Honestly, that pisses me off. Bad enough the paying customers have to fight to get a run on Inverness/Brambles these days, why is GMVS allowed to trash four runs prior to Mt. Ellen open? Pick one and that's it.
-
Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!
You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!
The "Sugarbush Thread"
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
If they're sticking to groomers...there's not much to "trash" by them simply training on them. If they were letting them ski the natural trails...then I'd agree with your point.
How are they trashing 4 runs? If anything they will be in better shape because they have been groomed every night for a few weeks before being opened unlike LP where they open with wet slop whales. Don't disagree about Inverness and Brambles though. Brambles should actually be Inverness Jr, that trail has been ruined.
Even with grooming, Inverness on the side they usually run their course is pretty sad - RHS only if you find it open, barring a powder day of course. Also don't think grooming a lot early on is beneficial. Sure, if it snows go out and groom and keep it from getting in the woods but otherwise, leave it be until opening. I'm not anti-grooming in season, though sometimes wish they had a lighter touch.
@tumbler - totally agreen on the whales, and not just early season
In years past I have skinned at north while GMX was spinning for GMVS, the kids were skiing every run below the unloading zone, not sure they were supposed to.
If I were Sugarbush or Alterra, I would squeeze GMVS for some ridiculous annual fee, and if not received, provoke access. What the mountain provides for GMVS is so lopsided compared to what they receive back in return in terms of visitors and spend.
Doesn't GMVS already pay Sugarbush?
Yes. A lot. On top of IKON that all kids buy. They are making money off them and it gets ME in good shape for when it opens for the other paying customers. And keeps most of them off the limited terrain at LP.
I completely disagree that grooming isn't beneficial. The snow they make requires several grooms to really ski well generally. So I agree with tumbler that if anything, this is more beneficial than not (for those trails). Again if they're letting them ski other natural trails, then I don't necessarily like that. Although I'll also say that sometimes letting snow sit for days/weeks without being touched isn't always as great as people think. I recall one year where ME opening day was actually terrible even though so much terrain was untouched. There was a firm layer on top that some human grooming would have greatly helped break up and make more enjoyable.
Yes, it is no fun skiing when the racers are using everyone as human gates.
Newpylong
Well-known member
Do you know how much the mountain charges GMVS? I ask because I am a GMVS alumni, and Sugarbush is certainly not allowing the service on the cheap.
That money goes into early season snowmaking and a decent skiing mountain when they decide to open up Ellen. It has been the same arrangement since the beginning of time. The Hill fees help subsidize operating Ellen mid-week, which is a ghost town and burns cash.
Last edited:
Plowboy
Active member
GMVS also has their own groomer and operator.
That they rent (machine) and pay (human)
It's a really big number. They pay to operate a lift they own as well (t-bar)
Yep. Big number. Plus what each family pays for full IKON pass.
ducky
Active member
Full Ikon plus $1000 extra per kid, plus per diem use fee to be open.
It's not the academy racers using skiers as gates, it's the weekend ski club.
Surprisingly, Steins was rather good.
ducky
Active member
That figure is incorrect
What is the correct figure / your source?
Similar threads
