Ski Areas that People either Love or Hate

[Riverskier]

Sunday River gets some hate...mainly from what I call the Sugarloaf Snobs. I'm a reformed Sugarloaf Snob so I can say it...its part of the 12 steps. Funny thing is, most of them either haven't skied SR, hae skied it a couple times, or haven't skied there in a decade. I used to work in a shop in Freeport and always had fun tweaking the SL snobs...all you had to do to get them all fired up was tell them you prefer SR.

I can attest to this. Most diehard Sugarloafers in Maine HATE Sunday River. Having grown up in Maine I can honestly say that I have never known anyone that skis both mountains regularly. Kind of a shame seeing that both are great mountains and both have their advantages and disadvantages. I have been in more Sunday River vs. Sugarloaf debates than I can count.

 

[wa-loaf]

Sunday River gets some hate...mainly from what I call the Sugarloaf Snobs. I'm a reformed Sugarloaf Snob so I can say it...its part of the 12 steps. Funny thing is, most of them either haven't skied SR, hae skied it a couple times, or haven't skied there in a decade. I used to work in a shop in Freeport and always had fun tweaking the SL snobs...all you had to do to get them all fired up was tell them you prefer SR.

I can attest to this. Most diehard Sugarloafers in Maine HATE Sunday River. Having grown up in Maine I can honestly say that I have never known anyone that skis both mountains regularly. Kind of a shame seeing that both are great mountains and both have their advantages and disadvantages. I have been in more Sunday River vs. Sugarloaf debates than I can count.

I'm probably one of those guys, more for just the fun of it; kinda like a HS or sports team rivalry. I've only skied Sunday River a couple times and in not so great conditions so I really can't knock Sunday River. Sugarloaf was just closer (and Sunday River wasn't much competition in the 70's - 80's) so it was the home mountain.

 

[Riverskier]

I'm probably one of those guys, more for just the fun of it; kinda like a HS or sports team rivalry. I've only skied Sunday River a couple times and in not so great conditions so I really can't knock Sunday River. Sugarloaf was just closer (and Sunday River wasn't much competition in the 70's - 80's) so it was the home mountain.

Sunday River is closer for me, and that is the biggest reason it is my home mountain too. Sugarloaf is almost an extra hour, and as a daytripper that is huge. I can certainly understand the sports team rivalry thing! Like you, it is mostly just for fun. I have spent more hours than I care to count defending Sunday River and saying Sugarloaf sucks. Of course, I really like Sugarloaf, and generally the people I am debating know that and actually like Sunday River themselves.

 

[Highway Star]

Sundown

I don't think people hate Sundown........I think they just feel sorry for it.

 

[Geoff]

I can attest to this. Most diehard Sugarloafers in Maine HATE Sunday River. Having grown up in Maine I can honestly say that I have never known anyone that skis both mountains regularly. Kind of a shame seeing that both are great mountains and both have their advantages and disadvantages. I have been in more Sunday River vs. Sugarloaf debates than I can count.

I don't hate Sunday River but if the two hills were next to each other on a sunny wind-free day, I'd pretty much always pull the Sugarloaf lever. If I'm an every-weekender from Boston and had to ski Maine, I'd probably opt for Sunday River because of the drive time, more reliable snowmaking, and less wind issues.

 

[x10003q]

Most people hate Mountain Creek but I love that it's 10 minutes from my house.

I get the location for you, but for the rest of us:

Who wants to take your skis off for a 5 min ride up (Cabriolet) and a 35 second ride down?
Who decided that the entire GG south should be a terrain park?
Why would anybody put a hotel in the parking lot for a day area?
Will they ever replace the tents at VV? That fire happened 8-9 years ago.

The hate exists for good reason.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I'm probably one of those guys, more for just the fun of it; kinda like a HS or sports team rivalry. I've only skied Sunday River a couple times and in not so great conditions so I really can't knock Sunday River. Sugarloaf was just closer (and Sunday River wasn't much competition in the 70's - 80's) so it was the home mountain.

