SKI Magazine Top 10 Eastern Resorts 2011-2012

[AdironRider]

Truth, although I will say Ive had some of my better ski bar experiences at the Rack?. Not sure on the name actually but the one owned by the pro snowboarder on the access road.

Bonfires outside, sweet vibe, cool local cover bands. The apres scene at the Loaf isnt all bad.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Cause.... its pretty much the truth. Not gonna get in this arguement with a bunch of people who obv have their bias as well... I'll ski my mountain and you ski yours.

I actually have no bias. I am from central Maine originally, learned to ride at Squaw in the early/mid 90's and Sugarloaf was my random weekend place throughout my school years and a place to go while back hom on break from college in NH. I still go to SL while visiting the folks in Maine or meeting up with old highschool buddies. Needless to say, SL holds a special place in my heart and always will. But you, you're just a few tubes of lube away from being SL's bitch.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Truth, although I will say Ive had some of my better ski bar experiences at the Rack?. Not sure on the name actually but the one owned by the pro snowboarder on the access road.

Bonfires outside, sweet vibe, cool local cover bands. The apres scene at the Loaf isnt all bad.

You're right it's the Rack. Seth Wescott is a co-owner or something.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

And don't forget the decrepit condo stock at SL. Ughh

There are some bad ones up their, but they have some newer stuff up there now that is really nice and at times even affordable for rental. I think they have actually been investing money in some of the older ones as well. I was actually worried when going in on a place for Reggae a few years ago that my money was going towards a dump (past experience), thankfully we got a really nice place for a couple nights.

 

[lmgrnjeep]

I actually have no bias. I am from central Maine originally, learned to ride at Squaw in the early/mid 90's and Sugarloaf was my random weekend place throughout my school years and a place to go while back hom on break from college in NH. I still go to SL while visiting the folks in Maine or meeting up with old highschool buddies. Needless to say, SL holds a special place in my heart and always will. But you, you're just a few tubes of lube away from being SL's bitch.

really was that necessary I have been totally subtle with this convo and all i get back is immature responses. well you guys hacve a great season. maybe ill see you at the summit but prob not.

 

[Ski the Moguls]

And don't forget the decrepit condo stock at SL. Ughh

The condo units near the base of the Snubber chair are very nice. And just the fact that SL has all those units on slope is great, too.

But back to the lift situation. What is the deal with the Burnt Mountain expansion. SL keeps talking about all the new acreage, yet no new lifts? Stop cutting trees and put that money into new lfts. Again, the mountain is awesome already - they just need better lifts.

 

[rocojerry]

I'm glad some of my favorites were not on the list, more POW for me!

 

[Gnarcissaro]

really was that necessary I have been totally subtle with this convo and all i get back is immature responses. well you guys hacve a great season. maybe ill see you at the summit but prob not.

Dude, you need to grow some thicker skin.

Can't get bent outta shape when a random name on a computer screen starts to pick on you and your beloved SL a little.

PS - I love the place, but unfortunately SL's lifts are it's Achilles heel. You know it, I know it. Everyone knows it.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

The condo units near the base of the Snubber chair are very nice. And just the fact that SL has all those units on slope is great, too.

But back to the lift situation. What is the deal with the Burnt Mountain expansion. SL keeps talking about all the new acreage, yet no new lifts? Stop cutting trees and put that money into new lfts. Again, the mountain is awesome already - they just need better lifts.

The cutting of Burnt Mountain (Bracket Basin Area) really doesn't cost much and gives them some great PR. However I would not be shocked if you were to see a surface lift go in, with some boundry area trails eventually. However as you said they have other pressing needs ie lifts, which the cutting/thinning of Burnt is not preventing them from installing new lifts. All this said, during their most recent state of the Mountain/Town Meeting style meeting they covered this topic. The plan is to move the current King Pine over to replace Dubble Runner (I think) and install a new DetachQuad, which will be increased in length down the mountain to pick up some of the spillout from Burnt. I believe the length mentioned either in that meeting or somewhere that it would be 1000' longer. Finally they would like to put in a new surface lift running from Spillway/Timberline, somewhere up high. The point of this lift is to make the summit reachable on windy days when Timberline is down. I think either Sugarloaf or Sugarloaftoday.com has the link to the Wski Tv recording of this event.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

really was that necessary I have been totally subtle with this convo and all i get back is immature responses. well you guys hacve a great season. maybe ill see you at the summit but prob not.

