AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: Ascutney Mountain Resort

[Greg]

Cindy Osgood from Ascutney Mountain Resort also agreed to take the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge! This is your chance to get official answers to your ski-related questions direct from a Northeast ski resort representative! Please post some suggested questions in this thread and I'll select ten to present for official responses.

As always, please be respectful of Cindy and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc.Ascutney needs to be discrete about certain information.

Ask away!

 

[Joshua B]

Why did you install the quad add the extra vertical when you don't use it that often? Some might think it's not fair to advertise 1,800 feet when the quad is closed so much of the time.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Though I can't comment on the frequency of its operation, I certainly do commend Ascutney for installing the quad to increase its skiable verticle. I've often wondered what, if any, roadblocks exist that would prevent Ascutney from expanding further up the mountain or onto different aspects. By eyeballing the topos, it would seem that Ascutney could add another 500' to its vertical, while the N and NE aspects of the mountain look like fantastic terrain. I know Ascutney is family-owned and may therefore have a limited ability to support the large investments such an expansion would take but, given Ascutney's proximity to I-91 (4 hours form NYC, 2.5 from Hartford), a mountain with 2300' vertical may make people stand up and take notice. No?

 

[thetrailboss]

First, great job keeping the mountain open. I remember when the place was bankrupt about ten years ago or so and it is great to see the improvements that have been made.

I must apologize that I have not been to Ascutney--I don't hear much about it, but here are two quick questions:

a). What specials or deals do you have to entice me to come? A $52 midweek, non holiday ticket is pretty high from what I've seen . Sugarbush is $48 midweek and other nearby mountains are lower than $52. Is there something that I am not seeing? :blink:

b). What improvements are slated for the mountain? I concur with the previous comments about adding more vertical, but I understand that you are probably leasing from the State and the rest of the mountain is a state park, hence stricter regulations.

Thanks. Look forward to seeing you at the Boston Ski Show and visiting sometime. :wink:

 

[Joshua B]

Though I can't comment on the frequency of its operation, I certainly do commend Ascutney for installing the quad to increase its skiable verticle.

My questioning the frequency of the quad's operation in no way means that I do not commend the area for installing the quad. I do admit my question was rather blunt but I'm a "to the point" kinda guy.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

That was just wordsmithing on my part. No intent to imply you were being too harsh.

 

[ChileMass]

I've skied there twice in the last few years, and I love Ascutney! Great medium-sized hill with lots of people who know how to ski. The big-city folks go on to Killington, Okemo and others, leaving Ascutney for families.

Q: Is the focus of Ascuteny going to remain on families and season ticket holders? Any plans for any events to draw day-trippers to check the place out? Any terrain park or boarding stuf planned? (I hope not). Lastly - any plans for ski-area-sponsored condos near the hill or in Brownsville?

Have a great season, and I will be back there this year.......

 

[pepperdawg]

Any terrain park or boarding stuf planned? (I hope not). .......

Heaven forbid :roll:

 

[ChileMass]

Any terrain park or boarding stuf planned? (I hope not). .......

Heaven forbid :roll:

Yup - I'm an old fart....... :wink:

 

[Greg]

I've sent ten questions off to Cindy.

 

[Greg]

Ascutney's responses are in:

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/challenge/response.htm?resort=ascutney

 

[Joshua B]

Ehhhh...

I thought her answer to my question about the lack of quad operation was bogus.

 

[ChileMass]

Ya know, she did answer all the questions, but that sure was a lot of promo without a lot of human warmth behind it. Kinda surprising for a place like Ascutney.

Still, I strongly recommend the place for families either for the weekend or for a longer stay. It is very kid-friendly, close to major metro areas, great mix of terrain, the people I've seen there can really ski, and apparently has lots of recent improvements. I'll be there with the family at least once or twice this year.....

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I like Ascutney too, but wish that Cindy went a little easier on the marketing boilerplate.

I think that Greg should offer a one-day seminar (similar to a grantwriting course) to teach ski areas how to answer these questions in a way that makes people want to visit their resort.

In a nutshell: play up your strong points, but come clean with your deficiencies... you can't be everything to everyone. And lighten up on the used car salesman routine!