10/11 season closings

[SIKSKIER]

It costs a lot of money to spin a lift for just a handful of people. And that handful is usually made up of season passholders. .

Which leads me to my next rant.Cannon was talking about a 4/10 closing,although I'm hearing rumblings of 4/17.Lets hope so as it was fantastic Yesterday.Back to the rant.I know its the first year with it's new lift at Mittersill but to watch that lift spin endlessly with nobody on it seems wastefull when were looking at the bottom line as a reason to close early.Yes there is plenty of coverage still on Mittersill but you have to wonder if this makes sense.In most average years that lift would already have been shut down by now.I can see if they only ran it weekends this late while the snow lasts but to watch it run totally empty makes me scratch my head.I don't think I saw 4 chairs loaded yesterday.

 

[gmcunni]

True BUT the bottom line is king when you're running the joint

no doubt.

It costs a lot of money to spin a lift for just a handful of people. And that handful is usually made up of season passholders.

it just sparks the old/ongoing debate on what they owe their season ticket holders.

Their pass money was spent back in December; making snow.

not this year.

 

[drjeff]

it just sparks the old/ongoing debate on what they owe their season ticket holders.


.

And in this day and age where a full priced, full season pass more often than not has a break even point in the 10-15 day range, is it unreasonable for a ski area owner/GM to asume that come mid-april their passholders haven't reached the break even point (random, isolated injuries excluded??) as they're deciding should they stay open or close down operations for the season??

I'm all for skiing until the last bit of snow melts, but in reality, if those last few days are mainly filled with passholders, the mountain is likely looking at an operational loss, and frankly I'd rather that cash be put towards future capital improvements than for covering a few extra days of operational loss.

Having a FEW ski areas open until the last of the snow melts out can work out financially for sure, but having lots of ski areas open until melt out just spreads that already decreased late season pool of skiers/riders and makes it less financially enticing for those that decide to go late into the season, and that's not good for anybody

 

[vinnyv11]

Yup, gotta blame all of those few time a year skier/rider people who you're seeing these days out on the golf course instead of heading North to slide on some of the best conditions of the year right now

This is my first true season sking and I have to say I keep trying to avoid the golf subject because i'm 100% focused on skiing at this point. Shame that everywhere near me is closing shop and I can't convince any of my friends to hit up VT with me. Too far for a day trip unfortunately. Be hitting Camelback and Big Boulder this weekend.

 

[drjeff]

This is my first true season sking and I have to say I keep trying to avoid the golf subject because i'm 100% focused on skiing at this point. Shame that everywhere near me is closing shop and I can't convince any of my friends to hit up VT with me. Too far for a day trip unfortunately. Be hitting Camelback and Big Boulder this weekend.

The "non snow" sports cravings are tough to ignore for so many, especially since they haven't done them for MONTHS. Throw in the fact also that in true spring conditions, the average skier/rider doesn't enjoy the wet, mushy snow as much as say a mid winter machine groomed manmade snow surface, and it's not all that tough to see why so many people would rather not add on a few more late season days on the hill (a place they've been going for the last 3 -4 months) verses getting back into a sport that they could very well equally enjoy that they haven't done in a while. It's such a catch 22 since so many of the same peolple will be eagerly awaiting 1st turns in Nov/Dec when the conditions aren't anywhere near as good as they are now

 

[HD333]

it's not all that tough to see why so many people would rather not add on a few more late season days on the hill (a place they've been going for the last 3 -4 months) verses getting back into a sport that they could very well equally enjoy that they haven't done in a while. It's such a catch 22 since so many of the same peolple will be eagerly awaiting 1st turns in Nov/Dec when the conditions aren't anywhere near as good as they are now

This is my wife, she loves skiing and all the fun that comes with it but she point blank has told me she is done for the season. I guess being away every weekend after New Years can grow old on some people.

Not me.