Man you wouldn't last two seconds at Kzone.

I was proving a point, sort of, you were dissing on Joey's and pretty much every Vermont Ski area with one of your posts, so I returned the favor, somewhat in jest. I personally thought my lest sentence was funny. Perhaps a smilies... was in order.

 

[AdironRider]

If the amount of butthurt in this thread was powder wed be tits deep in the good stuff right now.

 

[Tooth]

The lifts at SL are old but I ride them without ever worrying about the fiasco that happened last year. Like someone here said, if that CNN reporter wasnt on the lift when it happened it wouldnt be the major story that it was/is. Three new lifts in the next 3 years should help some. And theres more after that. Boyne has only owned the place for a few years and even in the bad economy we are in and in light of the spillway incident skier visits were up a pretty good margin. Enough to excite the investment firm to keep putting money into SL. We all know the infrastructure is aged pretty well but give SL a few years of proper management and some much needed well placed improvements and I think everyones tune will change. That and the opening of eastern BB with Burnt summit access. I love reading posts from the hardcores. How can anyone not know who a two time olympic gold medalist is? Real impressive. And you ride?

 

[riverc0il]

Here's the deal... most average skier's haven't skied a lot of mountains. Thus they can not properly compare. Hell, I bet most AZ'ers haven't even skied two dozen mountain (MOST not all so don't get all up and at me if you have). AZers certainly have more than average industry knowledge and can tell a bit about a mountain without actually visiting it. But Joe Average skier usually knows nothing about a mountain until they visit it except for what the marketing department feeds them. And Joe Average skier is on average going to visit the big name resorts with the most snow making, grooming, and overall dependency and amenities. So the polls reflect that.

And you know what? That is OKAY. Folks are allowed to love different areas for different reasons INCLUDING the reason of ignorance for lack of experience or knowledge. And some folks can say that the Loaf has better terrain than Stowe (because they haven't experienced all of Stowe's terrain or just don't care for challenging terrain off piste ), either way... it's fine. Preferences, opinions, likes, dislikes, no one is right, no one is wrong. And ski mag gets paid by advertizers.

Ahhhh, the annual rip Ski Magazine Survey apart thread. Can't be long now!!!

:beer:

 

[Tooth]

By the way I think Stowe and most of the mountains in VT are amazing and I will be so happy when my four kids are all enrolled at UVM so I can buy them an apartment and get unlimited area visits. This is been my master plan for a few years. My oldest son is a freshman at CVA with a brother to follow in two years, followed by two more, so choosing a college with outstanding riding nearby is a must have at all costs and I'm in 100%. I dont want them out west where I cant make sure they are on the right path pretty often. I own a home at SL so I too am very biased. I have ridden enough to really appreciate a great mountain and there are a ton in all of New England. I live in the immediate Camden area so I ride the Snow Bowl everyday I am not riding at SL. The Snow Bowl has many amazing things about it like riding with ocean views. When the conditions are on I'm cool being anywhere with friends and family all ripping it up. Thats all.

:beer:

 

[Smasandian]

Here's the deal... most average skier's haven't skied a lot of mountains. Thus they can not properly compare. Hell, I bet most AZ'ers haven't even skied two dozen mountain (MOST not all so don't get all up and at me if you have). AZers certainly have more than average industry knowledge and can tell a bit about a mountain without actually visiting it. But Joe Average skier usually knows nothing about a mountain until they visit it except for what the marketing department feeds them. And Joe Average skier is on average going to visit the big name resorts with the most snow making, grooming, and overall dependency and amenities. So the polls reflect that.

And you know what? That is OKAY. Folks are allowed to love different areas for different reasons INCLUDING the reason of ignorance for lack of experience or knowledge. And some folks can say that the Loaf has better terrain than Stowe (because they haven't experienced all of Stowe's terrain or just don't care for challenging terrain off piste ), either way... it's fine. Preferences, opinions, likes, dislikes, no one is right, no one is wrong. And ski mag gets paid by advertizers.

Ahhhh, the annual rip Ski Magazine Survey apart thread. Can't be long now!!!

:beer:

Yeppers.

Being from Ottawa and knowing a few skiers (don't know if you call them hardcore or not) but most of them visit Mont Tremblant and not bother with any of Eastern Townships resorts or Jay Peak.

