I'm sure another epic Killington thread will appear within a short while.............

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Sundown > Killington ;-)

For those who can't hang in an ultra intense social scene!!!

 

[kcyanks1]

If I skied Killington I'd be into his threads. Whether you agree with HS takes or not, he knows the place and can debate the issues.

I probably last skied Killington three seasons ago, but I still enjoy HS's threads. The challenge thread was fun. And unlike some others, I do think there is a benefit to people voicing their complaints (as well as voting with money, if they are not committed to the area).

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Is Chris Nyberg responsible for Killingtons downfall?

 

[tcharron]

So, I'll post something then.

I, personally, won't GO to Killington. Not for a long while, even if they do change. Here's why.

I do feel that they alienated me. The well off, but not that well off father of a few kids, who liked to take them to a big mountain. It's a drive, sure. But it was enjoyable family time, and the kids loved it. They still do, but not at Killington. One of the first things that made me feel not welcome didn't affect me in the slightest. It was the INCREDIBLE increase they added to local Killington kids and their families. The kids ski program went from being a bit expensive to cost prohibative. My kids weren't in it, but, I'm a dad. And I'm not going to support someplace that would screw me if I lived there. Pretty bad when small operations like Crotched, Pats Peak, Whaleback, WaaWaa, can kick your hundred pound gorilla rear end.

The second ties into the first. Making public statements that you want to be the Lexus of ski areas. Sorry, to heck with that. I'll go to another area which is just as good, but I feel welcome. Personally, that's Sunday River for me.

Third? Treating customers as though the ONLY reason they ski is because you, Killington, the ubahmount, exist. I don't need to drive a coupla hours to feel like a number. I feel more special going to Shaws and taking a ticket at the Deli line.

I personally don't have a vested interest. I really feel for you guys who feel screwed. I guess I have it easy. I just drive in the opposite direction.

 

[thetrailboss]

Pretty much the only comment I will make with regards to Killington is that I am a local guy who had the option of skiing at Killington or somewhere else. I ski at Sugarbush because I can get a full season pass (LP early season, 5 days mid season, and all late season, Ellen the rest of the time) for $600 something. Killington wanted at least $1,000 for a similar pass. Plus when I have a comment, I can get the owner or one of the managers.

When I go to the mountain for my visits, even when my pass is not visible, staff thank me for coming and greet me with a warm smile and a "welcome." When I go into the lodge to change I am not greeted with a "get your shit off the floor," instead there are signs directing me to use the free locker areas.

And at the end of last season, more than one employee said, "we appreciate your business. Will you be back next season?"

Oh, and Win is very honest and frank about the way things are. He opens the place when they can, and they stay open as long as they can.

In sum, they wanted my business; they never give me a sense that they feel that they are "entitled" to my business.

There are just too many anecdotes as to why SB is my place. There are too many nice gestures that they have made to me and others to list.

 

[RootDKJ]

I really wouldn't call TB an overzealous mod.

It would be cool if you could block two users from posting in the same thread. JJ + GSS always ends up in a ruined thread that comes down to 4th-grade level name calling.

I loved the flying pigs!

 

[JerseyJoey]

Pretty much the only comment I will make with regards to Killington is that I am a local guy who had the option of skiing at Killington or somewhere else. I ski at Sugarbush because I can get a full season pass (LP early season, 5 days mid season, and all late season, Ellen the rest of the time) for $600 something. Killington wanted at least $1,000 for a similar pass. Plus when I have a comment, I can get the owner or one of the managers.

When I go to the mountain for my visits, even when my pass is not visible, staff thank me for coming and greet me with a warm smile and a "welcome." When I go into the lodge to change I am not greeted with a "get your shit off the floor," instead there are signs directing me to use the free locker areas.

And at the end of last season, more than one employee said, "we appreciate your business. Will you be back next season?"

Oh, and Win is very honest and frank about the way things are. He opens the place when they can, and they stay open as long as they can.

In sum, they wanted my business; they never give me a sense that they feel that they are "entitled" to my business.

There are just too many anecdotes as to why SB is my place. There are too many nice gestures that they have made to me and others to list.

