killington closing day - sunday 4/25

[180]

We are there!

 

[deadheadskier]

my frustrations comes from - how do they know it won't be skiable next weekend? weather forecasts change,

this is very true. Last Wednesday it looked like rain at Sugarloaf for the weekend. Ended up with a foot of snow Friday through Sunday.

 

[Rambo]

one thing I will give K credit for is I think $42 is a fair price.

$39. if you have a seasons pass from any other ski area.

 

[skiadikt]

this is what im talking about. its ok for hunter to advertise a date and not deliver but its fine because you feel like they tried. imagine how long this thread would be if killington ever pulled a stunt like that?
would it be better if they waited until april 30th to tell people that they are closing on may 1st? people would be complaining about how they rented rooms and made plans to come up and killington didnt give enough of a heads up about the closing date.
bottom line is that killington is one of a few mtns open because they spent money on snowmaking all season long when other resorts didnt
why didnt people bitch at sugarbush, stowe, okemo sundown ect... when they closed earlier than expected because of the warm weather/lack of march snow?

there are a couple issues. first, k will be closing with more than enough snow to keep superstar open another week. the other areas mentioned probably didn't have enough snow to piece together a decent run. and closing it based on the reliability of a forecast 10 days out is just lame. also k built it's reputation on offering the longest season, so unfortunately for them that's an expectation that many people continue to hold them up to and when they don't deliver people are pissed especially if the run is still skiable. it's one thing to close due to a lack of snow, it's another to close when you could be open. and using "the beast" in their marketing in addition to announcing an early may closing starting with the sale of season passes last year led a lot of people to believe that perhaps powdr "got it". obviously they haven't ....

 

[riverc0il]

many of us had high hopes for an extended season this year. very unbeastly. from the k blog:

Sunday, April 25 will be the final day of operations for the 2009-10 ski and snowboard season. Our mountain operations team has done an outstanding job providing a quality spring product. However, based upon the weather forecast for next week calling for cloudy skies, rain and cool temperatures, combined with a thinning snow pack, it is time for us to end the season on a high note. This weekend’s weather forecast, which is calling for sunshine and temperatures into the 40s and lower 50s, will provide a great opportunity to close out the season.

Ending the season on a high note for THE BEAST should mean being the last ski area in the east to close... especially if THEY CAN.

:flame:

:uzi:

the beast is dead, long live the beast (lower cased for emphasis).

 

[roark]

also k built it's reputation on offering the longest season, so unfortunately for them that's an expectation that many people continue to hold them up to and when they don't deliver people are pissed especially if the run is still skiable. it's one thing to close due to a lack of snow, it's another to close when you could be open. and using "the beast" in their marketing in addition to announcing an early may closing starting with the sale of season passes last year led a lot of people to believe that perhaps powdr "got it". obviously they haven't ....

^^^ this. I'll ski Magic as much as I can, but usually hedge with another pass from an area that opens earlier & closes later. If not, I have no interest. K & Snow are the usual suspects, but after this season neither is getting any season pass $$$ from me. I'll just get a couple SkiVT 3 packs to fill in the early/late season.

 

[riverc0il]

not trying to stir the pot but why does killington always seem to get this reaction when they do anything. other resorts can tell you they are closing (or replacing a lift, or making snow/not making snow on a particular trail ect... ect... )and everyone seems to be fine with their reasons for doing so. killingtons reasons never seem good enough for anyone, when other resorts seem to get a pass. just curious why?

Because other resorts do not claim to be THE BEAST insinuating they are returning to their former core values and principles and image. Other resorts don't market and promote one thing and then do something completely different. If Killington just came out and said "this is a financial decision, there are not enough skiers, we are loosing money, please understand this is our position and we would stay open if more skiers showed up" then I think they would get more respect. But the announcement put forth claims concerns about weather A FULL WEEK AWAY. :-o They could just not open mid-week next week and postpone the decision until next Thursday.

It all comes down to inconsistency. Other areas are not inconsistent and back up their hype and don't posture for something they are not.

I gave Killington a fair shake in my most recent report from four weeks ago. I proposed the question "Is THE BEAST Back?" and ultimately I ended my report with indications that signs look good but how they handle the closing of the season will ultimately speak the loudest regarding if this is marketing hype or marketing fact. I think most folks are too quick to attack Killington since the ownership transition. But I can not respect the hype machine and lack of effort and lack of forthrightness in their explanation.

 

[gmcunni]

setting expectations

 

[riverc0il]

Nice PS job. We all know that the Big K does not over promise and under deliver. Never.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

WOW, whole inch snow!

It should read......

