Back to the King of Spring debate

[deadheadskier]

I do not post on Kzone. Plenty of people over there to step in when the facts get misrepresented. No need for me. I do enjoy reading the stuff, though. Very informative.

What are these 12 places in the East that you would rather ski before Killington?

"no need for me"

:lol:

Well, I have no need to answer your question. Hope everyone has fun skiing this weekend wherever they go. Where it is doesn't matter; the fun is what matters. I'll be sitting this one out unfortunately; gotta work.

 

[JimG.]

But you aren't the center of the universe in this discussion. Plenty of people live closer to sugarloaf than to Killington. Should that make them write off Killington from the discussion? The fact that you happen to live really far away from sugarloaf is irrelevant.

Never said I was. But there are alot of skiers who live very close to me who feel the same as I do. That would be the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. I'm pretty sure that is clearly a much larger population than those who live a comparable distance to the Maine areas. Part of the spring "stay open" equation for most ski resorts is skier visits. All I'm saying is that Killington has a clear advantage over the Maine ski areas when it comes to access. Much closer to large population centers.

Because of that, the amount of open terrain becomes less important than the access to that terrain. That means Killington has a greater chance of staying open profitably. Which means they are in a better position to be the King of Spring.

None of any of which matters at all until we see who is left standing at the end.

 

[andyzee]

Never said I was. But there are alot of skiers who live very close to me who feel the same as I do. That would be the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. I'm pretty sure that is clearly a much larger population than those who live a comparable distance to the Maine areas. Part of the spring "stay open" equation for most ski resorts is skier visits. All I'm saying is that Killington has a clear advantage over the Maine ski areas when it comes to access. Much closer to large population centers.

Because of that, the amount of open terrain becomes less important than the access to that terrain. That means Killington has a greater chance of staying open profitably. Which means they are in a better position to be the King of Spring.

None of any of which matters at all until we see who is left standing at the end.

Jim agree with you for the most part, however, this late in the season don't believe it's about profitability with regards to immediate profit. It's more a matter of bragging right and future profitability in terms of season pass sales. Don't have any numbers to back me up, but I do not believe any mountain in the north east will be turning a real profit in May/June.

 

[EPB]

Never said I was. But there are alot of skiers who live very close to me who feel the same as I do. That would be the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. I'm pretty sure that is clearly a much larger population than those who live a comparable distance to the Maine areas. Part of the spring "stay open" equation for most ski resorts is skier visits. All I'm saying is that Killington has a clear advantage over the Maine ski areas when it comes to access. Much closer to large population centers.

Because of that, the amount of open terrain becomes less important than the access to that terrain. That means Killington has a greater chance of staying open profitably. Which means they are in a better position to be the King of Spring.

None of any of which matters at all until we see who is left standing at the end.

So are we supposed to believe that Killington is a better ski area that in it would otherwise be because it's more easily accessible from large population centers? I see no reason why the logic presented would only be applicable to April/May e.g. "Killington is a better ski area than Sugarloaf because it it closer to New York City."

In terms of year-in-year-out natural snowpack/conditions and terrain offerings this time of year, Sugarloaf>Killington, period. If Sugarloaf is prohibitively far away, too bad (and I do mean that, though it might not come through properly via internet), it offers a more complete product as ski season winds down.

 

[ScottySkis]

So are we supposed to believe that Killington is a better ski area that in it would otherwise be because it's more easily accessible from large population centers? I see no reason why the logic presented would only be applicable to April/May e.g. "Killington is a better ski area than Sugarloaf because it it closer to New York City."

In terms of year-in-year-out natural snowpack/conditions and terrain offerings this time of year, Sugarloaf>Killington, period. If Sugarloaf is prohibitively far away, too bad (and I do mean that, though it might not come through properly via internet), it offers a more complete product as ski season winds down.

I had a season pass to Killington the last year of the ASC, and haven't been back since lots of good stuffgoing on finally this year so I plan on going next season assuming I have a reliable car by then. I finally like what ownership is doing.

 

[Gilligan]

So are we supposed to believe that Killington is a better ski area that in it would otherwise be because it's more easily accessible from large population centers? I see no reason why the logic presented would only be applicable to April/May e.g. "Killington is a better ski area than Sugarloaf because it it closer to New York City."

