Did Vail intentionally ruin snow reports?

The Sneak · Dec 27, 2019

Please help me understand why snow reports for all Vail-owned properties are so effing terrible. Why is there no descriptive text / paragraph? Please explain, understanding I am slow and sometimes need to sound out big words.

Thank you

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mtl1076 · Dec 27, 2019

Because they don't really care about the ski experience. And they want to save money by making it all automated out of Colorado.

mbedle · Dec 27, 2019

mtl1076 said:
Because they don't really care about the ski experience. And they want to save money by making it all automated out of Colorado.

So true! Call the snow phone, after enough bitching last year they finally brought back Andre.

Has anyone heard of a lift going on hold for fog??? I guess there is a first time for everything.

mgalluzz · Dec 27, 2019

In their business model, the quality of the conditions don't matter very much. Everything is paid for in advance, so you're going skiing no matter what the snow report says.

Edd · Dec 27, 2019

Wildcat’s report from today below. I’ve seen better, but it’s not terrible.

COMMENTS
Think Snow

TGIF skiers and riders! Mother Nature may be throwing some weird stuff our way, but that’s never stopped our Born Wild family. Get out here, and when your legs just can’t make another turn, head to the Wildcat Pub for some stellar après vibes.

Take your pick of 18 trails, 7.5 miles, and 122 acres of terrain. Our groomers hit all of those trails with a fresh coat of cord, which has made for a purr-fectly shreddable morning. Feel fast with a cruise down the Lynx trails, or take your time and make your way around Wild Kitten. The Wildcat Express, Bobcat Triple, Snowbelt, and Snowcat Triple are open from 8:30 am-3:30 pm.

Our snowmakers are waiting on Mother Nature to give them the okay. Give them a hand and pray for snow!

As a little holiday bonus, we have après entertainment in the Wildcat Pub every day this week.
Cheers, and I will see you on the slopes,

-Mel

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mtl1076 · Dec 27, 2019

Looks like they haven't converted the new peak resorts to their snowreporting platform. Enjoy your last season with a decent snow report.

Zand · Dec 27, 2019

mbedle said:
Has anyone heard of a lift going on hold for fog??

Wait, what?!?

SkiingInABlueDream · Dec 27, 2019

mtl1076 said:
Looks like they haven't converted the new peak resorts to their snowreporting platform. Enjoy your last season with a decent snow report.

On one hand I agree with this but I can also rationalize another theory, for Wildcat at least. 'Cat is a ski area not a resort. Nobody spends a week/end *at* Wildcat because there's no immediate lodging. Even if you're doing a multiday stay in Jackson you're still essentially day tripping to Wildcat, which arguably creates an implicit need for an informative report. That said if I had to guess one way or the other I do still believe Vail will purge Wildcats reports eventually. I also agree with the "just go ski regardless of conditions because you've already paid for your vacation" theory about Vail snow reports.

dblskifanatic · Dec 27, 2019

https://www.stowe.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/snow-and-weather-report.aspx

Here is Stowe’s report. I find it has everything you need!

https://www.breckenridge.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/terrain-and-lift-status.aspx

Here is Breck’s reports! Also has everything you need.

Terrain status, percent ungroomed, weather forecast, snow in the last 24, 72 and week.

I find that the puffed up reports have a tendency to sugar coat so you come. Even Wildcats above - Mother Nature is throwing some weird stuff our way!

We actually pay attention to forecasts for the most part!

Actually just get out there - you will find what makes you happy. Oh and take what the mountain gives you!!!!!

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mtl1076 · Dec 27, 2019

SkiingInABlueDream said:
On one hand I agree with this but I can also rationalize another theory, for Wildcat at least. 'Cat is a ski area not a resort. Nobody spends a week/end *at* Wildcat because there's no immediate lodging. Even if you're doing a multiday stay in Jackson you're still essentially day tripping to Wildcat, which arguably creates an implicit need for an informative report. That said if I had to guess one way or the other I do still believe Vail will purge Wildcats reports eventually. I also agree with the "just go ski regardless of conditions because you've already paid for your vacation" theory about Vail snow reports.