It all starts with Win.

When you got an owner who cares about his customers, that vibe trickles down to his employees. Then from the employees it trickles down to his customers. Then from the customers it trickles down to his customer's children, and finally it trickles down to the entire vibe that Sugarbush puts out there, and so on and so on. An guy like Win creates a very positive atmosphere for his customers and they appreciate it and spend money at Sugarbush. Win has created a lot of trust and good feeling among his customers. He is a very very smart businessman. Very smart.

Unfortunately, that doesn't exist at Killington right now. It did for years and years, and will again someday, but it doesn't exist at K right now. The animosity towards our new owners is real and people are more than just a little pissed off at the way they've been treated. Many have just up and left. That's not good for business. That's not good for anyone.

SB amd MRG are gems amongs Vermonts ski areas. I think K will rise to the occasion at some point in the future as well. You just can't treat your customers and employees like crap and expect good things to come of it. Just doesn't work that way.

The Mad River Valley will be seeing a lot more of my ski dollars this season than in the past, so even though I'm tied to Killington through real estate and other interests, I'm still able to vote with my wallet, and I will. Just another "core" customer taking a bunch of his and his family's ski dollars elsewhere. K will still get some of my family's ski dollars, but until things change, they will get a fraction of what they did from me over the last 25 years.

 

[icedtea]

Killington > seeded bumps

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It all starts with Win.

When you got an owner who cares about his customers, that vibe trickles down to his employees. Then from the employees it trickles down to his customers. Then from the customers it trickles down to his customer's children, and finally it trickles down to the entire vibe that Sugarbush puts out there, and so on and so on. An guy like Win creates a very positive atmosphere for his customers and they appreciate it and spend money at Sugarbush. Win has created a lot of trust and good feeling among his customers. He is a very very smart businessman. Very smart.

Unfortunately, that doesn't exist at Killington right now. It did for years and years, and will again someday, but it doesn't exist at K right now. The animosity towards our new owners is real and people are more than just a little pissed off at the way they've been treated. Many have just up and left. That's not good for business. That's not good for anyone.

SB amd MRG are gems amongs Vermonts ski areas. I think K will rise to the occasion at some point in the future as well. You just can't treat your customers and employees like crap and expect good things to come of it. Just doesn't work that way.

The Mad River Valley will be seeing a lot more of my ski dollars this season than in the past, so even though I'm tied to Killington through real estate and other interests, I'm still able to vote with my wallet, and I will. Just another "core" customer taking a bunch of his and his family's ski dollars elsewhere. K will still get some of my family's ski dollars, but until things change, they will get a fraction of what they did from me over the last 25 years.

No season pass for you and your family this season at Killington?? Please explain how the vibe has changed for non locals?

 

[frankm938]

looks like this thread is turning into another bitch fest, so i'd like to hear what everyones top 5 things they would do to improve killington. maybe if the same things come up often enough, killington management might do something about it

my top 5...

1 better snowmaking (more early season snowmaking on black trails, better recovery after
bad weather event)

2 seeded moguls (already something they said they would do, but havent seen it yet)

3 thinning of all tree skiing areas (they did it to growler last summer and would like to see
anarchy/julio next on the list. many of the tree runs at K are too tight and have low
branches, down trees ect...)

4 bring back the BMMC!!!!!!!!!

5 build a "real" mountain bike park. K has the perfect terrain for a whistler style bike
park and if they did it right, they would dominate the east coast downhill mtn bike
scene. whistler is jammed all summer with mtn bikers from all over (many from the
east coast)


thats my list, hopefully everyone just posts what they want at K, instead of debating other people's lists or ripping killington/powdr

 

[2knees]

looks like this thread is turning into another bitch fest, so i'd like to hear what everyones top 5 things they would do to improve killington. maybe if the same things come up often enough, killington management might do something about it

my top 5...

1 better snowmaking (more early season snowmaking on black trails, better recovery after
bad weather event)

2 seeded moguls (already something they said they would do, but havent seen it yet)

3 thinning of all tree skiing areas (they did it to growler last summer and would like to see
anarchy/julio next on the list. many of the tree runs at K are too tight and have low
branches, down trees ect...)

