MAD RIVER GLEN: 2005 Alpinezone Ski Area Challenge

[thetrailboss]

Eric Friedman, the Director of Marketing for Mad River Glen, has agreed to take the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge! This is your chance to get official answers to your ski-related questions direct from a Northeast ski resort representative! Please post some suggested questions in this thread and we'll select ten to present for official responses.

Also please don't be offended if we edit/change your question for grammar, tone, or some other minor thing. We'll do our best to keep the substance of your question. If we don't get your question in, feel free to post a follow up after we get the results...we are encouraging the representatives follow the threads. :wink:

As always, please be respectful of Eric and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Mad River needs to be discrete about certain information.

Ask away!

 

[dmc]

Will you please let me snowboard one day?? I'll stay with a patroller, promise to be real nice to everyone, and clean up after myself...

 

[dmc]

Previous post was a joke.

Will you guys be having more telemark events next year? NATO is always a blast up there.

 

[Greg]

An obvious one:

What feedback have you received from the Co-op's decision to replace the old single chair with a new single? Are you still on track to have it completed for the 2006-2007 ski season? Is there any additional information regarding the new single installation you'd like to disclose here? Obviously, Co-op shareholders will get first crack at purchasing an existing chair, but will any be reserved for the general skiing public to bid on? Feel like donating one to me?

 

[thetrailboss]

How about giving a single chair to me? :wink:

 

[ga2ski]

Unfortunately I have not gotten a chance to ski your mounatin yet. I had planned on this past February, but didn't make it. One of the reasons was there was not a two-day Mad River valley ticket Sugarbush/Mad River). Will this be an option in the future?

 

[Greg]

BTW, here are Eric's responses to last year's questions.

 

[eatskisleep]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

 

[dmc]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

If you cant ride the single chair - there's really no point to MRG... IMHO

 

[eatskisleep]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

If you cant ride the single chair - there's really no point to MRG... IMHO

Well the one of the reasons they weren't allowed in the first place is snowboarders had trouble getting off the single chair there.
" Betsy Pratt, Mad River’s previous owner, was friendly to snowboards, but ran into safety issues on Mad River Glen’s main lift, a 1948 Single Chair. They were restricted from the Single "

 

[thetrailboss]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

Good question...keep 'em coming!

 

[dmc]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

If you cant ride the single chair - there's really no point to MRG... IMHO

Well the one of the reasons they weren't allowed in the first place is snowboarders had trouble getting off the single chair there.
" Betsy Pratt, Mad River’s previous owner, was friendly to snowboards, but ran into safety issues on Mad River Glen’s main lift, a 1948 Single Chair. They were restricted from the Single "

blah blah blah blah....
I heard the whole debate... Whatever... Dont see me snowboarding MRG anytime soon.. Unless I poach it... I've had the invite from some fellow riders but never took them up on it...yet...

 

[ski_resort_observer]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

Maybe they will consider your idea......maybe when hell freezes over :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

OK folks, let's keep this on track...questions for MRG please....

 

[dmc]

NOw I know that Mad River Glen is not extremely concerned with money but ith snowboarders not allowed at Mad River Glen, would you consider a "Boarder Day" (like say a non-holiday wednesday) Where they would be allowed on the lifts (but maybe not the single chair) just to generate some extra funds for the day and add a fun event that would probally generate a magazine artile (free advertising at the same time)?

Maybe they will consider your idea......maybe when hell freezes over :lol:

It's a battle that cannot be won... Minds are made up.. Deals brokered... Hatred solidified...

 

[riverc0il]

An obvious one:

What feedback have you received from the Co-op's decision to replace the old single chair with a new single? Are you still on track to have it completed for the 2006-2007 ski season? Is there any additional information regarding the new single installation you'd like to disclose here? Obviously, Co-op shareholders will get first crack at purchasing an existing chair, but will any be reserved for the general skiing public to bid on? Feel like donating one to me?

aren't they doing a rebuild and not installing a brand new single?

 

[Greg]

An obvious one:

What feedback have you received from the Co-op's decision to replace the old single chair with a new single? Are you still on track to have it completed for the 2006-2007 ski season? Is there any additional information regarding the new single installation you'd like to disclose here? Obviously, Co-op shareholders will get first crack at purchasing an existing chair, but will any be reserved for the general skiing public to bid on? Feel like donating one to me?

aren't they doing a rebuild and not installing a brand new single?

As I understand it, only the towers and the line is being reused...

 

[riverc0il]

yup, but still quite a bit of a cost savings as the completely new single was the most expensive option.

 

[thetrailboss]

C'mon...no more questions for MRG????

 

[thetrailboss]

One of the things that MRG prides itself on is being an independent resort. That is a crucial part of the mountain's identity and a real draw. What are the challenges that you face being an independent resort in an era dominated by chain resorts? How do you cope with rising expense costs including insurance and fuel costs?