Stowe vs Sugarbush...

[twinplanx]

No need at Mansfield. Whether your on the Stowe side or Smuggs side, you can ski back to the lift with limited flat area.

If you're referring to town transportation, they have a pretty good trolley system. Those damn yuppies charge a buck though to get to and from the mountain.

Huh...well I did not know that(visiting Stowe once)...skiing back to the lift sounds easy enough and actually one dollar is pretty cheap...You could get like 3/4 rides for the same price of 1 cup of starfbucks

 

[skibum1321]

I have skied Stowe for a season during college and a few random days otherwise. I have skied Sugarbush for 2 years during college and this upcoming season (Mellen+ pass). Having said that, I prefer Sugarbush as an overall experience. Sugarbush definitely has the edge in terms of marked trails. The only trails that I truly enjoyed at Stowe were Goat, Lookout and Starr. National and Liftline are a joke - they remind me of Ripcord at Sugarbush, which is not a good thing. Sugarbush has a bunch of trails that I love (off the top of my head - The Mall, Liftline, Castlerock Run, Middle Earth, Rumble, Black Diamond, Morningstar, Exterminator, Paradise)

In terms of backcountry, both of them are awesome and it really is tough to compare because they offer such different experiences. Skiing off of the Chin is great and definitely a huge plus for Stowe. The back bowls are great too, and I am pretty familiar with all of those after skiing at Smuggs for 4 seasons. Sugarbush has Slidebrook, which really does have a ton of great backcountry options.

As for the vibes of the area, I definitely have to lean towards Sugarbush and not just because Stowe is way too expensive. Sugarbush isn't exactly known for its nightlife but I don't really like to go out drinking until 2am before skiing anyway. If that is your scene, then Stowe is definitely better for that. Sugarbush is just more laid back and has a much more relaxed attitude.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The town of Stowe is a huge destination for expensive 100k+ weddings...I read about it in one of the free magazines when I was in town in April. This past season I skied Stowe 8 days and Sugarbush zero days...1 day at MRG..The last time I skied Sugarbush was in March of 2005 because one of our Granite suppliers gave me a free pass..

 

[skibum1321]

Last season I skied Stowe 0 days, 4 at Sugarbush (in the spring with my pass for this season), MRG for 3 days and probably 30+ at Smuggs.

As you can see, all of my skiing tends to be concentrated in a very small area of the Northeast.

 

[Phildozer]

I know some Stowe instructors who have also said that summer is really the busiest tourist season.

Yeah but the skiing sucks in August.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Last season I skied Stowe 0 days, 4 at Sugarbush (in the spring with my pass for this season), MRG for 3 days and probably 30+ at Smuggs.

As you can see, all of my skiing tends to be concentrated in a very small area of the Northeast.

I know..you're like me..a Northern Vermont snob..but as I get more money and vacation time..I spend more time out west..

 

[smootharc]

Stowe v. Sugarbush

Brunettes v. Blondes. I choose.....redheads !

Oh merciful Ullr, may you make the snow fly....and soon. Columbus Day storm, anyone ?

Fun thread to read, though. Gotta love it when the unarguable gets argued.....then right and wrong are proven....all without a shadow of a doubt.....using the latest in statistical and scientific ski data.....by otherwise sane and productive citizen skiers. I love this country !

Today's SAT word is........subjective !

Peace out.

P.S. I do have a strong opinion on this issue, but I am too timid and wishy-washy to say it out loud, even though I know I'm right......

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Brunettes v. Blondes. I choose.....redheads !

Oh merciful Ullr, may you make the snow fly....and soon. Columbus Day storm, anyone ?

Fun thread to read, though. Gotta love it when the unarguable gets argued.....then right and wrong are proven....all without a shadow of a doubt.....using the latest in statistical and scientific ski data.....by otherwise sane and productive citizen skiers. I love this country !

Today's SAT word is........subjective !

Peace out.

P.S. I do have a strong opinion on this issue, but I am too timid and wishy-washy to say it out loud, even though I know I'm right......

Dang, that's the most well written and thought out post I've read in hear in some time. Really, nice job.

 

[campgottagopee]

Dang, that's the most well written and thought out post I've read in hear in some time. Really, nice job.

See what happens when you like redheads

 

[BushMogulMaster]

P.S. I do have a strong opinion on this issue, but I am too timid and wishy-washy to say it out loud, even though I know I'm right......

A wise man, indeed. If only I would have thought of that before I posted :wink:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It's fun to argue..

 

[Greg]

That’s condescending bull shit. SB worship threads always end up pissing me off.

Over the last several years, alot of posters have held SB as far and away the best ski area in the East. I and others have held that while it is undoubtly in the conversation with the best in the East it has worthy competition.

It's kinda an ongoing AZ culture thing - catch up.

It's also kinda a joke with Greg as he is the Archbishop of the Church of Sugarbush.

By the way, if Greg is the Archbishop, I must admit to being the Pope of the Church of SB. For heaven's sake (pun intended), I did build the sugarbushhistory.com website and ski over 160 days there in the past 2 seasons .

