How important is the Internet and social media in influencing where you ski/board ?

[dlague]

I think it's an interesting topic still. I've got this big spreadsheet because I want to update our resort pages to include social media from teh resorts. So you go to the Jay Peak page (for example) http://www.alpinezone.com/resorts/jay/, I want to include

a) Their recent youtube vids
b) Recent twitter content
c) Recent instagram content
d) Links to their social media pages

... maybe other stuff also? Not sure yet.

I haven't got around to planning and designing it yet but it's on my radar. I think that in conjunction with user reports here on AZ really make our resort section a "go to" for information on any given place in the East.

If you ever want to talk this through, I could help with ideas!

 

[MadMadWorld]

I think it's an interesting topic still. I've got this big spreadsheet because I want to update our resort pages to include social media from teh resorts. So you go to the Jay Peak page (for example) http://www.alpinezone.com/resorts/jay/, I want to include

a) Their recent youtube vids
b) Recent twitter content
c) Recent instagram content
d) Links to their social media pages

... maybe other stuff also? Not sure yet.

I haven't got around to planning and designing it yet but it's on my radar. I think that in conjunction with user reports here on AZ really make our resort section a "go to" for information on any given place in the East.

Well that's a horse of a different color! If you want the info then I will happily oblige.

Mountains that stick out to me (in no particular order)

Magic - almost daily video snow reports with honest conditions and are good about updating trail counts. Facebook is pretty good too.
MRG - almost daily video snow reports that don't try to hide or pump up conditions. Only mountain I know that has an interactive trail map that gives you a picture of the trail and description of what to expect. Facebook is kind of lame. Weather blog brings me to their site a few times a week.

Smuggs - first resort with a good app. Daily ski blog and great weekly video reports. Facebook is pretty good. Trail and snow reports can be a bit suspect.

Smuggs -

 

[OzSkiCT]

Yea suuuure. Just like that kid that really wanted our opinions on his editing ability!

So much cynicism here ... and right before a big storm promising plenty of fresh snow ... must be the change in air pressure getting to some folks !

 

[Nick]

Ozctski - welcome to AZ

Sent from my SCH-I545 using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[jack97]

How do you rate this ahead of "traditional" media advertising like TV, radio and print advertising ?

I rate traditional media as a zero from 0 to infinity. I have gotten better reports and info from AZ and other forums.

My only problem with this new age way of getting info is the tendency for "group think" or being in the
"echo chamber".

 

[dlague]

Problem with the Internet - sometimes half truths spread fast and become public opinion! Interpretation is key to deciphering what is read!


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

For me it's nice to get the updates, the pictures and the hype but it boils down to who has the earliest snow report in the morning.

I get a Stowe email every day between 6am-6:15am. It has become my morning alarm. I use this to generalize snowfall in the northern VT area. If Stowe had 6+ then Smuggs maybe had similar or a little less and depending on the weather pattern I can infer Jay might have gotten more or that places to the south might have gotten less. Or opposite depending on wind, temp, etc. This helps me make the last minute decision to drive north, east or south.

I have yet to see another resort report as early as Stowe does.

 

[MadMadWorld]

For me it's nice to get the updates, the pictures and the hype but it boils down to who has the earliest snow report in the morning.

I get a Stowe email every day between 6am-6:15am. It has become my morning alarm. I use this to generalize snowfall in the northern VT area. If Stowe had 6+ then Smuggs maybe had similar or a little less and depending on the weather pattern I can infer Jay might have gotten more or that places to the south might have gotten less. Or opposite depending on wind, temp, etc. This helps me make the last minute decision to drive north, east or south.

I have yet to see another resort report as early as Stowe does.

Good call. That is a pain. But you will drive south

 

[snoseek]

Social media in all forms is a marketing wet dream for resorts. They can cherry pick the info....if done right. It also keeps them somewhat honest to an extent as much of the info is user submitted. I look on my feed, or a forum such as this for the real deal. Who here actually calls the snowphone anymore? 802-422-3261 and 207-824-6400 are permanently burned into my brain but its been close to a decade since ive used those lol

 

[MadMadWorld]

Social media in all forms is a marketing wet dream for resorts. They can cherry pick the info....if done right. It also keeps them somewhat honest to an extent as much of the info is user submitted. I look on my feed, or a forum such as this for the real deal. Who here actually calls the snowphone anymore? 802-422-3261 and 207-824-6400 are permanently burned into my brain but its been close to a decade since ive used those lol

1-800-SKI-1234 was Wachusett lol

 

[bluebird]

The Internet is good for general research but its always better if you can connect with someone who enjoys the same type of ski trails you do. Who has time for social media-I'd rather be skiing!

 

[Erika]

Before deciding to head out a long distance, I DO definitely rely on webcams of trails and reports from folks on AZ.

 

[Scruffy]

I've also been interesting in broadening my horizons and trying new mountains, but when I see a web site or Facebook page that is hard to navigate, hopelessly outdated or outright inaccurate, then I'm also likely to steer clear and cross them off my list of potential places to try.

That's what motivated me to write my original post ... nothing more !

Without knowledge of your personal anecdotal experience with regards to that statement, I can't tell if you're right on or you lost out on a great opportunity based on superficial reasons. Care to elaborate?

 

[steamboat1]

A couple of internet blog posts (with video) had me book a last minute Snowbird/Alta trip towards the end of April 3 years ago. LCC got 7ft. of snow the week before I booked with another storm in the forecast. The northeast was washed out. Had a great time with a couple of ft. falling in the 4 days I was there. Skiing/Lodging was reasonable but airfare & fees sucked. Had I'd never seen the blog posts I never would have gone, especially so late in the season.

 

[Fowtwuntee]

Since I've been to mostly all the worthy New England mountains I know the ones I like. There's always MA when I don't feel like making the VT trek.

 

[yayowhitesack]

i use snow country to look up all my stats on who is open and what the conditions r

 

[rowdymainstay]

Mountain twitter feeds are how I figure out who has fresh snow; and definitely influences my ad hoc day trips. Bigger, planned trips are always to the major resort mountains.

 

[abc]

I worked briefely in a market research firm. What they found is advertizing have not that much influence on people's actual purchase decision. What it does is get people to start researching that product in the ad!

So the OP is lookiing at the internet/SM as ADVERTISING media, the same would be true. It has little influence to where people DECIDE to go. But it does remind people to LOOK INTO that particular mountain. Maybe they eventually decide to go, or not.

I don't suppose the OP has marketing background. Because you go on to confuse advertising with actual research. The latter part is completely changed by the present of internet. When you need to research package deals or size of the mountain, the internet is one of the most efficient source! A few clicks you got all that in front of you. You can even go to an aggregator and got more than one mountain's stat with a couple clicks! While in the old days, you would have to either find a bunch of brochure or call the mountain one by one to find out the same.

In summary, the mountain web sites didn't influence me on where to ski. But it allows me to make that same decision a whole lot faster!

Now, the influence of alpinezone, that's a different story altogether!