Cheerleading

[riverc0il]

Others might call it shilling. I'm calling it Cheerleading. The ardent and zealous support of a home mountain to the point that it seems like the mountain has no faults or can do no wrongs. I don't consider myself immune to this aspect of posting about my favorite resorts. But I think I am more neutral than many. I frequently discuss the short falls of places like Jay can Cannon..Even though I think the world of them, I know they aren't for all skiers. But I am hard pressed not to defend places like MRG, Burke, and Saddleback which all have a big spot in my heart. But even those mountains have many aspects that make them not the best resorts for all skiers.

So I am opening this thread up for discussing the meta of cheerleading favorite resorts. Often times taking debates into illogical places or attacking other posters instead of attacking their points and claims and often times making false or illogical rebuttals.

What causes this fan boy fanaticism? Many of us are guilty of this at least some of the time.

For myself, I have a chip on my shoulder that I can relate to HPD who often defends Whiteface with Cannon in that a mountain becomes known for icy conditions but people often over look its lesser known aspects (to their own loss). I also cheerlead for powder skiing and earning turns which I know are not for most people... but I know there are folks out there like I used to be that are missing out... and they need to hear about it just like I needed to hear about it at one point.

What do you cheerlead and why?

 

[Greg]

I'm a huge Sundown cheerleader. Sometimes I think how annoying it must be to read about all the Sundown stuff on here, especially from folks that call places like Stowe, Jay, MRG, Sugarbush, Whiteface or Killington home. Nevertheless, I feel very fortunate to have this little hill right down the road and it will definitely entertain me for probably 25+ days this season. Here's why:

• An increasing commitment to seeding bumps which makes the 625 vert hill ski a lot bigger than it is. Seeded bumps on opening day in November!
• Fun mogul comps
• Incredible snowmaking capacity for a hill its size
• Sort of a AZ-Sundown connection between us and mountain ops
• Night skiing which feeds the jones midweek
• Lots of AZ ski buds who ski there and there's usually always someone to ski with
• Great place for my daughters to learn
• Lots of AZers that have small children who will be learning there too
• An expansion during the next few years which will double the size of the place and add some steeper and interesting terrain
• Great scenery
• Just kinda feels like home to me now

 

[Geoff]

I think that somebody who can't have fun at a ski area has something drastically wrong with them. If I had the misfortune to be stuck in MASH (mid-Atlantic Ski Hell) like our pal GSS, I'd be out enjoying myself at the mighty Blue Mountain. Ditto Sundown.

I pick on Okemo and Stratton but I'm sure that I'd have no problem having a good social life and an entertaining time on the slopes every day if I were an every-weekender.

I happen to ski at a mountain that has always had a huge target on it. I always hear "I'll never ski there again. It's too crowded and it has too many flats." Even the regulars tear the place down whenever the owners change something. I got into that mode a year ago for a few months and decided that most of the changes weren't all that big a deal to me. Sure, the skiing surface is often better farther north in Vermont but skiing surface is only part of the equation.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Like you had to ask.

Even though it's been several seasons since I've patrolled at Magic, I'll still argue to the virtual death with anyone that doesn't believe that it has the best terrain in SoVT. Like Riv, I'll acknowledge that the place has had it's shortcomings: Older facilities, the previous incompetent management, absentee ownership, Catch it just after El Dumpo Grande and try tell me you'd rather be anywhere else and I'll tell you you picked the wrong day to stop smoking crack.

Here's another shocker: Saddleback. I'll take that some of the lifts could use upgrading. Up until know, if you ride one plank, the Kennabago probably didn't make you happy. And then there's the ride to get to and from. I'll deal with those for so many options for classic trails, great glades, gorgeous views and arguably the nicest lodge in the Northeast.

I don't know why I'm a champion of the underdog. Must be in my DNA

 

[deadheadskier]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/23616-biggest-az-homer.html?highlight=Homer

 

[millerm277]

Hunter for me. I generally think it has an undeserved reputation (not so much on here), and although it has a few flaws, is far better than most people's opinion of it.

 

[Glenn]

I like Mt. Snow. No mountain is perfect, but that's just where my wife and I like to ski. I think they've done a lot of good there; and it's pretty close to where we live in CT.

 

[TheBEast]

My home mountain (Berkshire East) has come light years ahead in the last 5 years or so, but still has a ways to go. That said I like that it's got a bad rap, keeps the crowds out and more snow for me and my fellow regulars....

