Vail Mountain’s next COO will be Shaydar Edelmann, the current vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, the mountain announced in a news release.

Before joining Heavenly, Edelmann served as vice president of mountain operations at Park City Mountain. Vail Resorts described him as “a proven leader with deep operational expertise and a passion for mountain culture, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the snow sports industry to one of the world’s most legendary mountain resorts.”

Edelmann will oversee resort operations at Vail Mountain, taking over for Beth Howard, who announced her intent to retire this fall.

“Shaydar is a thoughtful, innovative leader who understands what makes mountain resorts special and unique,” said Jody Churich, senior vice president of Vail Resorts’ destination resorts. “His deep experience, entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to developing high-performing teams make him the ideal person to continue guiding Vail Mountain into the future. Shaydar will build upon the resort’s incredible legacy to deliver excellence for our guests, employees, and community.”

Edelmann said he is honored to join the team at Vail Mountain.

“Vail has built an extraordinary legacy defined by passionate employees, a vibrant community and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our guests,” he said. “I’m excited to work alongside this talented team to continue pushing what’s possible. I am committed to building on Vail’s legacy while embracing new ideas, innovation, and opportunities that will keep Vail Mountain leading the industry for years to come.”

Originally from Kaikōura, New Zealand, Edelmann grew up immersed in outdoor adventure and was a member of the New Zealand Junior Surf Team. Edelmann’s career began in the Lake Tahoe region in competitions and events at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, where he later advanced through ski and ride school and skier services leadership roles. He went on to serve as vice president of operations at Boreal Mountain Resort, Soda Springs Mountain Resort and Woodward Tahoe, where he helped establish California’s first recycled water snowmaking system and managed the construction and completion of Woodward Tahoe. He later served as general manager of Woodward Park City, leading the project through construction and grand opening.

“Beyond the slopes, Edelmann is deeply engaged in community leadership and industry collaboration,” according to the release. “He currently serves on the board of the Tahoe Fund, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, the Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council, and the executive committee of Ski California. He previously served on the board of the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Edelmann will bring this same community-mindedness to his role in Vail.”