Can I earn turns at MRG with a splitboard?

[snafu]

Like the title says am I allowed to skin up MRG and ride with a splitboard? I heard one of the reasons snowboarders aren't allowed is because the single chair wasn't adequate to handle unloading.

 

[dmc]

No.. The reason that there is no riding at MRG is that they want to preserve some sort of thing that you can't get with your friends that ride around...

 

[Talisman]

I would ask MRG. I think that teleboards are allowed on the lifts. More than a few people hike up and board down MRG in the early season.

 

[abc]

But why?

I thought the only reason to ride in a resort is so you get the lift to take you up? Otherwise, isn't it better to ride in the back country with no competition for powder?

 

[Mullen]

I've done it before the lifts open up there. It's actually the only time I've ever been to MRG.

Remember Jake Burton's "poachers" contest.

 

[snafu]

But why?

I thought the only reason to ride in a resort is so you get the lift to take you up? Otherwise, isn't it better to ride in the back country with no competition for powder?

Why not? Because its there, and I was figuring if I was to spend time in the MRV why not try MRG if its possible. There are many other BC places I would love to try, such as the Slide Brook Basin at Sugarbush to name one. So suggesting a place other than MRG is not helpful here.

Also there are reasons other than lift access that draws me to certain mountains. Magic let people earn their turns, saw people walking up when I was there and they were definitely enjoying themselves. I think a couple people were seeing if they could beat the red chair up:razz:

 

[JD]

Yes, you can...
On a side...I waorked with one of the 2 snowboarders that got Riding banned at MRG. The lift story was not true. What really happened was that the locals, that started snowboarding, were limited to only the double chair because the skiers thought it was too dangerous to let them on the single, or were just being snobby about it. This was BITD, the one year riding was allowed at MRG. Finally, these two locals had enough and tracked down Bestsy at the Mad Barn while she was doing laundry or some such. They pestered and pestered, offering to take skills test to make sure they could handle themselves on the steerper terrain (which we know they can), but Betsy wouldn't budge. Finally, one of the young riders said, " Besty, being a snowboarder at MRG is like being black in the 50s." She turned and said, " how about if there was NO snowboarding at MRG?" They froze. She couldn't be seirous. Alas. When they got up to the hill the next day they realized she was. Soon there after it cooped and every year they vote on what to do. I heard last year the vote was almost 50:50.
Earning turns at resorts before they open is a legit way to score untracked snow. Once all the areas open up, you have to head into the trees which hopefully are filled in by the time SBNorth, Burke, Spruce, and the Gondi at Stowe open....otherwise you have to wait for snow and go before the lifts open...

 

[polski]

Soon there after it cooped and every year they vote on what to do. I heard last year the vote was almost 50:50.

There are not annual votes on this. No time to dig through old board/shareholder meeting minutes on the website to confirm but I'm pretty sure there was just one vote, in the late '90s I think, and the ban was upheld by something like 70% of those voting. (It is sometimes noted that this amounts to fewer than half of shareholders -- to which I say, just like US presidents get elected by fewer than half of eligible American voters, those who care enough to cast a ballot.)

I second what Talisman said -- call the MRG office and ask. I do know they're friendly to snowboarders earning turns even when lifts are spinning. I've seen boarders nearing the summit on ascent and congratulated them on their feat.

 

[riverc0il]

I heard last year the vote was almost 50:50.

I don't recall that there was a vote on the snowboard ban last year nor do I think there has there been since I have been a coop member (almost three years now).

Regarding earning turns at MRG before the lifts start turning, go for it. Maybe you will get some snide remarks but I hope other skinners would be more respectful. During lift operation, I would recommend being careful as skinning during operations could be viewed as a safety issue.

 

[JD]

I don't recall that there was a vote on the snowboard ban last year nor do I think there has there been since I have been a coop member (almost three years now).

Regarding earning turns at MRG before the lifts start turning, go for it. Maybe you will get some snide remarks but I hope other skinners would be more respectful. During lift operation, I would recommend being careful as skinning during operations could be viewed as a safety issue.

