Killington snowmaking to start Oct. 26th, plus misc hype....

[Highway Star]

With snowmaking scheduled to start here at Killington in 56 days (weather permitting of course), we’re getting pretty excited to play with some new toys.

We’re pitting snowmaking companies HKD and Techno Alpine against one another for an all out snowmaking war on the slopes of Killington this season. Two runs, two companies, may the best gun win!

HKD: http://www.snowgun.com/snowmaking_SV10201.asp
Techno Alpine: http://www.technoalpin.com/us/produkte/ ... r-gun-a30/

On Lower Skyelark, the HKD SV10201 tower-mounted air/water guns will do its magic. While on Lower East Fall, the Techno Alpine A30 tower-mounted air/water gun will go to work on burying the slope. Both guns are Low Energy – meaning they make the same amount as our K3000 workhorse gun, but with up to 75 percent less energy.

We’ll have periodic updates throughout the season on the performance, output and of course quality of snow these guns produce.

Plus, we’re stoked to install two new Techno Alpine M18 fully automated fan guns this season, both in highly-visible locations where a ton of snow is needed to cover a vast area. The first one will be mounted on a 32-foot arm near the bottom of Mouse Trap/Bunny Buster. The second will be mounted on a 16-foot tower near the top of the Superpipe trail. Both guns will be operated from snowmaking control via computer.

Great, BUT WHAT ABOUT SNOWMAKING ON DEVILS FIDDLE????

 

[drjeff]

Thanks K, now that you've set your target date, we can pretty much guarentee a 7 to 10 days warm spell about them

Glad to see that Powdr is continuing to realize that one of the main things that K built its reputation on is early season skiing and flexing their snowmaking might to do so! Any early season snowmaking buzz is good of ALL of the Northeast Ski Industry!

 

[Highway Star]

This is pretty decent.....but in reality not any better than the last 7 years or so. Ever since they started the K-1 opening, they start making snow in late October.

What they really need is a new upper mountain lift that would allow them to offer skiing with downloading on the K-1. Or a midstation on the K-1. Or a handle tow on upper Downdraft. Or more intense snowmaking on bittersweet/skyelark that would let them open superstar first.

DISCUSSED HERE, PAGE 9:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/62161-killington-snowmaking-start-oct-26th-plus-misc-hype-9.html

 

[Vortex]

Competition in good. Great to take a day off for turns in Oct. I have the last two years. Looks like K and the River will be making an early start,

 

[thetrailboss]

What they really need is a new upper mountain lift that would allow them to offer skiing with downloading on the K-1. Or a midstation on the K-1. Or a handle tow on upper Downdraft. Or more intense snowmaking on bittersweet/skyelark that would let them open superstar first.

 

[Vortex]

An upper mountain lift would make a difference big time.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

congrats Killington..good chance they will be open before Thanksgiving if mother nature co-operates

 

[Johnskiismore]

Good news, I like it! I hope this is the path Powdr will follow in terms of early season snowmaking. Just made reservations at the Happy Bear Motel in February, my girlfriend has been wanting to go to K for years and this is the year. Now I just need cheaper tickets! ;-)

 

[thetrailboss]

An upper mountain lift would make a difference big time.

No doubt. I'm sure that eventually Killington will hear HS on this one. He has been voicing this concern for over two years now.

 

[Highway Star]

congrats Killington..good chance they will be open before Thanksgiving if mother nature co-operates

Are you being sarcastic? Some seasons in the past they have opened Oct. 1st.

 

[Highway Star]

No doubt. I'm sure that eventually Killington will hear HS on this one. He has been voicing this concern for over two years now.

They are still preparing to spring into action. LOL.

Interestingly, I have actually talked to Tom Horrocks about this, IN PERSON, at least 2 years ago.

It was one of the MAJOR things a consultant recommended for the mountain. Also on that list was replacing the snowdon quad, south ridge triple, skye quad, and building the interconnect (IIRC).

Eventually, they are going to get rained out past Thanksgiving and not be able to open until early December. Then they will cave in and do it.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Are you being sarcastic? Some seasons in the past they have opened Oct. 1st.

well anything before Thanksgiving is a bonus with the new management..we doing a skioff this year??? Mandatory GS turns?

 

[Newpylong]

This is pretty decent.....but in reality not any better than the last 7 years or so. Ever since they started the K-1 opening, they start making snow in late October.

What they really need is a new upper mountain lift that would allow them to offer skiing with downloading on the K-1. Or a midstation on the K-1. Or a handle tow on upper Downdraft. Or more intense snowmaking on bittersweet/skyelark that would let them open superstar first.

Dude. GIVE THIS STUFF up. There will never be a midstation on K1, or a handle tow on downdraft. You just keep spitting the same stuff out, over, and over, and over again.

 

[Highway Star]

Dude. GIVE THIS STUFF up. There will never be a midstation on K1, or a handle tow on downdraft. You just keep spitting the same stuff out, over, and over, and over again.

Do you have any new material to offer up?

It's important to stay on message, so I'll just keep repeating myself. They really need an upper mountain lift for early season skiing.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Do you have any new material to offer up?

It's important to stay on message, so I'll just keep repeating myself. They really need an upper mountain lift for early season skiing.

:roll::roll::roll:

 

[SpinmasterK]

They are still preparing to spring into action. LOL.

Interestingly, I have actually talked to Tom Horrocks about this, IN PERSON, at least 2 years ago.

It was one of the MAJOR things a consultant recommended for the mountain. Also on that list was replacing the snowdon quad, south ridge triple, skye quad, and building the interconnect (IIRC).

Eventually, they are going to get rained out past Thanksgiving and not be able to open until early December. Then they will cave in and do it.

Never give up Kevin!
You bet it is something that we have looked at for the past couple of years. Yes, that would make a big difference in our opening if we had another lift that went to the peak. We all agree on that. But, we also have a long list of MAJOR things the consultant recommended that you didn't mention, including trail and lodge improvements. While it won't happen for this year, or maybe even next, we'll continue to look at it and pull the trigger when the time is right.

 

[tylerjames]

why isn't mount snow doing the same? they have more snow guns and still they don't try and be the first to open and last to close

 

[Highway Star]

You bet it is something that we have looked at for the past couple of years. Yes, that would make a big difference in our opening if we had another lift that went to the peak. We all agree on that.

For the record.

 

[drjeff]

why isn't mount snow doing the same? they have more snow guns and still they don't try and be the first to open and last to close

They cpuld open earlier if they just went for a run on The Northface with up/down loading via The Grand Summit Express. However, their plan, which I like for opening now is to basically turn on the majority of their fan guns and open with a top to bottom run on the main face (usually Upper Canyon to Standard) and ATLEAST 1 top to bottom park (if not 2) at carinthia. Bottomline, is after opening day in this modern era, what keeps folks coming back to buy tickets until the majority of the Northeast opens up is/are parks and by focusing their efforts on them, Mount Snow sells a bunch of early season daytickets, which then leads to more in season and late season tickets.

 

[drjeff]

Are you being sarcastic? Some seasons in the past they have opened Oct. 1st.

Not when either of you 2 have been alive though