HPD - easy there, Killer! :-o I have a whopping eight days under my belt at the Bush. I've barely scratched the surface, but I can tell you I like what I've seen so far. Guys like BMM, S_R_O and Lostone are far more qualified to speak on SB than I am. Perhaps as this site's admin, my comments are (for whatever reason) more scrutinized, or perhaps even more highly regarded, which is also pretty silly as I have far less experience than many of you.

I'm going to try to explain my position on this one more time. I too think SB is a great mountain. How could anyone ski there and not think so? However, in the past many of the SB faithful have basically declared it the best in the East by far. IMO, they are not head and shoulders above some of there worth competitors.

I have made the somewhat uninformed (having not yet skied Whiteface, Stowe or Jay yet) that the MRV as a whole offers arguably the best advanced+ level skiing in the East (at least on-map). Remember, SB & MRG is 6 linear miles, end to end, with lots of bumps in there, and as I recall you're among those that feel bumps make the man. :lol: It's also pretty apparent that the mighty Whiteface, that you so adamantly defend offers no where near the mogul options Sugabush does, not to mention MRG, at least based on this thread. I'm a bump nut so that's what I look for in a good ski area.

Nevertheless, I can't wait for the Whiteface tour this season...

I have stated this on many threads in the past and my opinion is often met with disbelief or dismissal. I never said people didn't have the right to advocate for their mountain, so how about you don't put words in my mouth.

Now you're just starting to sound like a crusty old coot...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Stowe has lots of great bump runs..if it hasn't dumped in a few days..Centerline is often left bumped up and hayride is early and late season but groomed for Racing mid-season..wow that is a fast F-ing run when groomed..whew..Lookout and middle/lower Starr can have great bumps. In the Springtime--National and Liftline are a bumpers paradise..as are Goat and Chin-Clip..then for the intermediates..Gulch is a nice starter mogul run ending with a small headwall before Crossover. Over at Spruce there's sometimes a nice bumpline along Slalom where some of the races are held. Big Spruce doesn't get enough traffic for bumps..so you can do high speed GS turns over leftover powder..and unfortunately due to the southern exposure crud..but high speed turns through crud..especially on Race skis..makes the man..

But the woods are really where it's at when skiing Stowe..along with overgrown and skier maintained trails from the 1930s..The Bruce Trail off the backside ends at the cross country center..wow..there's just something about Stowe..The Capital of Eastern Skiing...

 

[ski_resort_observer]

B There is a rivalry between the two mountains down to the Stowe/Sugarbush skibum races. .

Stowe always kicks our ass mainly cause they have what seems like hundreds and we have a small but a dedicated few. One thing I do know...if Win(Pres.and majority owner of the Bush and dedicated ski bum racer) raced the CEO of AIG it wouldn't even be close...:lol:

BMM - you better come back with straight A's :lol:

 

[BushMogulMaster]

BMM - you better come back with straight A's :lol:

All A's so far, SRO. I intend to keep it that way. Just got CPR certified the other day.

 

[MadPadraic]

Because they're at competition with one and other for skier visits. Plus they are close to one and other(within 40-50 miles)..

Plus the locals at both mountains are among the most diehard in the east. There is a rivalry between the two mountains down to the Stowe/Sugarbush skibum races. I prefer to spend my time at Stowe vs Sugarbush..but others have different opinions..but if you haven't skied both mountains then stay out of this thread.

I've skied neither, and my vote goes to Cannon, but we can't rule out Yawgoo due to its proximity to superior seafood.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've skied neither, and my vote goes to Cannon, but we can't rule out Yawgoo due to its proximity to superior seafood.

But Stowe and Sugarbush are near the 6th great lake..Champlain..lots of polluted 3 eyed fish in that lake..Holla..

High Five for STOKE

 

[KingM]

I'm going to try to explain my position on this one more time. I too think SB is a great mountain. How could anyone ski there and not think so? However, in the past many of the SB faithful have basically declared it the best in the East by far. IMO, they are not head and shoulders above some of there worth competitors.

Hey, there are people who don't even think that SB is the best mountain in the Mad River Valley.

I've never met anyone who skied at Stowe who didn't think it was a great mountain. However, it seems that they want to chase away the type of skier who hangs out at AZ in favor of the jet set. Forget SB and MRG, I can ski at Bolton or Middlebury for $25 midweek, or head down to Killington when I can score a great deal. That option just isn't available at Stowe.

Having said that (and this is my perspective as an innkeeper), there are times when SB may not be as good an option as either Killington or Stowe, and that's when you've got casual or non-skiers in the group. Killington has a better nightlife and Stowe has better shopping.

 

[smootharc]

Just my imagination....

.....or have AZ'ers, collectively, lost their senses of humor ? Seems there used to be more friendly banter, more joking around, and more fun. Maybe it's just my imagination.....or maybe I just need to start taking my meds again.

A serious case of seriousness seems to be going around. I was going to burp the national anthem this morning, but I'd probably get flamed....

I'm off to the Teton Gravity Forums to tell those posers that Western skiing sucks......then I can feel some real love !

 

[skibum1321]

I know..you're like me..a Northern Vermont snob..

Going to school in Northern VT kind of spoils you...