Battle of the Flatlanders: Steel cage match to open first

[sledhaulingmedic]

As mentioned in http://forums.alpinezone.com/17822-sugarloaf-usa-announces-4-million-improvements.html Who will win the steel cage match to open First?

"In the Southwest corner, hailing from St. Louis, Misouri, with a Northeast record of 1-0 "Peak Resorts Mount Snow"

"And in the Northeast corner of New England, Hailing from the barrens of Michigan, with a Northeast record of, well, never mind. Boyne/Sugarloaf USA"

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I think Killington or Belleayre will open first..

 

[Greg]

I'm sticking with my initial prediction of the mighty Loaf.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I'm sticking with my initial prediction of the mighty Loaf.

Actually, while editing the poll, I'm rethinking this a little. I think the Battle will really be between Mt. Snow/Peak and Loon/Boyne. Much as I'd love to see 'Loaf bounce back, Loon is where they could get some return due to the proximity to a major population Center.

 

[Vortex]

I originaly said SR. With the rumours and my choice selections... I say the Loaf. Just nice to hear good things about resorts and not negitive vibes.

 

[snowmonster]

'Loaf. Colder and taller.

 

[Greg]

Actually, while editing the poll, I'm rethinking this a little. I think the Battle will really be between Mt. Snow/Peak and Loon/Boyne. Much as I'd love to see 'Loaf bounce back, Loon is where they could get some return due to the proximity to a major population Center.

Interesting observation. They have a latitude advantage over Mount Snow, but they lack on the altitude with the base at 1,000' (Mount Snow's base is around 2,000'). Loon does have a downloading capability with the gondola though and then they can run the North Peak Quad, but that still only gets a snowmaking base up to 1,500'.

I'm sticking with Sugarloaf.

 

[snoseek]

loaf, winter is much longer in that neck of the woods.

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm sticking with Sugarloaf.

They've got that upgraded snow making they keep talking about. They'll certainly try to open first. Ans so does Mt Snow, but the Loaf gets colder earlier and is less likely to be wiped out by a late rainstorm.

 

[Vortex]

Sr opened with Marginal temps before turkey day last year. Loon was two weekends into Dec before they got open. Not a lack of effort just temps. Loon use to open around the 10th of November with Down loading. I can't see them winning that battle of early season turns.

 

[MarkC]

Defiantly Belleayre with Woodbury taking a close second.

 

[dmc]

Hunter

 

[millerm277]

Defiantly Belleayre with Woodbury taking a close second.

I would strongly doubt that...my vote goes to Sugarloaf, then Hunter or Mt. Snow. (Woodbury does not count in my opinon until they have all 300ft of vertical open).

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Rod Taylor at Woodbury has won the last 4 years...how can you not vote for Woodbury. If they have to have 100% of their vert to win than so do all the other resorts. Woodbury can't make snow on terrain it doesn't have unlike the big resorts. He does have a secret weapon that helps him. He uses SnoMagic like technology to get a base before he even turns on the guns.


from the Ski Resort Observer Report, Nov 4th, 2006

THE EAST KICKS OFF THE SEASON WITH WOODBURY

Owner Rod Taylor a former Olympic athlete did it again. Opening on Friday November 3rd at 4:00PM the ski area officially opened for the 2006-2007 season. However, some locals did arrive at dawn to get first tracks. This gives Woodbury the title of the first ski area open in the Eastern hemisphere. Over the past few days Woodbury has increased base depths to over 3 feet of snow! ".

 

[ERJ-145CA]

from the Ski Resort Observer Report, Nov 4th, 2006

THE EAST KICKS OFF THE SEASON WITH WOODBURY

Owner Rod Taylor a former Olympic athlete did it again. Opening on Friday November 3rd at 4:00PM the ski area officially opened for the 2006-2007 season. However, some locals did arrive at dawn to get first tracks. This gives Woodbury the title of the first ski area open in the Eastern hemisphere. Over the past few days Woodbury has increased base depths to over 3 feet of snow! ".

Woodbury is in the Eastern hemisphere?

 

[threecy]

Sr opened with Marginal temps before turkey day last year. Loon was two weekends into Dec before they got open. Not a lack of effort just temps. Loon use to open around the 10th of November with Down loading. I can't see them winning that battle of early season turns.

All depends upon the way the weather's going. Example - right now it's about 68 in Bethel, 60 in Lincoln, and 61 in Dover. Also, it's about 70 on the other side of the Whites (aka Attitash).

Inversion can be an issue too - it was down south last season. This morning when it was 50 in Conway and Lincoln, it was 60 at the top of the Kanc.

Sometimes you just need a little bit of luck.

 

[MarkC]

Bottom line is it all depends on the weather, areas budget, and the willingness of the area to loose money to market the fact that they are the first. My vote for belleayre was based on the fact that they use state employees and a fixed budget that will not necessarily cost them more or less to blow early. The theory that the first area to open will bring in respect and a boosted status for a particular area's snowmaking system or ability to recover from a warm up is long gone. The bottom line is the product or quality of snow that an area offers from Christmas week to early March. Anything after that is bonus time. The amount of season passes and revenue after that is insignificant compared to the bottom line of operating an extended season. Yea you are screwing your hard core base, but we all know that profits drive the industry and the same hard cores that you screw will still own up for a pass next season.

 

[ctenidae]

Woodbury is in the Eastern hemisphere?

Who knew?
Maybe the reporter is from South Carolina.