AZ Challenge 2011: Chris Nyberg and Sarah Thorson, Killington Resort

[Nick]

Chris Nyberg, president of Killington, and Sarah Thorson, Communications Manager of Killington have agreed to participate in the 2011 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge!

The AlpineZone Challenge is your chance to offer up questions, suggestions or praise to the people who run the mountains in the northeast. For more information on the challenge itself, please see the stickied post at the top of the forum.

We will pick ten of the questions asked here and submit them for review and response, and post them in the Challenge area when complete!

Caveats: we may edit/change your question for grammar, tone, or something similar. Questions may be merged. If we don't get to all the questions, we will encourage followup from the representatives, but no promises.

Please be respectful as well to those answering questions - please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. as these may be confidential to the mountain.

Killington Mountain Profile

2009 AZ Challenge Results
2007 AZ Challenge Results
2005 AZ Challenge Results
2004 AZ Challenge Results

 

[deadheadskier]

Is there any plans to offer expanded lift operations at Pico this winter? I skied Pico twice last winter, on a Friday and a Monday. On both of those visits, the Little Pico Triple and Outpost Double Chairs were both closed.

The Outpost area offers some of the better 'character' trails at Pico and IMO A Slope, though short, is the best Expert terrain on the Mountain. While I know the focus is on family programs at Pico, it would be nice to have A Slope open whenever possible. It was pretty frustrating to see both the Bonanza Double and Knomes Knoll Triple chairs running and see the other two lifts closed. The Outpost you can hike to fairly easily, A Slope you cannot.

 

[oakapple]

Can you expand on how long we are likely to wait for the South Ridge Triple to be replaced?

 

[xlr8r]

How much longer can we expect until Snowdon is served by a high speed lift? Will it be a quad or a six pack? Will the new lift replace the triple or the quad?

With the new peak lodge coming next year, are there any plans to build a second lift to access the new lodge? Could the eventual replacement of south ridge go higher up the peak to reach the new lodge?

Now that the peak lodge is being replaced, are there any plans to rebuild or replace any of the other lodges in the near future?

Is the top of Ramshead going to remain abandoned and overgrown, or will those trails eventually be reincorporated into the mountain in the future?

 

[bobbutts]

Any change to your plans for late season this year vs. the past few seasons, or similar philosophy?

 

[steamboat1]

Is there any chance you'll install an escalator, magic carpet or similar lift from the parking lot of stage one of the skye ship gondola? It kills me when I'm the 1st car in the lot parked next to the stairs & have to walk up those few steps to the base lodge on weekdays.

Also can you do something about the overcrowding in the skye ship base lodge. Three or four people in the lodge in the morning is more than I can bare...:wink:

 

[jimmywilson69]

With one year of the Dew tour under your belt; is there any change in you philosphy on how Bear Mountain is prepared(ie snowmaking, slope/pipe prep, spectator flow, parking, ammentities, etc.)?

It seemed like there were alot of snowmaking resources directed at Bear (understandably so) that affected December terain rollouts. Is there capacity or the ability to add capacity to the snowmaking system to be going full on at Bear while continung other rollouts accross the rest of the mountain?

 

[bvibert]

What are your plans for the Killington base lodge now that it has collapsed?

 

[Puck it]

What are your plans for the Killington base lodge now that it has collapsed?

How will people get there with the damage done to Rt 4?

 

[bvibert]

How will people get there with the damage done to Rt 4?

Good question...

 

[Highway Star]

Do you feel that the storm damage at Killington is a "sign" that the south ridge triple should not have been removed?

 

[wa-loaf]

Do you feel that the storm damage at Killington is a "sign" that the south ridge triple should not have been removed?

:lol:

 

[Highway Star]

Why were season pass prices raised so much this year? Blackout pass prices increased by $80. You also offered a fee'd payment plan that was no better (worse) than the average credit card. This is particularly bad when you consider that the peak lodge has been removed, south ridge triple removed (with no notice at all), and now no more KBL. Killington has also not made any statements about season length.

 

[Highway Star]

Approximately when do you think Killington will open for the season, and when will you close. While I understand it is weather and condition dependant, what are your intentions this year and in the future? Will we see trend towards a return to Killington's traditional october to late may ski season?

Opening in October and staying open until mid May would satisfy many customers whom have been disappointed in the season length the past several years.

 

[Highway Star]

I've stopped spending virtually any money with Killington except for my season pass, due to Killington's actions over the past several years. The last straw was closing early in April 2010. I encourage my peers to avoid spending money at Killington, and will not bring guests to spend money at Killington. I've considered switching mountains several times. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

What are Killington's intentions and plans to win back the hearts ans minds of customers? What will get me to spend money with you again, and bring guests?

 

[Highway Star]

Could Killington fund a reduced scope initial phase of the Killington-Pico Interconnect, such as just the Pico side lift (fixed quad), traversing trails, and limited snowmaking.....for a sub $5 million price tag?

The Killington-Pico Interconnect is by far the most important project for the re-growth of Killington and its position in the eastern skiing market. Not the Ski Village. At full build out (four lifts), plus some glades, it would put you at 1500 skiable acres, by far the most in the east. It would improve access for day trip skiers coming from the west. It would improve revenue yield per visit due to spending at lodges from people exploring the mountain. It would certainly increase skier visits. And, it would sell real estate, or at least give the town a good reason to support building a Ski Village. Why has there been little to no talk about the Interconnect? At least ASC, dead broke, would talk about it. I understand Phase 1 involves 2 lifts (1 HSQ), 110 acres of trails, snowmaking, and a lodge....at a ~15 million price tag. Have there been any efforts to get SP Land or E2M to pay for part of this, to jump start the building of the village?

 

[Highway Star]

Does it make sense to blow 10+ feet of snow on Superstar and then close on May 1st, with full coverage top to bottom? Why not weekend-only operations in May?

An extended ski season which ties in with other spring and fall activities makes for a world class resort. What do Snowbird, Squaw Valley, and Whistler have in common....? An extended ski season and strong year round vacation traffic. Killington used to be part of this group, and had the real estate values to match.

 

[Highway Star]

:lol:

I'm taking this one from Bachmann.....fyi.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...hmann-irenetre77s2ri-20110828,0,6714701.story

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm taking this one from Bachmann.....fyi.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...hmann-irenetre77s2ri-20110828,0,6714701.story

Yeah I got the "natural disaster = sign from god/ullr punishing you for being bad" reference.

 

[Highway Star]

Have you noticed the number of park skiers/riders cutting across Skyeburst from the Stash over to the Dreamaker park? They duck the orange fences twice. Hundreds every weekend. Or if they are not cutting across, they straight line down Skyeburst to Dreamaker. It's a safety issue, and a clear sign the current layout is ineffective. Plus, Dreamaker is a poor trail for a park - too flat.

Will you consider a new park layout on Bear that makes more sense? Such as if you moved the Dreamaker park over to Wildfire, and installed a surface lift for the halfpipe?