 

[gmcunni]

And in this day and age where a full priced, full season pass more often than not has a break even point in the 10-15 day range, is it unreasonable for a ski area owner/GM to asume that come mid-april their passholders haven't reached the break even point (random, isolated injuries excluded??) as they're deciding should they stay open or close down operations for the season??

if we had a crappy winter and shitty spring with lots of rain and places were closing earlier than expected siting "poor conditions due to weather beyond our control" i don't think they'd be giving back refunds

 

[wa-loaf]

The "non snow" sports cravings are tough to ignore for so many, especially since they haven't done them for MONTHS. Throw in the fact also that in true spring conditions, the average skier/rider doesn't enjoy the wet, mushy snow as much as say a mid winter machine groomed manmade snow surface, and it's not all that tough to see why so many people would rather not add on a few more late season days on the hill (a place they've been going for the last 3 -4 months) verses getting back into a sport that they could very well equally enjoy that they haven't done in a while. It's such a catch 22 since so many of the same peolple will be eagerly awaiting 1st turns in Nov/Dec when the conditions aren't anywhere near as good as they are now

I find it amusing that the local golf course has an a big opening April 1 sign up ...

 

[ski stef]

Killington email offering $69 lift ticket on friday. Bring on the snow!

 

[4aprice]

This is my wife, she loves skiing and all the fun that comes with it but she point blank has told me she is done for the season. I guess being away every weekend after New Years can grow old on some people.

Not me.

Kinda of in the same situation. Wife and daughter could have no problem with putting away the skis for the year, he says as we pack for Utah. (They'll be into that) She does have a point that some (well alot) things get negleted during the ski season. My son would go year round (and may go to Hood this summer). For me the ideal season is/would be Nov 15-April 15. Beyond that I do enjoy the warm weather and the boat and other activities. I should mention that boat season usually runs May 15-approx Oct 15 so it works out well.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[drjeff]

if we had a crappy winter and shitty spring with lots of rain and places were closing earlier than expected siting "poor conditions due to weather beyond our control" i don't think they'd be giving back refunds

So then if mother nature + demand allowed for an opening 3 weeks earlier than usual and a closing 3 weeks later than usual with just bluebird days and 6-12" snowfalls every night, could a ski area charge extra??

If you're buying a pass, it's pretty much a given that what mother nature does is beyond the ski areas control and that over the course of the season you'll have some great weather days and some cr@ppy weather days. But pretty much most passholders when they buy their pass knows what to typically expect season lenth wise.

Me for example at Mount Snow, I pretty much figure that I'll be skiing from Thanksgiving to the 2nd weekend of April/Easter (depending on when Easter is that season), no matter how much/little snow may be left on the hill

 

[Black Phantom]

Killington email offering $69 lift ticket on friday. Bring on the snow!

That is the walk up price for a paper ticket.

 

[powhunter]

Add Sundown to the list ....It was a great season!!

Steveo

 

[bvibert]

Add Sundown to the list ....It was a great season!!

Steveo

Boo!!

 

[Nick]

I uploaded a new smilie just for this.

 

[gmcunni]

So then if mother nature + demand allowed for an opening 3 weeks earlier than usual and a closing 3 weeks later than usual with just bluebird days and 6-12" snowfalls every night, could a ski area charge extra??

if my pass said valid 12/15 - March 30 and they stated that an early opening or closing would require the purchase of a day ticket i'd be OK with that. as it stands today it is basically "conditions permitting" but if "conditions" are great and they are still closing i'm a bit miffed.

 

[gmcunni]

Add Sundown to the list ....It was a great season!!

Steveo

Boo!!

don't believe it, lame attempt @ April Fool's day joke. See you guys there on Sunday!

 

[o3jeff]

don't believe it, lame attempt @ April Fool's day joke. See you guys there on Sunday!

See you there, if they aren't open we can start a riot.

 

[bvibert]

don't believe it, lame attempt @ April Fool's day joke. See you guys there on Sunday!

See you there, if they aren't open we can start a riot.

I seriously hope you're right...

 

[o3jeff]

I seriously hope you're right...

You'll be bumping chairs, won't you?