Ski area closing dates 2008

[Vortex]

We do it almost every weekend at the River after mid march. K has some great ones. AZ folks were welcomed at K and definately at the River.

 

[Zand]

Wachusett: April 6th. They've been known to go later although last year they surprised everyone by sticking to their proposed April 1st date instead of going to the 8th when there was MORE snow... heck they could've probably even made the 15th.

I want to see them go to the 13th this year just to tie Killington.

 

[2knees]

I've heard rumors about further price breaks for Killington pass holders. Really smart marketing, if you ask me.

I think that would be a really stupid move on their part. why would you offer only killington pass holders a discount? Alienate all the pass holders from other mtns just cause killington changed their closing day?

Do they spike the water in killington with a sense of entitlement?

 

[ckofer]

Late season (a long time from now...) we should have an AZ close-up partee at some select resort. Warm days, tailgate barbeque, select junk-board skiing and boarding, suntan. Once the powder days are over (when?) we become friends again and may even recognize a face under the helmet/mask/hat.

Wildcat. They were good enough to stick it out last year.

 

[thetrailboss]

Rumor has it that Burke has said March 30th :angry:

 

[bobbutts]

Killington made it's reputation with late season skiing over the last 30 years of so.. "The King of Spring"
The 'product' costs more and provides less people should be going elsewhere and complaining.
I think the number one reason is that due to energy costs the 'pile' costs about triple what it did in it's hayday. I can understand reducing spending on that. Killington should have gone for a compromise date near May 1 to shut people up without breaking the bank.

 

[ckofer]

It all seems a bit disappointing to hear the early closings but this might work out okay for both those who stay open and those who close early. Effectively, this should condense the stragglers on to a few select mountains. I am a bit saddened that K has chosen to close early-I have gotten to particularly enjoy that mountain for late spring skiing and I have a place to stay on the mountain. The last three months have been pretty nice though.

 

[wa-loaf]

Wachusett: April 6th. They've been known to go later although last year they surprised everyone by sticking to their proposed April 1st date instead of going to the 8th when there was MORE snow... heck they could've probably even made the 15th.

I want to see them go to the 13th this year just to tie Killington.

Pond Skimming is scheduled for that day! I'll be there Saturday, not sure if I can make on the 6th. Should be a nice weekend with most of the Mtn open still. Be nice if they can push it out a little longer, but I think the state makes them plow the summit road at some point.

 

[snowmonster]

I haven't heard of a Sunday River closing date but I hope to be skiing there in May. They were actually blowing snow on Airglow on Saturday -- at the height of the snowstorm!

 

[JohnGD33]

This thread SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOOOOOOOOOOOO

I am going to ski until the lifts stop, when that happens I have skins!

I don't want to talk about this:uzi:





I have 48 days in so far I plan on hitting 60 should be very easy

 

[noonan]

Staying open into May and losing money everday the lifts are turning means higher prices next season. Do you want higher prices?

You claim to have been in the ski resort biz for 15 years, so I am surprised you would make a statement like that. Killington (or any other resort) could close on their last day they statistically make a profit and they will STILL charge higher prices next year. That's a given...ANYWHERE.

I don't have any skier visit stats for this year but I would imagine most resorts in the East will break all kinds of records. Even after a banner year where resorts make a fortune, season ticket and daily ticket cost prices will be higher next season. We've already started to witness this with some 2008/2009 passes already on sale.

Prices will go higher no matter how good or bad the past season was, or how early or late ski areas decide to close.

It's a crappy reality to this sport we are so passionate about. You would think some resorts would appreciate their customers and give them a break every now and then by not raising prices. Yeah right!!.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

You claim to have been in the ski resort biz for 15 years, so I am surprised you would make a statement like that. Killington (or any other resort) could close on their last day they statistically make a profit and they will STILL charge higher prices next year. That's a given...ANYWHERE.

