VAIL SUCKS

[thebigo]

Back on topic, zero new lifts in the Northeast.

Vail Resorts Announces New Lifts for Blackcomb & Seven Springs

The world’s largest mountain operator today revealed two incremental lift projects for 2026, bringing the total to three. At Whistler Blackcomb, Vail plans to replace the Showcase T-Bar with …

liftblog.com

 

[takeahike46er]

Back on topic, zero new lifts in the Northeast.

Vail Resorts Announces New Lifts for Blackcomb & Seven Springs

The world’s largest mountain operator today revealed two incremental lift projects for 2026, bringing the total to three. At Whistler Blackcomb, Vail plans to replace the Showcase T-Bar with …

liftblog.com

Not all that surprising.

If Vail can’t manage to adequately upgrade Whistler’s lifts, their crown jewel and one of their flagship resorts, how are they going to invest elsewhere? Replacements for Whistler Village Gondola and 7th Heaven are both massive, multi-year projects critical to guest experience that should have been replaced years ago.

Replacing Showcase is appreciated, but it’s a bit like spending money on new hub caps when your transmission is about to go.

 

[deadheadskier]

Ole Bobby needs to maximize that bottom line so he and other major shareholders can maximize those stock values one last time. Ultimately, that is why he is back. New lifts won't help with that. We are in the light fuse and start to walk away moment in the story. This is about profit extraction over the short term, not what's best for a sustainable future for the company and it's properties.

 

[eatskisleep]

ASC repeat…

 

[snoseek]

Maybe my expectations are rock bottom and they dont have much open but Wildcat skied really nice yesterday. Not alot of ice and good edge to edge cover vs a strip.

Its been a bit but when did they replace that ramp heading down towards the bridge? It feels unnatural walking down it.

The bathrooms and lodge got some love. The decks look new. Lots of pretty little wreaths hung up.

Based purely on vibes things seem ok, but its early season and it feels like they plow through new mgmt every couple years

 

[deadheadskier]

That sounds great, but if I'm a lift shack at Cat, I'm not getting a false sense of security just yet!

 

[Zand]

Wow I'm kind of proud of Okemo for actually opening up some natural trails with thin cover!

 

[pinion]

Its been a bit but when did they replace that ramp heading down towards the bridge? It feels unnatural walking down it.

Redone before last season. Agreed, feels weird for me as well but less people falling on it so I guess it's better?

 

[2Planker]

ASC repeat…

All coming true again, 30 years later...

 

[thetrailboss]

"Hey guys. EPIC news from HQ! Feliz Navidad and you're welcome!"

Vail Resorts Announces New Lifts for Blackcomb & Seven Springs

The world’s largest mountain operator today revealed two incremental lift projects for 2026, bringing the total to three. At Whistler Blackcomb, Vail plans to replace the Showcase T-Bar with …

liftblog.com

 

[thetrailboss]

Vail Resorts early season loss widens amid warm weather, declining Utah pass sales - Park Record

The West was a clear weak spot in overall pass sales. Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said declines were centered in regions where skiers tend to watch early season weather before deciding whether to buy.

www.parkrecord.com

 

[tumbler]

All coming true again, 30 years later...

Wasn't there a book written about ASC or by an ex exec or is this it?

 

[BenedictGomez]

If Vail can’t manage to adequately upgrade Whistler’s lifts, their crown jewel and one of their flagship resorts, how are they going to invest elsewhere? Replacements for Whistler Village Gondola and 7th Heaven are both massive, multi-year projects critical to guest experience that should have been replaced years ago.

Whistler's probably gotten more love than anyone lately, partially thanks to 4 Park City Karens. But my sense is the average skier is completely oblivious to how outdated many of Vail's lifts are on a system-wide basis. I guess this is a macro North American ski industry problem in general, but when you're the one who bought all these resorts with aging lifts, it's your big problem. Chicken fingers & fries are already like $24. Now sure how many plates you'd need to sell to replace a HSQ.

 

[BenedictGomez]

We are in the light fuse and start to walk away moment in the story. This is about profit extraction over the short term, not what's best for a sustainable future for the company and it's properties.

