Save the Whale

[urungus]

Support Whaleback Mountain — Whaleback Mountain

Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization who provides affordable and accessible skiing and snowboarding for everyone. Get involved today with a one-time or recurring tax-deductible personal donation or join our corporate partner giving program.

www.whaleback.com

Support Whaleback Mountain — Whaleback Mountain

Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization who provides affordable and accessible skiing and snowboarding for everyone. Get involved today with a one-time or recurring tax-deductible personal donation or join our corporate partner giving program.

www.whaleback.com

 

[drjeff]

My wife GROSSLY overpaid for a lift ticket at the Whale a few weeks ago during our college aged daughters ski race, plus had a few drinks in their bar over the course of the day! My family did its part out to help a small, locals vibe, really cool and funky layout ski area!

You in with me?

 

[Keelhauled]

Does anyone have a link to the current "strategic vision"? The one on their website is for 22-25 and is light on strategy.

They have just got to treat that lift as an existential threat to the whole endeavor. The board should have, years ago now, hired someone with experience in nonprofit fundraising whose sole job would be to direct a capital campaign to raise the money to replace it. This fucking about with begging money for after the fact fixes and punting the problem down the road is ridiculous and just makes the whole place less credible every year when it comes to trying to convince high net worth donors to give money to the current management.

 

[Newpylong]

The best thing that could happen to the Whale is if that board could somehow fold and it could be transitioned back into a for-profit with the right ownership structure. As I have all too much experience with, there are too many special interest groups pulling the coat tails there, always has been. Too many individuals with ideas and cooks in the kitchen. They refuse to hire or heed recommendations of industry professionals. When the first and only trail off the summit that they make snow on year after year is the race trail it should be a wake-up call to the public where priorities are. This coupled with a new handle tow (that is on year 3 of install) that will only serve Lower Spout is another example of absolutely wonk priorities. Also a mountain manager that does not know how to make snow but works for free is a great example of pennywise lb foolish. You need to put out a good product if you expect to be successful, you can't hide behind non-profit mediocrity forever. We were close 5 years ago but the board did not like how much the budget was to actually put down a good product.

 

[flakeydog]

I say help these guys out. I have spent a lot of time there over the last 4 years watching ski races and we bought a ticket every time without fail. I am happy to give these guys my $50. They have stepped up many times when others would not (cough...Dartmouth...cough cough). So they allocate their limited snowmaking resources on the trail where they race (you can ski on 6 inches of snow but you can't set gates in that). Whaleback's mission is to connect people to snow. Their relentless dedication to kids programs, race programs, learn to ski, community involvement and scholarships/aid creates new skiers passionate about the sport. Yes, this place will likely wallow in "non-profit mediocrity forever" and the management there will always be "complicated". If you go there, set appropriate expectations and observe what goes on there. Take a step back and think less about what they provide to you and more about what they do for the community and the sport.