Mount snow and Crotched still have the narrative. They will all change next year. Okemo and Sunapee got their first season under the non-vail way. This year they are on the new platform. Now Okemo puts out a narrative on their facebook page due to the backlash.

abc · Dec 27, 2019

Vail is a resort that supports skiing. Wildcat is a no frill ski hill.

I've always found it annoying that to even find the snow report in the web site of ski "resorts". You have to hunt around all the lodging & deal marketing fluff to get to the snow reports.

SkiingInABlueDream said:
'Cat is a ski area not a resort. Nobody spends a week/end *at* Wildcat because there's no immediate lodging.

You're totally right there.

mbedle · Dec 27, 2019

abc said:
Vail is a resort that supports skiing. Wildcat is a no frill ski hill.

I've always found it annoying that to even find the snow report in the web site of ski "resorts". You have to hunt around all the lodging & deal marketing fluff to get to the snow reports.

You're totally right there.

Vail owns a couple of non-resort large ski areas and the websites are pretty much all the same (except the 3 in the midwest, they have their own format). Former Peaks resorts will all switch over next season to the standard Vail website format (including Wildcat).

mbedle · Dec 27, 2019

Zand said:
Wait, what?!?

Yep, Stowe quad was on hold this morning for low visibility. I am guess it was a health and safety issues not being able to visually inspect all the towers.

icecoast1 · Dec 27, 2019

What difference does it make? It's all marketing propaganda anyway. Just publish an accurate list of what's open, groomed, new snow and where the snowmaking is and be done with it

mbedle · Dec 27, 2019

icecoast1 said:
What difference does it make? It's all marketing propaganda anyway. Just publish an accurate list of what's open, groomed, new snow and where the snowmaking is and be done with it

Couldn't agree more, unfortunately Vail does not do that.

Edd · Dec 27, 2019

I guess the difference is that an originally written snow report adds a personal touch. Probably more appealing to locals than tourists. I like it. It doesn’t seem like such an effort for one marketing person a day to bang out a couple of short paragraphs.

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SkiingInABlueDream · Dec 27, 2019

Edd said:
I guess the difference is that an originally written snow report adds a personal touch. Probably more appealing to locals than tourists. I like it. It doesn’t seem like such an effort for one marketing person a day to bang out a couple of short paragraphs.

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This. Also when it's the same people doing that narrative for a mountain week after week you eventually can pick up subtleties, or read between the lines in the reports which is impossible when the report is just a list of open and closed trails and lifts. Aesthetically, I like the discussion type report.

cdskier · Dec 27, 2019

Edd said:
I guess the difference is that an originally written snow report adds a personal touch. Probably more appealing to locals than tourists. I like it. It doesn’t seem like such an effort for one marketing person a day to bang out a couple of short paragraphs.

Yes

SkiingInABlueDream said:
This. Also when it's the same people doing that narrative for a mountain week after week you eventually can pick up subtleties, or read between the lines in the reports which is impossible when the report is just a list of open and closed trails and lifts. Aesthetically, I like the discussion type report.

And yes.

kbroderick · Dec 27, 2019

The narrative also allows putting in info that doesn't fit into the standard report, e.g. "we are expecting high winds later, so hit the higher lifts early" or "we're hosting the 2020 Ski Off Challenge today, so expect 300 competitors and their families at the Main Base Lodge. We're opening the Less Used Lodge early to help make room, consider skiing from there today".

I haven't seen a canned report format that allows clearly sharing that info.

kingslug · Dec 27, 2019

I tend to create my own report using all the available info i can get..including first hand accounts from here..and following the weather..
I find it amusing when im asked ...will it be icy you think???
No..not at all..it just rained for 2 days and went to 4 below zero at night...youll be good to go..

Did Vail intentionally ruin snow reports?

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