Seeing is believing.

And real estate developer Paul Kiebler, of Ohio, liked what he saw when he visited Peek'n Peak Resort and Conference Center in western New York, about 30 miles east of Erie.

As a result, he'll become the resort's new owner this week, perhaps as early as tomorrow. The price wasn't disclosed.

"Our plan is to build on the outstanding foundation provided by the Cross brothers and further the development of Peek'n Peak as a premier destination through significant future investments," Kiebler said in a statement.

"We plan to maintain the resort's current management team and staff, whose commitment to quality and service is clearly evident," he added.

"One of the things that drew me to the resort was the quality of people," he said. "My family and I had been to Peek'n Peak many times before signing the purchase and sale agreement and never experienced anything less than a wonderful time. The level and quality of service is what you would expect from a five-star resort."

Kiebler, 35, a skier, is the president of Kiebler Recreation LLC, the majority shareholder of which is Kiebler Properties, a real estate development and management company based in Chardon, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. The company said in a news release that it had developed more than 2,000 multifamily residential units from Cranberry to Clearwater, Fla.

In the past decade, Kiebler Properties has completed more than $250 million worth of development and has more than $350 million of development in various stages of completion, the release said. It also owns several other commercial and resort properties.

Kiebler started his career in real estate and development as a sophomore in high school. He borrowed $14,000 from his father to buy a fixer-upper, spent his summer doing exactly that and sold it for $40,000.

Norbert Cross, the president of Peek'n Peak, in Findley Lake, N.Y., said in a statement that he and his brother, Eugene, had been "very fortunate to have played a role alongside thousands of dedicated employees to help transform the resort into a successful, first-class facility and to preserve one of the Tri-State's regional assets.

"It was important to us that we pass our legacy on to someone who will mirror our vision and is equally committed to the continued growth of the resort," he said. "I knew as soon as I met Paul Kiebler that he was the natural fit for a successful transition."

"It's going to be a good deal for everyone," said General Manager Brad Gravink, who has served in a variety of capacities in his 37 years at "The Peak." "[Kiebler] is a multitalented and motivated individual who has great plans for the resort."

Gravink, whose father, Bill, was one of co-founders of the resort in 1963, said it would be exciting to be a part of the resort's new direction.

Kiebler and his wife, Jody, both of whom learned to ski in high school, returned to the slopes at The Peak last month after a 20 year hiatus. "He said it came right back to them, that it was just like riding a bike," Gravink said.

For more information, go to www.pknpk.com or call 1-716-355-4141.

Fun and games

A storm that dumped up to 11 inches of snow in the Laurel Highlands last week arrived just in time for the first X Winner Games yesterday at Seven Springs. The competition for advanced snowboarders was held in the new terrain park next to the Giant Steps slope.

Ryan Sabol and Crystal Geary won $500 each for taking first place in the Open Division for men and women. Ian Pentecost won first place in the 15 and under category and Tristan Sadler was the top rider in the 16 to 20 category. They were judged on the better of two runs. There were no entries in the 21 and over category.

The event was sponsored by the X 105.9 ( WXDX-FM), the U. S. Army, Stoli's and the Headboard snowboard and skateboard shops on the South Side and Pittsburgh Mills. The X Winner Games Rail Competition will be Feb. 25.

In addition to the competitors, the "kick up their heels" games showcased the resort's new and improved on-snow attractions for skiers and snowboarders, said spokesman Robert Duppstadt.

"We have held various snowboard competitions over the years, but this event featured an attractive cash purse. [It also] provided riders with the first opportunity to compete on the new features."

The new terrain park joins three others -- Arctic Blast for ages 4-7, Santa's Beard for intermediates and Sunset Park for advanced riders. The resort opened its first terrain park in 1995 and each one now has its own "construction" and maintenance staff.

"Terrain parks and freestyle skiing are the most significant area of growth in the industry," Duppstadt said.

New grooming equipment, dedicated snow maintenance employees and advice from terrain park consultants such as Ryan Neptune, of Planet Snow, "have resulted in nothing but positive feedback on the terrain parks and pipe," Duppstadt said. The latter, which the resorts bills as "the region's largest Super Pipe," is near the bottom of the North Face chairlift.

Dick Barron, director of winter sports said the features at each terrain park are changed every few weeks to keep them "fresh and thrilling at each level of difficulty. These parks add an amusement type of snow riding, where groups of riders see who rides a sequence the best."

"The response to the parks and pipes has been really phenomenal," he said. "Thirty to 40 percent of our clientele are snowboarders. They're the first here at the beginning of the season and the last to leave. One of the first things we do each season is open the parks so they have a place to congregate."

For more information, call toll free, 1-866-703-7625 or 1-800-452-2223.

Corporate Cup

The 22nd annual Corporate Cup Ski Race & Outing will be Feb. 26 at Seven Springs.

The event is a fund-raiser for Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh. Yes, that's the new name for the organization formerly known as Pittsburgh Vision Services and the Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind.

For more information, contact Erin Pennypacker at 412-368-4400, ext. 2292 or e-mail epennypacker@pghvis.org.