Opportunities That Are There That Aren’t Taken

[highpeaksdrifter]

We all know that ski areas are in business to make money and I certainly have no problem with that. Threads pop up and are debated all the time here on why certain ski areas won’t make changes that would benefit skiers/riders.

For example: why won’t Mountain X start making snow at the beginning of November, why won’t Mountain Y leave more trails ungroomed, why doesn’t Mountain Z have more lifts running during the week and etc.?

I thought in this thread we could discuss changes ski areas could make for the betterment of customers that seem obvious to us, but just don’t happen.

What has bugged me for years is that Stowe and Smuggler’s Notch don’t offer a ticket that can be used at both areas.

They already have a trail that connects the two – Snuffy’s
Neither would have to add a lift
They wouldn’t even have to add snowmaking, just open it up when there is enough natural.
Both use to allow it
All they’d have to do is patrol it – BIG FREAKIN DEAL

Tickets for areas that connect are common in Europe and the West. Alta/Snowbird offers a ticket a few dollars more then a ticket for their individual areas that lets skiers go back and forth who are willing to pay a little extra. Why can’t Stowe/Smuggs do the same?

It’s such a unique situation in the East to have 2 areas backed up to one another. It just seems like a win for both Stowe and Smuggs to grant their customers who want it, a ticket option to let them ski both great areas on the same ticket. It pisses me off that they don’t.

If either Stowe or Smuggs gets into the AZ challenge I know that my question will be.

So how would you change the ski world for the better?

 

[Greg]

So how would you change the ski world for the better?

I wonder how many industry folks will be monitoring this thread.

A few initial ideas:

• Like your Stowe/Smuggs example, I thinnk MRG and Sugarbush should offer a "Ski the Valley" pass.
• With Killington opting out of the extended season game, it seems like this fruit is ripe for somebody else to pick.
• I still believe there is a market for a mostly expert ski area.

 

[WWF-VT]

Stowe and Smugglers Notch used to offer a ticket that could be used at both areas - they must have done some sort of analysis that concluded that not many of their guests took advantage of the pass.

You used to have to take the Big Spruce Double to get to the connecting trail to Smuggs. That lift was a very slow and was not used by a lot of Stowe skiers that typically rode the Gondola or Fourrunner Quad.

It took a long time to get back and fourth to Smuggs.

 

[kcyanks1]

Stowe and Smugglers Notch used to offer a ticket that could be used at both areas - they must have done some sort of analysis that concluded that not many of their guests took advantage of the pass.

You used to have to take the Big Spruce Double to get to the connecting trail to Smuggs. That lift was a very slow and was not used by a lot of Stowe skiers that typically rode the Gondola or Fourrunner Quad.

It took a long time to get back and fourth to Smuggs.

Isn't the new Spruce lift shorter, making it more difficult to go from Stowe to Smuggs?

 

[snowmonster]

Extending Cannon into the old Mittersill area.

 

[thetrailboss]

Stowe and Smugglers Notch used to offer a ticket that could be used at both areas - they must have done some sort of analysis that concluded that not many of their guests took advantage of the pass.

You used to have to take the Big Spruce Double to get to the connecting trail to Smuggs. That lift was a very slow and was not used by a lot of Stowe skiers that typically rode the Gondola or Fourrunner Quad.

It took a long time to get back and fourth to Smuggs.

You beat me to it...the two resorts have been there and done it. Apparently they "lost" their T-shirts in the deal. :lol:

Bad pun, I know.....

 

[nycskier]

Ski bus from NYC to Killington (or any other resort).

If resorts want to get more people to the mountain why don't they run a bus service?

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

5 hours to Vermont is a long drive (especially after 2 days of skiing)and having a bus might help people reluctant to drive come up to ski.

Also a bus service would not only bring more people to the mountain but also bring the kind of people who would be force to spend money at the resort (since without a car it would be hard for them to get around to buy grocerys or go off site to non resort resturants).

 

[thebigo]

I would like to see more resorts offer packages that include guided backcountry access. Only a few times a year when conditions are right. The package should include a guide familiar with the area and some sort of a van that brings you back to the resort after.

Not sure if there are legal and/or liability issues.

 

[thebigo]

Ski bus from NYC to Killington (or any other resort).

If resorts want to get more people to the mountain why don't they run a bus service?

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

5 hours to Vermont is a long drive (especially after 2 days of skiing)and having a bus might help people reluctant to drive come up to ski.

Also a bus service would not only bring more people to the mountain but also bring the kind of people who would be force to spend money at the resort (since without a car it would be hard for them to get around to buy grocerys or go off site to non resort resturants).

Killington offered a package service from ny within the last few years. I believe the moutain picked you up in rutland and the package included lift and lodging. There was a few posts about it somewhere, let me see if I can find it.

 

[snowmonster]

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

A number of ski shops and ski groups offer bus and lift ticket packages from the Boston area to resorts in VT, NH and ME. These are usually day trips and buses usually depart on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On some weekends, you can find weekend deals where the bus takes you to Killington or Sugarloaf with lodging and tickets included. These are usually very good deals. This is actually how I got started skiing. City dwellers usually don't have cars and this was a reasonable way to get to the mountains.

