Killington

[ALLSKIING]

Small blurb in Ski magazine about what Powdr has in mind for Killington. To sum it all up they want to lower the amount of crowds so they can offer a better product. They claim the A41 pass lost money and brought huge crowds so the product sucked. Time will tell.

 

[millerm277]

Even with the A41, Killington was less crowded than it had been in the past, and the lifts never had any lines on the weekdays, and except for the peak holidays, the only lift with a longer than a 10 minute wait was Rams Head.

The product was actually pretty good, and if ASC hadn't been completely broke, it would have been excellent.

So far Powdr has done very little right in most people's eyes, and the increases for the children's programs will really do them in for future seasons in my opinion. (They are now more than any other ski area I know of, without offering much more for the money).

 

[ALLSKIING]

So far Powdr has done very little right in most people's eyes, and the increases for the children's programs will really do them in for future seasons in my opinion. (They are now more than any other ski area I know of, without offering much more for the money).

Well, the kids program does follow there business plan. More money for the program which will turn some people away, but will only have 5 kids max per class....better product.

 

[BeanoNYC]

We'll talk about their product over Apres cocktails, Dave.

 

[millerm277]

Well, the kids program does follow there business plan. More money for the program which will turn some people away, but will only have 5 kids max per class....better product.

As someone who attended some of their classes when I was learning, they never had more than 7-10 kids in a class when I took them. (This was probably about 5-6 years ago). So that isn't much of an improvement in my opinion...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Even with the A41, Killington was less crowded than it had been in the past, and the lifts never had any lines on the weekdays, and except for the peak holidays, the only lift with a longer than a 10 minute wait was Rams Head.

The product was actually pretty good, and if ASC hadn't been completely broke, it would have been excellent.

So far Powdr has done very little right in most people's eyes, and the increases for the children's programs will really do them in for future seasons in my opinion. (They are now more than any other ski area I know of, without offering much more for the money).

What percentage of skiers care about childrens program pricing? I never thought of Killington of a good place for kids to learn due to the congestion..

 

[ski_resort_observer]

A ski resort's product is not just terrain, conditions and facilities. I think Strattonize or Okemo Clone is more what they are shooting for. It's the business model that they perceive to be the one that will be financially successful. I guess we will find out in a 2/3 years. $180/day for the kids program, for example, is at the high end of the price range but there are people who will happily pay for it if it meets their expectations.

At Stratton you can pay $5,000 for cut in the line anytime access to the lifts. At Okemo real slopeside lodging, even before Jackson Gore, and groom perfect cord on almost every trail.

 

[millerm277]

A ski resort's product is not just terrain, conditions and facilities. I think Strattonize or Okemo Clone is more what they are shooting for. It's the business model that they perceive to be the one that will be financially successful. I guess we will find out in a 2/3 years. $180/day for the kids program, for example, is at the high end of the price range but there are people who will happily pay for it if it meets their expectations.

I know that's what they're going for.....the problem is, K doesn't have the infrastructure, amenities/facilities, or prestige in the minds of most to command those prices...Stratton and Okemo do.

They want to sell expensive real estate without making large investments in the area...I don't think it's going to work. (especially with the state of the market these days).

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I know that's what they're going for.....the problem is, K doesn't have the infrastructure, amenities/facilities, or prestige in the minds of most to command those prices...Stratton and Okemo do.

They want to sell expensive real estate without making large investments in the area...I don't think it's going to work. (especially with the state of the market these days).

They also want to cut expenses........it's been more like a guillotine than a butter knife. I wonder how long it would take a person to change every light bulb to 40 watts. I assume there will be travel between kmart and Park City for the kmart big wigs to check in with the even biggerwigs in Utah. Bet they are bummed hitchiking is illegal on the interstates. :lol:

They do want to sell expensive real estate and since they haven't broken ground on anything yet it will take a few years, this current real estate situation will start improving in a year or two. I also think they realize that they have to improve the product before the real estate thing has any chance of being successful.

 

[Highway Star]

Killington: things heating up over on WWW.KILLINGTONZONE.COM

Check this one out - Killington ski school prices and the resulting fallout:


http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18619&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

But wouldn't an ideal place to teach your kids to ski be at a small local hill...Leave the kids home with a babysitter on a ski trip to VT...lol

 

[tcharron]

Check this one out - Killington ski school prices and the resulting fallout:


http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18619&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

Wow, double the price.

Nice price hike. :-D

 

[ctenidae]

POWDR. Winning hearts and minds of skiers everywhere.

 

[Greg]

Merging this thread with the other...

 

[SkiDork]

But wouldn't an ideal place to teach your kids to ski be at a small local hill...Leave the kids home with a babysitter on a ski trip to VT...lol

Every weekend?

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Check this one out - Killington ski school prices and the resulting fallout:

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18619&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

Hey HS.....Yup....Powdr is on a mission to completely change kmart's business model....despite the outcry the real outcome will not be known for a couple of years. I assume your still not convinced that the A41 pass program hurt kmart more than it helped. Most of us in here are not into Stratton or Okemo but parts of their business model does work as they are financial successes among a sea of resorts who are currently hanging by a thread businesswise.

Sugarbush is another exception as it has very unique owners who come from unique backgrounds that is bringing the old girl back to prominance. When I returned from many years out west in 1996 I chose the Bush as the resort I wanted to work at for as long as I am able. I definately made the right choice.

 

[nycskier]

Also Powdr discontinued Killington's participation in the Ski Council discount program.

Real smart business move. Telling hard core skiers in ski clubs to go F themselves is always a smart move for a ski resort.

Killington use to be my mountain. I did over 20 days there the last 3 years but it looks like I will be taking my business elsewhere this year.

I skied Killington because it had the longest season (it won't this year with the late scheduled open and early April 15 close).

With the A41 pass it was a reasonably priced resort. With the council discounts and A41 I had an incentive to bring friends up to Killington to ski with me. That is all gone now.

The new Killington management has done nothing to encourage weekend warrior skiers like me to choose Killington.

I feel bad for the access road business because Powdr idea of how to manage a mountin seems to be to scare away all the customers.

 

[ALLSKIING]

We'll talk about their product over Apres cocktails, Dave.

As long as you don't turn on the sprinkler I'm in

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I feel bad for the access road business because Powdr idea of how to manage a mountin seems to be to scare away all the customers.

Just the current ones .........then they want to get new ones. :wink: Won't effect the wife and me as we will be staying at the Happy Bear after the art fair in Rutland in a couple of weeks, just like we have for years. Love that place!

 

[Tin Woodsman]

I'm still waiting for the alleged industry insiders on this list to illuminate us as to how these changes, and the outrage that has ensued, are all part of the master plan that we just don't see yet. Take a look over at K-Zone to see the incompetence of the resort and the anger they've engendered.

Sometimes you just have to invoke Occam's Razor - that the most likely explanation is the simplest. These guys really are idiots.