Solitude’s New COO is a Former Sugarbush Manager and Flies the Alterra Flag

[thetrailboss]

Not sure if the Trib put a slant to the article or if she actually did say some of the things that are attributed to her but I would imagine that Solitude locals who were there pre-IKON are going to be pretty disappointed. I also have a hard time understanding how one can claim to be an environmentalist and yet still want more people going up the canyon. Seems off to me.

She’s in charge of the Solitude ski area, and she doesn’t see a problem with crowds

Solitude Mountain Resort's new COO Amber Broadaway plans to focus on sustainability, both in terms of environment and the ski business.

www.sltrib.com

 

[ThatGuy]

Apparently a degree in environmental studies is enough to run a ski area. Guess I’ll start sending applications . Also how are they going to be more environmental while also pulling more water for snowmaking and advertising for people to fly in from around the country to ski there.

Also this quote seems like it was made for you lol @thetrailboss
“I am here to put the stake in the ground,” she said. “We’re owned by Alterra, we are Ikon. Solitude is Ikon. There is no other. This is who we are. And now our job is to help shepherd us forward in a growth mindset that does take into account these concerns.”

 

[thetrailboss]

Apparently a degree in environmental studies is enough to run a ski area. Guess I’ll start sending applications . Also how are they going to be more environmental while also pulling more water for snowmaking and advertising for people to fly in from around the country to ski there.

Also this quote seems like it was made for you lol @thetrailboss
“I am here to put the stake in the ground,” she said. “We’re owned by Alterra, we are Ikon. Solitude is Ikon. There is no other. This is who we are. And now our job is to help shepherd us forward in a growth mindset that does take into account these concerns.”

Agree on the snowmaking comment. The other one is . I think it is a to the IKON haters. Very interesting tact. I guess they gave up on being nice

 

[tumbler]

She's towing the company line and why not, their name is on the checks.

 

[thetrailboss]

She's towing the company line and why not, their name is on the checks.

Exactly. And this is consistent with Alterra's previous PR efforts--in that they are superficial at best. Dig below the surface and one asks the questions I did--how does one claim to be an environmentalist and yet also say that increasing crowds, snowmaking, and "growth for growth's sake"? Also, how does a company make a big deal about renaming one of its bigger resorts to be less offensive to Native Americans yet pick a name that is literally defined as a defensive wall (and one used to defend colonists against Native Americans?)

I don't have any issue with Solitude increasing traffic and skier days so long as they mitigate the impacts on everyone else. Of the four Cottonwoods resorts it always was the one that was FAR behind the competition. But ignoring the elephant in the room of the huge traffic issues they have created by providing shallow lip service just is upsetting. Every weekend the intersection of 190 and 210 now require paid police traffic control to try to direct the lines of cars now trying to get up BCC. That NEVER happened pre-IKON.

I think her interview also confirms what Solitude employees have said about the lack of local control that now exists--all the shots are being called by Alterra HQ including the talking points that are in this article even if they don't make sense considering the COO's background.

 

[Hastur]

Your hate boner for ikon always provides amusement.

 

[Smellytele]

Your hate boner for ikon always provides amusement.

He is the Hugh Conway or fbgm of ikon.

 

[ss20]

They're opening an hour earlier on weekends (8am) and closing an hour later (5pm) in the spring..... how can you hate that???

 

[mister moose]

She's towing the company line and why not, their name is on the checks.

It's toe the line. You're not towing or hauling anything, you are on the line and not an inch further, your toes are on the line.

 

[tumbler]

It's toe the line. You're not towing or hauling anything, you are on the line and not an inch further, your toes are on the line.

Ok, Boomer.

 

[Smellytele]

Ok, Boomer.

Somebody’s feelings were hurt.
Need a better comeback than that.

 

[ctdubl07]

It's toe the line. You're not towing or hauling anything, you are on the line and not an inch further, your toes are on the line.

Up until this point, I hadnt learned anything today. TY.

 

[witchway]

I heard her presentation at the Solitude Village and Homeowners meetings and she said much the same. I thought she was honest and straight forward about the new world of ski resort ownership and what it will mean for Solitude. I greatly prefer this approach than the BS we are usually given about now having more money to deploy for all kinds of goodies, and that the local focus will remain unchanged. Good for her for telling the truth.

 

[Hawk]

Sugarbush increased the number of skier visits and decreased thier dependence on focil fuel by installing solar fields and replacing snowmaking guns with ones that use less energy. At least that is what they tout. She could do the same at solitude I supose. I don't know. I used to like sking in Utah but it seems everyone is angy out there now a days about every little thing. More so than most other places. Maybe it is just me looking in from the outside.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

cottonwoods just cant handle the explosive growth of SLC. i would bet a bit further from SLC all is well. if i lived in utah i'd prob call powmow home. its huge. its close to SLC but not that close. they cap daily visitors. etc. low elevation relative to cottonwoods is a negative. and less gnar. but expansive.

