty, president and CEO of Ski Utah, said in a prepared statement that Cumming’s presence continued to loom large in the Utah ski industry.
“The Cumming family has Utah skiing in their blood,” he said. “Our thriving industry wouldn’t be where it is today without Ian’s vision and leadership. Our thoughts are with the Cumming family as they mourn the loss of a true Utah ski industry icon.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to more accurately reflect Ian Cummings’ role in Powdr Corp. A previous version incorrectly referred to him as a founder of the company.
Green Tips: Chemicals and hazardous waste
Water quality should be a focus as much as water quantity in Utah and beyond. As we slowly plasticize our world, we need to have more concern about the chemicals that surround us. How can we better select our food, cleaners, body products, house décor, and clothing? Our society is immersed in chemicals; most of us carry microplastics in our blood.
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