Stowe opens the kimono on how it did in 2008-09

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

You are obviously at a different skill level from many/most of the college pass people. If you're a wealthy accountant from the flatlands (intermediate, low fitness level) shelling out large dollars to ski the groomers at Stowe, you're not going to be thrilled with getting you and your family strafed by groups of chemically impared college students on snowboards & twin tips. I ski Killington so I'm used to it. You should have seen The Stash at Killington during the college break periods. Testerosterone, weed, really low skills, and a terrain park makes for a lot of sled trips and you definitely wanted to keep your speed up to avoid getting run down by the people straightlining the groomers off that lift. A family of four shelling out a couple of grand for a weekend at Stowe isn't looking for that kind of experience.

I find the college crowd at Stowe to be pretty mellow..think PowderFreak although he graduated..and if you ever read the UVM quarterly, Stowe is often mentioned. UVM and other college students take advantage of low season pass prices..then they go back to Stowe for ski trips and it's also a really popular wedding destination in the summer. There are plenty of chemically impaird skiers and snowboarders everywhere..not everybody can crack the top 30 at the beast of the east like HighWayStar..some just like to have a mellow time and chill by the pipe..put that in your halfpipe and smoke it!!!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

In the past the fact that Stowe has been owned by AIG for many years didn't have much of an effect on Stowe's business model but unless you have been living under a rock the last 9 months you know it's owner was saved from going belly up by the government bailout to the tune of many billions of dollars. IMHO it has to have some kind of effect on the way Stowe operates currently and maybe not in a good way.

Maybe it's noticed by the guest, maybe it's not. We get alot of folks who come to northern Vermont and will ski both Stowe and the Bush on the same trip. Had a nice chat with two Stowe passholders just yesterday morning. For the most part the comments about Stowe are usually very positive which confirms the fact that Stowe is still one of the top resorts in the northeast, the great terrain will always be there. Connecting Spruce and the Mansfield side with the new transfer lift has been something everyone knew they needed to get done for many years. It's a big improvement for them in my view.

 

[Edd]

No resort should give you crap about a voucher after skiing a run, especially if wind holds are involved. The good word of mouth alone is worth a voucher.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

No resort should give you crap about a voucher after skiing a run, especially if wind holds are involved. The good word of mouth alone is worth a voucher.

I agree..and Stowe is definitely one of those places that can be good and bad. I've had days at Stowe where typical PA conditions were superior due to a thaw/freeze..and days where the morning was rough but the afternoon was tits. The day I skied Stowe with Kingslug, it began as crust but it began to snow hard and a few hours later..you couldn't even feel bottom on midfats. You know what they say about the weather in Vermont..if you don't like it, wait 5 minutes..some people want a voucher when the conditions are slushy but the ski resort is better off giving them one to return when it's fresh cord than losing that customer...Ski areas...give us a break..we love to ski..but if I bought a ticket to Stowe and all the lifts but the triple were closed, I'd want a voucher,,but if I didn't get one..I'd just session the lower mountain woods..it's just making lemonade out of lemons..

 

[deadheadskier]

They then jam the resort full of unprofitable college pass customers who terrorize the rich people they're trying to attract.

Out of curiosity, how many times have you skied at Stowe in the past decade? The reason I ask is that I think this above assessment is way off. At the end of the day, I still think the vast majority of college students up there ski mid-week; at least I did as did most of my friends when I was a UVM student. Weekends we'd only go when the snow was REALLY good; otherwise we'd be sleeping off hangovers most of the day.

I would say the amount of 'terrorizing' going on is extremely minimal. However, they offer the cheap college pass just like every other area up there because UVM, St. Michaels etc, even Champlain to an extent now are LOADED with out of state trustafarian kids who will join the family business someday and come back to spend 'real' money at those resorts as well as introduce numerous other flatland wealthy people to those areas.

Cheap College passes is really just marketing. If they make it unaffordable for the college student while they're there, those kids will go to Sugarbush, Jay etc as adults instead.

Stowe was my home hill from 1995 through 2001, 2004-2005 and outside of 2002 and last season, I've skied there at least once, often multiple times all seasons in between. I get what you're saying in terms of a business 'concept/model' , but in my experience that hasn't played out in reality.

 

[riverc0il]

FWIW, Stowe's college pass has historically costed twice as much as other local mountains in the area. Still dirt cheap for us adults but to a college kid that is a lot of money. It seems the Stowe college pass costs what most other mountains charge for a regular adult pass. With the Triple Major, I can report first hand that Jay is a VERY popular option for the Burlington crowd. From my days at Stowe (last day of this season excepted which was can good drive and cheap day tickets), I see a very low percentage of college kids at Stowe compared to a place like Jay.

 

[billski]

I see a lot of college kids midweek.

I also notice on weekends most families with young-uns ski/board at Spruce while it's mostly singles and couples at Mani, often in small herds. A few families venture over to tollhouse, and you'll find a few families on the greens, espc. toll road, but that's about it. I don't see many really young ones (too young to ski without mom and dad) at Mani.

But that's what I see. You mileage will vary....

