SPECIAL: MAGIC MOUNTAIN: The 2006 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge

[thetrailboss]

Matt Lillard, the Marketing Director for Magic Mountain Resort has agreed to take the 2006 Alpine Zone Challenge!!! This is your opportunity to ask questions, offer suggestions, or say some praise to the men and women who are in charge of the Northeast’s Ski Areas. Please post some suggested questions in this thread and we'll select ten to present for official responses.

Also please don't be offended if we edit/change your question for grammar, tone, or some other minor thing. In order to get in all of the questions we MAY merge some questions but we'll do our best to keep the substance of your question. If we don't get your question in, feel free to post a follow up after we get the results...we are encouraging the representatives follow the threads. :wink:

As always, please be respectful of Matt and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Magic needs to be discrete about certain information.

We are honored to have Magic join us for their second AZ Challenge!!! :beer: Please take advantage of this special opportunity!


Ask away!

Magic’s Profile
Magic’s 2004 Challenge (which Ethan Binns completed).

 

[thetrailboss]

And a brief follow up....we have expanded the Challenge and are trying to get some more resorts to keep folks occupied while the weather is not cooperating ( :roll: ). Magic has been requested by many of you and Matt was really interested in participating. He is a new marketing director at the ski area and would like your input.

We have some other resorts coming soon....so please participate!

 

[2knees]

I love your mtn and i hope it continues to remain open and become more of the force it was in the 80's.

You arguably have some of the most challenging terrain in southern vermont, if not all of vermont. Was the inclusion of blackline on the map a precursor to any more top notch expert terrain becoming available?

 

[thebigo]

Is timberside lost forever or is there even a remote chance of bringing it back in the future?

 

[MikeTrainor]

It seems a lot of new work has taken place at magic the last few months. It seems like that mountain now has a vision and things are now happening. Can you outline the new changes for this year and what the plan is for the next few years.

 

[MikeTrainor]

The red lift has been painted and the new green/phoenix lift and beginner lift are being installed. It seems nothing has been done to the black chair. Is this lift going to be replaced in the near future?

 

[maplevalleymaster]

I heard a rumor that you are trying to make Magic and upscale resort. Is this true and if it is how?

 

[billski]

I've skied for decades but never to Magic. Tried to get there last season, but the rains kept me away, I'm trying to daytrip again. If I like what I see, I'll bring my family next time...

1. I get the impression that Magic is a lot like MRG in terms of management (laid-back) terrain and snowmaking, but perhaps Magic does more grooming than MRG. Comments?

2. I like the old-style, winding, narrow trails. I hope you have some and hope you don't create massive boulevards.

3. Is there much opportunity for glades skiing without the black-diamond requirement?
Where's the stash?

4. Love to see more PR on the area - more description, more web presence, more photos. That would help broaden the market to include all of New England. It's difficult for many folks to justify the trip when there are more formidable mountains nearby.

5. What do you consider your "niche" to be?

6. What is your grooming strategy? Corduroy everywhere?

7. I know changes are in store, I look forward to the snowmaking improvements. What won't you change?

8. I like "retro" areas, perhaps that's the nostalgia in me. Berkshire East is a good example of "retro" which has stayed modern - keep the infrastructure modern but funky. Careful, but no dramatic changes. I always worry about places like Berkshire - when the original owner goes, so does the personality. I've a feeling that same thing will happen at Magic. Thoughts?

9. I like the low price-point at Magic, but I fear that will disappear in this day of $80 day and multi-day tickets. Where do you see your prices going?

At this point, I'll be up this season, when I know the snow is good. Good luck, I really hope you make it. We've lost too many good stand-alone areas already. I understand the economics, I'd just like to preserve some "balance" in the field.

 

[djspookman]

Since I'm new to Magic, and a passholder, I was wondering what the plan is for opening day? (i.e. what trails/lift(s)

Along the same lines, what trails do you hope to open up succesivly (sp?) as the season progresses?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[thetrailboss]

Some good questions here....keep them coming!

 

[snobababunny]

Matt, Welcome. All of the Magic Regulars are happy to see the changes & improvements going on at the mountain.

I heard that eventually, the true beginner area will be over near the condos again. True? I hope so.

Also, will ski lessons be available during the week or just on weekends? I know that this had been a disappointment in years past for friends of mine, but I also understand the supply & demand thing.

Lastly, What's the deal with the water supply for snow making? Was the pond capacity expanded?


Thanks & Good Luck!!

 

[tree_skier]

Any chance of pushing the boulders off of master magician so it can be skied with less then 6 feet of snow?

how about a beginner lift on little dipper? even a jbar would allow better use of that area,.

 

[Sorcerer]

Any chance of pushing the boulders off of master magician so it can be skied with less then 6 feet of snow?

how about a beginner lift on little dipper? even a jbar would allow better use of that area,.

Push the boulders off master magician and they won't stop until they hit the base lodge

 

[thetrailboss]

OK, got to close this up. Thanks.

 

[thetrailboss]

Another mea culpa here.

Matt was awesome and responded to your questions last week. He fired them to me right after I went on my holiday escape to the NEK....and I did not have internet.

The delay is my fault and not Magic's. Matt and Magic have been great to work with...we will be posting the responses soon..