Afton Alps

[skimawk]

Vail Resorts buys Alfton Alps

That makes absolutely no sense.

The only two logical options I can imagine are:

1) Very rich and eccentric owner
2) Government money

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[h=2]Afton Alps to join the Vail Resorts Family[/h]Vail Resorts has entered into an agreement to purchase the Minnesota ski area, Afton Alps, located 33 miles from Minneapolis-St.Paul. Vail Resorts plans to connect Afton Alps guests to its seven world-class resorts through season pass and other lift ticket products. The company also intends to enhance Afton Alps with redesigned and updated terrain parks, best-in-class coaching and instruction for all levels of skiers and riders, dedicated racing programs, expanded dining and entertainment options, and integrated technology programs like EpicMix, EpicMix Photo and EpicMix Racing.

Vail Resorts is planning season pass product details for Afton Alps in time for the season pass sales period, beginning in March 2013. In the meantime, to welcome Afton Alps into the Vail Resorts family, season pass holders will immediately receive a 25-percent discount off of the (Full Day) window rate on lift tickets at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.

 

[BenedictGomez]

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Afton Alps to join the Vail Resorts Family

Vail just bought them less than 3 months ago; the lifts were already there.

 

[deadheadskier]

a pic from afton today -

Good to know in case I'm ever in Minnesota. Mt. Ops people take note; all mountains should have something like this every day of the season; not just spring mogul season.

 

[skiking4]

Good to know in case I'm ever in Minnesota. Mt. Ops people take note; all mountains should have something like this every day of the season; not just spring mogul season.

Was thinking the same thing. Where can I found bumps THAT good in NY?

 

[4aprice]

Mt. Ops people take note; all mountains should have something like this every day of the season; not just spring mogul season.

I know its OT but you are so right DHS. I don't understand the aversion to this that "most"ski areas seem to have. Most times it doesn't even take away entire trails from the "groomer public". A few places do a good job (Blue in PA comes to mind) but most don't. For the local Mts around here in the Pocono's you can't have any more challanging skiing then that. The woods are out of play (I won't go in the woods south of Vt) and natural snow is rarer then an natural blonde. Why would you not want your smaller hill to have as many challanges as possible? Maybe I just have a different view of things then the feedback they are getting from the general public.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[JimG.]

Good to know in case I'm ever in Minnesota. Mt. Ops people take note; all mountains should have something like this every day of the season; not just spring mogul season.

+10

 

[SIKSKIER]

Most times it doesn't even take away entire trails from the "groomer public". A few places do a good job
Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Cannon's whole front 5 leaves about 1/4 of all those trails ungroomed and bumped.

 

[4aprice]

Cannon's whole front 5 leaves about 1/4 of all those trails ungroomed and bumped.

Cannon was great last weekend but in normal circumstances I expect them there and it does get its share of natural. Its even more important for the smaller local hills around here. I use these places as a training ground for adventures up north and out west. It would be so easy to put them up with machine. (they have no problem taking them down). Most of the time they just don't do it.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[JimG.]

Cannon was great last weekend but in normal circumstances I expect them there and it does get its share of natural. Its even more important for the smaller local hills around here. I use these places as a training ground for adventures up north and out west. It would be so easy to put them up with machine. (they have no problem taking them down). Most of the time they just don't do it.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Problem is that most small hills in the NE consider themselves feeder hills...they cater to never-evers. I rarely go to Thunder Ridge which is 15 minutes from my house because they never allow bumps to form and they immediately groom out powder if they get any. There are a few steep but short natural trails that they leave alone, these are open maybe a week or 2 every three years. When they are, I go there after storms because I have short powder shots all day long all to myself.

I remember once a few years ago I was there after a storm and they didn't groom the snow...people were lining up to complain about the conditions and poor grooming. It stopped just short of a riot.

 

[4aprice]

Problem is that most small hills in the NE consider themselves feeder hills...they cater to never-evers. I rarely go to Thunder Ridge which is 15 minutes from my house because they never allow bumps to form and they immediately groom out powder if they get any. There are a few steep but short natural trails that they leave alone, these are open maybe a week or 2 every three years. When they are, I go there after storms because I have short powder shots all day long all to myself.

I remember once a few years ago I was there after a storm and they didn't groom the snow...people were lining up to complain about the conditions and poor grooming. It stopped just short of a riot.

But we are talking about a minimal use of terrain. Most of the mountain should be groomed. With the machines and methods they have today it should be fairly simple. The Pocono's serve a duel purpose of being a feeder (or practice) mountain to those of us nearby and a quasi desitination resort for those who live further south. Would you do Thunder Ridge a couple of nights if they had bumps? 2 hr bumps sessions are alot of fun and worth the $ to me. I think they should cater to more then the never evers, 85% (yes thats the number I've heard) who never come back.


Alex


Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[gmcunni]

my buddy is skiing afton today, blue bird skies

 

[JimG.]

But we are talking about a minimal use of terrain. Most of the mountain should be groomed. With the machines and methods they have today it should be fairly simple. The Pocono's serve a duel purpose of being a feeder (or practice) mountain to those of us nearby and a quasi desitination resort for those who live further south. Would you do Thunder Ridge a couple of nights if they had bumps? 2 hr bumps sessions are alot of fun and worth the $ to me. I think they should cater to more then the never evers, 85% (yes thats the number I've heard) who never come back.


Alex


Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I agree with this and I would ski there a few hours each week if I could rely on bumps being there.

 

[gmcunni]

2nd hottest chick in skiing likes afton alps

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S3182242.shtml

 

[gladerider]

why not just get rid of all the trees? not much left anyway. lol

 

[Nick]

I hadn't heard of Afton either before. Also missed this tree.

Those moguls look like they could be competing with the mighty Sundown :lol:

 

[gmcunni]

more afton . . .

 

[VTKilarney]

Yes, there is a ski area somewhere in this photo.