Killington Ad Irony

[rjc1976]

I got a chuckle out of this, and I thought some of you might too. I received a copy of the 2006 Ski Vermont "magazine" today. In the magazine is an ad by Killington that reads in big letters "A MOUNTAIN IN A WORLD OF McMOUNTAINS". Heh heh...talk about irony. K-mart/ASC is implying that other mountains are all the same!

 

[thetrailboss]

Good call! I noticed that as well...will scan and upload for all to see...I was thinking the same thing...playing on what we do think of ASC.

 

[rjc1976]

Cool, I think the seeing the ad would help.

 

[riverc0il]

no words.

that is actually an interesting yet hard handed marketing tool i have noticed a lot of big corps utilizing. when someone else's product is better than yours, accuse the other products of being worse at it's faults than your product is. kinda flipping around the negative stigma and pushing it on other products instead of saying why their product is better. you know a product can't stand for itself when it's own marketing department measures itself in the public eye by saying other mountains are inferior instead of saying they are superior.

 

[bvibert]

:lol:






No seriously... :lol:

 

[ctenidae]

That is funny.
Remember, though, that to the great majority of people, K-Mart is the Ruth's Chris of mountains. The Dom Perignon to everyone else's Ruinite. The bee's knees, as it were. Even the cat's meow.

 

[SkiDog]

im a regular kmart skier....I am kinda wondering why everyone bashes it soo much..I know its popular and boasts a lot, but in reality the terrain is pretty good IMHO...yeah ticket prices are high, arent they everywhere???? If you do some searching online or buy tickets in advance (mEticket or All4One) it can be pretty cheap, I think the mETickets run about $49.00, so that isn't all that bad. It may get crowded, but again where doesnt really on a good day in the New England area? If you know how to ski the mtn you don't really wait in lines, least I dont.

I am just trying to get some opinions as to why some seem to "despise" it so?

Thoughts?

M

 

[ctenidae]

It's just natural, SkiDog- it's normal to make fun of the biggest anything. I've only been to Kmart twice, and can't say that there is anything that makes me want to drive that far for. Just my personal opinion, there.

 

[Marc]

That is funny.
Remember, though, that to the great majority of people, K-Mart is the Ruth's Chris of mountains. The Dom Perignon to everyone else's Ruinite. The bee's knees, as it were. Even the cat's meow.

Are you going so far as to say they think it's the cream of the crop? The top of the heap? Leader of the pack?

SkiDog, I think everyone complains a lot about it because they remember what it used to be like before ASC. I side with you, I think it's a great mountain when you combine the ASC pass, the driving time and all other factors.

I don't have the hang up of being a long time skier there and remember how much better it used to be. I can see where everyone else that is in the position is coming from though...


Grouchy old farts... :dunce:

 

[dmc]

Killingon is was it is... I have a good time when I go there.. But I think it's more suited for bump skiers than freeriders as a general statement...

I don't want to get into bashing like some do with Hunter and other places...

But it was better before ASC got their paws on it...
We used to rent a huge ski house from the middle of April to the end of May... But since ASC stopped keeping the joint open late - I just go to Tuckermans more...

It's sad...

 

[SkiDog]

I TOTALLY agree that what is WAS was better (pre ASC), but all in all the terrain hasnt changed. I dont really use the other facilities other than to grab a quick beer, or use a restroom...

I also agree that its probably a factor of "biggest always gets raked over the coals" I dont take offense to "bashing" it because I make my own decisions I was just looking for exact feedback as to maybe why so many talk "crap" about it..

I like Kmart but I do also like other mtns, Kmart just happens to be where the family owns a condo so its easiest. Still doesnt stop me from making side trips and trips out west, so...

Keep the replies coming..

M

 

[bvibert]

I suppose my post comes off as bashing K-Mart, that really wasn't my intention. I just thought it was funny since to me they seem about as McMountain as they come... Thats cool with me, they attract a ton of people every year

 

[dmc]

The terrain has changed...
They tore down tons of trees in the Canyons... And ruined some perfectly good tree skiing...

 

[SkiDog]

The terrain has changed...
They tore down tons of trees in the Canyons... And ruined some perfectly good tree skiing...

True, but they "added" some pretty hot trees over on Bear..although I dont like it as much there now cause its all park oriented...not that I have anything against snowboarders Bear just always seemed more like the "old skool" type side of the resort...bumps, outer limits, devils fiddle,etc. eh...I still do most of my skiing over there in the mornings, but its still missing something..I try to stay mostly in the trees over there, but early season thats not soo easy...

