Big Burke announcement

[from_the_NEK]

but at least the skiing will be worth it since they actually leave their glades intact instead of destroying them to "clean them out".

Are you talking about Jungle?

 

[deadheadskier]

I just took a browse over on Burke's facebook page. I'm kind of surprised that they aren't getting blasted. That's usually the first thing to happen when a business makes a controversial decision, their social media goes haywire.

Do you think Burke is deleting wall posts on the subject or people haven't figured out what's going on?

I've got a Fox44 pass I hope to use up there myself this season. Love the mountain. Not fond of this business decision though and I don't even MTB. I just recognize how hugely important the Kingdom Trails are and this seems like a slap in the face to all those who worked so hard to get it going.

 

[thetrailboss]

I just took a browse over on Burke's facebook page. I'm kind of surprised that they aren't getting blasted. That's usually the first thing to happen when a business makes a controversial decision, their social media goes haywire.

Do you think Burke is deleting wall posts on the subject or people haven't figured out what's going on?

I've got a Fox44 pass I hope to use up there myself this season. Love the mountain. Not fond of this business decision though and I don't even MTB. I just recognize how hugely important the Kingdom Trails are and this seems like a slap in the face to all those who worked so hard to get it going.

They were there yesterday...hard to find them. And folks have not really heard because VTDigger.org ran the article and not some mainstream traditional media outlet. It will now trickle down...probably Cal Rec, WCAX, etc. So over the next few days, maybe weeks, they will get additional ire from folks. The PR gift that keeps on giving...and at the beginning of the season. How awesome. :roll:

 

[thetrailboss]

And I was hoping that this was a bad dream. Unfortunately not.

I (somewhat) understood firing some management; I did not understand the "Q" thing; now I clearly understand that this is just a big "F-you" to the community. I suggest that someone give Q2 this for Christmas as I saw it was on Amazon as a promo, although it is too late:

 

[thetrailboss]

EDIT: the article just hit the Cal Rec.

Now WCAX: http://www.wcax.com/story/24268765/burke-ends-partnership-with-kingdom-trails

It's the gift that keeps on giving! :lol: You reap what you sow!

And there are a lot more comments on their FB page.

 

[from_the_NEK]

EDIT: the article just hit the Cal Rec.

Now WCAX: http://www.wcax.com/story/24268765/burke-ends-partnership-with-kingdom-trails

It's the gift that keeps on giving! :lol: You reap what you sow!

And there are a lot more comments on their FB page.

Front page of the Caledonian Record this morning. Included is the original VTDigger article and another sub-article by a Cal-Rec reporter who interviewed a few business owners who I think displayed a lot of restraint in their comments. Probably because they know their business depends on not burning bridges.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Some tunes to go along with the situation:

 

[from_the_NEK]

They probably got the picture from here: http://www.kingdomtrails.com/photo-gallery?album=1&gallery=8

 

[Andrew]

They were there yesterday...hard to find them. And folks have not really heard because VTDigger.org ran the article and not some mainstream traditional media outlet. It will now trickle down...probably Cal Rec, WCAX, etc. So over the next few days, maybe weeks, they will get additional ire from folks. The PR gift that keeps on giving...and at the beginning of the season. How awesome. :roll:

Specific posts you're referring to that were removed? In regards to FB; unless they're vulgar, obscene, or completely off topic rants, I try not to delete anything. Quick drop-in appearance, you'll hear more from me later.

 

[deadheadskier]

Yeah, I missed seeing the posts until I went back for a second look. For the most part the criticism was in good taste and respectful. I'm not envious of your position in situations like these Andrew, but I'm sure you know it's part of the gig. Have to have tough skin to work in marketing in the ski business. Us customers tend to bitch a lot. :lol:

 

[from_the_NEK]

I like how everyone is jumping ship as if that somehow that gets the message the to Q, he just lets more people go when the bottom line is out of reach, way to stick it to the man. Ski it, support KT, support the NEK, I don't get the imaginary lines being drawn.

That is the real rub here. I have a lot of friends who work at Burke. If the bad management decisions continue to alienate customers, it is putting their livelihoods at risk.
Do I continue to pay for services at Burke to help ensure the mountain remains operational and my friends employed? I think I do, but talking up the mountain to guests is going to be far more difficult.
I have been a big supporter of Burke over the years. However, the current management seems to be doing exactly the opposite of what everyone in the focus group discussed late last winter (http://forums.alpinezone.com/showth...oning-session-roundtable-discussion?highlight=).

 

[kingdom-tele]

NEK- talking up the mountain and the people who we truly interact with there don't change. Q ain't coming down from his loft the drink PBR's with anyone. I can see people's distaste, I too think the choices being made reflect what I feared the most, owners willing to sacrifice for the bottom line with what seems like myopia. But everyone throwing in the towel on the place is ridiculous, it doesn't hurt Q and the people with the money already, it hurts the people we know, the ones who will still be there when and if these "business" men move on to something more lucrative.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yeah, I missed seeing the posts until I went back for a second look. For the most part the criticism was in good taste and respectful. I'm not envious of your position in situations like these Andrew, but I'm sure you know it's part of the gig. Have to have tough skin to work in marketing in the ski business. Us customers tend to bitch a lot. :lol:

Right. But I think this is legitimate criticism or "constructive feedback".

