Breaking news on Killington's early season....

[drewfidelic]

It seems like Powdr sees Killington as a cash cow that is bringing in as much revenue as it will ever bring in and is focused on minimizing expenses and doing some cosmetic touches to keep the place from looking embarrassing. Killington won't be bringing in more skier visits, so might as well make the most profit out of each one.

Peaks, on the other hand, is using Mt. Snow as its feature resort and sees Snow as having untapped potential. By investing more in the mountain, it will have a better ski experience, draw more skiers to spend more time (and money) at the resort. It will be interesting to see how the two areas do in terms of skier visits this year (along with Boyne at Sunday River)
________
Blowjob Black

 

[2knees]

I like to ski, but I know very little about the ski industry.

that probably applies to a lot of posters on ski message boards. unfortunately, the number who refuse to admit they know very little about the ski industry is probably quite large also. :smile:

 

[ski_resort_observer]

From today's press release from kmart

"Removal of disruptive non-skiers from parking lots. It has come to the attention of Killington management that there are an increasing number of individuals who come to the mountain to party in the parking lots and who do not ski. These individuals have been known to be disruptive to other skiers, and particularly to families. In order to protect the children and to discourage these disruptive non-skiers from coming to Killington, all vehicles will be assessed a parking fee of $10/vehicle PLUS $2.50/passenger."

 

[Marc]

From today's press release from kmart

"Removal of disruptive non-skiers from parking lots. It has come to the attention of Killington management that there are an increasing number of individuals who come to the mountain to party in the parking lots and who do not ski. These individuals have been known to be disruptive to other skiers, and particularly to families. In order to protect the children and to discourage these disruptive non-skiers from coming to Killington, all vehicles will be assessed a parking fee of $10/vehicle PLUS $2.50/passenger."

Wow. As much as they have every right to do so... way to drive the final nail in the "old Killington" coffin.

 

[Greg]

Wow. As much as they have every right to do so... way to drive the final nail in the "old Killington" coffin.

I think you missed his sarcasm...

 

[Marc]

I think you missed his sarcasm...

Yup.

But I still wouldn't put such an idea past the new owners.

 

[2knees]

From today's press release from kmart

"Removal of disruptive non-skiers from parking lots. It has come to the attention of Killington management that there are an increasing number of individuals who come to the mountain to party in the parking lots and who do not ski. These individuals have been known to be disruptive to other skiers, and particularly to families. In order to protect the children and to discourage these disruptive non-skiers from coming to Killington, all vehicles will be assessed a parking fee of $10/vehicle PLUS $2.50/passenger."

How are they going to know if someone is parking there to ski. Or are they now charging $10 for parking as well as the cost of a lift ticket? I must be missing something.

ahh sarcasm is what i missed.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I like to ski, but I know very little about the ski industry. All this time I thought the ski/snowboard industry was growing. Is it really true what the articles says? That the ski industry has seen a decline in visits since the 90s or whatever?

http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/press/0708/kottke-2007.asp

Regionally it has been roller coaster depending on the year. Check the PNW 3 seasons ago when so little snow there was barely a ski season at all. Snowboarders have been the growth sport in the last 10 years while the number of skiers have declined but have rebounded slightly in the last 3 years or so.

In the last two seasons kmart has by far been the biggest loser in NE with double digit declines in skier visits. Okemo has gained skier visits to top 600,000 and passied Mt Snow as #2 in Vermont.

Vermont has declined to a low of 3.9m, peak was 5.2m in 1987, skier visits this past season allowing Utah to take over as #3 in the country behind CO and CA.

 

[Marc]

How are they going to know if someone is parking there to ski. Or are they now charging $10 for parking as well as the cost of a lift ticket? I must be missing something.

ahh sarcasm is what i missed.

You had best not drive to Hunter with me navigating.



"Red light? School zone? No officer, I saw none of that."

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I think you missed his sarcasm...

I thought posting this part of the press release(from another forum BTW) would make it too obvious.:wink:

"We'll be loading patrons on the returning chairlifts. Enjoy the skiing experience for those who only want to dress the part! Ride up and back down the lifts - with actual skis on! Impress your friends with stories about how you made it to the top of Bear Mountain and back down."

