Killington vs. Sunday River

[Edd]

I'm expecting a number of people to hate both of these places, but my vote is for SR; they manage crowds better than anyone, and Killington's crosstrail situation is a nightmare.

They're both an equal distance from my town and I'm an ASC passholder but SR is always the more tempting choice. For the sake of variety, I'd like to go to Killington more often. Can anyone convince me why I should? I ski alot of weekdays, btw.

 

[Terry]

I voted for SR only because I have never been to Killington. Sunday River does do a pretty good job with keeping the crowds moving. Also when everything is open, there is always a trail to be found that isn't to crowded and has good conditions. :beer:

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

i voted for SR, as I really dont like Killington.....

 

[andyzee]

I voted Killington. Never been to SR and I'm at Killington about 80% of the time. I love when folks bitch about K and the crowds and terrain and blah blah blah. More mountain for me. You get to know it, the complaints don't exist.

 

[snoseek]

lot's of opinions on killington. There's so many things that piss me off about killington, but in the end the mountain keeps me coming back.

 

[thebigo]

I voted killington. From my experience I have found the crowds at SR to be more cumbersome than killington, although the fact that I know k much better certainly contributes.

Other reasons I prefer killington: much easier drive, more natural snow, skyeship, pico, access road, etc

I would also say the terrain at k is more interesting. Killington has many different aspects of the mountain that all make you feel like your skiing at different areas. Whenever I go to SR I find myself parking at barker working my way to Jordan and then the days over by the time I get back to barker.

Also the ability to escape to pico is a huge plus even if I dont take advantage as much as I should.

 

[Newpylong]

lot's of opinions on killington. There's so many things that piss me off about killington, but in the end the mountain keeps me coming back.

Yeah what he said. I haven't been to SR in a long time but I want to spend a weekend there this winter. With the pass, why not. I really think they have the most snowmaking capacity around though, when they pump it out, they really pump it out.

 

[MikeTrainor]

given the choice killington, not a fan of the short SR runs

 

[Jay's Dip Powcher]

I have been to both enough to make my decision that I do not really prefer either all that much, crowds and there inexperience as well as overall expense top the list for me. I do agree that SR does a better job at crowds and is a easier set up geographically so that was my choice.

 

[MonkeyBrook]

I wish everyone would stay at Killington, SR would be less crowded and more wide open for me. Plus the nightlife is better at Killington. You just need to bring your own entertainment to SR.

 

[Bumpsis]

I avoid both like a plauge for most of the season, but in the spring I'll get make a trip to K for some soft bumps. Fom where I live it's almost a managable, however long, day trip.

 

[riverc0il]

I voted Killington. Never been to SR and I'm at Killington about 80% of the time. I love when folks bitch about K and the crowds and terrain and blah blah blah. More mountain for me. You get to know it, the complaints don't exist.

but are the folks that bitch about K regular K skiers? or are they complaining relative to other mountains? i suspect the former, i have yet to hear a regular K skier complain about the place. it is all relative.

when i was younger and more inexperienced, i really enjoyed sunday river. now i see it as it is what it is. i see kmart the same way, but kmart has sunday river beat on many fronts (at least the one's that matter to me). they opening earlier and close later (okay, barely) and do so with more terrain early/late (significantly). complain all you want about no october skiing, but i have seen a kmart opening top to bottom on the gondi with the glades triple and no other ski area comes close. and superstar doesn't go until june any more, but it still goes longer than any one else with better terrain. next up is natural snow fall, kmart no contest. i haven't skied kmart's glades, i have skied most of sunday river's glades. i suspect kmart has better even though i haven't skied them. and kmart gets the nod for moguls and sustained pitch. i don't like the crowds at either ski area, i really don't like the people that ski kmart (no offense, totally generalization). and i can't stand the price tag of either ski area, but terrain and snow, i think kmart has sunday river beat. just my opinion.

 

[klrskiah]

no doubt that Sunday River does not get the natual snowfall that k does. I gotta disagree with the "k has more early terrain though", SR can crank out just as much snow and had as much acerage open early. Sugarloaf beat them both this year though! As for the price tag, day tickets are totally rediculous, but i guess thats so that we can all enjoy our $349 season passes. it's hard to complain about that!

