Ski resorts hours of operations

[skiNEwhere]

Maybe it's me, but it seems like ski resorts have been skimming the hours they are open. I'll add the caveat that I rarely ever skied before Christmas on the East Coast, so the hours may vary. But I've always skied from first to last chair which was always 8am-4pm. Flash forward to me in Colorado, I am at Vail (last season, on the weekend), and it's almost 8am, and I was gonna get in line for the Vista Bahn Quad, but there is no one inline. I check the trail map and they say they open at 8:30am. I just checked Copper Mountain the other day and they say they currently close at 3:30PM (Could be because it's still early season?)

It seems to me that ski resorts are skimming skiers out of an hour of skiing. I didn't check every ski resort on the East Coast, but I did notice K-Mart open's the K-1 gondola at 8am, and closes at 4pm.

WTF Mate?:angry:

 

[ScottySkis]

I'm not sure but usually seems to me on weekend most hills I go to open at 830 for regular customer and go to 4. I always thought it be great idea to sell lift tickets for 3 hour time lengths.

 

[Cheese]

Early season in NE the sun goes behind the mountain by 2pm so even though they're open till 4pm, it's flat light and the trails are already used and abused. There was one time I showed up at 8 to a resort that "opened" at 8:30 only to find that "open" meant the lodge and the chairlift didn't spin till 9. That rubbed me a little wrong.

 

[drjeff]

It's really simple if you look an observe what the "typical" customer does these days.

1st Chair (at whatever time) you've got a few diehard day ticket buyers and some of the locals/season passholders (the locals/season pass holders will usually be done with their day within 2 to 3 hours unless its a powder day when they may squeeze in an extra hour or so)

About 1 to 3 hours after 1st chair is when typically the masses of day ticket buyers show up for their usual 4 or 5 runs before lunch followed by another 3 or 4 runs after lunch. Most of them will be done with their day by 2/2:30

As the majority of season passholders leave by lunchtime, they're replaced by the 1/2 day ticket buying crowd, who will grab usually their 5 to 7 runs and be done by 3:30

After about 3/3:15, most folks have quit. There's just a few families left on the slopes. All the adults without kids have either headed for their cars or headed for the base lodge bar for some apres.

While this doesn't describe everyone and every area, it sums up the vast majority of ski areas and patrons these days, and as such, especially in the modern era where high speed lifts abound and the "average" ticket buyer atleast thinks they're getting more runs in per day than they used to, ski areas have adjusted their operating hours to reflect the modern reality for better or worse

 

[AdironRider]

It's really simple if you look an observe what the "typical" customer does these days.

1st Chair (at whatever time) you've got a few diehard day ticket buyers and some of the locals/season passholders (the locals/season pass holders will usually be done with their day within 2 to 3 hours unless its a powder day when they may squeeze in an extra hour or so)

About 1 to 3 hours after 1st chair is when typically the masses of day ticket buyers show up for their usual 4 or 5 runs before lunch followed by another 3 or 4 runs after lunch. Most of them will be done with their day by 2/2:30

As the majority of season passholders leave by lunchtime, they're replaced by the 1/2 day ticket buying crowd, who will grab usually their 5 to 7 runs and be done by 3:30

After about 3/3:15, most folks have quit. There's just a few families left on the slopes. All the adults without kids have either headed for their cars or headed for the base lodge bar for some apres.

While this doesn't describe everyone and every area, it sums up the vast majority of ski areas and patrons these days, and as such, especially in the modern era where high speed lifts abound and the "average" ticket buyer atleast thinks they're getting more runs in per day than they used to, ski areas have adjusted their operating hours to reflect the modern reality for better or worse

Completely agree and I personally have no qualms with the standard 8:30 or 9 to 4 operating schedule.

Outside of the best of days or long lazy spring days, its pretty rare Im out there getting after it on skied out trails after 3-4 hours. BC tours being the exception, although I can do a pass lap in about an hour and a half if I boogie.