And I have not heard or seen Masskier trying to spin this news.

 

[thetrailboss]

NEK- talking up the mountain and the people who we truly interact with there don't change. Q ain't coming down from his loft the drink PBR's with anyone. I can see people's distaste, I too think the choices being made reflect what I feared the most, owners willing to sacrifice for the bottom line with what seems like myopia. But everyone throwing in the towel on the place is ridiculous, it doesn't hurt Q and the people with the money already, it hurts the people we know, the ones who will still be there when and if these "business" men move on to something more lucrative.

KT you and I have disagreed on a lot, but I agree with you here. It is a terrible situation that Ary has put a lot of locals in. And it is a bad deal because you're right in that the "little people" will pay the price. Vermonters, NEKers especially, are resourceful. I hope that things turn around. I really do. I've said a lot on here and in other outlets about this over the past few days, but my comments are not meant to be mean or vicious but legitimate criticism for some really bad decisions.

 

[kingdom-tele]

I realized somewhere along the way through my cynical outlook I was spending to much time thinking about all the stuff that seemed wrong about all this development. Meanwhile, I drew some odd lines, wouldn't pay for a pass, wouldn't go the waterpark, etc which is all evident in my previous posts. I began to find myself looking in from the outside, missing friends I had made over the years that were in those places. It finally dawned on me what these grand "deciders" choose to do doesn't change the people who live here and will continue to live here. It may mean the second home crew moves on, but they always get replaced by the next focus group. I think people just need to take a deep breath, your gonna have a great time skiing the hill, enjoying the last days of the bear den with all the familiar faces you have come to know, screw em, they may not give a shit, but cutting of your own nose doesn't teach them anything, supporting the community is different than supporting the owner, its just a perception game

 

[deadheadskier]

I realized somewhere along the way through my cynical outlook I was spending to much time thinking about all the stuff that seemed wrong about all this development. Meanwhile, I drew some odd lines, wouldn't pay for a pass, wouldn't go the waterpark, etc which is all evident in my previous posts. I began to find myself looking in from the outside, missing friends I had made over the years that were in those places. It finally dawned on me what these grand "deciders" choose to do doesn't change the people who live here and will continue to live here. It may mean the second home crew moves on, but they always get replaced by the next focus group. I think people just need to take a deep breath, your gonna have a great time skiing the hill, enjoying the last days of the bear den with all the familiar faces you have come to know, screw em, they may not give a shit, but cutting of your own nose doesn't teach them anything, supporting the community is different than supporting the owner, its just a perception game

Who are you and what have you done with kingdom-tele? :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

I realized somewhere along the way through my cynical outlook I was spending to much time thinking about all the stuff that seemed wrong about all this development. Meanwhile, I drew some odd lines, wouldn't pay for a pass, wouldn't go the waterpark, etc which is all evident in my previous posts. I began to find myself looking in from the outside, missing friends I had made over the years that were in those places. It finally dawned on me what these grand "deciders" choose to do doesn't change the people who live here and will continue to live here. It may mean the second home crew moves on, but they always get replaced by the next focus group. I think people just need to take a deep breath, your gonna have a great time skiing the hill, enjoying the last days of the bear den with all the familiar faces you have come to know, screw em, they may not give a shit, but cutting of your own nose doesn't teach them anything, supporting the community is different than supporting the owner, its just a perception game

Jay is different than Burke in many ways. For Burke, it can't survive without the community and vice-versa. It just does not have enough draw from out-of-town to survive. We've seen that for many regimes.

 

[kingdom-tele]

Jay is different than Burke in many ways. For Burke, it can't survive without the community and vice-versa. It just does not have enough draw from out-of-town to survive. We've seen that for many regimes.

can't it. isn't that the whole point of this development. to bring in people to spend money. isn't this regime the salvation.


Either way, I think your looking at backwards, the community can and will survive, it may be better off with outside money flowing like the salmon of capistrano, but pretending the community will crumble away because Burke is being run by people staring at a bottom line is to ignore the past TB, you know that. The NEK may lack a lot of things, but people pull it together here better than most places.

I think if you were to ask J/maybe steve is reading this, he and they would attest that J most certainly relies on its community

 

[fbrissette]

I like how everyone is jumping ship as if that somehow that gets the message the to Q, he just lets more people go when the bottom line is out of reach, way to stick it to the man. Ski it, support KT, support the NEK, I don't get the imaginary lines being drawn.

Sorry but I'm not following. You're basically saying the lousier Qburke acts the more we should support them ??? I'll ski Jay , I'll bike KT but I'm not giving money to Burke.

 

[kingdom-tele]

Sorry but I'm not following. You're basically saying the lousier Qburke acts the more we should support them ??? I'll ski Jay , I'll bike KT but I'm not giving money to Burke.

do what you need to do.

Tell me how to differentiate the line between helping the "Q" and helping the community? Where does one begin and the other end so I know exactly how to screw one of them but not the other.