AlpineZone Challenge suggestion

[Joshua B]

I like the idea of asking 5 standard questions. Didn't the idea of the challenge start because we all had things we'd like to ask ski area reps if we could. I don't really think they were area specific either. I just can't remember what those were, and some of them were hard questions...hence the "challenge" in the title.

 

[Greg]

I like the idea of asking 5 standard questions. Didn't the idea of the challenge start because we all had things we'd like to ask ski area reps if we could. I don't really think they were area specific either. I just can't remember what those were, and some of them were hard questions...hence the "challenge" in the title.

Well, the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge was born out of this thread. The primary topic discussed there was accurate snow conditions reporting.

I guess I would be up for five standard questions, provided we can define some good ones. At least it would make getting the list of the ten questions compiled quicker as five would be pre-defined. Let's start thinking about the precise wording and until they're defined we'll just go with the ten custom questions approach. Here's a braindump of topics:

• Snow conditions reporting
• Infrastructure upgrades (lodges, parking lots, etc...)
• New or upgraded lifts
• Terrain expansion
• Thoughts on skiing forums (akin to Josh's first MRG question)

Thoughts?

 

[riverc0il]

i agree with greg on this one, customizing all 10 questions is the better way to go since each resort is different. sometimes the same question gets asked for most resorts (what lift upgrades are planned? will the mountain improve infrastructure, etc.), but some threads have resulted in nearly two dozen unique and interesting questions that greg has had to trim down. also, ten unique questions keeps things real by giving the forum members most control over which questions are asked of each resort based on what we want to know.

greg, for variety regarding the roll out, how about alternating by ski area size (i.e. big resort followed by small ski area) and also trying to alternate state by state. really doesn't matter which order they go in since we'll get to them all eventually.

FYI - This morning, Hunter mountain declined taking the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge.

As did Ski Sundown...

booooooooooo....

 

[Greg]

i agree with greg on this one, customizing all 10 questions is the better way to go since each resort is different. sometimes the same question gets asked for most resorts (what lift upgrades are planned? will the mountain improve infrastructure, etc.), but some threads have resulted in nearly two dozen unique and interesting questions that greg has had to trim down. also, ten unique questions keeps things real by giving the forum members most control over which questions are asked of each resort based on what we want to know.

Thanks Steve. How about we define a list of default questions to be used as filler in the event I don't get ten custom questions within a week or two. This would be done only in the interest of moving the process forward. Obviously, it can take some time to get responses, and once the end of summer is upon us, these folks will be even more busy and the response time will increase, or they may not have time at all to participate. I'd like to knock out as many as possible this summer, and again, I have a bunch still "on deck".

greg, for variety regarding the roll out, how about alternating by ski area size (i.e. big resort followed by small ski area) and also trying to alternate state by state. really doesn't matter which order they go in since we'll get to them all eventually.

This is roughly the approach I'm taking. Right now we have two larger resorts, and two relatively smaller areas (two NH, one ME, and one MA (NY)). I have two large VT resorts waiting in the wings, along with another smaller NH area, and a large NY resort.

FYI - This morning, Hunter mountain declined taking the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge.

As did Ski Sundown...

booooooooooo....

Agree. Boooo. I hope Hunter and Sundown will join us once the percentage of those that have participated surpasses the ones that have not...

 

[Joshua B]

Agree. Boooo. I hope Hunter and Sundown will join us once the percentage of those that have participated surpasses the ones that have not...

Ghasp! Be careful Greg, you wouldn't want to fall out of favor with the ski areas. They might not "like" you anymore. :wink:

 

[riverc0il]

nothing like shaming them into it

 

[Greg]

So far, either the suggestions here have already participated, or I just asked them again. Are there any other ski areas in particular that any of you would like to see take the "challenge"?

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Not sure if these areas have been covered, but Jay, Stowe, Stratton, Bromley, and Mt. Snow would be good ones. Maybe Sunapee too.

 

[Greg]

I've got a number of other areas "on deck" so stay tuned. Also, if you have any questions for the ski areas that we are currently requesting questions for (see the stickied threads), please ask them in the respective thread. I don't want to request questions from more than three ski areas at a time so once these three are cleared, I'll add more!

 

[thetrailboss]

How about contacting Pat's Peak?

 

[loafer89]

How about adding some Southern New England areas like Mowhawk Mtn, Ski Sundown and Ski Woodbury in Connecticut. These places may be small, but they are heavily visited by day skiers from the NYC area.

 

[Greg]

How about adding some Southern New England areas like Mowhawk Mtn, Ski Sundown and Ski Woodbury in Connecticut. These places may be small, but they are heavily visited by day skiers from the NYC area.

Mohawk is in and we'll probably start this week with them. Sundown declined to participate. I've propsed this to Rod at Woodbury and am still waiting on a response.

 

[Joshua B]

Woodbury could be a great one. I can only imagine the things Rod would like to say if he had the appropriate forum.

 

[loafer89]

Is Hunter Mtn going to be added to the mix? that is one area that I would have alot of questions to ask.

 

[Greg]

Is Hunter Mtn going to be added to the mix? that is one area that I would have alot of questions to ask.

I'd love to have Hunter, but they declined as well...

 

[loafer89]

Two other New York State areas that I would like to see added on would be
Plattekill and Bobcat. Any chance for these places?

 

[Greg]

Two other New York State areas that I would like to see added on would be
Plattekill and Bobcat. Any chance for these places?

I contacted Plattekill. I never heard of Bobcat...

 

[loafer89]

By the way thank you Greg for the heads up regarding the "offical" response from Sugarloaf. The mis-communications head did answer all of our questions. For all of my general information about Sugarloaf, I now just visit the unoffical Sugarloaf web site.

 

[Greg]

I'm hitting up a few more ski areas. I'm also trying to entice Sundown and Huntah. Any other specific ski areas not yet mentioned here that you'd like to see participate?