'14-'15 passes

[drjeff]

Dr j is moving beyond the normal "mt snow can do no wrong" into full blown "peak resorts can do no wrong" lol. How much kickback do you get for your incessant cheerleading?

Au contraire Euler after the schtick that Peak pulled with their VT product announcement last night.

The kids product price point in VT for both the Nor'easter and the Classic is ridiculous with the 18-26/double down product price point. I am OK with the adult pass price point, even if Stratton has a few extra thank you perks and a lower priced no blackout days pass product offering. But when, even after Peak said they'd take a good look last spring at their kids pass price point for this season, and essentially they just added a touch of fluff to the pass, I'm looking at paying more than double for my kids than what an 18-26yr old will be paying, and the 18-26yr old gets full Stratton access too.

NOT a Peak/Mount Snow cheerleader by any means now. The potential of a 20 min drive to Stratton next season is getting more than anecdotal thought from my wife and I now.

Peak had the chance in VT to do something BOLD with kids passes like they did in NH and they once again dropped the ball

 

[Smellytele]

Did someone steal DrJ's login?

 

[Euler]

Au contraire Euler after the schtick that Peak pulled with their VT product announcement last night.

The kids product price point in VT for both the Nor'easter and the Classic is ridiculous with the 18-26/double down product price point. I am OK with the adult pass price point, even if Stratton has a few extra thank you perks and a lower priced no blackout days pass product offering. But when, even after Peak said they'd take a good look last spring at their kids pass price point for this season, and essentially they just added a touch of fluff to the pass, I'm looking at paying more than double for my kids than what an 18-26yr old will be paying, and the 18-26yr old gets full Stratton access too.

NOT a Peak/Mount Snow cheerleader by any means now. The potential of a 20 min drive to Stratton next season is getting more than anecdotal thought from my wife and I now.

Peak had the chance in VT to do something BOLD with kids passes like they did in NH and they once again dropped the ball

Yeah, I've long been jealous go the pass prices for college aged folks. I guess the presumption is that the 18-26 crowd will be spending a ton of money on red bull, beer, and tequila? Sucks for you because reading your reports it's clear that your family subsidizes the F and B operations at mt snow quite a bit.

 

[deadheadskier]

Yeah, I've long been jealous go the pass prices for college aged folks. I guess the presumption is that the 18-26 crowd will be spending a ton of money on red bull, beer, and tequila? Sucks for you because reading your reports it's clear that your family subsidizes the F and B operations at mt snow quite a bit.

I think it's more about keeping customers in the game for the long term than it is about what they anticipate that demographic spending currently. I'm 38 and literally 4 out 5 high school ski buddies either no longer ski or if they do so, it's only a couple of days a season. For many of them, it's because skiing was completely out of reach for them financially once they graduated college and were saddled with debt and not making much money. So, I understand resorts getting really aggressive in offering deals to people in this demographic. The hope is to keep them hooked, so when they get a bit older and have more money, they are buying condos at the ski area and putting their kids through ski school etc.

I do think that pass shouldn't be half the cost of a youth pass like Mt. Snow has it. I can see why that would piss a loyal skiing family like Dr. Jeff off. However, it's still really important for areas like Mount Snow to attract that demographic. It contains the next generation of Dr. Jeff like skiing families. For that reason, I can see why Mount Snow is being as aggressive as they are with that pass. 20 somethings only have to go a handful of times for it to pay for itself.

 

[snoseek]

^^^^well said.

I'll also add the environment for kids getting out of college and entering the workforce if brutal right now. College debt+lack of decent jobs will be the next big hurdle for economy growth in the coming years IMO. Resorts need to be very aggressive to keep them skiing.

I'm 41 and secure in my career. I consider myself lucky that I'm established somewhat.

 

[drjeff]

I think it's more about keeping customers in the game for the long term than it is about what they anticipate that demographic spending currently. I'm 38 and literally 4 out 5 high school ski buddies either no longer ski or if they do so, it's only a couple of days a season. For many of them, it's because skiing was completely out of reach for them financially once they graduated college and were saddled with debt and not making much money. So, I understand resorts getting really aggressive in offering deals to people in this demographic. The hope is to keep them hooked, so when they get a bit older and have more money, they are buying condos at the ski area and putting their kids through ski school etc.

I do think that pass shouldn't be half the cost of a youth pass like Mt. Snow has it. I can see why that would piss a loyal skiing family like Dr. Jeff off. However, it's still really important for areas like Mount Snow to attract that demographic. It contains the next generation of Dr. Jeff like skiing families. For that reason, I can see why Mount Snow is being as aggressive as they are with that pass. 20 somethings only have to go a handful of times for it to pay for itself.