I don't have any skier visit stats for this year but I would imagine most resorts in the East will break all kinds of records. Even after a banner year where resorts make a fortune, season ticket and daily ticket cost prices will be higher next season. We've already started to witness this with some 2008/2009 passes already on sale.

Prices will go higher no matter how good or bad the past season was, or how early or late ski areas decide to close.

It's a crappy reality to this sport we are so passionate about. You would think some resorts would appreciate their customers and give them a break every now and then by not raising prices. Yeah right!!.

Record breaker for what? Here are some stats. In Vermont the record days were in the late 1980's with 5.2m visits...last season it was 3.8m. Kmart had 1m skier visits 4 years ago, last year it was below 750,000. Do you really believe that a resort which their business has been reduced by over 25% can reduce prices? This lose of customers happened during the time kmart offered those cheap A41 all-east passes. How do you explain that?

Nowadays it takes a banner season just to break even for many resorts. This has been a good season with consistant snow and most resorts will beat last year's numbers.which was a very poor year businesswise despite the great snow after mid-Feb. What major resort in the east makes a fortune? I think some will make a profit this year but if they reduced prices what would the balance sheet look like next year if the snow was not as good as this season?

 

[MichaelJ]

I haven't heard of a Sunday River closing date but I hope to be skiing there in May. They were actually blowing snow on Airglow on Saturday -- at the height of the snowstorm!

I saw that and was utterly amazed.
Is there something special about that trail that's got it earmarked for being open really, really late in the season (cat access?) or had it gotten really, really thin and bad?

 

[loafer89]

I saw that and was utterly amazed.
Is there something special about that trail that's got it earmarked for being open really, really late in the season (cat access?) or had it gotten really, really thin and bad?

The top part of Airglow is a series of ledges that take alot of snowmaking to keep them covered.

 

[billski]

LAST to close

I haven't heard of a Sunday River closing date but I hope to be skiing there in May. They were actually blowing snow on Airglow on Saturday -- at the height of the snowstorm!

I recall a time, I think it was late 80's or early 90's when a certain east coast resort (K-mart, maybe?) blew snow onto a trail until the snowpack was a mile high. The objective was to be the LAST to close, thus laying claim to the longest season.

Most resorts seem to have recognized that a stunt like that was a little too expensive a marketing program.

 

[Vortex]

Snow Making on airglow is for some kind of superpipe that they will make to break some kind of vertical record I heard.... ie 70 feet in the air. All 2nd hand, but from alot of people. I was just glad to see the guns going. The loaff will be the last one out of the Boyne Family in the East I think. Makes sense. Snow holds longer there. Car Pool.

 

[hiroto]

Nowadays it takes a banner season just to break even for many resorts. This has been a good season with consistant snow and most resorts will beat last year's numbers.which was a very poor year businesswise despite the great snow after mid-Feb. What major resort in the east makes a fortune? I think some will make a profit this year but if they reduced prices what would the balance sheet look like next year if the snow was not as good as this season?

But why US skiing has become so disproportionally expensive? People use to come skiing in US from Japan because it was so much cheaper to ski here, but not anymore (they still come but not for price). Shiga Resort, the venue of Nagano Olympic, is not as great skiing as out west but bigger than any resort in NE with very nice amenities. Looking at their site, full mountain day pass is currently 4800 yen (~$46).

Looking at Chamonix France, obviously better than anything in NEand better than many in Rockies, day pass is 37 Euro (~$56). Also, they have family pass for family of two adults and any number of children from same family for 92.5 Euro (~$140). (Hmm, I just looked at it for this thread but now I'm thinking....) Also they heavily discount for multiday pass.

Even with current expensive $$$, they seems so much cheaper than in US, although those are in countries where things are more expensive than in US in general.

 

[Vortex]

Mid week the brits seem to be at the River.

 

[deadheadskier]

Wildcat. They were good enough to stick it out last year.

seconded

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Even with current expensive $$$, they seems so much cheaper than in US, although those are in countries where things are more expensive than in US in general.

US ski resorts pay alot more insurance than in Europe..remember we're a sue happy society.