"We got a whole entire inch of snow last night, so there is no reason to drive north to mountain in the middle of nowhere that has nearly half their terrain open, after all we are the mountain formally know as the beast, formally know as the king of spring, and formally the mountain that said we were going to stay open til may 2nd, of course we are none of those things so piss off and let us start counting our money".

 

[frankm938]

this is too funny! almost every eastern resort closed earlier than their target date and thats ok because they always close early. but killington closing a week early with snow on one trail (because they, unlike the closed resorts, actually blew snow on SS all season) gets this kind of reaction.
there are things i dont like about the place but being one of the last resorts open every year isnt one of them

 

[deadheadskier]

Frank, you don't think it's wrong of Killington to tweet on 4/18 that they just got new snow and will be open through May 2nd, then two days later do a complete about face?

 

[SkiDork]

this is too funny! almost every eastern resort closed earlier than their target date and thats ok because they always close early. but killington closing a week early with snow on one trail (because they, unlike the closed resorts, actually blew snow on SS all season) gets this kind of reaction.
there are things i dont like about the place but being one of the last resorts open every year isnt one of them

skiingsnow?

 

[Vortex]

Lets face it. HS was right all along.

KILLINGTON = EPIC FAIL

he did question if they would open for Turkey day. Sad that he had some of this right.

 

[riverc0il]

this is too funny! almost every eastern resort closed earlier than their target date and thats ok because they always close early. but killington closing a week early with snow on one trail (because they, unlike the closed resorts, actually blew snow on SS all season) gets this kind of reaction.
there are things i dont like about the place but being one of the last resorts open every year isnt one of them

Most areas that closed earlier than projected did so because of lack of snow. Those that bailed early because of lack of skier visits were pretty blunt about that fact being the reason and were not making long projections but rather had been hedging for weeks (Sugarbush). Mostly though, places just ran out of snow. Which is not the case at Killington (yet). So your comparison is not accurate, IMO. It is not so much that Killington is closing a week early (in and of itself) that is getting the reaction but all the little details surrounding that fact. But rather that they are doing so giving dubious reasons, projecting what snow they will have left ten days from now, and only this past weekend were still promoting their May date as a boast (and staking their moniker on that boast), etc. Until Killington gives up its marketing position as an early/late season leader and until they let go of their past image and fully adopt a new brand and image unrelated to its past, Killington will always be held to different standards than other resorts regardless.

 

[Vortex]

They talked smack and opened late. Sour grapes Talked smack closed early. Brought
Preston smith in to show the ties to the past. Offered a pass that won't get its full use.

I think if they just opened when they could, closed when they needed to and state that is financial and let the snow talk it would have gone over easier. Many would have still been mad, but not felt they were given marketing speak. Early and late season is about Season pass sales. Boyne is looking good out of all of this.

Steve pretty much nailed it in the post above.

 

[drjeff]

The sense of entitlement surrounding this event is staggering!

 

[midd]

Most areas that closed earlier than projected did so because of lack of snow. Those that bailed early because of lack of skier visits were pretty blunt about that fact being the reason and were not making long projections but rather had been hedging for weeks (Sugarbush). Mostly though, places just ran out of snow. Which is not the case at Killington (yet). So your comparison is not accurate, IMO. It is not so much that Killington is closing a week early (in and of itself) that is getting the reaction but all the little details surrounding that fact. But rather that they are doing so giving dubious reasons, projecting what snow they will have left ten days from now, and only this past weekend were still promoting their May date as a boast (and staking their moniker on that boast), etc. Until Killington gives up its marketing position as an early/late season leader and until they let go of their past image and fully adopt a new brand and image unrelated to its past, Killington will always be held to different standards than other resorts regardless.

marketing is 90% hubris and bullshit and 10% fact. That tweets from a marketing person at a ski area are being treated as gospel does, as drjeff says, reek of entitlement.

 

[SkiDork]

marketing is 90% hubris and bullshit and 10% fact. That tweets from a marketing person at a ski area are being treated as gospel does, as drjeff says, reek of entitlement.

huh? Not sure I'm following this logic.

Bottom line: Weather and conditions are not the cause of the closure. Superstar has plenty of snow on it to make it through 5/2. The decision is purely business/financial.

 

[deadheadskier]

marketing is 90% hubris and bullshit and 10% fact. That tweets from a marketing person at a ski area are being treated as gospel does, as drjeff says, reek of entitlement.

and consumers have every right to call out that bullshit. If you're a paying customer, you are indeed entitled. I don't have any skin in the game. I'll be skiing Killington on Sunday and will have a good time. I do feel bad for K regulars as I often feel they're being mislead. From afar Killington for several years now has appeared to be the the most dishonest in the business about how they market their product/brand. A little honesty goes a long way. Boyne has that figured out.