Snowmaking underway at Killington

[deadheadskier]

They WERE trying for this weekend...Things change and they are making the right decision here. Keep pounding the upper mountain, so when the temps arrive to blow down to K1 they can open extremely fast.

right decision how?

They opened, people would ski. See their neighbor in Maine.

If you prefaced your statement with 'economic', I could see that. Reality is that given the weather and their equipment, they could open this weekend if they wanted to.

 

[Newpylong]

I do not buy the claim that opening by this weekend is not possible. As others have said, the "Beast" would not have allowed a second place finish for this race.

 

[Geoff]

My techie joke of the day:

I hear Killington changed their software system for issuing tickets and reservations. It must run on Eunuchs.

 

[jerryg]

I do understand the point presented by the fans of the resort formally known as The Beast. It would appear that the new marketing scheme rebrands K as the Beast being back and in that light, an all out October snowmaking assault would be logical, but then again, so would skiing till all the snow is gone... In June. I suppose they're 0 for 1 in that regard.

 

[Greg]

I'm done with my rant now.

This is the most ludicrous thing I've read in this entire thread. :lol:

:razz:

 

[SkiDork]

oh no, skippy is posting here now?????

 

[tcharron]

One has to wonder, if this competition was lost due to cannon versus gun.

 

[Highway Star]

My point is that Tom Horrocks spammed this forum with hype about cold weather and blowing snow for a week. When given the opportunity, he never shared the criteria for opening the mountain. Instead, he just kept twittering on about snowmaking and cold temperatures. When Steve Wright had the job, we would have gotten straight talk about what was and wasn't possible.

It's 28F with low humidity at 2000 feet. Killington could have made snow to the bottom and opted out. Sunday River didn't. In my opinion, the whole "Beast of the East" thing is a pile of crap. This is POWDR business as usual. Little wonder skier visits are in the shitter. These guys have done nothing but chase the Boston market to Boyne. The one thing I know for sure is that I'll still be around long after these guys are punted out of here for poor performance. You can't argue the facts. Traffic counts are way off on the Access Road. Sales, Meals, and Lodging are way off in the town of Killington since these guys showed up. This is all on the public record in on the State of Vermont Dept of Transportation and Dept of Taxes web pages. With the decline in business levels, real estate values have collapsed. That "partner" SP Land with all the Texas oil money ain't gonna be happy.


I'm done with my rant now.

The Beast Of The East cannot be defeated,
The Beast can only defeat itself.

 

[SpinmasterK]

bump

The Tom Horrocks hall of shame thread.

Geoff, why all the negativity towards me? if you have specific questions, ask! Feel free to pick up the phone and call me on my cell 802-770-8985 or email
me at thorrocks@Killington.com

 

[Highway Star]

Geoff, why all the negativity towards me? if you have specific questions, ask! Feel free to pick up the phone and call me on my cell 802-770-8985 or email
me at thorrocks@Killington.com

Geoof, you hurt his feelings!!!

 

[mister moose]

Geoff, why all the negativity towards me? if you have specific questions, ask! Feel free to pick up the phone and call me on my cell 802-770-8985 or email
me at thorrocks@Killington.com

Tom, obviously I'm not Geoff, and someday I wouldn't mind a phone call or a beer. But right now, the two events of Killington proclaiming the Beast is back, and then not even trying this week in the low temps just seems too contradictory to me. I have no questions for you to answer at the moment.

'The Beast of the East' is an old slogan that carries power, prestige, and intent. It was first to open and last to close. You might open second (or third, or fourth...) on "quality terrain" and "open and stay open" but you will still not be first. That is not beastly.

Lastly, if you can't open top to bottom fast enough on the current glades/Great Northern plan, and you aren't willing to blow Skyeburst or Superstar first, then consider spending a few cents on a platform to load the Snowdon Triple at the old mid station. Blow upper Bunny Buster or upper mouse Run, and a path on Conclusion to the platform. Download to the extent possible on the triple, limit ticket sales if necessary, and give a big up yours to Sunday River next year. That would be Beastly. It would show passion and enthusiasm Killington used to be known for.

The NOAA forecast at 3100 feet is now

Tonight 23
Friday night 15
Saturday night 21
Sunday night 24
Monday night 25
Tuesday night 29


Tick tick tick.

 

[Geoff]

Geoff, why all the negativity towards me? if you have specific questions, ask! Feel free to pick up the phone and call me on my cell 802-770-8985 or email
me at thorrocks@Killington.com

The negativity is all about a Killington marketing person spamming the internet. With the in-your-face "Beast of the East" marketing slogan, the natural assumption is that Killington was returning to the Preston Smith model and all the superlatives that go along with it.... first to open, last to close, blow snow on anything you can drag a hose to (including Devils Fiddle), make snow until you suck the snowmaking ponds dry (no longer possible post-Woodward Reservoir project), biggest party, most lifts, most acres, most trails, most vertical in New England, ...

I looked at the weather just like everybody else this week. The models were all over the place on storm tracks. It looked iffy to blow lower Bunny and not have it melt on Monday. Killington could have done it and opened for a couple of days but it probably would have melted after the weekend and the weekend weather looked pretty crappy. If I were making the call, I would have kept my snowmaking budget in my pocket. In my opinion, you should have come out and said that. That's how you build credibility. Instead, you allowed the rumor mill to create the false perception that you were going to open. Your job is to communicate, not create false expectations.