4 bring back the BMMC!!!!!!!!!

5 build a "real" mountain bike park. K has the perfect terrain for a whistler style bike
park and if they did it right, they would dominate the east coast downhill mtn bike
scene. whistler is jammed all summer with mtn bikers from all over (many from the
east coast)


thats my list, hopefully everyone just posts what they want at K, instead of debating other people's lists or ripping killington/powdr

My number one request would be to restore spring skiing to what it used to be, more bumps, better bumps, and leave bear open longer as well as superstar further into may. Personally, I dont need June skiing anymore, but memorial day would be nice.

A course or two would be awesome, and like you said, they've made that commitment for next year. Regardless of what people say about seeded runs, when the weather has been shitty, sometimes they can be the only decent bumps left.

 

[mondeo]

1. BMMC. I started skiing K after it was already dead, I'd like to experience it in its full glory.

2. Icing recovery. Chunks of ice smaller than volleyballs (and without hyperbole, softballs,) please.

3. Reopen the Snowshed x-over for spring skiing and spin Bear. Opens up a bunch of terrain with just 1 more lift.

4. Smaller jumps outside of the Timberline park. Traveling over to Ramshead for those uncomfortable with the big jumps on Dreammaker or unforgiving landings on the Stash isn't a very good solution.

5. Customer service. If you're trying to sell a premium product, then it needs to go beyond just cutting down on crowding/improving surface conditions by upping the ticket cost. Do something to get your lifties to stop slamming the chair into my knees. There are a few very good lifties at Killington, and the difference in the atmosphere they create is big.

 

[deadheadskier]

Whatever people continue to complain about in thread after thread, year after year, ad nauseam, that's what I want fixed.

ALL OF IT

 

[campgottagopee]

Those who call "K" home and bitch about it should try and ski at Greek Peak for a few years----I wish I had a big hill like that to complain about.

 

[tcharron]

looks like this thread is turning into another bitch fest, so i'd like to hear what everyones top 5 things they would do to improve killington. maybe if the same things come up often enough, killington management might do something about it

Stop demoting Pico to the point where it's simply a sidenote to the main mountain.

Oh, and while they're at it, at least TRY to be the first area to go to a 100$ a day ski ticket.

And affordable areas to ski and stay. Last time I called, they basically tried to push me into a 300-400$ a night room at the 'Las Killington Hotel'. Dude, I've got 3 kids skiing with me.

 

[mountainman]

Again "It is what it is.'

Go to the K for what is has. Not what is does not have. If you don't like it don't go. I used to have a sign on me desk that said. "If you going to whine bring the cheese". The K has a lot to offer just learn how to use it.

 

[St. Bear]

Those who call "K" home and bitch about it should try and ski at Greek Peak for a few years----I wish I had a big hill like that to complain about.

Amen. Try living in NJ for a winter, then get back to me.

 

[campgottagopee]

Amen. Try living in NJ for a winter, then get back to me.

Right on---I truly comsider myself lucky to have GP right in my backyard but it is small, adn I'm okay with that.

 

[Puck it]

Go to the K for what is has. Not what is does not have. If you don't like it don't go. I used to have a sign on me desk that said. "If you going to whine bring the cheese". The K has a lot to offer just learn how to use it.

As I get older, I realize that people like to complain about things. Even if these things were all fixed, they would still find things to complain about. I skied Killington a lot this year and bought a midweek pass for this year. I have no complaints. Suck up and deal and just ski the mountain.

 

[mondeo]

Go to the K for what is has. Not what is does not have. If you don't like it don't go. I used to have a sign on me desk that said. "If you going to whine bring the cheese". The K has a lot to offer just learn how to use it.

So just give up on making anything better? I'm sorry, but that's a bit of a loser attitude.

Outside of a few people, this isn't whining, this is customers giving feedback on how the skiing experience could be made better. That benefits everybody - management gets to know what would make people happier, and if they don't know what to improve, how can they make stuff better? Heck, even Highway Star is being constructive lately.