Do any actual customers not know that Killington was sold?

[Highway Star]

Just curious....what is the word on the street around where you live? Do people not know that Killington was sold to POWDR, and that ASC is out of business?

I'm not talking about people who NEVER ski Killington, nor people who don't ski, nor those who may have skied there one day a few years ago.

I'm talking about Killington's actual customers, people who ski there at least 2-3 days a season, take a vaction trip there, or buy a pass, etc.

How many real customers are still in the dark on this......???

 

[Greg]

More than you would think, I bet. I would guess that the average <10 day a year skier has no clue of the ownership changes in the industry this summer. I know of several friends and family members that not only didn't know about them, but really couldn't care less when I told them...

 

[BeanoNYC]

I've personally broke the news to about 20 students (HS Seniors) and 10 parents since September.

 

[MRGisevil]

Killington was sold O.O

 

[tjf67]

For the people that dont know it was sold I bet they have nothing but good comments when they show up. They dressed it up nice for the casual visitor.

 

[RISkier]

I'd imagine that outside of folks that work in the ski industry, folks that live near the resorts that have changed ownership, and those of us who peruse ski-related discussion boards most folks don't know and probably don't really care.

 

[tjf67]

I just got done reading that kzon challenge.

Few takes. Most post mention the company and what they want to become. I wonder if they took into consideration all the small business owners that are making there living off the million skier visits? Majority are going to go under. The community is the backbone of the resort. It seems like they were not involved in any of the decision making.

Highway star is the exact clientel they are looking to drop. Always a cridic never a proponent. It would behove them to pay for his season pass to another resort. He then could tare that hill down. Sugarbush beware

From my standpoint. I ski a resort for terrain and kmart just does not have it. I feel bad for the year around residents lean years are a comming.

 

[Highway Star]

I just got done reading that kzon challenge.

Few takes. Most post mention the company and what they want to become. I wonder if they took into consideration all the small business owners that are making there living off the million skier visits? Majority are going to go under. The community is the backbone of the resort. It seems like they were not involved in any of the decision making.

Highway star is the exact clientel they are looking to drop. Always a cridic never a proponent. It would behove them to pay for his season pass to another resort. He then could tare that hill down. Sugarbush beware

From my standpoint. I ski a resort for terrain and kmart just does not have it. I feel bad for the year around residents lean years are a comming.

ROFL...I'm positive when they have something worth being positive about....there isn't much......

 

[bvibert]

For the people that dont know it was sold I bet they have nothing but good comments when they show up. They dressed it up nice for the casual visitor.

As long as they don't show up at SkyShip stage 1 or Pico on a Tues or Weds....

 

[thebigo]

I think the question discounts the effect of us freaks that discuss the ski industry on these message boards while it is 80F outside. For the past few years I have skied as part of a group of 7 primarily at killington. Other members of the group call the 1-800 number to book lodging. This year I steered the entire group towards the boyne pass rather than the kmart pass based largely on information gained from links posted on these message boards. To be honest the entire group is based in greater boston; SR and kmart are about the same drive, the addition of sl and western benefits along with POWRD's actions directed over $3K in pass sales and countless reciprocal sales towards maine.

 

[thetrailboss]

I think that the average Joe doesn't know...especially since their marketing and logos have not changed at all...

 

[rachelv]

I think the question discounts the effect of us freaks that discuss the ski industry on these message boards while it is 80F outside. ... This year I steered the entire group towards the boyne pass rather than the kmart pass based largely on information gained from links posted on these message boards.

That's a good point that I hadn't really considered. Might have a decent impact at a place like K where there are so many groups renting houses.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Huh, you mean Preston Smith doesn't own Killington anymore?

 

[MikeTrainor]

Two people I work with neither of which ski very much had mentioned the sale. One knew about the canceling of life time passes and the other knew pretty much everything the new owners have done. These people in no way follow ski forums or are that involved in the ski community but I guess word travels fast. It surprised me.

 

[riverc0il]

I would guess the majority of Killington skiers don't know, nor care to know, about the sale. People not "in the know" about the industry just don't follow this type of stuff... which is to say the average family of skiers that only do one or two big trips a year. Real estate owners, season pass holders, and hard core Killington skiers sure amount for a substantial amount of Killington's total visits, but I suspect a majority of Killington's business are your average skiers that don't track industry happenings or message boards. It is easy to forget that passionate skiers and riders and those with season passes and real estate are not the only folks patronizing a mountain.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I highly doubt the average skier/rider knows or cares about most of the transactions of this past year. Unlike me, the average skier/rider probably has a life:smile:

 

[Hawkshot99]

Not even everyone in the ski industry knows......
I asked my manager at the shop how the sale would effect my skiing. This was late Sept. He just looked at me and said he didnt know it was sold.

 

[millerm277]

As long as they don't show up at SkyShip stage 1 or Pico on a Tues or Weds....

And competent help will probably be in even shorter supply than usual this year, considering the firing of many long-time employees (Is Farmer still there?), and the difficulties they are probably going to have with getting foreign employees.

As for the original question of this thread. A lot of people know already, and are continuing to tell others, I think Killington is underestimating that part. If you walk into any ski shop around here, they're telling people to stay away. If you go ski Killington this year, I would bet there will be plenty of locals who will be telling people what's going on during lift-rides and the like.

You can't piss off this many people, and not expect most other people to find out. (Locals, (ex)-Employees, Long-time K skiers and more....)

 

[wa-loaf]

Well, more people know now. Skiing broke the news in the latest mag. They even mentioned the shortened season and joked that the sales of AT skins will go up.

 

[ALLSKIING]

Most of the 10 times a year skiers that I know did not have a clue.