 

[Highway Star]

then consider spending a few cents on a platform to load the Snowdon Triple at the old mid station. Blow upper Bunny Buster or upper mouse Run, and a path on Conclusion to the platform. Download to the extent possible on the triple, limit ticket sales if necessary, and give a big up yours to Sunday River next year. That would be Beastly. It would show passion and enthusiasm Killington used to be known for.

Not.
Going.
To.
Happen.

 

[roark]

I just like that Tom's email is Thor Rocks.

 

[millerm277]

I'll cut you a break, considering it IS october 15th, no one here, including me, expected we would be arguing about if ANYONE in the east should be opened or not today, and I can somewhat understand not having everything (like fan gun installs) done by this point.

However, if you had no thought of ever going to the bottom this week, you should have just been direct with everyone. "We are NOT opening this week most likely, but we are blowing snow up high so we can open more quickly on the next cold snap." That would have probably earned you praise. Hell, if you even maybe included a reason (We open on Bunny Buster, we're still installing the fan gun there, so we can't blow snow yet), there probably wouldn't have been anyone really bitching.

 

[Greg]

a Killington marketing person spamming the internet.

I think the "spamming" comment is a tad harsh. It's that kind of attack that drove Tom away from posting on K-zone. And I've seen a lot of K-zoners say they wish he still posted there. Do you really blame him? Personally, I appreciate the updates he posts here and the follow-ups to some of the comments.

Should you be critical? Hell yeah!

I spoke with Tom on the phone this week and I know the folks up at Killington value the criticism and suggestions. Just do it with some level of class and civility.

 

[Vortex]

Tom, obviously I'm not Geoff, and someday I wouldn't mind a phone call or a beer. But right now, the two events of Killington proclaiming the Beast is back, and then not even trying this week in the low temps just seems too contradictory to me. I have no questions for you to answer at the moment.

'The Beast of the East' is an old slogan that carries power, prestige, and intent. It was first to open and last to close. You might open second (or third, or fourth...) on "quality terrain" and "open and stay open" but you will still not be first. That is not beastly.

Lastly, if you can't open top to bottom fast enough on the current glades/Great Northern plan, and you aren't willing to blow Skyeburst or Superstar first, then consider spending a few cents on a platform to load the Snowdon Triple at the old mid station. Blow upper Bunny Buster or upper mouse Run, and a path on Conclusion to the platform. Download to the extent possible on the triple, limit ticket sales if necessary, and give a big up yours to Sunday River next year. That would be Beastly. It would show passion and enthusiasm Killington used to be known for.

The NOAA forecast at 3100 feet is now

Tonight 23
Friday night 15
Saturday night 21
Sunday night 24
Monday night 25
Tuesday night 29


Tick tick tick.

This was a very good post. I grew up with K just being far above anyone in prestige. I did the travel shows and the K team had a swagger and they tallked the talk and walked the walk.


I know thigns change, but the up yours is really what SR did to K.

As far as Tom. I still think he is top notch. I see them opening in October, I just don't think they were prepared to open this early and Sunday River was. nothign to do with Tom. If Sunday River opened around Oct 30 and K did the dame thing. The conversation would be different. Just my take

 

[millerm277]

Lastly, if you can't open top to bottom fast enough on the current glades/Great Northern plan, and you aren't willing to blow Skyeburst or Superstar first, then consider spending a few cents on a platform to load the Snowdon Triple at the old mid station. Blow upper Bunny Buster or upper mouse Run, and a path on Conclusion to the platform. Download to the extent possible on the triple, limit ticket sales if necessary, and give a big up yours to Sunday River next year. That would be Beastly. It would show passion and enthusiasm Killington used to be known for.

Actually, that's the best and most realistic suggestion I've heard so far. It even used to have a midstation, so that would be possible....brilliant! A much shorter route to make snow on, still at a decent elevation (and not getting a ton of sun like KBL)...sounds like a winner to me. One lift, and you have skiing. Easy terrain and lift expansion opportunities as necessary on the opening weekend...

 

[RENO]

I'll cut you a break, considering it IS october 15th, no one here, including me, expected we would be arguing about if ANYONE in the east should be opened or not today, and I can somewhat understand not having everything (like fan gun installs) done by this point.

However, if you had no thought of ever going to the bottom this week, you should have just been direct with everyone. "We are NOT opening this week most likely, but we are blowing snow up high so we can open more quickly on the next cold snap." That would have probably earned you praise. Hell, if you even maybe included a reason (We open on Bunny Buster, we're still installing the fan gun there, so we can't blow snow yet), there probably wouldn't have been anyone really bitching.

Right! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Highway Star]

I'll cut you a break, considering it IS october 15th, no one here, including me, expected we would be arguing about if ANYONE in the east should be opened or not today, and I can somewhat understand not having everything (like fan gun installs) done by this point.

However, if you had no thought of ever going to the bottom this week, you should have just been direct with everyone. "We are NOT opening this week most likely, but we are blowing snow up high so we can open more quickly on the next cold snap." That would have probably earned you praise. Hell, if you even maybe included a reason (We open on Bunny Buster, we're still installing the fan gun there, so we can't blow snow yet), there probably wouldn't have been anyone really bitching.

The problem here is that they squandered a chance to open early, when they certainly could have done it.

Would they have stayed open? Again that's up for debate, but probably not.

When will they open? I am not at all confident they will open in October, or even by mid November. The ultimate irony is that they could certainly be prevented from opening until after thanksgiving. There's nothing to say that we'll continue to get cool weather for the next month or so.......