Well said. And in the case of my displeasure with Peak's VT product kids pass pricing, and I know that many Mount Snow friends of mine with kids feel similar, its also some of the effort and commitment (or sometimes lack of) that is being put into *some* of the kids seasonal programs (all of which cost far more than any pass), it makes any rationale person start to take a more critical look at what the overall price point, value, and return on investment (in a sense I look at the combined roughly $2500 a year the cost of each of my kids passes and seasonal program cost as an investment) that is happening.

In my own case, and especially amongst my friends who also have kids on one of the competition program teams (alpine, freestyle or park) you see 1st hand what other "competitor" mountains are doing for their kids, and talk with the parents of those kids about their "home" mountain. That sometimes leads you to take a look at their pricing structure and when you see distinct differences in costs, program philosophy and even in some cases results from athletes who changed programs. If a mountain wants to charge a "premium" price (and by all means that is 100% within their right too) the consumer should realistically expect a "premium" product in return.

Families are a big part of Mount Snow's and Peak in generals business. The current disparity in the price of the kids passes and the "millenial generation" passes at VT Peak resorts is causing some displeasure with parents who have great loyalty to Mount Snow. There have been many families who have left Mount Snow the past few years for Haystack or Stratton, and failure to listen to their core customer base about this disparity in the kids price product is causing others to think about leaving too. I know personally one of my friends and neighbors in VT, who has 4 kids (3 who will be on the alpine competition program next season and 1 in the general lesson program) was just about to join the Hermitage Club, pending what Mount Snow was going to do with their pricing (and a few other things too) - if that family leaves, even before food and beverage, ancillary items, friends brought up to the mountain revenue, etc is added up that's around 10 grand of pass + program revenue alone that they could easily loose. That would be around 25 extra "millennial" passes they'd have to sell to make that up.

As I literally said in the Mount Snow passholders site, if Peak had chosen to say set the kids Nor'easter pass price point at the rate of the adult classic pass (a little over a $150 drop, but still a $600+ pass) and say set the kids classic rate at the price point of the "double down pass," the combined unrestricted Mount Snow + Stratton "millenial" pass, (a little over a $100 reduction but still a $400 pass) you'd have a far happier significant pass base of families.

I fully get that its a business decision (for both the ski area and the consumer) and that's fine. I also want to be explicitly clear that I am 100% fine with the adult VT Peak pricing structure, but its the combo of the kids pass pricing AND mountain commitment to some of their kids programs that really have me, and other loyal Mount Snow families giving serious thought to changing our "home" mountain

 

[MadMadWorld]

I think it's more about keeping customers in the game for the long term than it is about what they anticipate that demographic spending currently. I'm 38 and literally 4 out 5 high school ski buddies either no longer ski or if they do so, it's only a couple of days a season. For many of them, it's because skiing was completely out of reach for them financially once they graduated college and were saddled with debt and not making much money. So, I understand resorts getting really aggressive in offering deals to people in this demographic. The hope is to keep them hooked, so when they get a bit older and have more money, they are buying condos at the ski area and putting their kids through ski school etc.

I do think that pass shouldn't be half the cost of a youth pass like Mt. Snow has it. I can see why that would piss a loyal skiing family like Dr. Jeff off. However, it's still really important for areas like Mount Snow to attract that demographic. It contains the next generation of Dr. Jeff like skiing families. For that reason, I can see why Mount Snow is being as aggressive as they are with that pass. 20 somethings only have to go a handful of times for it to pay for itself.

Teenagers tend to lose interest in a lot of things they did as a kid. The best way to keep them in the game is to have a cheap pass that will keep them interested enough so that when they are adults they will come back to it more. Obviously, I am sure many of us are the exceptions to the rule but I think in general this is true.

 

[xwhaler]

I'd imagine that most folks who own condos on mtn at Mt Snow are more restricted in their choice of where they ski. If you live in the area and are equidistant from Hermitage, Snow, Stratton etc perhaps its easier to make the switch. Once you own on mtn though you are almost indebted to that mtn good or bad unless you want to sell the condo.

Hard to justify being on mtn but then being so dissatisfied with pass pricing that you would pack the car up and head to a different place.

 

[Smellytele]

I'd imagine that most folks who own condos on mtn at Mt Snow are more restricted in their choice of where they ski. If you live in the area and are equidistant from Hermitage, Snow, Stratton etc perhaps its easier to make the switch. Once you own on mtn though you are almost indebted to that mtn good or bad unless you want to sell the condo.

Hard to justify being on mtn but then being so dissatisfied with pass pricing that you would pack the car up and head to a different place.

This is why they build condos on mtn. Captive audience. I would be more inclined to buy a house in the ski region then at a mountain. I, like you believe variety is the spice of life. I have never skied a ski area more than 2 days in a row. I lied - I have but only the home hill where I ski for free. I looked at my signature and saw 3 days in a row...