 

[abc]

It seems to me that ski resorts are skimming skiers out of an hour of skiing. I didn't check every ski resort on the East Coast, but I did notice K-Mart open's the K-1 gondola at 8am, and closes at 4pm.

WTF Mate?:angry:

I'm not sure about the "skimming" part.

Realistically, resorts may or may not be able to open before 8:30 or 9. After all, lifties and patrol need to be there. And I'm not sure if any of them feel strongly about working 10-12 hour days.

As for closing 3:30. Yes, it's kind of early. But, early season, the sun goes down a little after 4. So 3:30 is pretty darn close. In the big mountains of Colorado, if you run the up lift at 4, only the die-hard will go up for that "one last run" at high speed... and someone will crash & got hurt high up in the mountain!

I do wish they keep the lift running later in the season though. In March, the Sun will be out till 5-6. It's a shame to have to go home at 4:30.

 

[skiNEwhere]

I'm not sure about the "skimming" part.

I say skimming because resorts seem to charging more every season, while cutting back the hours of operation by 30 minutes.

If they've always kept the hours (even if it's been 9am-3:30pm), then I don't view it as skimming, because they're not trying to pull a "fast one"

 

[AdironRider]

I say skimming because resorts seem to charging more every season, while cutting back the hours of operation by 30 minutes.

If they've always kept the hours (even if it's been 9am-3:30pm), then I don't view it as skimming, because they're not trying to pull a "fast one"

It couldnt possibly be costs have increased now could it? If you owned a resort, would you spend the thousands of dollars a day it would cost to bring in a full staff, utilities, additional maintenance on equipment, so a miniscule amount of your customers can get in an extra lap? No you wouldnt.

This problem of I deserve more for less seems especially prevalent in the ski world.

 

[steamboat1]

Killington announced last season that lifts will open at 8:30 on weekends instead of the traditional time of 8:00. I guess they got so much negative feedback that this year it was first announced that the K-1 gondola will spin at 8:00 on weekends then it was announced that the North Ridge chair would also spin at 8:00. Killington also changed the opening time of the Skyeship gondola last year from 9:00 to 9:30. Haven't heard anything this year indicating they'll go back to the original opening time.

If you like getting out early you could always go to Stowe. Their hours of operation have stayed the same for years. 7:30 opening on weekends & 8:00 during the week.

 

[Smellytele]

It couldnt possibly be costs have increased now could it? If you owned a resort, would you spend the thousands of dollars a day it would cost to bring in a full staff, utilities, additional maintenance on equipment, so a miniscule amount of your customers can get in an extra lap? No you wouldnt.

This problem of I deserve more for less seems especially prevalent in the ski world.

I deserve nothing but nor do they. They need to work for my business not the other way around.

 

[AdironRider]

I deserve nothing but nor do they. They need to work for my business not the other way around.

Did I say anything about it being deserved? No.

No arguments about them earning my business, but it sounds like to you they need to spend thousands to earn just a couple bucks, and no business owner is going to do that just to earn praise from SmellyTele.

My ultimate point is that being a smart business manager does not equal pulling a fast one, which seems to be a problem thats much more prevalent in the ski industry than others.

My wife is a competitive wakeboarder. You never hear people bitching about gas or the cost of a boat because its the nature of the beast. As time goes on things get more expensive or you lose capability/options for the same money. Such is life. Not everyone is just out to screw the little guy.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Right now it doesn't bother me much because the days are short. In the spring, when there is more light, more terrain, and better snow.. I will always ski until the last lift spins.

And we will have another hour or 1.5 hours to work with at that point.

 

[skiNEwhere]

It couldnt possibly be costs have increased now could it? If you owned a resort, would you spend the thousands of dollars a day it would cost to bring in a full staff, utilities, additional maintenance on equipment, so a miniscule amount of your customers can get in an extra lap? No you wouldnt.