 

[Rushski]

Killington - Tougher trails, slightly better layout (to go from mt. to mt.), closer to home and better apres.

Sunday River - Friendlier staff, better parking (sort of) and further away from the grind.

Vote is for Killington, but they are very similar in many ways...

 

[riverc0il]

no doubt that Sunday River does not get the natual snowfall that k does. I gotta disagree with the "k has more early terrain though", SR can crank out just as much snow and had as much acerage open early.

SERIOUSLY disagree. what does sunday river open with? how could it even compare to top to bottom of the K1 with rime & reason for first day of operations acreage? yes, sunday river can crank out as much snow as kmart, but they lack the elevation advantage that kmart has. they simply don't come close to the amount of vertical kmart opens on opening day either.

 

[Newpylong]

I would have to agree with Rivecoil. No doubt the River can crank it out and is right now. But Killington has everyone beat thus far with their available terrain. I have been following their snowmaking plans fairly closely thanks to KillingtonZone and they are moving very fast (as they must to have a lot of the mountain open by Xmas or suffer the consequences). On Friday they will add terrain on Snowhed, Ram's Head, Skypeak, and the Canyon area to what's open now. Pretty impressive. I am going to head up Friday....

 

[bigbog]

...infrequent skier to both....

I don't ski Sunday River a lot....and hardly ski Killington as it's just too far from central Maine.
....they're both icy....so anyone new to either should simply stay away...:grin: ...but the newer skis can pretty much give people a fun day wherever they are....if they can find some elevation. I think you have to drive a little more to find privacy on a weekend. SR's comparative remoteness to the urban masses is nice during the week(as are most places;-)), particularly following new snow at night....pretty much assures you of a whole weekday of untracked.

 

[Vortex]

I skied Killington alot more when I was younger in Lived in VT.
The old days were the better days, but that was then and this is know.
Killington has alot to offer skiing and Non-skiing. night life. Some really good Terrain. A great snow making system.

To me it comes down to a few factors. Snow making and Staff are really important and how much fun I have, mountain and off mountain

Still think the River beats anyone in this areas. Terrain alot of choices, but alot of side to side runs to move around. Some of that at both places.

I bought an ASC pass cause of the River. They also listen to the patrons. Concerns about the park last year. They double the staff this year. Those who like parks can tell us later this year if it worked. We had issues at Barker lodge ski racing VS apres ski. They listened, said changes would be made. Again We'll have to see.

Communication from the River to it skiers has been a strong point. It continues to be that as well. Sunday River is on the Top of my Top 5. K gets and honorable mention. These places are what they are. Large mountains than can have crowds. They are also some of the 1st to open and the last to close. Conclusion....when I leave the River I feel I had a better time than Killington.


We sound like the new commerical.

 

[Geoff]

Killington gets at least 100" more natural snow than Sunday River. I find Sunday River skiing is far too homogeneous. It's stuffed full of similar manmade snow groomers. It has that Okemo feel where a lot of the trails have had their character groomed out of them. It has nothing comparable to the Killington natural snow terrain trails like Northstar, Great Bear, Vagabond, Escapade/Flume, Breakaway, Jug Handle. Sunday River has some fine glade areas but they're rarely open due to the snow disadvantage.

The Sunday River advantage is that the mountain was planned rather than Killington's gradual evolution. You get rational trail pods rather than a hodgepodge of interconnecting trails. Killington also destroyed their mountain in the 1980's when they chainsawed things like Downdraft, Double Dipper, and Superstar. Downdraft and Dipper used to be the best glade skiing in the east. Superstar was a classic New England trail.

The after skiing options in Bethel are quite limited. Sunday River doesn't have the vibrant share house scene that attracted me to Killington when I was in my early 20's.

I didn't vote. I think they both suck.... but for different reasons. The Killington suck is too much uphill capacity for the number of acres, poor trail layout, horrific Saturday crowding that's been made worse with the inexpensive season passes, and management that's some of the worst in the world. They're chasing me out. I still can't decide where I'm going... Sugar-something but I haven't decided which.

 

[bassist286]

i voted for sunday but only cuz im spend 3 days there in janurary mid week. i got a good deal so it made me happy. On the other hand, I'm sure killington could of offered me a deal jsut as good, but i wanted to try sunday river anyways.