Big Burke announcement

[thetrailboss]

Another option to the lower intermediate skier/rider market was another "back to the future" solution that was seriously explored by Northern Star right before they went under and that is to install a fixed grip chair on the former "Dipper Poma" line. In fact I think I suggested that it might be the new home of the (former) Bonnie Quad or Jet Triple.

 

[from_the_NEK]

On another note, Burke is making snow on Upper Willoughby. They must be trying to cover up some ice.

 

[VTKilarney]

Considering that the peak vacation week just ended, that's great to see that they are still willing to turn on the snow guns.

 

[VTKilarney]

I want to praise Burke for keeping the lifts open until 5:00 PM on the weekends. We made full use of the extended time this weekend.

My family bit the bullet and purchased Burke passes for next year. Even during the ride to Burke we were still debating purchasing passes at Bretton Woods. It was that close of a call. The terrain at Bretton Woods is better suited to my less experienced family. But in the end we opted for the closer mountain and lighter crowds. Interestingly enough, if Bretton Woods continues to offer free passes to youths with seasonal ski rental packages (which is what we get for our children), it would have been $400 or so cheaper for my family to get passes at Bretton Woods. One reason we got the Burke passes is that we can still ski as a family at Bretton Woods for $50 (all-in) on Sunday afternoons by using the local resident discount - as long as the children indeed get a free pass with their 2014/2015 seasonal rentals.

 

[oldtimer]

The skiing was excellent this weekend and the extra hour was fabulous on Sunday afternoon in the sun whne the wind had finally given up. The message boards say 5pm closing on weekends now until closing day. It was appreciated.

I want to praise Burke for keeping the lifts open until 5:00 PM on the weekends. We made full use of the extended time this weekend.

 

[VTKilarney]

Somebody mentioned seeing a QBurke van the other day, and was wondering what it was for. Here is your answer:
http://www.skiburke.com/plan-a-visit/services/shuttle-service/

From the airport, for a family, it really isn't competitive with a rental car. For local purposes, I suppose this would be really handy for a family that is not all skiers. The skiers could take the Burke shuttle and leave the family car for other family members who want to do something other than skiing. Besides that situation, I'm not sure how many people make it to the area without a car. Perhaps it is very popular with students at Lyndon State College.

Burke has made some good decisions lately that indicate they are concerned with the overall experience and not just saving every penny possible. Extending lift hours on weekends is a great example.

I'm all for saving money - and I don't fault management for confronting the need to do so, but I have always said that the cuts should be smart cuts. They should not undermine the customer's experience. Annoyed customers won't return. It seems that this lesson is sinking in.

A question: Does Burke just have one groomer for the whole mountain? I'm thinking that they do, but I am not sure.

 

[thetrailboss]

Somebody mentioned seeing a QBurke van the other day, and was wondering what it was for. Here is your answer:
http://www.skiburke.com/plan-a-visit/services/shuttle-service/

From the airport, for a family, it really isn't competitive with a rental car. For local purposes, I suppose this would be really handy for a family that is not all skiers. The skiers could take the Burke shuttle and leave the family car for other family members who want to do something other than skiing. Besides that situation, I'm not sure how many people make it to the area without a car. Perhaps it is very popular with students at Lyndon State College.

Burke has made some good decisions lately that indicate they are concerned with the overall experience and not just saving every penny possible. Extending lift hours on weekends is a great example.

I'm all for saving money - and I don't fault management for confronting the need to do so, but I have always said that the cuts should be smart cuts. They should not undermine the customer's experience. Annoyed customers won't return. It seems that this lesson is sinking in.

A question: Does Burke just have one groomer for the whole mountain? I'm thinking that they do, but I am not sure.

I also heard about the shuttle.

Agree on cost control.

FWIW Ary has been very, very quiet lately. So has Dad. I think they *may* have learned a lesson or two after their PR disasters earlier this year.

And IIRC they have 3 machines. Normally they run 2 each night.

 

[VTKilarney]

They groomed fourteen trails last night (see: http://www.skiburke.com/the-mountain/lifts-and-trails/trail-map/ )

There are some pretty significant omissions, such as Dipper Doodle, Deer Run, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and Lower Willoughby. This is why I have wondered if only one groomer is being put into service.

The BMA Ecup started yesterday (and continues today) on Upper Dipper and Big Dipper, so that may have something to do with it. But if the race did factor into grooming, I don't understand why they would groom Upper Dipper but not Big Dipper.

Since Upper Dipper and Big Dipper are closed to the public today, I cannot fathom why they failed to groom Lower Willoughby.

 

[thetrailboss]

They groomed fourteen trails last night (see: http://www.skiburke.com/the-mountain/lifts-and-trails/trail-map/ )

There are some pretty significant omissions, such as Dipper Doodle, Deer Run, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and Lower Willoughby. This is why I have wondered if only one groomer is being put into service.

The BMA Ecup started yesterday (and continues today) on Upper Dipper and Big Dipper, so that may have something to do with it. But if the race did factor into grooming, I don't understand why they would groom Upper Dipper but not Big Dipper.

Since Upper Dipper and Big Dipper are closed to the public today, I cannot fathom why they failed to groom Lower Willoughby.

FWIW in the past Burke's snowreporting left much to be desired.

There could be many explanations as to why they did not groom those trails, assuming that they didn't. Certainly it is cheaper to run one machine instead of two. Another possibility could be the other operators were not available or the weather prevented them from starting sooner.