Why? In their mind, it's the only big mountain near them. I ask them, "why not visit Jay, or Sutton?". Their reply is always, "oh yeah those places, I heard they were good, I might check them out". They never do. It's all about marketing and being like it's always been.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I know it's a readers poll but it goes to show you how much of an uphill climb Jay Peak has when promoting their brand

Jay's problem has been, is, and ever shall be, location.

It's just a PITA to get there. I'm glad I have a free place to crash at near there, because Jay is great, but I probably wouldn't ski there every year if I didnt.

NY wantabees get Ski mag as they sit in their concrete jungle

I'm sitting in my "concrete jungle", and I havent even received my 1st free issue of SKI yet. Whom should I take this complaint to?

SUGARLOAF HAD A LIFT COLLAPSE WHILE FILLED WITH GUESTS!

Jesus christ people, take the jaded goggles off and think of the facts. Sugarloaf cannot honestly be ranked as one of the best ski resorts if critical lift infastructure is failing with paying customers on it. Period, end of story.

Where's your sense of adventure? Imminent risk of death only adds to the excitement.

The data that is collected from this poll is from a bunch of wealthy intermediate skiers from where the majority of the population is in the east. NY and MA.

So you're saying that a skiing poll's results are biased towards the actual skiing market? Could you perhaps expand on this point.

 

[MonkeyBrook]

Paying the price of what, not being on the "SKI Glamour Destination List" where all the wanna be jersey shore family's gather to spend there trust fund. I honestly could care less if they were on the list or not. The true skier knows that sugarloaf is a great mountain and will come back for that reason the skiing experience not the shops and spa treatments. They come to ski and ride and enjoy the vibe of the Loaf.

No i am not on the payroll just a dedicated sugarloafer since 1990.

I am actually from originally from NJ, living in Maine...we have place at SR...your attitude towards SL is probably one of the reasons why voters didnt vote it in. We ski a SL a number of times each year, between wind holds, broken lifts, crowds at Superquad....there are issues...as have been pointed out by other. The terrain is great indeed, but you pay the price. You have to admit it is difficult to get too, lots of days of no or limited skiing...this hurts you in the poll...plus the attitude of SL (as evident in your many posts) are offensive to many and I would bet hurt your ratings. Did I say that yet?

The comments about rich people from NY and MA and NJ shore trust funds....seriously? do you think you would have a mt if those folks didnt come and spend $$ up there? Ever been to jersey shore, NY, or even Boston....you sound like a hermit who doesnt leave SL.......and oh, your comments on Stowe note being a great mt are laughable..especially since you only skied there 2 days..hardly a sampling. The snow at Stowe blows the snow away at SL, not even in same league. Open your eyes, there is a big ski world out there...SL isnt the only ski mt in the east.

Carry on.....

 

[lmgrnjeep]

I love how you guys get so ralled up over what i say, it's kind of comical. I am not a hermit by any means. as I have stated before I have my bias and you have yours. If you know how to get around the mountain and not go down to the base then there is no issue with crowds. Yes the lifts are old.... as stated about a hundred times in this thread. Not trying to make enemies here but some of you just dont know when to stop. You guys are so bitter about sugarloaf. I know they have there issues with infrastructure and condos being outdate but the mountain has been open for over 60 years. It is a place to get away from the stress of the big city. Yes it is a long drive for most but in my opinion it is worth the trip.

Have a great winter guys, the cold is coming. Maybe get some turns in my Halloween at SR.

 

[Black Phantom]

I love how you guys get so ralled up over what i say, it's kind of comical. I am not a hermit by any means. as I have stated before I have my bias and you have yours. If you know how to get around the mountain and not go down to the base then there is no issue with crowds. Yes the lifts are old.... as stated about a hundred times in this thread. Not trying to make enemies here but some of you just dont know when to stop. You guys are so bitter about sugarloaf. I know they have there issues with infrastructure and condos being outdate but the mountain has been open for over 60 years. It is a place to get away from the stress of the big city. Yes it is a long drive for most but in my opinion it is worth the trip.

Have a great winter guys, the cold is coming. Maybe get some turns in my Halloween at SR.

Do you drive a lmgrnjeep little man?

 

[lmgrnjeep]

Do you drive a lmgrnjeep little man?

again with the rudeness. Yes i drive a jeep....