New majority owner of Peak Resorts

[raisingarizona]

Here's my perspective on this.... As crazy as this sounds, the retired couple from NYC who owns the condo 2 down from mine at Mount Snow, have now spent the last 3 winters (2nd week of December through 3rd week in March) out in Park City. They've had either Deer Valley or IKON passes each year.

When they returned this year, I was talking with the husband (he's quite the crumudgeonly guy on his best days to say the least ;-) ) and when I asked him how his season in Utah was he essentially said "The F#$king cheap IKON pass had Deer Valley with Mount Snow weekend like crowds probably 25 days this season! And the 3 weeks we were in Jackson had more Sh$t show days than regular days trying to get out of the base area!"

While I have a bunch of GREAT friends/neighbors in my condo complex at Mount Snow for sure, I also have a few of "those" neighbors too! ;-)

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Jackson has become quite the shit show. There’s plenty of places to go ski that aren’t ikon or epic out there and have plenty of good terrain for the majority of skiers. I’ve known plenty of just ok skiers that think they have to go to Jackson or snowbird but they’d probably be better off going somewhere a lot quieter and with more mid angle terrain.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Have you skied pre and post IKON regularly to say with such definitive “no more busy”???

Or was THAT the “misinformation” that needs clearing up?

You're definitely correct about this. It's obvious from just chatting up Park City locals, not to mention Deer Valley itself admits as much regarding crowds, even if they wont pin it on IKON, but rather on the great snow year.

As for having a "cap", that's great, but if you're actually having to ENFORCE said cap on many more days than is typically normal, yeah, that's a significant increase in crowds. I personally think IKON is a significant driver, not just the awesome snow year, but time shall reveal the truth there.

 

[FBGM]

Have you skied pre and post IKON regularly to say with such definitive “no more busy”???

Or was THAT the “misinformation” that needs clearing up?

I have skied there a lot pre and post IKOn

Skier cap had stayed the same. No one knows what it is for sure. Some say it’s a moving number. But I think it’s between 6-8k. The difference is before IKON there was much fewer maxed out days. Also, this winter, first with IKON was the best winter in 8 years. Shit popped off. Yeah it was busy. Not all IKON.

Also The Buck is full of snobs. And it’s great because they don’t ski the goods. And The Buck has lots
Of goods

 

[Domeskier]

Jackson has become quite the shit show. There’s plenty of places to go ski that aren’t ikon or epic out there and have plenty of good terrain for the majority of skiers. I’ve known plenty of just ok skiers that think they have to go to Jackson or snowbird but they’d probably be better off going somewhere a lot quieter and with more mid angle terrain.

Harsh, but true. Like how the tourons from out there come to Manhattan and clog up the streets and subways with their salt-of-the-earth lard, spending 99% of their time horsing down the specials at chain restaurants and staring at their cell phones. Jersey City has plenty of Olive Gardens, a better view of the skyline and quicker access to the Statue of Liberty. Much better fit for the majority of them and less inconvenience for the locals.

 

[gladerider]

Harsh, but true. Like how the tourons from out there come to Manhattan and clog up the streets and subways with their salt-of-the-earth lard, spending 99% of their time horsing down the specials at chain restaurants and staring at their cell phones. Jersey City has plenty of Olive Gardens, a better view of the skyline and quicker access to the Statue of Liberty. Much better fit for the majority of them and less inconvenience for the locals.

haha. that was funny my friend!

 

[abc]

Harsh, but true. Like how the tourons from out there come to Manhattan and clog up the streets and subways with their salt-of-the-earth lard, spending 99% of their time horsing down the specials at chain restaurants and staring at their cell phones. Jersey City has plenty of Olive Gardens, a better view of the skyline and quicker access to the Statue of Liberty. Much better fit for the majority of them and less inconvenience for the locals.

Yeah, but you can't tick that box of "been to New York"

The equivalent of "skied Jackson".

 

[Domeskier]

haha. that was funny my friend!

:beer: I kid, I kid. Visitors from fly-over country are great - who else is going to keep the fake monks and raggedy elmos busy in Times Square?

 

[dblskifanatic]

Who cares whether someone is right for a mountain - if they want to say they have been there that is cool. Most skiers and snowboarders only ski two thirds of most resorts. A place like Jackson Hole is not only about skiing or snowboarding.

BTW New Jersey does not have Times Square or Broadway or dozens of other attractions.


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[cdskier]

BTW New Jersey does not have Times Square or Broadway or dozens of other attractions.

I still don't understand the appeal of Times Square as an attraction. Broadway I totally understand though...

 

[FBGM]

I hope Hunter Jersey Shore comes back now. Even tho it got canceled before the 2ed episode and they only aired 4 total. Shit was lit. I miss it.

 

[mbedle]

You're definitely correct about this. It's obvious from just chatting up Park City locals, not to mention Deer Valley itself admits as much regarding crowds, even if they wont pin it on IKON, but rather on the great snow year.

As for having a "cap", that's great, but if you're actually having to ENFORCE said cap on many more days than is typically normal, yeah, that's a significant increase in crowds. I personally think IKON is a significant driver, not just the awesome snow year, but time shall reveal the truth there.