Hmm. I was told there was a vote every year. How do you fell about the Ban, you're an owner. Seems completely rediculous to me.

 

[Greg]

Hmm. I was told there was a vote every year. How do you fell about the Ban, you're an owner. Seems completely rediculous to me.

As of the challenge in 2004 regarding the snowboarding ban:

There are a few snowboards who own shares and they have not been terribly vocal about the issue. It really is a non-issue for the management and the shareholders. It only takes 3 trustees (out of 9) or a petition of 10% of the shareholders to bring it to a vote. This has never happened and there has never even been an initiative of any kind. In fact there was only one “straw poll” taken during the co-op’s first season and it has never come up again.

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/challenge/2004/response.htm?resort=madriver

2005 challenge response regardng holding a "boarder day":

Actually we are VERY concerned about money! This is a very competitive industry with relatively slim margins and we take nothing for granted. I am constantly trying to find ways of increasing revenues and traffic, especially in our slower times. I have actually brought up this very idea to the co-op's board of trustees once or twice over the years (I have been MRG's marketing director for 10 years). My idea was to do it ion April Fools Day! The idea kind of went over "like a fart in church". The co-op board members are elected by the 1,700 odd skier-owners of the mountain. The shareholders CLEARLY do not want to allow snowboarding and the board reflects their views. While there was some very limited support for the idea the concern over the backlash and the "slippery slope" (allow this, then what?) more than offset any potential financial or public relations benefit.

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/challenge/2005/response.htm?resort=madriver

Nothing more current than that, but I suspect the 50:50 vote thing is a rumor among the snowboarding crowd.

 

[JD]

yea, the guy who told me that was one of the guys who was involved in the initial event that got riding banned there. Quick research Greg...impressive.

 

[Greg]

Quick research Greg...impressive.

Please don't think it was a "neener neener" kind of thing. I just remember Eric talking about it during the early ski area challanges.

 

[JD]

Not at all. I like to know the truth about the situation, and after working in the valley for 2 years, I heard alot of folk lore about it. Thnks.

 

[dmc]

Nothing more current than that, but I suspect the 50:50 vote thing is a rumor among the snowboarding crowd.

Never heard of it....

 

[riverc0il]

Hmm. I was told there was a vote every year. How do you fell about the Ban, you're an owner. Seems completely rediculous to me.

I bought a share at Mad River because I never want the place to change and I wanted to support the effort to keep it that way. The ban is what it is and it has become part of the character of the mountain. The ban may have started as a bit of interpersonal ugliness between a former owner and a few individuals but it has become a part of the mountain. I am in favor of it... in the least so it continues to give us something to talk about here on AZ....

:smash:

 

[JD]

PS, I love the Mtn, but don't believe in exclusion based on how people express themselves going down the Mtn. I agree that it is a special place, but not because there are no snowboarders.

 

[dmc]

The ban is what it is and it has become part of the character of the mountain.

The ban is what it is because you and others vote for it. It's not quite as spiritual as you portray it to be. Maybe you find character by the lack of snowboarders.. But it's a character thats created by a ban.

 

[riverc0il]

The ban is what it is because you and others vote for it. It's not quite as spiritual as you portray it to be. Maybe you find character by the lack of snowboarders.. But it's a character thats created by a ban.

I never voted for it but I would if it came up again. I never portrayed it as spiritual and I think my post had elements of your last sentence in it and I completely agree. And it is part of the mountain now.

You guys would never sway someone by talking logically about the whole thing. The most likely reason the ban is going to continue is I suspect most MRG shareholders don't have sliding buds that are boarders. The ban would probably upset me if my sliding bud couldn't go there with me. Selective morality for me, I admit it, I ain't seeing the other side of the coin and most other shareholders don't either. At least I will admit it.

 

[dmc]

Thats what really sucks about it... I could really care less until ALL my friends are there.... Then it sucks..

I've tried to do the tele thing but I'm just not good enough to go where they go... Maybe this year - I'm going to spend my unemployment getting better at tele.