It ain't right I tell ya

[thetrailboss]

Well, in all seriousness, maybe the solution is to open a 'snowboarders only' place and see what happens.

 

[riverc0il]

what's up with calling brian burt? did i miss something?

At a cooperatively owned ski area like MRG where the membership have voted time and time again for the snowboard bad,

a freudian slip! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[David Metsky]

I have a simple question: how would you feel if the same resorts altered their policies and banned skiers and only allowed snowboarding?

Hey, as long as there are places I could ski, I'm cool with that. I guess I don't see a "right" to be able to ski or ride anywhere. It would help if I understood the reason, and if someone wanted to create an area with a boarders-only vibe, I think that would be an excellent idea.

There used to be signs out west banning you from certain runs if your skis were too short. I doubt they exist anymore, but the idea was that short skis made for ugly choppy moguls. Did that reflect reality? I don't know, but I certainly support the ski areas in their desire to make an enjoyable experience for the majority of their customers, even if some skiers were banned from certain runs due to their equipment choices.

Mt Snow, the small side hill at Waterville Valley tried life as a boarder's only mountain, but it failed rather quickly. I don't know if anyone else has tried it since.

-dave-

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

what's up with calling brian burt? did i miss something?
a freudian slip! :lol: :lol: :lol:

bvibert

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

"It just strikes me as un-American to discriminate for any reason"
one word hippy.......Private!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Disriminating based on income has been an american traditon for many years.

 

[riverc0il]

Disriminating based on income has been an american traditon for many years.

:beer:
some might even say... it's the american way!
:blink: :angry: :evil:
:dunce:

 

[Lostone]

Said it before and will repeat it. Snowboarders kill bump trails. Not all of them but if they allow some of them they have to allow all of them. Then you have the same gouges across bump trails you have at the bush.

It is the fact that there is one surface with all the weight on it. They get on a trail that they can't whip the board around, so they go from one side to the other. Skiers can do the same thing, but because there are two surfaces their weight is distributed, and they don't make the same gouges.

That is why it will be difficult to get the ban lifted. Mad River is a place for bump skiers. Most snowboarders don't do well on bump trails. (IMNATHO)

 

[riverc0il]

unskilled snowboarders do kill bump runs, but so do unskilled skiers. they both do the same thing: realized they can not negociate the bumps so turn their equipment sideways and side slip/scrape down/through the bumps. i have seen skilled boards own a bump run. given the nature of the equipment though, it is a lot harder for a boarder to skillfully negociate a bump run than it is for a skier.

 

[JimG.]

Hey, as long as there are places I could ski, I'm cool with that. I guess I don't see a "right" to be able to ski or ride anywhere.

-dave-

That's pretty much how I guess I'd feel, but never having to have dealt with a skier ban it's tough to say how I'd actually react.

I do remember one day at Hunter a few years back when a sign suddenly appeared on top of Annapurna banning boards. It lasted one day because both boarders and skiers alike overwhelmed management with complaints. The sign was gone that afternoon.

I got a good laugh about the short ski ban you mentioned. That seems like a lifetime ago!

 

[Mr MRG]

Mr MRG

I hope I am not making a mistake by chiming in on this discussion, but.......

Isn't it amazing that this issue keeps coming to the fore on this forum. I guess I'll start worrying about things when no one talks about it anymore. It sure is nice to see that the vast majority of AZ folk are supportive of the MRG Co-op's decision on our snowboard band. I did want to inject a couple of points of fact in regard to this discussion.

#1 The co-op shareholders have only voted on the snowboard issue once and it was not even a binding vote. It was taken at the Co-op's first shareholders meeting in April of 1996. (I was there!) The results of this "straw pole" were 76% in favor of continuing the ban. Since that time the issue has never been voted on formally and any desire of bringing it to a vote has never ever materialized. All it takes is a petition of 10% of the shareholders (only about 200 names - not hard to do)or if 3 out of 9 trustees bring it to a vote (again, not too hard to do.)