 

[Hawk]

We skied Pow Mow 10 years ago in early April. Expected spring conditions but instead got 3 days where it snow lightly and accumulated 6 " each day. No one there so it was excellent low angle untracked pow all day. Powder country and lighning ridge were exceptionally good. I am sure you know what I am talking about. Love how laid back it was. We slept in the condo's up top so out the door right into powder country each morning.

 

[raisingarizona]

We skied Pow Mow 10 years ago in early April. Expected spring conditions but instead got 3 days where it snow lightly and accumulated 6 " each day. No one there so it was excellent low angle untracked pow all day. Powder country and lighning ridge were exceptionally good. I am sure you know what I am talking about. Love how laid back it was. We slept in the condo's up top so out the door right into powder country each morning.

Stress free pow skiing? Sign me up. I didn’t leave NJ 27 years ago to go out west for another sort of rat race.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Exactly. And this is consistent with Alterra's previous PR efforts--in that they are superficial at best. Dig below the surface and one asks the questions I did--how does one claim to be an environmentalist and yet also say that increasing crowds, snowmaking, and "growth for growth's sake"? Also, how does a company make a big deal about renaming one of its bigger resorts to be less offensive to Native Americans yet pick a name that is literally defined as a defensive wall (and one used to defend colonists against Native Americans?)

I don't have any issue with Solitude increasing traffic and skier days so long as they mitigate the impacts on everyone else. Of the four Cottonwoods resorts it always was the one that was FAR behind the competition. But ignoring the elephant in the room of the huge traffic issues they have created by providing shallow lip service just is upsetting. Every weekend the intersection of 190 and 210 now require paid police traffic control to try to direct the lines of cars now trying to get up BCC. That NEVER happened pre-IKON.

I think her interview also confirms what Solitude employees have said about the lack of local control that now exists--all the shots are being called by Alterra HQ including the talking points that are in this article even if they don't make sense considering the COO's background.

I guess I don't understand why on environmental concerns you see no middle ground. Frankly, taken to its logical conclusion, your perspective is that ski resorts should shut down en masse.

Costs go up. The planet is warming. Any snowsports business that doesn't factor these realities into their business plan is going to be out of business with few exceptions. I don't see how this is controversial.

And your objection to the word Palisade is kind of hilarious. You are bending over backward in a quest to be outraged. By your logic, we should abolish the word "blanket" given the infamous use of smallpox infected blankets by settlers to kill off local Native American populations. And while we're at it, let's grab the torches and pitchforks for those evil owners at Snowbird and Eagle Point. How DARE they use an avian reference in their names, yet at the same time their very operations threaten bird habitat!! And how about those evil doers at Killington - the word "kill" is literally in their name!! Oh the humanity!!!

 

[thetrailboss]

I guess I don't understand why on environmental concerns you see no middle ground. Frankly, taken to its logical conclusion, your perspective is that ski resorts should shut down en masse.

That is not MY position. It is a comment on her background and her stated position considering the impacts of increased traffic is having in BCC. Increasing snowmaking in one of the driest states in the midst of a historic drought is problematic to say the least.

And your objection to the word Palisade is kind of hilarious. You are bending over backward in a quest to be outraged.

You obviously did not see that I think that the whole name change thing is pretty funny. If it were me I would sure as HELL pick some name that had NO possible connotations. Wasn't that the point? I get that they are naming it after the cliff area at the resort, but with all the hoopla they made I just find it funny that this was what they came up with. This is from Wikipedia and took 30-seconds to find:

Palisaded settlements were common in Colonial America, for protection against indigenous peoples and wild animals. The English settlements in both Jamestown, Virginia (1607) and Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620) were originally fortified towns surrounded by palisades.

My money was on Olympic Valley. I was partially right.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

That is not MY position. It is a comment on her background and her stated position considering the impacts of increased traffic is having in BCC. Increasing snowmaking in one of the driest states in the midst of a historic drought is problematic to say the least.

You obviously did not see that I think that the whole name change thing is pretty funny. If it were me I would sure as HELL pick some name that had NO possible connotations. Wasn't that the point? I get that they are naming it after the cliff area at the resort, but with all the hoopla they made I just find it funny that this was what they came up with. This is from Wikipedia and took 30-seconds to find:



My money was on Olympic Valley. I was partially right.

"That is not MY position. It is a comment on her background and her stated position considering the impacts of increased traffic is having in BCC. Increasing snowmaking in one of the driest states in the midst of a historic drought is problematic to say the least."

How so? Knowing that nearly all of that water gets returned to the same watershed in the Spring, why do you find this so problematic?

Regarding Palisades, that wasn't a term invented for fortifications used to defend colonialists from Native Americans, so I'm struggling to understand your ironic reference that somehow Alterra screwed up by not spotting that connection. They have the internet too. All you prove by making that connection is that your apparent distaste for Alterra has clouded your judgment.

I would have been for Olympic Valley as well but I've read elsewhere that they were prevented from doing so by the IOC. And then again, the IOC did Jim Thorpe dirty by stripping him of his medals after he competed when they found out he once played for a minor league baseball team. Since he was Native American as well, I guess we have to scratch that idea off the list too, amirite? We can play this nonsensical Six Degrees of Outrage game all day with any name you come up with.