Bennington, New Hampshire — A southern New Hampshire ski area has a new leader.
This week, Crotched Mountain announced that Matt Pek will serve as its General Manager. Pek succeeds Deirdre Riley, who has become the GM of Attitash and Wildcat in northern New Hampshire.
“With more than a decade of resort operations experience, Matt brings a broad background in mountain leadership, safety, and guest experience to his new role as GM of Crotched Mountain,” said Tim Harris, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts’ Local & European Resorts. “Matt is driven by his passion for the industry and mountain operations. His one-team mentality and innovative spirit will make him a strong leader, and we are excited to see the impact he will have on the team and the community.”
Some of the roles he’s had in the past give him operational expertise and leadership
skills. This includes the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol; EHS and operations leadership at Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia; safety integrations for Attitash and Wildcat; and roles in Building Maintenance, Summer Attractions, and Lift Operations.
His most recent position was the Senior Manager of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) for Stowe and Mount Snow. While there, he helped Stowe earn a 2026 NSAA Safety Award.
“My time at Stowe has been some of the most professionally formative years of my career,” said Pek. “I’m incredibly grateful to the EHS team and to my colleagues at Stowe, Mount Snow, Attitash, and Wildcat for all they’ve taught me over the years. I am looking forward to diving back into operations and working alongside a team of passionate leaders at a resort as unique and truly out of this world as Crotched.”
About Crotched Mountain
Crotched has had a fascinating history. At one point, it was two separate ski resorts. Crotched West and East. The two mountains merged, but financial issues led to their closure. After years of dormancy, Peak Resorts revived Crotched West and reopened it in 2003. The East side remains abandoned. Meanwhile, Vail Resorts acquired Crotched Mountain (formerly known as Crotched West) in 2019.
The ski area features 25 trails, 5 lifts, and a 1,000-foot vertical drop. Its extensive night skiing coverage is among the best in the region, with mostly LED lights covering 100% of Crotched’s terrain.
Image/Video Credits: Crotched Mountain, Beyond the Lodge
