VAIL SUCKS

[thetrailboss]

Bloomberg did a feature on Vail and Alterra. Is it just me or does Rob Katz look terrible? And one thing that they got wrong was A-Basin. The reporter says that A-Basin is "partnered" with Alterra. Alterra owns A-Basin. So all the talk about how they limit multipasses does not apply (they are "unlimited" on IKON, 5 days on base).

I thought it was very cool to see MRG featured!

Alterra Mountain Company Closes Acquisition of Arapahoe Basin in Colorado | Alterra Mountain Company

Alterra Mountain Company has announced the closing of the purchase of Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, expanding Alterra’s portfolio of unique, complementary destinations in the Rockies.

www.alterramtn.co

 

[tumbler]

Looks like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter.

 

[thetrailboss]

I can literally ride my bike to Deer Valley's "Excellence", it's less than 15 minutes by car, but we ski Park City for two reasons:

1) Yes, Deer Valley's price is nuts
2) Deer Valley has no expert terrain that can even compare to Park City's expert terrain. Park City's expert terrain is actually underrated because Snowbird's so close.

Honestly. Deer Valley without the "service" and the previously better amenities leaves is just a bland ski area at best. The layout is not great.

Alterra has been trying to improve the service but it still is nowhere near what it used to be.

 

[pinion]

If Vail has a strat for Wildcat it seems to be coming together now. Lynx finally getting pushed out. Guns going on Lower Catapult. Ropes were dropped on Al's, Upper Wildcat, Stray Cat, Tomcat Schuss, and others for the weekend. Lower mountain woods skied great. If it stays cold and snows another foot then they'll be set for awhile. Mother Nature saving Wildcat once again.

 

[deadheadskier]

Good to hear. Like most years, I'm sure it will be good from now through March. Just wish Vail cared more about 11/1-1/15 and 4/1-5/1 like Peak did.

Miss that place

 

[snoseek]

Good to hear. Like most years, I'm sure it will be good from now through March. Just wish Vail cared more about 11/1-1/15 and 4/1-5/1 like Peak did.

Miss that place

I really dont care so much about the early season as they would need a massive snowmaking overhaul to keep up with surrounding competition but completely agree about the late season. Wildcat is a late season gem and it sucks when they close with a deep base. Should go till may by default.

 

[Former Sunday Rivah Rat]

Bloomberg did a feature on Vail and Alterra. Is it just me or does Rob Katz look terrible?

Alterra Mountain Company Closes Acquisition of Arapahoe Basin in Colorado | Alterra Mountain Company

Alterra Mountain Company has announced the closing of the purchase of Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, expanding Alterra’s portfolio of unique, complementary destinations in the Rockies.

www.alterramtn.co

Yes, I was shocked at the size of his chipmonk cheeks. They remind me of Don Zimmer AKA the Gerbil.

 

[deadheadskier]

I really dont care so much about the early season as they would need a massive snowmaking overhaul to keep up with surrounding competition but completely agree about the late season. Wildcat is a late season gem and it sucks when they close with a deep base. Should go till may by default.

I don't think they need to do much to get back to the way early season was other than exert effort that they aren't doing today.

Peak had the three main TTB routes (Lynx, Polecat, Upper Catapult > Middle Wildcat > Bobcat) Wild Kitten and the beginner area open by Christmas week every year since they made their big investment in 2016. By MLK they'd have basically the rest of the snowmaking terrain already done. After if they were having a good year, they'd maybe hit Black Cat or Starr Line late January before calling it good.

It's not a big ask / expectation to return to that with the equipment they have unless stuff has already failed again. Peak replaced their pumphouse and the pipe on all the main routes less than ten years ago. . Vail just doesn't want to spend the money on labor and utilities.

I won't lie though. No kids and the Vet discounts you get and i very well might still have an Epic pass. But I'd need something else as being all in on Vail would give me a coronary event.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes, I was shocked at the size of his chipmonk cheeks. They remind me of Don Zimmer AKA the Gerbil.

