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AZ Challenge 2011 Results: Killington
- Thread starter Nick
- Start date
steamboat1
New member
If I want to get the early season discount on a killington pass I have to purchase it before May 1 for the next season. Now your saying I should lay out money for a pass for next season & be forced to purchase tickets for this season if I want to ski all at the same time? That doesn't sit well with me & I'm sure it wouldn't sit well with others.
agree. don't think any other ski area does it. jay, sugarloaf & sugarbush all stay open until the snow is done for no additional charge to passholders.
Black Phantom
Active member
No doubt!
oakapple
New member
The cost-benefit may very well have been different then. Costs and revenues do not necessarily change at the same pace, and we are talking about 3 decades ago. And to tell the truth, maybe President Smith was just a little bit crazy. We don't have the data.
Once you've said (in effect) F.U. to the passholder, they are more likely to take their money to another mountain.
threecy
New member
Some issues with May skiing:
- A significant portion of your skier base has moved onto other activities and obligations.
- A small portion of the remaining skier base (upper level) will be able to ski Superstar.
- Profit centers such as ski school and rentals essentially no longer exist.
- A small portion of the remaining skier base is willing to pay to ski.
- In winter, a day of precip tends to mean snow and thus increased business. In late spring, a day of precip tends to mean rain and thus no business.
- A significant portion of your skier base has moved onto other activities and obligations.
- A small portion of the remaining skier base (upper level) will be able to ski Superstar.
- Profit centers such as ski school and rentals essentially no longer exist.
- A small portion of the remaining skier base is willing to pay to ski.
- In winter, a day of precip tends to mean snow and thus increased business. In late spring, a day of precip tends to mean rain and thus no business.
RENO
Member
Pretty sure everybody closed about the same time last season. I even think Killington was open longer than Jay and Sugarbush.
just offering a potential solution. Nyberg said the skier traffic doesn't warrant being open. I'm sure they factor in a usage rate that time of year to be heavy on season pass holders and light on walk up ticket purchasers.
It's clear they don't think May skiing is profitable. It was just a suggestion on how to bring more cash into the situation.
steamboat1
New member
Killington & Sugarbush both closed on the same day last season (May 1). Jay & Sugarloaf stayed open a week or 2 longer. Jay won the prize last year for the last area to close. They reopened for a day or 2 after getting a freak May snowstorm.
Black Phantom
Active member
skiersleft
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Don't some mountains out west offer two season passes? A winter season pass and a spring/summer season pass? I think Crystal just did this last year.
k used to sell a spring pass.
I like the idea of a spring pass. I'd rather pay a few extra bucks and ski than not having the option.
Sugarbush does this and IIRC Killington did as well at one point. But regular season passes are still valid of course.
I get a K season pass but I wouldn't mind paying extra for a spring pass, at least you can ski later in May, now you can't. Maybe giving season pass holders a discount is in order, like deadheadskier suggested.
Riverskier
Active member
I wouldn't have a problem with this as long as it was never prior to 5/1 (could be a slippery slope). I figure most major areas can make 5/1 without making a glacier ala Superstar or White Heat of the old days. I would be happy to pay extra to help make it financially feasible to build a glacier, and to be able to ski well into May.
skiersleft
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Me too. And that's what I was suggesting. K sells a winter season pass valid from opening to late April and then a spring pass valid from late April to late May if conditions permit. Winter pass holders have to get the spring pass to ski after late April. I would buy both passes. If there's enough demand, it would make it profitable. If there's not enough demand, then K is right and opening in May is not profitable.
"... and then a spring pass valid from late April to late May if conditions permit." there's the rub. what if conditions don't permit. do i get a refund if they're only open to may 7 or not at all? has to be some guarantee. the old k spring pass, geared for skiers from other ski areas whose home mtn closed earlier than k, was usually valid from mid-march to the end of season which was usually 2 1/2 months. you're talking a couple weeks at best pass. do they just sell day tickets instead discounted for the passholders.
at this point i don't expect anyone to be blowing any more glaciers, just simply stay open as long as the snow lasts. another week or two like jay and sugarloaf do. they certainly can't lose any more money than they lost today running 2 lifts for 5 people or daily during mtn biking season and if the weather cooperates they have a good chance of making some.
steamboat1
New member
And it was real good!
Yeah I know. I was at K & it was a bluebird day with a few well covered trails off the Superstar lift open. If I remember right superstar, skylark, bittersweet, upper ovatation & panic button into upper needle's were still open. Still good cover on cascade, downdraft & double dipper if you took the short hike over from the chair.
steamboat1
New member
I believe quite a few areas in the east sold spring skiing passes last year. As for a combo winter/summer pass I believe quite a few areas offer them also.
As for paying extra even though I bought a season pass I'm against the idea. I skied May 1 last year & the mountain probably could have stayed open for another week or two with the cover they had. What do you want them to tell me that after April 15 my pass is not valid anymore. If that was their policy I'd have second thoughts about buying the season pass to begin with as I'm sure many others would. They'd probably lose more revenue if this was their policy than any possible gain they'd get from selling a spring pass.
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