Sugarloaf is no closer (time wise) to NYC/Philly than hopping a plane to A-basin. For most Eastern skiers Sugarloaf is not relevant this time of year when a day or 2 is all they will ski. For much of the Pocono/Catskill crowd even K is not worth the long drive.

 

[EPB]

Sugarloaf is no closer (time wise) to NYC/Philly than hopping a plane to A-basin. For most Eastern skiers Sugarloaf is not relevant this time of year when a day or 2 is all they will ski. For much of the Pocono/Catskill crowd even K is not worth the long drive.

I understand where you're coming from but have a question: why would people in that situation even concern themselves with who has the best spring skiing?

EDIT: In the east, that is, because that's what this conversation is about.

 

[EPB]

I had a season pass to Killington the last year of the ASC, and haven't been back since lots of good stuffgoing on finally this year so I plan on going next season assuming I have a reliable car by then. I finally like what ownership is doing.

Good stuff. I used to love the ASC pass growing up.

 

[Gilligan]

I understand where you're coming from but have a question: why would people in that situation even concern themselves with who has the best spring skiing?

I did not. I was only trying to address the overstated acreage issue at Sugarloaf from a purely "truth in advertising" perspective. I cannot speak for anyone else.

 

[ScottySkis]

I did not. I was only trying to address the overstated acreage issue at Sugarloaf from a purely "truth in advertising" perspective. I cannot speak for anyone else.

So I guess truth would be saying Killington is 1600 skiabke vertically mot what ever 2800 or what ever they claim. I okay with areas doing this for marketing but all of them do it, k has lots of other good stuff to me not their ski able vertical which is fine if I want more I go to north Vermont.

 

[EPB]

I did not. I was only trying to address the overstated acreage issue at Sugarloaf from a purely "truth in advertising" perspective. I cannot speak for anyone else.

Are you implying that they're not in the East or something?

 

[Gilligan]

Are you implying that they're not in the East or something?

No.

 

[EPB]

No.

I must've gotten confused with what you said you were addressing. My mistake. This thread is getting a little too ridiculous for me though. I'm out. Have a good one.

 

[Cannonball]

Never said I was. But there are alot of skiers who live very close to me who feel the same as I do. That would be the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. I'm pretty sure that is clearly a much larger population than those who live a comparable distance to the Maine areas. Part of the spring "stay open" equation for most ski resorts is skier visits. All I'm saying is that Killington has a clear advantage over the Maine ski areas when it comes to access. Much closer to large population centers.

Because of that, the amount of open terrain becomes less important than the access to that terrain. That means Killington has a greater chance of staying open profitably. Which means they are in a better position to be the King of Spring.

None of any of which matters at all until we see who is left standing at the end.

Gotcha. I didn't understand the original question. If the Question is "Of all the areas that most New Yorkers don't mind driving to, which will stay open latest?"....then I totally agree it has to be Killington.

 

[MadPatSki]

Gotcha. I didn't understand the original question. If the Question is "Of all the areas that most New Yorkers don't mind driving to, which will stay open latest?"....then I totally agree it has to be Killington.

Yes, it sounded that way. Not the first time I hear talking about Sugarloaf versus the 'might be as well be in the West' statement.

King of Spring? I don't care for the title, there are a bunch of places that will offer great skiing this weekend. Go out if you can.

I updated by Blog post; Eastern Closing Part 3...the count is 25 for this weekend (one area in Quebec (Le Valinouet) with 100% coverage will not reopen and calling it a season due to rain this weekend). Regardless, there should be a few good options next weekend and into May.

 

[Conrad]

On a side note, Sugarloaf is reopening the King Pine lift this weekend.

 

[andyzee]

On a side note, Sugarloaf is reopening the King Pine lift this weekend.

More like a bottom note

 

[Cannonball]

On a side note, Sugarloaf is reopening the King Pine lift this weekend.

You mean the king (of spring) Pine lift.

 

[Nick]

I've been insane at work for the last 3 weeks so I misses this fun thread. Yay.

 

[Johnskiismore]

On a side note, Sugarloaf is reopening the King Pine lift this weekend.

That rocks, I'll be there Sunday