It's anyone's guess.

 

[Smellytele]

EB-5 visas may runout soon...
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/rich-chinese-overwhelm-u-s--visa-program-181413597.html

 

[DoublePlanker]

Cannon's ski report today says "limited grooming due to high winds." Perhaps QB had the same issue.

 

[oldtimer]

We may be over thinking Burke's grooming report. It is often not a true and accurate report of what was done overnight. for instance reporting only one section of the Dippers groomed. I have never seen them stop grooming 1/2 way up.

ALSO- during the week, there is often no need to groom most of the non-primaries. All 10 people skiing didn't really mess up the work done 2 nights before. I expect Dipper Doodle was skied less than 40 times yesterday.

Cannon's ski report today says "limited grooming due to high winds." Perhaps QB had the same issue.

 

[thetrailboss]

We may be over thinking Burke's grooming report. It is often not a true and accurate report of what was done overnight. for instance reporting only one section of the Dippers groomed. I have never seen them stop grooming 1/2 way up.

ALSO- during the week, there is often no need to groom most of the non-primaries. All 10 people skiing didn't really mess up the work done 2 nights before. I expect Dipper Doodle was skied less than 40 times yesterday.

Exactly.

 

[VTKilarney]

They have just announced their Burke-only pass rate for 2014/2015. The price is reduced. It is now $499. This is $200 less than the regular Judge Pass and $150 cheaper than the adult family-rate Judge Pass.

The Burke-only pass goes on sale March 29th. It is not clear if you get free skiing for the rest of the year. You definitely do with the Judge Pass. The Burke-only pass also comes with two 50% off vouchers to use during the 2014/2015 season.

I got the Judge Pass in order to get the free skiing for the remainder of this year. (And the extra $$$ for the Judge Pass will definitely be covered in free skiing this year.) Now that I have a pass for 2014/2015, I am not sure that I will get the Judge Pass for 2015/2016. I'll have to see how many times I get up to Jay next winter. Since Jay opens earlier and closes later, it still may be worth the upgrade to the Judge Pass.

 

[VTKilarney]

I was able to confirm that they have had two groomers running overnight. Each groomer runs for a single eight hour shift.

 

[thetrailboss]

They have just announced their Burke-only pass rate for 2014/2015. The price is reduced. It is now $499. This is $200 less than the regular Judge Pass and $150 cheaper than the adult family-rate Judge Pass.

The Burke-only pass goes on sale March 29th. It is not clear if you get free skiing for the rest of the year. You definitely do with the Judge Pass. The Burke-only pass also comes with two 50% off vouchers to use during the 2014/2015 season.

I got the Judge Pass in order to get the free skiing for the remainder of this year. (And the extra $$$ for the Judge Pass will definitely be covered in free skiing this year.) Now that I have a pass for 2014/2015, I am not sure that I will get the Judge Pass for 2015/2016. I'll have to see how many times I get up to Jay next winter. Since Jay opens earlier and closes later, it still may be worth the upgrade to the Judge Pass.

Two vouchers for Jay or for Burke?

 

[VTKilarney]

I have "copy-pasted" the text from their email, including any typos:

SEASON PASSES
By now you know that 2014/15 Judge Season Passes are on sale, and that purchasing before May 12th will get you the best price. A Judge Pass purchased now also allows you to ski or ride the remainder of this season FREE! We'll talked about our schedule above, and it looks like our friends up at Jay Peak will be skiing and riding as long conditions permit, which should give you a whole slew of opportunities to pay off next season's pass before this season's lifts stop spinning. For those of you who prefer to purchase Q Burke Only Season Passes, we've got great news: we're moving the on-sale date up to THIS FRIDAY, March 29th at 9am. Adult Season Passes will be just $499 when purchased before May 12th, AND we'll also throw in two 50% off buddy tickets, valid any time next season, for Adult, Senior and College Passes purchased before May 12th. That's right, we're dropping the prices from last year, AND giving you a chance to bring your friends for half price. Not bad, eh?

 

[fbrissette]

Here is the the exact text from their email (any typos are from the original email):

SEASON PASSES
By now you know that 2014/15 Judge Season Passes are on sale, and that purchasing before May 12th will get you the best price. A Judge Pass purchased now also allows you to ski or ride the remainder of this season FREE! We'll talked about our schedule above, and it looks like our friends up at Jay Peak will be skiing and riding as long conditions permit, which should give you a whole slew of opportunities to pay off next season's pass before this season's lifts stop spinning. For those of you who prefer to purchase Q Burke Only Season Passes, we've got great news: we're moving the on-sale date up to THIS FRIDAY, March 29th at 9am. Adult Season Passes will be just $499 when purchased before May 12th, AND we'll also throw in two 50% off buddy tickets, valid any time next season, for Adult, Senior and College Passes purchased before May 12th. That's right, we're dropping the prices from last year, AND giving you a chance to bring your friends for half price. Not bad, eh?

That's a good pricing although it sounds like the Burke only pass will not give you free skiing this season at Burke. By March 29, the season will be almost done at Burke so the free skiing would not be a great incentive anyway. The vouchers are likely for Burke only.

 

[VTKilarney]

I'm curious to see what the Jay-only pass price will be.

 

[dlague]

Can't say that I ever questioned a grooming report before! When I get to a mountain - it is what it is!