 

[Smellytele]

I am a Cannon and Wildcat guy in NH (starting to like Black as well) - I like MRG/Sugarbush in VT. I would probably anti cheer for Okemo, Loon, Attitash, Waterville, Killington. I am starting to anti cheer for SR also while not on here in cyberworld, in my little circle of influence in the real world. I used to love it but the last few times I have been I have been greatly disappointed. My "home" mountain is really Pats Peak being 5-10 minutes from my house. While I do not cheer for them I am glad they are here and try not to dis them for they are what they are.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Sunday River is my home hill mainly due to geography...used to live 25 miles away and my office was 5 miles away. Now I'm living in SoNH and the River is much further away and a similar distance to Sugarbush and some of the VT resorts that tend to get more snow and are more known for challeging terrain. But we'll keep going to the River...over the last 16 years its become my home mountain, I've got a great posse to ski with, we've all "grown up" together from college students and shop rats to mid 30somethings with kids and careers. My daughter was at SR daycare for 2 years with the sons and daughters of the guy who owns our favorite ski bar, the RSN station manager, mtn employees etc. I can walk into the Barker bar and know half the people in the joint...I spent years fitting boots and selling equipment at two of the shops up there...see former customers in the liftline all the time...I'm part of the community and the community is part of me.
SR is also a common target for things like McSkiing attacks, lacking in challenging terrain, too corporate, etc...in my biased opinion it more than makes up for it with the diversity of the terrain, lift system, snowmaking prowess, length of season and more. I was a total Sugarloaf snob in college, we used to rag on SR all the time...then I started skiing it more often and got to know the ins and outs, the woods and where to find the goods. There are plenty of hidden tree stashes and more get cleaned out each year. Grooming...I like hauling ass down buffed out groomers...not everyday all day, but I like the option...and if you're going to groom, do it well...nothing worse than a half assed grooming job...flat, but not consistent enough to really let gravity take over...blah. Big, fast GS turns on groomers are the best way to train for big turns out west in pow and crud...other than actually skiing pow and crud on big open faces...not really an option in the east. Sometimes the diff between okay skiing and great skiing is going 20' to the left or right...knowing a mtn helps improve the experience exponentially.
SR also has an overall good vibe...sure, South Ridge can get a little whacky and you've got your share of snotbags, but overall the place is pretty mellow and unpretentious. No militant band of locals scoffing at all the weekend warriors...or maybe I just know them all...no big crowd of Amex black card holders from NYC with their multi million $$ mansions and Prada outfits...hell, I ski with the guy who owns the most expensive home on the hill...played rugby with him, he's as mellow and down to earth as they come, just made some good moves in real estate and has a good job at the paper mill in rumford...not your stereotypical multi million $$ homeowner.
Anyway, enough "cheerleading" I think its human nature to practice a little self delusion,overlook your chosen area's faults and focus on its strengths...snowsliders tend to be more optomistic than the general population anyway...we seek out weather that sends most people into hibernation. To us, that dark cloud has a snowy lining.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'm a Blue mountain, Stowe, and Jackson Hole fanboy...mainly because I ski those three mountains the most and they all deliver the goods. Blue mountain is 25 minutes from where I live and has fast lifts..Stowe has the best skiing in the east..and Jackson Hole is well Jackson Hole. I do find faults with various ski resorts including my top three..and will always criticize if things are bad.

 

[deadheadskier]

I can say that Stowe is my favorite mountain in the East. I think it has the best combination of terrain, natural snowfall and lifts to access it all in the east. Due to time and how expensive it is, I don't get to ski there very often these days. Even if I still lived in Burlington, I'd probably be a pass holder at Smuggs. I'll be skiing Smuggs at least twice this winter and Stowe only once, but I'm very much looking forward to the one day I do get.

Right now and probably for as long as I remain living where I do, I'll be 'homeless' regarding ski areas and I enjoy that. Because of this, I cheer for every ski area out there, most especially wherever I'll be skiing the upcoming weekend :lol:. Last week, I was Pat's Peak biggest fan, this week it will be Waterville and next week it's looking like Wildcat.

I like some mountains better than others, I think some operators do a better job running resorts than others, but in general, I can have fun at just about any mountain. I can also have a crappy ski day at any mountain as well if mother nature hasn't cooperated.

The only place I openly dis on here is Killington, but that's because it's the cool thing to do. :lol:

 

[SIKSKIER]

I'm certainly guilty of being biased towards Cannon.But that's my "home" mountain for 35 years.If you've read some of my posts in Cannon threads though,you will see me critisize it's shortcomings also.Were all biased in a lot of the things we do in life.Just part of being a human being I guess.

