Independent Study: Terrain Preferences of the Average Northeast Skier

[Greg]

This might be an interesting summer project. This thread prompted the idea. It occurs to me that the majority of ski areas (and skiers in general) simply assume that most of the general skiing public prefers groomed wide open trails. I don't know of any study or survey or anything that confirms this. It might be interesting to conduct a survey to see what the actual terrain preferences are. I would be willing to summarize the results and publish an article here. Perhaps it will open some eyes, or confirm what already is suspected. In either case the results might be interesting.

Initially, I think we should come up with a list of ten simple questions (mutiple choice) to pin down the terrain preferences of a typical Northeast skier. We can then all try to get as many people that we know that ski to participate, whether they actively visit or post on forums or not, and whether they ski 5 days per season or 50. This could be fun. Let's discuss.

 

[loafer89]

I think what skiers/riders will want for terrain preferences will depend on if they are skiing as a family or alone. I like a resort that offers limited, but good grooming of select terrain like Sugarloaf does, while I can just as well ski untouched stuff like the wild thing trails.

 

[Greg]

I think what skiers/riders will want for terrain preferences will depend on if they are skiing as a family or alone. I like a resort that offers limited, but good grooming of select terrain like Sugarloaf does, while I can just as well ski untouched stuff like the wild thing trails.

Good point. There will be all sorts of grey areas like that. I guess this could be viewed as a personal preference and if parents want to also submit responses for their children that would be okay.

 

[ctenidae]

Anecdotaly, I'd say that opinion is justified- look at how few people are on bump runs/in the trees/ on steeps compared to the logjams on blues.

 

[Greg]

Anecdotaly, I'd say that opinion is justified- look at how few people are on bump runs/in the trees/ on steeps compared to the logjams on blues.

That may be true, but I would venture to guess that more people prefer classic terrain that most would think.

 

[Greg]

How wide on the average is classic cut trails?

Another grey area. :smash:

 

[Hawkshot99]

What trails do I like to ski? I like them all, even the greens and blues when they are not so corwded. Since they mostly are crowded i tend to stick to the diamonds. I like all of the advanced terrain, bumps, steeps, powder, glades, I like it all, with the exception of iced mogals.
Whie it would be great to have more of these different types of terain, we who like this are in the minority on the mountain. As ctenidae said look at the diamonds, usully pretty empty, but look at the greens/blues. That is the majority of users. So that is who a mountain will cater to, in order to make their money.

 

[Greg]

Whie it would be great to have more of these different types of terain, we who like this are in the minority on the mountain. As ctenidae said look at the diamonds, usully pretty empty, but look at the greens/blues. That is the majority of users. So that is who a mountain will cater to, in order to make their money.

Well consider this. One primary metric is skier visits. For every 5 green/blue skiers out there that skis 5 times per year, there might be one advanced skier that skis 25 times per year. Still 25 skier visits...

 

[loafer89]

Honestly I could care less for grooming, unless the snow surface is truly aweful. If it has somewhat white colored, slippery snow/ice on it, it will be skied.

My son and I both preffer natural, ungoomed trails wherever possible. There was a huge difference in the skiing pleasure at Saddleback between the slide for death on Wardens Worry and the creamy soft snow on Muleskinner that even a 7 year old could see.

Factors that influence our resort decisions are:

1) Affordibility
2) Vairiety of terrain
3) Length of season
4) Crowds
5) Glade skiing

 

[Grassi21]

After two trips to the BEast this year I converted from a wide open groomer guy to a classic/ungroomed kind of guy. But like Hawkshot I like them all in the right setting/time.

 

[loafer89]

I vote we ban all pictures of snowless ski area's:flame:avatar's included:wink:

 

[Hawkshot99]

Well consider this. One primary metric is skier visits. For every 5 green/blue skiers out there that skis 5 times per year, there might be one advanced skier that skis 25 times per year. Still 25 skier visits...

Ok I will agree with that, however a mountain doesnt know all this for sure. They just see what happens day to day...

 

[Greg]

Ok I will agree with that, however a mountain doesnt know all this for sure. They just see what happens day to day...

Precisely why we need an "independent study"...

 

[Hawkshot99]

Precisely why we need an "independent study"...

Agree again, but you really only have a small percentage of limited group. The majority here, are all higher end, but very few of us are the green/blue type to give their opinion.

Im not trying to kill your idea, just sayin that its not likely to get a "true view."

 

[Greg]

Agree again, but you really only have a small percentage of limited group. The majority here, are all higher end, but very few of us are the green/blue type to give their opinion.

Im not trying to kill your idea, just sayin that its not likely to get a "true view."

Which is why it needs some good old fashion viral marketing. I certainly know of many skiers that aren't active here so I'll just Email them the link to the survey and ask all of them to do the same, and so on and so forth.

 

[Hawkshot99]

And we shouldn't forget the snowboarder's point of view either ... :wink:

They all just hang in the park. They dont go on the rest of the trails.:wink::lol:

 

[Greg]

And we shouldn't forget the snowboarder's point of view either ... :wink:

Snowboarding? Only bratty teens do that in the park...

 

[Hawkshot99]

Which is why it needs some good old fashion viral marketing. I certainly know of many skiers that aren't active here so I'll just Email them the link to the survey and ask all of them to do the same, and so on and so forth.

Ok, sounds goo then. I guess I didnt understand how you were gonna do this.

 

[Greg]

Ok, sounds goo then. I guess I didnt understand how you were gonna do this.

I really don't which is why I'm looking for feedback. Just throwing out ideas.

 

[ctenidae]

They all just hang in the park. They dont go on the rest of the trails.:wink::lol:

Sure they do- it's much nicer to sit in the middle of a wide open trail.


(Good thing DMC is out of town) 8)