A new face will be leading New York’s Hunter Mountain later this month.
Ski Area Management recently announced that long-time Vail Resorts employee and industry veteran Chuck Randles will be the new vice president and general manager of Hunter Mountain, effective July 15, 2026. Randles will be taking over for Trent Poole, who is headed west to Heavenly Mountain, California, in May to serve as its new vice president and GM. Poole was with Hunter Mountain for over two years.
“It is a true honor to join the Hunter Mountain team and to be part of such a storied and respected resort,” said Randles in the announcement. “I watched the mountain and team thrive through an incredible snow year and high-energy season, and I look forward to working with the team to build on that momentum while supporting the local community and delivering a great experience for our guests.”
Randles previously served as the GM of Wilmot Mountain, Wisconsin. He also oversaw multiple Vail Resorts-owned ski areas in the Midwest as a GM, including Mount Brighton, Michigan, Hidden Valley, Missouri, and Snow Creek, Missouri. His other leadership roles in the ski industry include senior director of lodging at Lake Tahoe, California, senior director of lodging at Park City Mountain, Utah, and GM of vacation rentals at Keystone Resort, Colorado. Each position has been with Vail Resorts, the world’s largest mountain operator, owning and managing over 40 ski destinations across four countries, including Hunter Mountain.
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“Chuck is a proven leader with a passion for people, operational excellence, and the guest experience,” said Tim Baker, Senior Vice President of Vail Resorts’ Regional Destination Resorts. “His ability to build strong teams, foster meaningful community connections, and deliver results makes him the ideal leader to honor Hunter Mountain’s legacy and build on the resort’s strong momentum coming off its most successful season in years.”
In addition to his roles with Vail Resorts, the University of Iowa graduate has remained involved in industry decision-making, serving on the boards of the Midwest Ski Areas Association and SOS Outreach. He has also played a pivotal role in expanding Epic for Everyone programming, helping make skiing and snowboarding more accessible for communities.
Randal is a lifelong skier who brings a passion for the mountains to his role, according to Vail Resorts. Randal and his wife, Sarah, have a 5-year-old son named Jack. In his free time, Randal enjoys biking, camping, and skiing with his family.
About Hunter Mountain
Located in the northern Catskill Mountains of New York, Hunter Mountain is a year-round outdoor destination roughly 2.5 hours outside of Manhattan. Known as the “snowmaking capital of the world,” Hunter Mountain operates 13 chairlifts across 320 skiable acres, 67 trails, and a 1,600-foot vertical drop. It is a Vail-owned resort and operates through the Epic Pass.