Again....I wasnt posting this question because I felt in any way that ANYONE was bashing KMart in particular, just that I see it all over and wondering why is all

Again keep the replies coming..

M

 

[Marc]

Well, I'm a big fan of the Loft in the Bear Mountain Lodge.


Last time I was there we were the only ones in there. We let lunch digest and kicked up on a couch and the dude there put on some ski porn...

talk about relaxed.


I have hit Outer Limits twice when they've been blowing snow on it. That kicks ass. No where near a good enough bump skier to ski it moguled up though. Workin on that...

 

[skibum1321]

Here is why I bash K-Mart:
1) Most of the trails have no character. Everything is ridiculously wide and they groom way too much. As compared to my favorite areas (Smuggs, MRG, Sugarbush, Jay), they do not leave enough terrain with natural snow for the experts.
2) There are way too many low-level skiers that think they are far better than they are on trails like OL and Devils Fiddle. Try skiing Rumble or Goat mid-winter and you'll see a couple other people on the trails. At KMart I find myself dodging bodies on the hardest trails they have. You'll see people skiing 3 or 4 bumps wide on OL all the time.
3) I don't think the trees are very good. This is probably just because I don't know stashes and don't care to ski the mtn enough to find them.
4) There is too much lift capacity - too many people on the trails, leading to overcrowding and poor snow conditions.
5) There is too much traversing and intersecting trails.

It is the true McMtn.

 

[dmc]

5) There is too much traversing and intersecting trails.

No doubt... Thats something I don't like about Killington... It's them trying to cater to intermediates too much...

 

[SkiDog]

Here is why I bash K-Mart:
1) Most of the trails have no character. Everything is ridiculously wide and they groom way too much. As compared to my favorite areas (Smuggs, MRG, Sugarbush, Jay), they do not leave enough terrain with natural snow for the experts.
2) There are way too many low-level skiers that think they are far better than they are on trails like OL and Devils Fiddle. Try skiing Rumble or Goat mid-winter and you'll see a couple other people on the trails. At KMart I find myself dodging bodies on the hardest trails they have. You'll see people skiing 3 or 4 bumps wide on OL all the time.
3) I don't think the trees are very good. This is probably just because I don't know stashes and don't care to ski the mtn enough to find them.
4) There is too much lift capacity - too many people on the trails, leading to overcrowding and poor snow conditions.
5) There is too much traversing and intersecting trails.

It is the true McMtn.

Some very valid points....avoiding people is a BIG deal there yuou are correct, but I again say that if you know how to ski the mtn you dont EVER see a crowd...

Obviously you will see inexperienced individuals at every resort and a LOT at Kmart, I think thats becasue they wanna say the skied "outer limits"..however if I ski outer limits its EARLY in the morning so rarely is it too crowded...

The other MTNs you mention are all terrific in their own respects, however coming from Jersey places like JAY just arent worth the extra like 2 hours except on certian occasions..usually if I hit places like MRG or Jay I do it from the Killington Condo..

good points though...I like different perspectives..Thanks..

M

 

[Sky]

2) There are way too many low-level skiers on trails like OL and Devils Fiddle. 4) There is too much lift capacity - too many people on the trails, leading to overcrowding and poor snow conditions.
5) There is too much traversing and intersecting trails.

It is the true McMtn.

I've only been to K-Mart once, so I realize the "weight" of my impressions is accordingly low. But 1st impressions count for something *so I've been told*

The combo of the three issues above hits my point(s).

One of my OWN personal gripes...I really wish they'd post a trail map at the head of the lift for just the trails served but that lift. Certainly, it must be relatively easy to figure out once you're used to the place...but it's a big place. Even their website breaks the trail map into smaller sections.

My home mtn (Wachusett) gets crowded, skied off, has kids on slopes beyond their ability...I think most resorts deal with these same issues. So I guess the size of the crowd @ K just rubs me wrong.

Night life is fun there...but I prefer a more intimate crowd @ the ski-house.

Wildcat, Cannon...even Okemo is more appealing to me (maybe because I've been to Okemo when it wasn't crowded?).

 

[JimG.]

Guess it all depends on your perspective. Here are mine:

Crowd: seemingly inanimate objects I pass at high speed while I'm skiing. Components of "crowd" always found on lifts and they sometimes provide good conversation.

Lift line: Gathering of components of "crowd"; said components often extremely impatient making their 10 minutes or less on "lift line" seem like an hour; always willing to tell others about long "lift line".

Trail map: listing of places to avoid while skiing.

Night life: whatever I happen to dream about after passing out from a long day of skiing.

I spend remarkably little time considering any of the above at any mountain I'm skiing at.