Peter Korfiatis assumes role as general manager

With a lifelong love of skiing, years of alpine racing and coaching experience, and nearly a decade of mountain managerial roles at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Peter Korfiatis has been named the next general manager of Bluewood.

Korfiatis fills the position previously held by Kim Clark, who was Bluewood’s general manager for seven years, until he died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack on August 31 while on the mountain.

“Kim brought Bluewood a long way, and he was a great manager. We’re certainly going to miss him,” says Kirk Bair, a managing partner of the ski area’s ownership group. “Good things are continuing to happen at Bluewood though.”

“We are pleased and excited for Bluewood to welcome Pete to our family,” says Mike Stephenson, another managing partner of the ownership group. “He brings a huge wealth of knowledge and experience in the snow sports industry.”

Most recently, as senior director of guest experience at Mammoth Mountain, Korfiatis trained a team of managers and department heads on enhancing the mountain experience for guests. He also managed a multimillion-dollar budget and was a mountain manager on duty, overseeing all daily operations from opening to closing.

Prior to that, Korfiatis oversaw Mammoth’s race department and team operations, managed large-scale events, worked with schools and raised funds through the community foundation.

“I value my previous experience at a large mountain and know that’s going to help me here at Bluewood,” Korfiatis says. “At the same time, staying true to Bluewood’s identity is first and foremost.

“I appreciate the smaller feel that comes with an independently owned mountain. The staff here is awesome. It’s clear they have a passion for the mountains and an extensive history with Bluewood, and I look forward to learning all I can from them. I’m also happy with the current ownership group and their investment in this place. I know they want Bluewood to keep growing and expanding. I want to make sure all of the things that Kim started come to fruition, and that this mountain continues to be a place where you bring your family and you have a great time.”

Born and raised in Wenatchee, Korfiatis grew up skiing at Mission Ridge and was on their race team. He remembers skiing at Bluewood for the first time when he was around age 10.

“It was snowing, and there was a ton of it,” he says. “I remember being shocked at the amount of terrain. All these little undulations and drops in and amongst the trees. If you know how to piece it together, it’s one of the greatest little mountains out there. I’m pretty stoked to experience it as an adult, honestly.”

Korfiatis’ wife, Carolyn, is from Walla Walla, and grew up skiing at Bluewood. She was a racer on the Bluewood Blazers team, now called the Bluewood Alpine Race Team (BART). The couple currently lives in Walla Walla with their two young sons.