Can Resorts Still Do It

[TwinTips21]

A lot of resorts after this weekend and after the storm on Monday will be building back up from essentially nothing. Do these resorts have enough money left in them to start up new bases and continue heavy snowmaking?

 

[thetrailboss]

They really have no choice. It is either spend and hope or not spend and lose all that money.

According to the Burlington Free Press, some resorts such as Killington did not do too badly during the holidays and have not lost much money because they could not make snow in October and November.

 

[ALLSKIING]

They really have no choice. It is either spend and hope or not spend and lose all that money.

According to the Burlington Free Press, some resorts such as Killington did not do too badly during the holidays and have not lost much money because they could not make snow in October and November.

Thats just it...Its not like they have blown there budget for snowmaking since they have not even really been able to blow.

 

[SnowRider]

WaWa is dieing. Ralfs had to be closed along with conifer due to virtually no snow. You have to dodge dirt on the other trails. My guess is they will level the jumps to fix the bad conditions. There was mud and...it was just depressing. I have to tell you though I give respect to WaWa. They suprised me. I think they may have to close monday though.

 

[tcharron]

A lot of resorts after this weekend and after the storm on Monday will be building back up from essentially nothing. Do these resorts have enough money left in them to start up new bases and continue heavy snowmaking?

I doubt they'd just close up and say, 'You'll all have to wait for our next allowance period'. While I have NO idea exactly what the expenses are to building a new base, I'm guessing it's mostly electricity and manpower, both of which they'd have to have money already set aside for.

I suspect areas to the north are hurting worse, as they may have smaller allocations for manmade snow then southern areas.

 

[tcharron]

They will until the February vacation period after that the season is pretty much over if no natural snow fall..

If we get no snow by Feb..

Aww hell, I thought I had a response, but I can't imagine what to say about it..

 

[trackbiker]

I'm no expert on the ski industy nor am I an accountant, but I am a businessman and while the snowmaking costs may be way under budget, I would guess that the sales dollars are even more under budget for this year.
The ski areas in the North East lost Christmas week and will lose MLK weekend.
Just a hunch, but I bet they would have preferred to blow the snowmaking budget as opposed to the sales budget. They will be hurting.
I wouldn't expect to see many new lifts, trails, or capital investments for next year.

 

[thetrailboss]

The ski areas in the North East lost Christmas week and will lose MLK weekend.

I would not count next weekend to be a loss yet. Cold weather and snow is in the forecast this week. Many NY'ers will go west, but some locals and New Englanders may come up.

 

[skidbump]

local weather is calling for cool monday ,tues,and wed then warm up and rain saturday...rain tonite will pretty much kill alot of base"whatever was left"and if weather patterns hold we will be skiing november all over again...

i am at the point of hanging up untill a real deep freeze"7 days of 24/7 snowmaking"

 

[56fish]

The rich will get richer...

They will until the February vacation period after that the season is pretty much over if no natural snow fall..

There are X number of skiers & riders in the NE. They will ski & ride as long as it's provided to them. They will remember this winter ....and, which resorts committed to staying open. That's were the season pass money and, real estate sales will go next season and in the future. Principles of supply & demand will weed out marginal resorts hoping (short-term/this season) to maintain their bottom line.

7 Springs in western PA is a prime example. Marginal seasons throughout the region have forced resorts to make the late-season snowmaking decisions. Those that did not make the snow have excess inventory:sad: of condos, chalets, etc...for sale now. Re-sales at 7 Springs are often only on the market for weeks:smile: . Homeowners at other resorts are buying season passes there in droves.

The rich will get richer...

 

[TwinTips21]

Very good point, people who are looking to get season passes for next year will look to places who made the snow late in the season. If only there was a way to pass this information on to our favorite resorts!

 

[tcharron]

I'm no expert on the ski industy nor am I an accountant, but I am a businessman and while the snowmaking costs may be way under budget, I would guess that the sales dollars are even more under budget for this year.
The ski areas in the North East lost Christmas week and will lose MLK weekend.
Just a hunch, but I bet they would have preferred to blow the snowmaking budget as opposed to the sales budget. They will be hurting.
I wouldn't expect to see many new lifts, trails, or capital investments for next year.

Really depends on the mountain. Many mountains are owned together with outer mountains (ASC, obv). Crotched, for example, has parts of new trails cut up top. Regardless of how badly this winter goes, I'd imagine they're going to finish them, becouse they're backed by Peak Resorts, which has many resorts supporting it's operation. On the other hand, certain companies that own MANY mountains in New England may be hurting something nasty.

Not many mountains are single owner, single mountain anymore.

 

[riverc0il]

i suspect many resorts are far below their typical snow making budgets due to so many warm days when they could not blow snow. also, most resorts are still blowing in january. i don't think finances would be a reason for ski areas to have difficulty with snow making. they are probably chomping at the bit to let the guns loose 100%.

 

[threecy]

Ski areas aren't really under budget with snowmaking - while they haven't had as many hours of snowmaking, they have been making snow whenever possible - and at marginal temperatures, thus getting much less for their dollars.

Not only that, but they're also dealing with losing so much snow - many areas have been wiped out 2-3 times and have had to start from scratch - that costs big money, especially when many areas are usually moving into a maintenance campaign, as opposed to a 'make base to open a top to bottom trail' campaign.

Since many areas were hit so hard this past storm, they'll be back to the trails they started on for snowmaking and will have expansion of terrain pushed back that much more - if we get into February and the situation is the same, you'll possibly see ski areas stick with what they have, build it up a bit more, and pull the plug on snowmaking ops altogether - most areas aren't getting nearly enough skiers to justify operating on a limited basis, nevermind a full staff, full mountain basis.

 

[loafer89]

I think that alot of people are going to give up on the ski season soon if MLK weekend and January in general are a wash. This happened last year and despite good skiing conditions in March, most resorts where deserted.

For the average joe skier, half of the season is already over. My best friend and skiing buddy has yet to get in one day this season and we usually would have at least 4-6 days together by now. He lives in NYC and how can you be in the mood to ski when it is better than 70F outside. We hope to meet up this weekend and make some turns on saturday night at Sundown and perhaps take a day trip to Mount Snow or Okemo on sunday, but the weather right now looks doubtfull.

 

[gores95]

My neighbors and I were talking this weekend about our "lost" season passes this year (we all have passes to Mountain Creek in North Jersey....no laughing!). A couple surmised that MC should offer all return season pass buyers a discount (10-20%) for next year. I said no chance, but what do you think? If this season continues to be a washout will ski resorts try to "earn" back season pass holders for next year with discounts, freebees, etc? The reason I said no was because the aweful skiing is not the resort's fault....certainly they cannot control Mother Nature.

All this being said its supposed to get a little cooler the next couple of days, then warmer by weeks end, then hopefully MUCH colder beginning the week of the 15th.

Let us pray........

 

[YardSaleDad]

If this season continues to be a washout will ski resorts try to "earn" back season pass holders for next year with discounts, freebees, etc? The reason I said no was because the aweful skiing is not the resort's fault....certainly they cannot control Mother Nature.

A few seasons ago, there was a winter that wasn't at Thunder Ridge and they "extended" season passes to the following season.