Well, he looks really disheveled. That said, his wife just died and he has been asked to get Vail back on track and now he has to deal with a terrible snow season.

Alterra's CEO and A-Basin's GM both were spinning away. They had their talking points all down.

 

[snoseek]

I don't think they need to do much to get back to the way early season was other than exert effort that they aren't doing today.

Peak had the three main TTB routes (Lynx, Polecat, Upper Catapult > Middle Wildcat > Bobcat) Wild Kitten and the beginner area open by Christmas week every year since they made their big investment in 2016. By MLK they'd have basically the rest of the snowmaking terrain already done. After if they were having a good year, they'd maybe hit Black Cat or Starr Line late January before calling it good.

It's not a big ask / expectation to return to that with the equipment they have unless stuff has already failed again. Peak replaced their pumphouse and the pipe on all the main routes less than ten years ago. . Vail just doesn't want to spend the money on labor and utilities.

I won't lie though. No kids and the Vet discounts you get and i very well might still have an Epic pass. But I'd need something else as being all in on Vail would give me a coronary event.

Oh I have an Indy along with Ragged/Jay as a hedge. I bought the pass to hit Stowe as well and I have no issues with how that place runs. If I was a weekend skier I probably wouldn't buy epic, although my guilty pleasure at work is to pull up the webcam on Saturday mornings at the cat and its usually ski on, which is disheartening as I know broomfield aint gonna spend money at a place that doesn't fill seats.

 

[deadheadskier]

Well if there's one saving grace to Vail sucking at Wildcat, you now share limited terrain with limited people. That wasn't the case the first two years they owned it and I still had a pass there. It was immensely crowded with limited terrain. I guess people have figured out that Cat just isn't worth going to without a heaping helping hand from mother nature.


And again, it's not that Cat was a great place to ski on snowmaking terrain only under Peak. But, they did just enough that I was satisfied most of the time. Even when it was snowmaking only days, the vibe was still the best in the state just being at a laid back ski area with mainly other diehards all within the beauty of Pinkham Notch. Such a special place, but Vail doesn't care about that. They care about ROI for shareholders above all else.

....sigh

 

[pinion]

Well if there's one saving grace to Vail sucking at Wildcat, you now share limited terrain with limited people. That wasn't the case the first two years they owned it and I still had a pass there. It was immensely crowded with limited terrain. I guess people have figured out that Cat just isn't worth going to without a heaping helping hand from mother nature.


And again, it's not that Cat was a great place to ski on snowmaking terrain only under Peak. But, they did just enough that I was satisfied most of the time. Even when it was snowmaking only days, the vibe was still the best in the state just being at a laid back ski area with mainly other diehards all within the beauty of Pinkham Notch. Such a special place, but Vail doesn't care about that. They care about ROI for shareholders above all else.

....sigh

A-lot being empty most days is very much "oh the masses have given up here" which is sad but to your point: limited people skiing... better experience for those of us still there.

C-lot being empty is "oh the regulars have given up here" and the vibe left with them

 

[snoseek]

A-lot being empty most days is very much "oh the masses have given up here" which is sad but to your point: limited people skiing... better experience for those of us still there.

C-lot being empty is "oh the regulars have given up here" and the vibe left with them

Its been nice the days ive skied there but I'm honestly worried about the lack of people.

In other news theyve done a really nice job grooming, better than i remember, but again that could be lack of people skiing it off

 

[pinion]

In other news theyve done a really nice job grooming, better than i remember, but again that could be lack of people skiing it off

I agree. All things considered given the rain 3 weeks ago the grooming is great especially relative to similar conditions in previous years. Fingers crossed this is the new normal moving forward.

 

[thebigo]

Lynx finally getting pushed out.

the last year Peaks ran wildcat, Lynx was pushed out in OCTOBER