I've read a few of your posts, and I love how you post all of your opinions as fact, and that you have a sarcastic answer for anyone who doesn't agree. (sarcasam, in case you didn't notice)

Not to mention you totally misunderstood what I said.

I'm talking about how I don't like ski resorts charging more while shortening the ski hours from previous years. I'll take the price increase if I get the SAME hours. That's not more for less.

 

[AdironRider]

I've read a few of your posts, and I love how you post all of your opinions as fact, and that you have a sarcastic answer for anyone who doesn't agree. (sarcasam, in case you didn't notice)

Not to mention you totally misunderstood what I said.

I'm talking about how I don't like ski resorts charging more while shortening the ski hours from previous years. I'll take the price increase if I get the SAME hours. That's not more for less.

Just because you dont like my answer doesnt mean its not correct. Considering I do the books for this type of stuff, I suppose you just just trust that the increase in price does not cover all increased costs when they go into making a decision like that.

Say a resort increases their window rate and season passes by 5%. Say theyve added a new lift that year, fuel prices have gone up 7%, and food costs have gone up 3%. Health insurance for full time employees has gone up 10%. Where do they make up the added costs for? Reduced hours that arent fully utilized thats where.

Also, this problem of reduced hours you speak of, doesnt really exist. If they are losing a half hour every year like you claim they are, we'd all be there at 10 for an opening and out by 2.

 

[steamboat1]

Right now it doesn't bother me much because the days are short. In the spring, when there is more light, more terrain, and better snow.. I will always ski until the last lift spins.

And we will have another hour or 1.5 hours to work with at that point.

Yes & the past several years both K & Sugarbush have changed their hours of operation to 10-5 after we go off daylight savings time.

 

[skiNEwhere]

Just because you dont like my answer doesnt mean its not correct. Considering I do the books for this type of stuff, I suppose you just just trust that the increase in price does not cover all increased costs when they go into making a decision like that.

Say a resort increases their window rate and season passes by 5%. Say theyve added a new lift that year, fuel prices have gone up 7%, and food costs have gone up 3%. Health insurance for full time employees has gone up 10%. Where do they make up the added costs for? Reduced hours that arent fully utilized thats where.

Also, this problem of reduced hours you speak of, doesnt really exist. If they are losing a half hour every year like you claim they are, we'd all be there at 10 for an opening and out by 2.

No, I'm not claiming half an hour a year. Just noticed in the last few years that they shortened the hours a half hour overall

Edit: It's not so much the prices I care about. It's the hours being shortened. And those percentages were facts. Thank you (Not being sarcastic)

 

[Smellytele]

Did I say anything about it being deserved? No.

Ummm well you did say "This problem of I deserve more for less seems especially prevalent in the ski world."

 

[AdironRider]

No, I'm not claiming half an hour a year. Just noticed in the last few years that they shortened the hours a half hour overall

Ok, so do you refute that costs have increased during that time frame? Do you think your increase in pass/ticket costs is equal to that percentage increase?

So we are talking about a half hour at the end of the day that 99% of people do not utilize. If you want to pay more for that priviledge that could be a starting point, but these are not charities.

 

[skiNEwhere]

If costs had increased for the ski resort and they have to raise lift ticket prices, fine. I understand there may be a correlation between lift tickets and operating costs for resorts. But all I ask is that these places don't cut short the ski day.

 

[Cheese]

So we are talking about a half hour at the end of the day that 99% of people do not utilize. If you want to pay more for that priviledge that could be a starting point, but these are not charities.

One could probably make the same argument about November/December openings and April/May closings. Most ticket buying skiers don't start till after Christmas and are done buying tickets in March. How many season pass sales would resorts lose by admitting it's too risky/expensive to cover a mountain artificially before Christmas?

Should day trippers be hit with increased ticket prices just so that pass holders have bragging rights of starting in November and finishing in April?