 

[benski]

Whistler's probably gotten more love than anyone lately, partially thanks to 4 Park City Karens. But my sense is the average skier is completely oblivious to how outdated many of Vail's lifts are on a system-wide basis. I guess this is a macro North American ski industry problem in general, but when you're the one who bought all these resorts with aging lifts, it's your big problem. Chicken fingers & fries are already like $24. Now sure how many plates you'd need to sell to replace a HSQ.

I think it is the macro since both manufacturers are building or recently expanded facilities to build lifts. So I guess both manufactures felt they were not delivering enough lifts to meet the needs of the owners. They know the owners desires more than any of us. I got a feeling this was caused by the death of Yan, Borvig and Riblet years ago along with a few mergers that left resorts with significantly fewer alternatives to maintaining their existing lifts and postponing expansions.

 

[2Planker]

Wasn't there a book written about ASC or by an ex exec or is this it?

That is it. Worked there 1990-2010

 

[takeahike46er]

Whistler's probably gotten more love than anyone lately, partially thanks to 4 Park City Karens. But my sense is the average skier is completely oblivious to how outdated many of Vail's lifts are on a system-wide basis. I guess this is a macro North American ski industry problem in general, but when you're the one who bought all these resorts with aging lifts, it's your big problem. Chicken fingers & fries are already like $24. Now sure how many plates you'd need to sell to replace a HSQ.

Daddy Katz is going to need continue to give Whistler some love. Vail Resorts high-speed detachables over 30 years old:

Beaver Creek
Arrow Bahn Express (1988)
Strawberry Park Express (1994)

Breckenridge
Beaver Run SuperChair (1990)

Crested Butte
Paradise Express (1994)
Silver Queen Express (1992)

Keystone
Outback Express (1991)
Outpost Gondola (1991)

Vail
Born Free Express (1988)
Orient Express (1988)
Pride Express (1993)

Park City
Motherlode Express (1993)

Heavenly
Comet Express (1988)
Dipper Express (1994)
Sky Express (1992)

Northstar
Arrow Express (1994)
Backside Express (1993)
Vista Express (1989/1994)

Whistler Blackcomb
7th Heaven Express (1987)
Excalibur Gondola (1994)
Excelerator Express (1994)
Glacier Express (1992)
Whistler Village Gondola (1988)

Hunter
Zephyr Express (1987)*

*Installed in its current location in 2011

Mount Snow
Grand Summit Express (1987)
Solitude Express (1994)

Whitetail
Whitetail Express (1991)

 

[thetrailboss]

Daddy Katz is going to need continue to give Whistler some love. Vail Resorts high-speed detachables over 30 years old:

"You know, I looked at the exchange rate between USD and CSD and it was a no-brainer!"

 

[doublediamond]

They can't even have a functioning snowmaking system at Whitetail... social media is pointing out to several fan guns dead on the trails they're trying to open on.

No way they're ever replacing that lift.

 

[drjeff]

Daddy Katz is going to need continue to give Whistler some love. Vail Resorts high-speed detachables over 30 years old:

Beaver Creek
Arrow Bahn Express (1988)
Strawberry Park Express (1994)

Breckenridge
Beaver Run SuperChair (1990)

Crested Butte
Paradise Express (1994)
Silver Queen Express (1992)

Keystone
Outback Express (1991)
Outpost Gondola (1991)

Vail
Born Free Express (1988)
Orient Express (1988)
Pride Express (1993)

Park City
Motherlode Express (1993)

Heavenly
Comet Express (1988)
Dipper Express (1994)
Sky Express (1992)

Northstar
Arrow Express (1994)
Backside Express (1993)
Vista Express (1989/1994)

Whistler Blackcomb
7th Heaven Express (1987)
Excalibur Gondola (1994)
Excelerator Express (1994)
Glacier Express (1992)
Whistler Village Gondola (1988)

Hunter
Zephyr Express (1987)*

*Installed in its current location in 2011

Mount Snow
Grand Summit Express (1987)
Solitude Express (1994)

Whitetail
Whitetail Express (1991)

What the heck is the "solitude express" at Mount Snow? I've got probably 1000 days on the hill at Mount Snow and never ridden that lift before

100% agree that Vail, and many other resort operators have lots of lifts, both high speed and fixed grip, that are very likeky nearing the end of their predictable, functional lifespan and will need replacement sooner than later