Pretty sure that the cap only applies to daily lift tickets purchased at the resort, not the season passes, Ikon passes or lift tickets bought online.

 

[skiur]

I still don't understand the appeal of Times Square as an attraction. Broadway I totally understand though...

Times square was a lot more interesting in the 70's and 80's, now there is no real reason to be there.

 

[180]

Times square was a lot more interesting in the 70's and 80's, now there is no real reason to be there.

fully agree

 

[machski]

Pretty sure that the cap only applies to daily lift tickets purchased at the resort, not the season passes, Ikon passes or lift tickets bought online.

Incorrect, last season anyway without RFID Ikon passholders had to get actual tickets and they WERE subject to the daily cap. Which is why there was a link to Deer Valley's reservation page for Ikon skiers to reserve their days in advance. Not sure how it will work with RFID at DV this year, but I would guess as an Ikon guest, you will still need to prereserve days or be subject to the cap (IE RFID gates won't allow you access if they cap out).

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[raisingarizona]

Who cares whether someone is right for a mountain - if they want to say they have been there that is cool. Most skiers and snowboarders only ski two thirds of most resorts. A place like Jackson Hole is not only about skiing or snowboarding.

BTW New Jersey does not have Times Square or Broadway or dozens of other attractions.


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I don’t and none of this was my point and it wasn’t harsh like glade decided to read it. The point is that we don’t have to go to places that are crowded to have really cool ski experiences. I think in this constantly connected social media world we have fooled ourselves that we need to one up our epic moments, sort of keep up with the joneses mentality but we don’t. Personally I think that if we can let go of that sort of thing we might discover some better experiences for ourselves anyways. Being a skiing dad has helped me realize that, I don’t need to take my daughter to Jackson hole to have a fun and memorable trip. We certainly don’t need that much mountain.

 

[Jully]

I don’t and none of this was my point and it wasn’t harsh like glade decided to read it. The point is that we don’t have to go to places that are crowded to have really cool ski experiences. I think in this constantly connected social media world we have fooled ourselves that we need to one up our epic moments, sort of keep up with the joneses mentality but we don’t. Personally I think that if we can let go of that sort of thing we might discover some better experiences for ourselves anyways. Being a skiing dad has helped me realize that, I don’t need to take my daughter to Jackson hole to have a fun and memorable trip. We certainly don’t need that much mountain.

I completely agree and many of those on this board also feel that way. Hell when dblskifanatic went to CO before moving there you went to Ski Cooper, right? It is awesome that on a board like this places like Magic, Bolton Valley, Ski Cooper, and Wildcat get so much attention.

The problem with the big passes is that only the most crowded places tend to get on them and the big passes suck you into only the places on the pass. Prior to Max, I would have a season pass at a local area (the first year Max came out I was a passholder at Ragged) and then skied at a variety of places seeking deals including out west. The smaller places were attractive because they were cheaper when purchasing a package. It was a lot cheaper to go to Tamarack or Schwitzer than it was to go to Sun Valley.

Now with Ikon and Epic it is cheaper to get an AirBnB in Park City and ski DV/PC than to go to Whitefish or Monarch or Purgatory. The Freedom Pass, Powder Alliance, and now Indy pass are fighting back and getting better each year, but you still saw many Peak passholders last year (and Cannon, Sunday River, etc) buy an Epic or Ikon to supplement rather than a Freedom Pass partner.

The fact that EVERY close mountain to SLC and Denver is now on a big pass except Loveland makes it harder to seek independents too. That is a huge shame though as they provide a different experience that is every bit as fulfilling as Jackson or Park City, if not more so.

 

[BenedictGomez]

In general, assuming conditions are fine, I would rather ski at Loveland, Plattekill, Magic, or Smuggler's Notch than at a major ski resort.

 

[Funky_Catskills]

Times square was a lot more interesting in the 70's and 80's, now there is no real reason to be there.

Truth... Now people go to see Disney shows.. And pose with crusty ass dressed up characters..
I avoid it like the plague.. My company is a couple blocks away..

 

[abc]

Truth... Now people go to see Disney shows.. And pose with crusty ass dressed up characters..
I avoid it like the plague.. My company is a couple blocks away..

In the 80's, Time Square was "interesting" because you get to see things you don't see at home. Even if it's not what you like to see, the novelty factor is there.

No avoiding the sad fact that these "people" are going to Time Square because they don't have crusty ass dressed up characters back home!

[PS]
I used to work in one of them big office building that's ON Time Square. I couldn't even avoid those "people". Had to push and shoved my way to get through. Talk about annoying...

 

[Funky_Catskills]

In the 80's, Time Square was "interesting" because you get to see things you don't see at home. Even if it's not what you like to see, the novelty factor is there.

No avoiding the sad fact that these "people" are going to Time Square because they don't have crusty ass dressed up characters back home!

[PS]
I used to work in one of them big office building that's ON Time Square. I couldn't even avoid those "people". Had to push and shoved my way to get through. Talk about annoying...

right!
I've done business with Viacom at their Times Square building .... it sucks so bad...

When I was a kid - We'd take a bus into Manhattan and ALWAYS walk down 42nd street past - hookers - crack dealers - fake ID stores -bodegas - karate and porn movies.. We survived.. It was cool...