 

[tipsdown]

Two of my favorite mountains are Stowe and Sugarloaf. I think they both offer some of the best skiing in the East and it's hard to top Stowe's natural snow fall and terrain variety. I grew up skiing Sugarloaf so I have a lot of fond memories there as a kid.

But the one mountain I have a soft spot for these days is Saddleback. I guess it's partly due to the underdog mentality. And the other is there's no other mountain left in the East (and probably only a handful in the country for that matter) that has the potential for quality ski terrain growth like Saddleback. It's benefitting from being frozen in time for the last 30 years when all these other resorts were growing exponentially. So to watch the development unfold and come to frutition over the next 10-15 years is pretty fascinating stuff to me...

 

[deadheadskier]

But the one mountain I have a soft spot for these days is Saddleback. I guess it's partly due to the underdog mentality. And the other is there's no other mountain left in the East (and probably only a handful in the country for that matter) that has the potential for quality ski terrain growth like Saddleback. It's benefitting from being frozen in time for the last 30 years when all these other resorts were growing exponentially. So to watch the development unfold and come to frutition over the next 10-15 years is pretty fascinating stuff to me...

I'm excited to watch it unfold as well. I'm a sucker for new lifts and terrain. As a kid growing up skiing Okemo in the 80's it was very exciting seeing something new almost every year. I used to draw on their trail maps at night what I hoped they'd develop.

 

[skiing is life]

Berkshire East is my home away from home. its gotten alot better ove the last few years but i think we need some detachable lifts. The 12 minute ride up to the summit is ridiculous. earlier openings would be nice too. nevertheless i still enjoy the mountain, its terrain and if its raining down here, its usually snowing up there.

 

[Marc]

Because I was so thoroughly dissapointed when I saw the content of this thread after reading its title, I've decided to post this:

so that others are not similarly dissapointed.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Because I was so thoroughly dissapointed when I saw the content of this thread after reading its title, I've decided to post this:

so that others are not similarly dissapointed.

Yummy..

 

[ts01]

What do you cheerlead and why?

Interesting questions.

WHAT?
Plattekill, Whitecap (Wisconsin) and the like. Will probably add Magic and Berkshire East to the cheerleading list, assuming they live up to expectations when I finally check them out this winter. Little places that rock. Even little places that don't rock - I'll boost Mt Peter or Otis as learning / local hills to get people out there.

WHY?
NELSAP prevention. I understand the "home mountain" dedication that motivates a lot of online cheerleading but don't really think Killington, Mt Snow or Sunday River need the love - they've clearly got marketing budgets and name recognition and will be here for the long haul. If current owners screw up there's always Chapter 11 or new ownership who will throw in more capital. (Not a coincidence I named all ASC properties -- but same applies to Intrawest, Vail, RCR, and even smaller but highly marketed places like Jiminy Peak / Hunter type places.)

OTOH I'd like to see more people at the smaller undercapitalized places that are probably more vulnerable financially to a bad season or two. And, I think a lot of casual skiers would enjoy it more at the smaller less crowded places. Always baffles me to see people who ski blues and greens go to Stowe or Beaver Creek for their annual "ski week," when they could have just as good a time with a lot more ski days and less craziness just going to Belleayre or Catamount. I'm not worried about noobs overcrowding my hill; I'm more concerned about paying customers leaving it to rot. (Except Mad River Glen, that is -- everybody, please go away, it really is a rocky, overgrown frozen waterfall, and what little "grooming" they do is simply to re-apply poison to the sharp sticks lurking beneath the snow surface all over the mountain.)

NOT ASKED BUT IMPORTANT - WHERE?
That is, where do we and where should we cheerlead? For the most part, our cheerleading is here and other online forums -- but that's pretty much preaching to the converted or the occasional innocent bystander who wanders in with a question or two. Where we should cheerlead is off-line - in real life - sharing the goods and bringing in the uncommitted but interested types.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Always baffles me to see people who ski blues and greens go to Stowe or Beaver Creek for their annual "ski week," when they could have just as good a time with a lot more ski days and less craziness just going to Belleayre or Catamount.
.

I can't speak for Beaver Creak but Stowe has great Blue runs..lots of nice stuff for intermediates at Spruce Peak, off the Quad, Gondola and triple...plus Stowe has a great town. Belleayre has nothing and much shorter runs..