Magic Mountain ...

[RustyGroomer]

FYI 2Knees, I have had a pass @ Magic since the late 70's & have only been evac'ed once. Not denying the Red Chair has had a few issues but don't be offended if you yell "single" & I look the other way.

 

[midd]

seems the market has essentially dictated the fate of magic. tough to argue with the masses.

if anything, pining for it to retain character seem like sure fire ways to ensure its closure. unless they're bankrolled by a wealthy family content with losing momey, no mountain desires to be a hidden gem.

 

[roark]

seems the market has essentially dictated the fate of magic. tough to argue with the masses.

if anything, pining for it to retain character seem like sure fire ways to ensure its closure. unless they're bankrolled by a wealthy family content with losing momey, no mountain desires to be a hidden gem.

bring your 'momey' to magic next season and I'll give her the tour, errrrr.... come to magic and I'll show you around, I'm sure you'll feel it's worth saving.

 

[deadheadskier]

bring your 'momey' to magic next season and I'll give her the tour, errrrr.... come to magic and I'll show you around, I'm sure you'll feel it's worth saving.

definitely worth saving, but midd has a point about market dictating survival. With how great I remember it, it's really hard for me to imagine why only 16K people would go there. ESPECIALLY with how the sport has become so much more 'hardcore' over the past two decades with the press further pushing everything extreme about the sport.

Speaking of that, perhaps what Magic really needs is the best damn park in the east. Put every cent of snowmaking into two top to bottom kick ass parks and leave the rest to those who want the old school.

regardless of infrastructure investment, something has to be able to be done to bring more than 16K people to the mountain each winter.

 

[riverc0il]

I stand by my belief that marketing is where the money needs to go. Market 'cheap' for now and 'on the rise' for the future. Pretty much exactly what is working so well even in a down economy at Saddleback. The 'on the rise' stuff doesn't even need to be accurate. Saddleback seemingly changes their master plan each month.....BUT the moment they buy even a new snowmobile, they scream at the top of the lungs that they got it and how happy people are that they do.

But the thing is that Saddleback actually has something to market. They are investing in the mountain and creating a master plan, even if it does change frequently. Change is happening at Saddleback from new condos, new snowmaking, new terrain, new lift, etc. The mountain recently got bought by folks with passion for making the mountain something special and the money to do so. With Magic, the money issues run too deep and they can not even maintain what they have let alone expand and improve.

Don't get me wrong, Magic needs to improve their marketing, get more visibility with those not in the know, and change their image with those who are. But they need something more to market than just "the Mad River of SoVT."

 

[riverc0il]

Speaking of Mad River and the coop ski format, I would just like to point out that hard core skiers don't keep MRG going as a coop. The families of MRG do. MRG is a family mountain more than anything. Just look around next time you are there or go to a shareholder meeting. Check out how many youngsters are skiing free or discounted due to mom and dad's season pass or mad card. Take away the family and I don't think MRG would be doing so well as a ski coop.

Magic really lacks that community because of the current focus on selling its strongest aspect, the expert terrain and natural snow. But when you look at how much the most successful mountain with this expert approach takes (Ski It If You Can... and all), MRG is just as much about the kids as it is about the trees.

 

[deadheadskier]

Speaking of Mad River and the coop ski format, I would just like to point out that hard core skiers don't keep MRG going as a coop. The families of MRG do. MRG is a family mountain more than anything. Just look around next time you are there or go to a shareholder meeting. Check out how many youngsters are skiing free or discounted due to mom and dad's season pass or mad card. Take away the family and I don't think MRG would be doing so well as a ski coop.

Magic really lacks that community because of the current focus on selling its strongest aspect, the expert terrain and natural snow. But when you look at how much the most successful mountain with this expert approach takes (Ski It If You Can... and all), MRG is just as much about the kids as it is about the trees.

definitely

I think Magic should go after the local family skiing market hardcore. Get all of those former Maple Valley families coming there to augment the destination expert skier market.

 

[bvibert]

definitely

I think Magic should go after the local family skiing market hardcore. Get all of those former Maple Valley families coming there to augment the destination expert skier market.

I agree 100% with the family thing. Getting heavy into the park game may not be such a bad idea either, maybe.

 

[Grassi21]

I agree 100% with the family thing. Getting heavy into the park game may not be such a bad idea either, maybe.