There's also a ski train from Boston to Wachusset every weekend.

 

[thetrailboss]

Ski bus from NYC to Killington (or any other resort).

If resorts want to get more people to the mountain why don't they run a bus service?

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

5 hours to Vermont is a long drive (especially after 2 days of skiing)and having a bus might help people reluctant to drive come up to ski.

Also a bus service would not only bring more people to the mountain but also bring the kind of people who would be force to spend money at the resort (since without a car it would be hard for them to get around to buy grocerys or go off site to non resort resturants).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Amtrak already offer something like this???

 

[kcyanks1]

Ski bus from NYC to Killington (or any other resort).

If resorts want to get more people to the mountain why don't they run a bus service?

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

5 hours to Vermont is a long drive (especially after 2 days of skiing)and having a bus might help people reluctant to drive come up to ski.

Also a bus service would not only bring more people to the mountain but also bring the kind of people who would be force to spend money at the resort (since without a car it would be hard for them to get around to buy grocerys or go off site to non resort resturants).

There are 1-day bus trips to the Catskills and to Mount Snow, Stratton, and Okemo I believe (Emilio's Ski Shops and others). Otherwise for weekend trips I think it's mostly ski clubs. Other options for weekend ski trips would be nice, since you can can't get to the better places for a day trip. I'll probably try to look more seriously into ski clubs next season if I have the time. I went as a guest on one weekend trip this year and had a very good time.

 

[tree_skier]

Ski bus from NYC to Killington (or any other resort).

If resorts want to get more people to the mountain why don't they run a bus service?

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

5 hours to Vermont is a long drive (especially after 2 days of skiing)and having a bus might help people reluctant to drive come up to ski.

Also a bus service would not only bring more people to the mountain but also bring the kind of people who would be force to spend money at the resort (since without a car it would be hard for them to get around to buy grocerys or go off site to non resort resturants).

Absolute Edventures runs a shuttle from NYC to Mount Snow then on to stratton Friday up sunday back weekends and other times holidays

By Bus from NYC & Hartford, CT by Absolute Adventures Shuttle Service For NYC & Hartford, CT Departures call (212)-921-9161 Absolute Edventures Shuttle Service, 1384 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10018

I know they stop at the 7-11 then you can take the moover around the valley

 

[rachelv]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Amtrak already offer something like this???

The only one I know of is the Ethan Allen Express, which runs up to Rutland. From the station you can take the bus to K. At 5hr 30 min it takes longer than the drive, though.

 

[tommy5402]

Ski bus from NYC to Killington (or any other resort).

If resorts want to get more people to the mountain why don't they run a bus service?

A weekly bus that left NYC or Boston on Fridays and returned on Sundays could be a big win for a lot of places. They could sell all types of combo packages with transport, lift tickets and lodging.

5 hours to Vermont is a long drive (especially after 2 days of skiing)and having a bus might help people reluctant to drive come up to ski.

Also a bus service would not only bring more people to the mountain but also bring the kind of people who would be force to spend money at the resort (since without a car it would be hard for them to get around to buy grocerys or go off site to non resort resturants).

Mt Snow runs something like this. I know some people that took it last year from midtown.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

You beat me to it...the two resorts have been there and done it. Apparently they "lost" their T-shirts in the deal. :lol:

Bad pun, I know.....

I know they use to do it in the past, I wrote that in my orginal post. I'd like to know why they stopped because there where people who liked it.

How could they loss their shirts on it when it would cost next to nothing to do when the trails and lifts are already there?

 

[threecy]

Here's the issue. Let's say Stowe and Smuggs offer a combined pass. Who gets what % of the revenue? Stowe will want more, right? Does this cover Smuggs costs? This is mainly why you rarely see the multi mountain passes,.

 

[kcyanks1]

Here's the issue. Let's say Stowe and Smuggs offer a combined pass. Who gets what % of the revenue? Stowe will want more, right? Does this cover Smuggs costs? This is mainly why you rarely see the multi mountain passes,.

Have whichever ski area you buy it at get more. If Stowe sells more of them than Stowe gets more. Do both areas have the (privacy-invading) RFID scanners? If so, use that to see which ski area's lifts are being used more.

 

[nycskier]

Absolute Edventures runs a shuttle from NYC to Mount Snow then on to stratton Friday up sunday back weekends and other times holidays

By Bus from NYC & Hartford, CT by Absolute Adventures Shuttle Service For NYC & Hartford, CT Departures call (212)-921-9161 Absolute Edventures Shuttle Service, 1384 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10018

I know they stop at the 7-11 then you can take the moover around the valley

Thanks! Didn't know about them. I will definately check them out next season.

 

[threecy]

Have whichever ski area you buy it at get more. If Stowe sells more of them than Stowe gets more. Do both areas have the (privacy-invading) RFID scanners? If so, use that to see which ski area's lifts are being used more.

Again, that can be a point of contention...especially since Stowe is more accessible via road.