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

FWIW, Stowe's college pass has historically costed twice as much as other local mountains in the area. Still dirt cheap for us adults but to a college kid that is a lot of money. It seems the Stowe college pass costs what most other mountains charge for a regular adult pass. With the Triple Major, I can report first hand that Jay is a VERY popular option for the Burlington crowd. From my days at Stowe (last day of this season excepted which was can good drive and cheap day tickets), I see a very low percentage of college kids at Stowe compared to a place like Jay.

What does the Stowe college pass go for??? A decade ago it was about $350 which I thought was a bargain as that's what I was paying for my season pass at Blue mountain in high school. When I was in my first year of college...1997-98 I had a Big pass which was a combined Stowe/Sugarbush pass which was simply awesome..I usually didn't decide which mountain I was going to ski until the Waterbury exit. Then they had the Huge pass which was MRG/Sugarbush/Jay Peak or just Stowe. Alot of my friends went for the huge pass and I thought about getting both season passes but stuck with Stowe my final 3 years at UVM..pretty much I had an expensive education and cheap skiing..lol..

With college passes so inexpensive..alot of non diehard skiers/riders bought a pass because the breakeven was so good..perhaps 8 days at the time..

 

[ccskier]

Out of curiosity, how many times have you skied at Stowe in the past decade? The reason I ask is that I think this above assessment is way off. At the end of the day, I still think the vast majority of college students up there ski mid-week; at least I did as did most of my friends when I was a UVM student. Weekends we'd only go when the snow was REALLY good; otherwise we'd be sleeping off hangovers most of the day.

I would say the amount of 'terrorizing' going on is extremely minimal. However, they offer the cheap college pass just like every other area up there because UVM, St. Michaels etc, even Champlain to an extent now are LOADED with out of state trustafarian kids who will join the family business someday and come back to spend 'real' money at those resorts as well as introduce numerous other flatland wealthy people to those areas.

Cheap College passes is really just marketing. If they make it unaffordable for the college student while they're there, those kids will go to Sugarbush, Jay etc as adults instead.

Stowe was my home hill from 1995 through 2001, 2004-2005 and outside of 2002 and last season, I've skied there at least once, often multiple times all seasons in between. I get what you're saying in terms of a business 'concept/model' , but in my experience that hasn't played out in reality.

I totally agree with the statement of out of state money. There was a large population of trustafarians at Johnson chanting jah mastercard who couldn't get into uvm. The out of state money was always spent in Stowe and the kids all skied at Smuggs or Jay. They would go to Stowe when the parents were in town dropping cash. There was only a few of us who were at Stowe from J-state. $350 was a steal for the Stowe pass, I never really saw anyone hurtin to get a pass, there was always a way. It may be bold for me saying it but I never really experienced or saw the struggling college kid life. I was fortunate to have my parents financial, but I also worked a few nights a week in Stowe w/ DHS actually.

So, back on subject, as I said before Stowe is and will be the best in the East. Expensive, sure, deals to be found, maybe. There are still deals out there, I stayed mid season at the mountaineer for 70 or 80 bucks. I will probably drop the cash for a night at the Mountain Lodge just for the experience next season for a special occasion. I have stayed at a few nice places (wealthy friends/work) before and from what I have seen this place may have out done them all. Have those who complained about Stowe been to vail? My girlfriend in college worked at the Lodge @ Vail, I saw people drop $30g's+ on a ski vacation. Sure, it is ''out west'' but those who know stowe/mani can find the challenges. The people who drop that cash can now stay east and not have to travel. I believe the sales department at first concetrated on foreign, Connecticut and Mass for buyers of units. There may have been an untold rule to keep ny/nj at the southern VT resorts. When the original sale day happened people came in from all over the world. The money will slow down now from AIG, maybe Greenberg should put his money where he says his heart is and buy it.

 

[frozencorn]

So, back on subject, as I said before Stowe is and will be the best in the East. Expensive, sure, deals to be found, maybe. There are still deals out there, I stayed mid season at the mountaineer for 70 or 80 bucks. I will probably drop the cash for a night at the Mountain Lodge just for the experience next season for a special occasion. I have stayed at a few nice places (wealthy friends/work) before and from what I have seen this place may have out done them all. Have those who complained about Stowe been to vail? My girlfriend in college worked at the Lodge @ Vail, I saw people drop $30g's+ on a ski vacation. Sure, it is ''out west'' but those who know stowe/mani can find the challenges. The people who drop that cash can now stay east and not have to travel. I believe the sales department at first concetrated on foreign, Connecticut and Mass for buyers of units. There may have been an untold rule to keep ny/nj at the southern VT resorts. When the original sale day happened people came in from all over the world. The money will slow down now from AIG, maybe Greenberg should put his money where he says his heart is and buy it.

I've pimped it plenty on here, but again, the $35 I spent on the VT travel club card was well worth it for the $40 late-season tickets to Stowe alone. Also, $59 to stay at the Golden Eagle late season. It also came with a 2-for-1 to Stowe. For someone who's been looking high and low for deals there since the Big Pass, I was certainly satisfied.