2 words... super pipe ;-)

 

[bvibert]

2 words... super pipe ;-)

:lol:

 

[2knees]

FYI 2Knees, I have had a pass @ Magic since the late 70's & have only been evac'ed once. Not denying the Red Chair has had a few issues but don't be offended if you yell "single" & I look the other way.

:lol:
hey, its not me. I used to ski there quite a bit before the closure in the 90's, and i've been back at least once a year since 2000. Its that Mr. evil guy that brings the bad mojo. Only problems i've had are the two times i was meeting him to ski there!

 

[bvibert]

:lol:
hey, its not me. I used to ski there quite a bit before the closure in the 90's, and i've been back at least once a year since 2000. Its that Mr. evil guy that brings the bad mojo. Only problems i've had are the two times i was meeting him to ski there!

That dude is always causing trouble...

 

[o3jeff]

:lol:
hey, its not me. I used to ski there quite a bit before the closure in the 90's, and i've been back at least once a year since 2000. Its that Mr. evil guy that brings the bad mojo. Only problems i've had are the two times i was meeting him to ski there!

I was able to ski Magic with Mr.evil last year without a problem, maybe it was because his wife was there also and the lift knew better not to break down with her there.

 

[billski]

Speaking of Mad River and the coop ski format, I would just like to point out that hard core skiers don't keep MRG going as a coop. The families of MRG do. MRG is a family mountain more than anything. Just look around next time you are there or go to a shareholder meeting. Check out how many youngsters are skiing free or discounted due to mom and dad's season pass or mad card. Take away the family and I don't think MRG would be doing so well as a ski coop.

Magic really lacks that community because of the current focus on selling its strongest aspect, the expert terrain and natural snow. But when you look at how much the most successful mountain with this expert approach takes (Ski It If You Can... and all), MRG is just as much about the kids as it is about the trees.

+1. The complexion of MRG skiers is significantly different on a powder day vs. a "regular" day. You could say that about any place. My daughter had a perfectly delightful day of blues and greens and never ran out of option. Birdland was absolutely mobbed with munchkins dropping pizza and drinks all over themselves. Definitely Family...

 

[MommaBear]

And as to niche, it is cool but it just seems that if people want that kind of terrain they go to MRG where the snow is more reliable.

Except for those of us that have snowboarders in tow. We've never skied MRG simply because my snowboarding son wouldn't be welcomed. He had a blast at Magic. Even without a park - the kid can launch off or slide down anything he finds.

 

[RustyGroomer]

Speaking of Mad River and the coop ski format, I would just like to point out that hard core skiers don't keep MRG going as a coop. The families of MRG do. MRG is a family mountain more than anything. Just look around next time you are there or go to a shareholder meeting. Check out how many youngsters are skiing free or discounted due to mom and dad's season pass or mad card. Take away the family and I don't think MRG would be doing so well as a ski coop.

Magic really lacks that community because of the current focus on selling its strongest aspect, the expert terrain and natural snow. But when you look at how much the most successful mountain with this expert approach takes (Ski It If You Can... and all), MRG is just as much about the kids as it is about the trees.

+2, 3 whatever. Well said. Magic absolutely needs to attract more families.

 

[MR. evil]

I was able to ski Magic with Mr.evil last year without a problem, maybe it was because his wife was there also and the lift knew better not to break down with her there.

I think your on to something there Jeff. I guess the red chair is smart enough to know not to F with Marge's skiing.

 

[snafu]

Except for those of us that have snowboarders in tow. We've never skied MRG simply because my snowboarding son wouldn't be welcomed. He had a blast at Magic. Even without a park - the kid can launch off or slide down anything he finds.

+1 MRG is not an option for me. Nor any who choose to slide down sideways.

 

[snafu]

Wait...it just occurred to me after my last post - Magic *should* follow MRG's model exactly - ban snowboarders. Thats the ticket. Listen me out. Its got to be the snowboarders bringing Magic down. Think about it. All that natural snow being scraped off by those knuckle-draggers. Magic simply can't afford that with the limited snowmaking they have, and not to mention how narrow some of the trails are...yeah thats it. Oooh, also the snowboarders must be doing something wrong on the Red chair too. Same thing I heard happened on the single at MRG, snowboarders just couldn't handle it. Thats the reason the Red chair has been having problems lately. They are just too much trouble than they are worth.

 

[MR. evil]

I was thinking something similar. Making Magic a skiers only mountain along with the terrain could give it a unique edge in southern VT. But it might also hurt them as I have no idea how many of the customers are boarders. A seeded bump run would also be sweet!