#2
When the co-op started, snowboarders had every right and opportunity to get involved and save the mountain. They chose not to help Mad River Glen in our hour of need (and in 1995-96 we were REALLY desperate for shareholders to pony up the cash required). Do I understand why they did not? Yes, of course many felt that the policy was there and why should they buy in when they couldn't ride. However, snowboarders could have easily mounted an effort and changed the future direction of Mad River Glen, and they still can. If they had perhaps the attitude of the co-op's shareholders might be different.

Another thought;
Isn't it great that key decisions about the mountains future are made by the skier-owners, not by me or some other "ski industry executive"? Isn't it cool that we have at least one area that does not make all of its decisions based entirely on the "bottom line"?

I know that MRG, and other "independents" are much loved and talked about among the AZ folks and I for one really appreciate that. But please remember that every time you buy a day ticket or pass you are supporting that business, its philosophies and business practices. It is not unlike other decisions consumers are asked to make on a daily basis. I encourage AZ folks and skiers in general to support the ski areas that truly represent the values that are important to you. I'll get off my "soap box" now!

Eric

 

[tree_skier]

I feel discriminated against as I can't use my Jackjump at Whiteface and many other mountains. I see a BIG money lawsuit coming :wink:

 

[ctenidae]

I feel discriminated against because none of the ski areas will allow me to ski during the "summer". What right do they have to say about when I can or can't ski?

 

[JimG.]

I feel discriminated against because none of the ski areas will allow me to ski during the "summer". What right do they have to say about when I can or can't ski?

I'm pretty sure alot of mountains wouldn't care or try to stop you from "skiing" this time of year. Of course, you shouldn't expect ski patrol to rescue you if you get hurt.

Oh, and don't complain about the snow conditions .

 

[awf170]

I feel discriminated against because none of the ski areas will allow me to ski during the "summer". What right do they have to say about when I can or can't ski?

I'm pretty sure alot of mountains wouldn't care or try to stop you from "skiing" this time of year. Of course, you shouldn't expect ski patrol to rescue you if you get hurt.

Oh, and don't complain about the snow conditions .

hmmmm think i might try that, i want to try to go sledding this summer at my local golf corse, pretty sure ill get some strange looks and get kicked out. Sure would be fun though (as long as there are no large rocks in the way)

 

[Zand]

Oh, and don't complain about the snow conditions .

Today's conditions: nonexistant.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Re: Mr MRG

I hope I am not making a mistake by chiming in on this discussion, but.......
#2
When the co-op started, snowboarders had every right and opportunity to get involved and save the mountain. They chose not to help Mad River Glen in our hour of need (and in 1995-96 we were REALLY desperate for shareholders to pony up the cash required). Do I understand why they did not? Yes, of course many felt that the policy was there and why should they buy in when they couldn't ride. However, snowboarders could have easily mounted an effort and changed the future direction of Mad River Glen, and they still can. If they had perhaps the attitude of the co-op's shareholders might be different.

Eric

Being the marketing wizard that you are, back in the 95/96, do you know what the average age of a snowboarder was? Perhaps that is the more compelling reason snowboarders could not pony up?

It's hard to come up with 1500 bucks with a $10/week allowance. :lol:

What would really be cool would be actual scientific evidence regarding the premise that snowboarders scrape off the snow more than skiers.

Am I the only one who feels the summer has flown by. Kids are back to school in a couple of weeks, white stuff on the hills soon to follow.

 

[ctenidae]

This summer might be flying, but it's doing it in a hot air balloon.

 

[JimG.]

Re: Mr MRG

Am I the only one who feels the summer has flown by. Kids are back to school in a couple of weeks, white stuff on the hills soon to follow.

Yes!

This summer couldn't fly by fast enough for me. Too damn hot and humid and not enough rain. This past Saturday was typical, close to 100 degrees and stiflingly humid. Eeeecccchhhhhhhhh!

I like having the kids home, but I'd bet my wife wouldn't agree with that one.

 

[riverc0il]

What would really be cool would be actual scientific evidence regarding the premise that snowboarders scrape off the snow more than skiers.

this was not a reason for the ban and irrelevent to a discussion about the ban. expert snow boarders generally scrape no less or more snow than skiers though, that is for sure.