 

[ski_resort_observer]

It seems like Powdr sees Killington as a cash cow that is bringing in as much revenue as it will ever bring in and is focused on minimizing expenses and doing some cosmetic touches to keep the place from looking embarrassing. Killington won't be bringing in more skier visits, so might as well make the most profit out of each one.

Kmart's peak in skier/rider visits was only a few years ago at nearly 1m. This past season the number declined to around 750,000. Based on just that it's easy to see that kmart has lots of potential to grow skier/rider visits in the future.

 

[millerm277]

Kmart's peak in skier/rider visits was only a few years at nearly 1m. This past season the number declined to around 750,000. Based on just that it's easy to see that kmart has lots of potential to grow skier/rider visits in the future.

Right, based on ASC's numbers for the resort:

In 2006: 795,000 skier visits
In 2005: 986,000 skier visits
In 2004: 955,000 skier visits

K could probably recover from that big drop quickly, IF they were to put some real money into the resort, and do a bit of advertising to show off the improvements to convince people to come back, they'd probably be right back near 1m in a year or two.

If they don't start doing things right, I could see those numbers falling further.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Right, based on ASC's numbers for the resort:

In 2006: 795,000 skier visits
In 2005: 986,000 skier visits
In 2004: 955,000 skier visits

K could probably recover from that big drop quickly, IF they were to put some real money into the resort, and do a bit of advertising to show off the improvements to convince people to come back, they'd probably be right back near 1m in a year or two.

If they don't start doing things right, I could see those numbers falling further.

Last season I was told it was around 750,000 but it's not easily availble as there is no 2007 AR. ASC's fiscal year always ended on July 31, which is abit unique among public companies.

What the numbers will be this season is a crap shoot. Based on the new much higher prices just staying with 750,000 could be financially a positve result.

 

[threecy]

If more ski areas tried to run a tighter ship like SP/Powdr is trying to, you'd see an overall better product industrywide and less areas on NELSAP.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

If more ski areas tried to run a tighter ship like SP/Powdr is trying to, you'd see an overall better product industrywide and less areas on NELSAP.

I pointed out the contrast between Powdr's approach and the tactics being used by the other new owners of the former ASC resorts...by your statement above are you implying that if more resorts went forward with the approaches that Boyne and Peaks are taking that we'll see an overall decline in the product and more areas on NELSAP? Or just that there are two different tactics to acheive similar results? You're an industry inside guy, if you were offered a job at one of those 3 operators, similar pay, benefits, etc, which organization would you place your future in?

Ps. I'm not trying to be a wanker, just interested in your perspective.

 

[threecy]

I pointed out the contrast between Powdr's approach and the tactics being used by the other new owners of the former ASC resorts...by your statement above are you implying that if more resorts went forward with the approaches that Boyne and Peaks are taking that we'll see an overall decline in the product and more areas on NELSAP? Or just that there are two different tactics to acheive similar results? You're an industry inside guy, if you were offered a job at one of those 3 operators, similar pay, benefits, etc, which organization would you place your future in?

No, I'm saying the current models used in the industry give us status quo...ski areas tend to spend like 10 year olds - go crazy when they have the money, then end up broke. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule, however if you look around, you don't have to look too far to find examples of places that invested heavily, didn't go for tight profit-margin oriented metrics, and ended up stagnant or in decline as a result.

Accepting a job with one of them would depend upon the area. That said, at this stage in my career, I prefer to have my primary source of income be outside the industry.

 

[Marc]

No, I'm saying the current models used in the industry give us status quo...ski areas tend to spend like 10 year olds - go crazy when they have the money, then end up broke. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule, however if you look around, you don't have to look too far to find examples of places that invested heavily, didn't go for tight profit-margin oriented metrics, and ended up stagnant or in decline as a result.

Accepting a job with one of them would depend upon the area. That said, at this stage in my career, I prefer to have my primary source of income be outside the industry.

I was a tight wad even when I was ten. I tried on several occasions to sell my sister to my friends' families.

 

[JohnGD33]

These new owners are getting carried away! I am done with K-mart. :angry:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I was a tight wad even when I was ten. I tried on several occasions to sell my sister to my friends' families.

Ahahahahahahahahaha

 

[koreshot]

I was a tight wad even when I was ten. I tried on several occasions to sell my sister to my friends' families.

Looks like you were a natural born pimp, and then you went and got yourself an engineering degree. What a waste of talent...