Killington is going to open before Sunday River this season.

[riverc0il]

Unemployment is largely state run, and can vary a bit from state to state:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_compensation#United_States

This. You can not apply blanket statements to the entire ski industry regarding unemployment. Every state plays it differently. Seasonal workers in some states can collect (especially those with high tourism) whereas they can not in other states if they are hired temp. Etc.

 

[riverc0il]

They are deleting posts off the killington blog about the storm and attempted opening........lol.

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30721&start=0

:-o:-o:-o

No blog posts from Sept 15 until today. Oops???

 

[mister moose]

I understand it is state run, but I was just pointing out that the company that a person works for does not singularly pay for your unemployment, all companies contribute, although I guess if you worked for a company for 15 or 20 years and you were the only person to be laid of during that time you could look at it like your company paid for you. As for it being state run, that is true, but like right now the feds are pumping a large amount of money into states Unemployment funds.

In CT, unemployment is run as a zero sum game. Your premiums are based directly on your company's claim history, and secondarily that of your industry. Over several years your premiums are adjusted to pay for ALL the claims made by your employees. If you run your company such that you have a lot of turnover, or have high amounts of seasonal help, your unemployment rates will be very high, high enough to cover those costs. There is zero subsidy. Financial strength for the system is provided by the government, but it is not some magic pool of money. I would guess most if not all states are run like that, but I can only speak for CT.

Because the feds decreed that the standard benefit period would be extended, the feds are funding it. That is a different case, and hopefuly one that won't need to be repeated.

 

[mondeo]

I understand it is state run, but I was just pointing out that the company that a person works for does not singularly pay for your unemployment, all companies contribute, although I guess if you worked for a company for 15 or 20 years and you were the only person to be laid of during that time you could look at it like your company paid for you. As for it being state run, that is true, but like right now the feds are pumping a large amount of money into states Unemployment funds.

Others sort of got to it, but I was more talking about the rules for contributions and payouts changing from state to state, not who actually handles the money. I'm not well versed in it, but my understanding is it varies quite a bit.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

In CT, unemployment is run as a zero sum game. Your premiums are based directly on your company's claim history, and secondarily that of your industry. Over several years your premiums are adjusted to pay for ALL the claims made by your employees. If you run your company such that you have a lot of turnover, or have high amounts of seasonal help, your unemployment rates will be very high, high enough to cover those costs. There is zero subsidy. Financial strength for the system is provided by the government, but it is not some magic pool of money. I would guess most if not all states are run like that, but I can only speak for CT.

Because the feds decreed that the standard benefit period would be extended, the feds are funding it. That is a different case, and hopefuly one that won't need to be repeated.

Magic pool of money, who said that?

 

[mondeo]

Magic pool of money, who said that?

I'm not sure, but I want one.

 

[AdironRider]

This is turning into a lame politics thread.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Yes, yes it did.

 

[Highway Star]

Back on track!!

 

[drjeff]

Back on track!!

So should we expect another SR "stealth attack" within the next 24 hours??

 

[mondeo]

So should we expect another SR "stealth attack" within the next 24 hours??

Well, they only have 16 hours of very marginal production, so I'm guessing no. Killington's getting into a really good window of snow production, no reason for them not to be the first to open for good.

Of course, no reason not to do something doesn't mean they'll do it.

 

[threecy]

This. You can not apply blanket statements to the entire ski industry regarding unemployment. Every state plays it differently. Seasonal workers in some states can collect (especially those with high tourism) whereas they can not in other states if they are hired temp. Etc.

Offhand, I'm not aware of any state in New England ski country that wouldn't allow the hypothetical employee being discussed, a full-time seasonal maintenance worker employed September-April, to collect after the ski season. Even in midwestern states, such as Michigan, this holds true.

 

[threecy]

So, Sunday River operated two upper mountain trails for two full days when Killington did not. Both areas are essentially starting from scratch as of today. There have been over 730 posts in this thread and maybe 2 Sunday River skier visits this season?

 

[Highway Star]

So, Sunday River operated two upper mountain trails for two full days when Killington did not. Both areas are essentially starting from scratch as of today. There have been over 730 posts in this thread and maybe 2 Sunday River skier visits this season?

This is the 2nd longest thread on this forum and the 4th most viewed.

Obviously, opening in October doesn't matter to anyone.......

 

[drjeff]

Well, they only have 16 hours of very marginal production, so I'm guessing no. Killington's getting into a really good window of snow production, no reason for them not to be the first to open for good.

Of course, no reason not to do something doesn't mean they'll do it.

But, as we've heard SR trumpeting this past week or so, they only need 19 hours last time, and that was starting from bare ground. And based on the pics from yesterday, they still have some of last weeks snowmaking efforts on the ground.

Meanwhile, what I'm expecting to hear from my Mount Snow folks, snowmaking wise with respect to the weather, is the fanguns will be fired up this week, likely just a small jib park by next weekend(unless they get 3 days of 24/7 snowmaking to let them open from the top + Carinthia), and then daily operations commencing Friday the 12th if the weather pattern holds/is "November normal", and i'm fine with that

 

[drjeff]

This is the 2nd longest thread on this forum and the 4th most viewed.

Obviously, opening in October doesn't matter to anyone.......

Or WAY to many of us need to get a life :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[threecy]

This is the 2nd longest thread on this forum and the 4th most viewed.

Obviously, opening in October doesn't matter to anyone.......

I'd suggest that the first area to open and stay open wins.

While there may be some "buzz" (which I think is overrated in many cases), there's also a negative component to it - anyone who knew Sunday River was open and inquires now will find out they were washed out. One thing areas look to capitalize on is the ability to sustain through bad weather events. This is a reputation areas have been fighting for, dating back to the 30s - to be the area that is still skiable after rain, ice, etc. In Vermont, for instance, Okemo was able to capitalize on that after years of steady snowmaking improvements. While they were never the first to open, nor the last to close, they were able to present a decent product just about every day.

 

[Vortex]

So, Sunday River operated two upper mountain trails for two full days when Killington did not. Both areas are essentially starting from scratch as of today. There have been over 730 posts in this thread and maybe 2 Sunday River skier visits this season?

Not 100 on the Hil last Sat. Sunday had a good crowd. Got to agree with highwaystar. It does matter to some..... The mountains and the diehards.

Average skier maybe not, but its in thier mind earlier. Kind of what marketing is.

I bought passes and a Condo and moved my family furthur north mostly due to the length of Season. Value. Early Season sells well at ski shows. Sell passes.

This will all end when a few places are open, but free marketing dollars at this point.

edit i saw your post threecy. I see your point I don't agree with it. You are not the market they are after. I win I skied. Waiting would not have been as fun. I think those who skied think it matters.

 

[mondeo]

But, as we've heard SR trumpeting this past week or so, they only need 19 hours last time, and that was starting from bare ground. And based on the pics from yesterday, they still have some of last weeks snowmaking efforts on the ground.

It was a better production window, though. This one's higher humidity, not quite as cold.

 

[threecy]

Not 100 on the Hil last Sat. Sunday had a good crowd. Got to agree with highwaystar. It does matter to some..... The mountains and the diehards.

By my sentence, I meant 'out of 730+ posts, 2 skier visits (?) were derived from posters.