 

[thetrailboss]

FYI the 2014-2015 Mountain Collective passes are now for sale:

https://www.facebook.com/TheMountainCollective

 

[PaulSt Romaine]

I'm finding @deadheadskier's comment extremely insightful. "For many of them, it's because skiing was completely out of reach for them financially once they graduated college and were saddled with debt and not making much money."

Even for me teaching lessons all the time, every year it seems like there really are less friends out on the slopes, due the body aging (and accidents) and more of them settling down to raise a family somewhere without a ski facility or whatever it may be. I truly believe that those who have passion to be on the snow will find a way to keep getting to the slopes, but there really has to be some middle ground so that it's accessible to anybody who wants to try it. If not even the new generation will never even get to the first stage to test if the passion is there.

 

[xlr8r]

I'm looking at maybe getting a Strattitude pass to Stratton in addition to my Wawa Bronze pass. $299 seems like a good deal for unlimited skiing at Stratton plus $250 towards a trip to maybe Winter Park or Steamboat out west. I have been thinking of going back to Colorado one of these years, but I don't know if Winter Park or Steamboat is where I want to go. Also I'm concerned that my skiing would get very bland if I have passes to Wawa and Stratton, which would keep me from skiing better terrain in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. Typically I like to go to 8-10 different ski areas a year, this would limit that number.

The Okemo/Sunapee Millennial pass for $529 is another consideration to get instead of getting a Wawa or Stratton pass as Sunapee is within day trip range. Plus it includes 3 tickets to Killington and 5 lift tickets to Crested Butte, but I am pretty sure I won't go to Crested Butte.

Decision, decisions, hmmm

Maybe I'll just stick with just a Wawa Bronze.

 

[boston_e]

I'll be doing Pico passes for the whole family again next year.

Big but not too big. Great family vibe.

 

[Brad J]

I have been a n Attitash pass holder for 9 seasons, beginning with the American ski days, 6 mountains cheap money, it was great with the variety, but Attitash being my home bace , they did not put much effort in it the last year they owned it, was petty happy that it sold to Peak Resorts, the stepped up to the plate the first season with much better snowmaking and pumped serious snow all over the hill. I was happy as well as most pass holders. Getting a little discourage a couple of years latter , I bought a pass at Wildcat in April and Peak bought them that fall, ski both mountains depending on conditions and was happy until this year. They had many problems at Wildcat with the snowmaking and it has been a disaster there until mother nature steps in with a good dump. Attitash was extremely slow with their snowmaking efforts. It is now mid March and now both areas are very good. My problem is I do not what to wait for March to be 100% open with good conditions. I am reluctant to purchase next years pass with out a plan from Peak on what their plans are to address the problems they had this year. I think a discussion on the sites would go a long way so that the pass holders can make a reasonable decision for next year.

 

[catsup948]

I wish I lived closer to Ragged that deal is pretty stellar! Berkshire East is 10 minutes from my house so I teach ski lessons a couple days a week after work for a free pass. I can't fathom paying $479 for a pass there. With lots of spring skiing upcoming I still haven't paid more than $35 to ski anywhere else this season. I'll do the same thing next year but I'm going to invest in a Fox 44 card and do some trips around those deals.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[mikestaple]

I bit on the intra west passports for the whole family.. 6 each at their resorts. With at least one trip to steamboat and maybe a trip to winter park next season it was a no brainer. Looks like I'll be hitting up Stratton a few times too.


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[ERJ-145CA]

I bought passes at Mt. Peter in Warwick, NY for the wife, kids and I. They always sell their passes the cheapest in March. It's about a half hour from my house.

 

[Domeskier]

I bought passes at Mt. Peter in Warwick, NY for the wife, kids and I. They always sell their passes the cheapest in March. It's about a half hour from my house.

Don't mean to derail this thread, but is there any truth to the snow report that they have a couple of ungroomed, bumped-up runs?

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Don't mean to derail this thread, but is there any truth to the snow report that they have a couple of ungroomed, bumped-up runs?

I saw one the last time that I was there which was 3/8. The trail was Devil's Tail. It was the first time I ever saw bumps at Mt. Peter and I actually said to my son "look moguls, I've never seen that here before." We got lots of natural snow and it was consistently cold for most of the winter so I imagine they didn't have to groom it just to make it skiable after a number of freeze-thaw cycles like most seasons. That being said Mt. Peter may be small but they consistently have the best snow conditions in that area.

 

[lerops]

I saw one the last time that I was there which was 3/8. The trail was Devil's Tail. It was the first time I ever saw bumps at Mt. Peter and I actually said to my son "look moguls, I've never seen that here before." We got lots of natural snow and it was consistently cold for most of the winter so I imagine they didn't have to groom it just to make it skiable after a number of freeze-thaw cycles like most seasons. That being said Mt. Peter may be small but they consistently have the best snow conditions in that area.

That's helpful. Is it more or less crowded than Thunder Ridge for kids' safety?