As turkey day looms, ski areas wait for cold, snow

[ski_resort_observer]

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20091124/NEWS01/911240379/1002/NEWS01

 

[tmcc71]

3 weeks gone!

Last season started early to mid November. By mid December it was almost like mid season. Snow making began late October last year and didnt let up. This season we are loosing at least 3 weeks. I usually ski 130 or more days a season. I will be lucky to hit 100 days this year. I refuse to go to Killington so I will have to wait. My new skis and custom boots are teasing me in the other room.

 

[billski]

Last season started early to mid November. By mid December it was almost like mid season. Snow making began late October last year and didnt let up. This season we are loosing at least 3 weeks. I usually ski 130 or more days a season. I will be lucky to hit 100 days this year. I refuse to go to Killington so I will have to wait. My new skis and custom boots are teasing me in the other room.

But the season quit too early last year. I'm betting on the average, which means we'll be out sliding till May. Wait, is there a May? 8)

 

[Highway Star]

What a crock. Very poor article. Every signifigant resort in the Northeast tries to open the weekend before thanksgiving. It may not be as major as christmas, but it certainly books rooms and brings in cash. Early season snowmaking isn't cheap you know....

 

[WWF-VT]

What a crock. Very poor article. Every signifigant resort in the Northeast tries to open the weekend before thanksgiving. It may not be as major as christmas, but it certainly books rooms and brings in cash. Early season snowmaking isn't cheap you know....

Not a "crock" and "poor article". It was simply stating that that Thanksgiving/early December is not a critical period for ski areas. It can easily be argued that early season is in fact a "loss leader" for most resorts. The vast majority of skiers don't even think of hitting the slopes until mid to late December and Xmas holiday week is much more important.

 

[sLoPeS]

Not a "crock" and "poor article". It was simply stating that that Thanksgiving/early December is not a critical period for ski areas. It can easily be argued that early season is in fact a "loss leader" for most resorts. The vast majority of skiers don't even think of hitting the slopes until mid to late December and Xmas holiday week is much more important.

not critical? :-o

 

[skiadikt]

losing t-giving isn't a biggie for most areas but having spent many of them at k, they've drawn pretty substantial crowds that weekend, some years even opening terrain on snowshed & ramshead so i'd say it's consequential.

 

[riverc0il]

The fact of the matter is that if ski areas are open on Thanksgiving, any revenue minus operating expenses for those days is pure profit. In a business with slim margins, I would thinking loosing any weekend during the year would not be preferable, let alone have the Marketing folks (as in that article) saying "this is a great thing!" But that is marketing people putting the spin on things. The fact is that ski areas are going to blow snow no matter what so that is not an expense directly related to opening Thanksgiving weekend. They have to be open by then if they can or their image, brand loyalty, and season pass sales would tank. Unless they open and not enough people show up to pay for expenses such as electricity and wages (doubtful!) they are making a profit and they would much prefer to be open than closed. I don't buy that Thanksgiving is a "loss leader" for the major resorts at all. It ain't Christmas but I can't see how it can't be profitable for the major resorts.

 

[catskills]

Not a "crock" and "poor article". It was simply stating that that Thanksgiving/early December is not a critical period for ski areas. It can easily be argued that early season is in fact a "loss leader" for most resorts. The vast majority of skiers don't even think of hitting the slopes until mid to late December and Xmas holiday week is much more important.

You obviously don't own a business near a ski area. The cash flow in Nov and early Dec may not be substantial but it helps pay the bills and maybe employ a few folks near ski areas that would not be working.

Its not all about ski areas making huge profits. Its about the business community and the folks that live and work in that community.

 

[Method9455]

The fact of the matter is that if ski areas are open on Thanksgiving, any revenue minus operating expenses for those days is pure profit. In a business with slim margins, I would thinking loosing any weekend during the year would not be preferable, let alone have the Marketing folks (as in that article) saying "this is a great thing!" But that is marketing people putting the spin on things. The fact is that ski areas are going to blow snow no matter what so that is not an expense directly related to opening Thanksgiving weekend. They have to be open by then if they can or their image, brand loyalty, and season pass sales would tank. Unless they open and not enough people show up to pay for expenses such as electricity and wages (doubtful!) they are making a profit and they would much prefer to be open than closed. I don't buy that Thanksgiving is a "loss leader" for the major resorts at all. It ain't Christmas but I can't see how it can't be profitable for the major resorts.

They do have to blow that snow eventually, but if it melts off the slopes before the season really starts going and it is way more inefficient to make, it can easily be a loss.

 

[dmc]

Not a "crock" and "poor article". It was simply stating that that Thanksgiving/early December is not a critical period for ski areas. It can easily be argued that early season is in fact a "loss leader" for most resorts. The vast majority of skiers don't even think of hitting the slopes until mid to late December and Xmas holiday week is much more important.

Maybe not to ski areas... But local businesses... Lots of people go to ski areas for Thanksgiving.. I have friends canceling trips to VT now...

 

[riverc0il]

They do have to blow that snow eventually, but if it melts off the slopes before the season really starts going and it is way more inefficient to make, it can easily be a loss.

Irrelevant if they had planned to open for Thanksgiving any ways. That would only apply to areas that had planned to open before Thanksgiving....