I was at UMF when I was a Sugarloaf Snob...we had one buddy who worked at SR, the rest of us worked at SL...we used to abuse him all the time...then I lived at SR full time for a winter and got to know the mountain much better...moved out west for a bit, came back and skied both for a couple winters but just decided that the extra hour to SL from Portland wasn't worth it...and converted. My boot fitting bench in Freeport was where I started my crusade to convince the SR haters that it was a decent hill and stacked up to SL in many ways...better in some, not as good in others. Now...I just assume they keep skiing SL...parking at Barker is tough enough without a bunch of Loafers coming down and "slumming" :lol:

 

[MommaBear]

I don't think people hate Sundown........I think they just feel sorry for it.

That actually made me LOL.

I've never understood the lure of Sundown. My kids ski there for ski club every year and enjoy it. Haven't skied it myself in many years. Guess I should give it another try. Let me know when the bumps are ready.

 

[WWF-VT]

Can't say I hate any mountain. I would not choose to go back to a mountain if I had a bad experience there.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I don't hate Sunday River but if the two hills were next to each other on a sunny wind-free day

and therin lies the debacle with the Loaf...

 

[Geoff]

and therin lies the debacle with the Loaf...

That's why I qualified it with "wind-free". I took a really hard look at the place around 5 years ago as an alternative to Killington. I did 10 days there that winter. I got to experience the wind holds and the wind scouring. Other than the drive time, it's the huge down side to the resort.

 

[andyzee]

Sterling Forest Ski Center

 

[campgottagopee]

Couple places come to my mind

S or $ or Flatton -----I've heard many people say they "hate" that place not sure how anyopne could "hate" any ski area, but whatever. Back on topic, Stratton isn't my kind of hill, but to go there with my wife and another couple was/is great. Great little village, good food/drinks and friendly staff. I didn't find the skiing all that challenging but then again maybe I don't know where to go.

Hunter---never been but place looks cool to me and it's on my list of places to hit this year.

Whiteface, Iceface---whatever, place just rocks!!!!

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Sterling Forest Ski Center

Now known as Tuxedo Ridge.

 

[andyzee]

Tuxedo Ridge.
Mt. Peter.

 

[Highway Star]

Stratton has great lifts, very good grooming/recovery, great cruisers, relatively uncrowded for a major resort, nice staff, plenty of resteraunts, cool locals, and most importantly, the best powder and tree skiing south of Killington. I think all the hate comes from people who have never given it a chance and actually skied there.

 

[JD]

I love mtns with untracked snow. I hate bumped up mtns.

 

[RootDKJ]

Killington is the mountain that people love to hate

and some hate to love Killington...

Stratton has great lifts, very good grooming/recovery, great cruisers, relatively uncrowded for a major resort, nice staff, plenty of resteraunts, cool locals, and most importantly, the best powder and tree skiing south of Killington. I think all the hate comes from people who have never given it a chance and actually skied there.

For these reasons, I'll be spending more time at Stratton, and less at Killington this season.

 

[deadheadskier]

the best powder and tree skiing south of Killington.

This is coming from a major lack of Stratton experience, but you think the Powder and tree skiing at Stratton is better than Magic???

 

[mondeo]

That actually made me LOL.

I've never understood the lure of Sundown. My kids ski there for ski club every year and enjoy it. Haven't skied it myself in many years. Guess I should give it another try. Let me know when the bumps are ready.

It is what it is. Not big or steep, but the management does a great job with what they've been dealt. For a CT feeder hill the park is pretty good and they have bumps. And I can go after work. If you're looking for steeper than 20°, more than 750 foot vert, trees, or powder, it ain't what you're looking for.

What I don't get is the people that make statements like, "Once you ski out West, it's hard to ski the East." And then only ski a week a year.