Sugarbush vs Stowe

[BushMogulMaster]

Prior to skiing Stowe for the first time in 1995, all I cared about was skiing bumps 90% of the time. I vividly remember skiing down Chin Clip on some great bumps with a local until he dodged left out to the bench. I thought it was just a little quick shot through the woods and we return to the awesome bumps on Chin Clip, until we traversed and traversed and traversed to the very beginning portion of the incredible terrain in the Notch.

I don't think I purposely sought out bumps the rest of that winter.

I've skied tons of terrain, including some incredible backcountry in CO. I haven't found anything that I enjoy more than a good bump line. Including the 50 degree lines in the MJ chutes with great pillow lines and 20-40 foot cliffs. Absolutely fun, but still doesn't give the rush of ripping the zipper. I skied some amazing sidecountry out there as well. Trees and pow to die for. Bumps still win in my book.

Guess that's just the way I am

 

[JD]

Well, two ways, actually! I'm a full-time seasonal employee @ Bush, and my dad is full-time year-round @ Bush. Good benefits package either way!

How does this get you free MRG passes?

 

[BushMogulMaster]

How does this get you free MRG passes?

Bush employees ski free at MRG. At least we have in the past... I'll have to check on that for this season.

 

[JD]

Bush employees ski free at MRG. At least we have in the past... I'll have to check on that for this season.

Very cool.

 

[kcyanks1]

Well, two ways, actually! I'm a full-time seasonal employee @ Bush, and my dad is full-time year-round @ Bush. Good benefits package either way!

Employees at SB get free passes to MRG?

Edit: See that you already answered this. Sorry!

 

[BushMogulMaster]

It helps to know Eric, too... just in case :wink:

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Bush employees ski free at MRG. At least we have in the past... I'll have to check on that for this season.

Free is when someone gives you something for nothing. Your pass and MRG ticket is part of your compensation package. You earn it.

 

[bvibert]

Free is when someone gives you something for nothing. Your pass and MRG ticket is part of your compensation package. You earn it.

Good observation, and an important distinction.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Free is when someone gives you something for nothing. Your pass and MRG ticket is part of your compensation package. You earn it.

Hmmm, but grooming hardly seems like work!?!? I suppose I'll get over that eventually.

But you are right. Let me rephrase: I don't have to hand over any money to ski.

 

[riverc0il]

I think this is a shill-lacking. Everyone but the team sugarbush pretty much feel the notch rocks the valley.

LOL. And one member of team Sugarbush who hasn't even skied Stowe pipped in with Bush pics. BMM... you owe yourself a trip north.

I haven't skied Smuggs so I am not completely qualified to pass judgment. But even as a shareholder at MRG, I believe that Stowe/Smuggs is superior to Bush/MRG even without having skied Smuggs.

 

[ccskier]

I have never skied MRG or Sugarbush, but have skied Stowe hundreds of times and smuggs about 30+. I am biased, but can say that that area has it all.

 

[ski220]

LOL. And one member of team Sugarbush who hasn't even skied Stowe pipped in with Bush pics. BMM... you owe yourself a trip north.

I have never skied MRG or Sugarbush, but have skied Stowe hundreds of times and smuggs about 30+.

It's amazing to me that some people could have skied so many times at one place and never skied the other ski area. There so close. And so good. I'll go where the snow is. Though I've gravitated up to Stowe, a mid week powder day at MRG or Castlerock is hard to beat.

 

[ski220]

J.D.. Those are awsume photos. Is that you coming down in the first pic?

 

[swordy]

I have been skiing New England for more over 40 years (I am 45). I spent the 80's at Killington mostly before moving onto to MRG/Sugarbush in the 90's. Done my time in the Jay backcountry as well.

I had never liked the trail/lift network at Stowe. But during the 2000/2001 season I started exploring the backcountry in the Notch and elsewhere on Mansfield. There is more backcountry skiing around Mansfield then you can get to in one season, stuff off of all sides of Mansfield and both sides of the Notch from Smugglers Ski area all the way south to the Bruce and Burt trails and the Skyline Ridge and beyond.

For quality and quantity of powder and backcountry terrain, nothing in the East comes close to Stowe. It is an epic 2900 vertical foot run of backcountry powder from the Chin down to the road - thats a good shot even for the Rockies!

When on the east coast, I only ski Stowe (but never on their trails).

 

[JD]

J.D.. Those are awsume photos. Is that you coming down in the first pic?

No. I don't ski hourglass since I switched to tele. For one, I like skiing profanity to the lodge. A longer run. Then I'll reskin and head up tp Eagle Pass, sometimes skinning up the ridge for a run down the northface, or just dropping if the North face isn't ready yet.
And two, I just don't feel ready yet. I'd rather leave it for a stud like the guy in the pic who can really kill it. If you look close at the pic you can see he came in from the looker's left shoulder...dropped in 20+ feet? stomping the landing. Carving this turn (in the photo) he got pitched forward and almost lost it....reeled it in and make the hard left and headed for the runout towards the pass....That day was very very good, and I will never forget my run. One day I'll hit the unknown shredder's line...then maybe I'll go out west.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I have never skied MRG or Sugarbush, but have skied Stowe hundreds of times and smuggs about 30+. I am biased, but can say that that area has it all.

It boggles my mind that some people have skied Sugarbush/MRG hundreds of times and never at Stowe or vice versa. I first skied Sugarbush 2 days before I first skied Stowe..back when I was in 11th grade. Stowe was my first taste of tree skiing on the Slalom glades and then I followed some locals into the goatdive woods which back then seemed hard and now are a mellow cruise..both mountains are great and any east coast skier worth his or her salt should be skiing both..

 

[hardline]

Prior to skiing Stowe for the first time in 1995, all I cared about was skiing bumps 90% of the time. I vividly remember skiing down Chin Clip on some great bumps with a local until he dodged left out to the bench. I thought it was just a little quick shot through the woods and we return to the awesome bumps on Chin Clip, until we traversed and traversed and traversed to the very beginning portion of the incredible terrain in the Notch.

I don't think I purposely sought out bumps the rest of that winter.

ahhh the first time on the traverse what a great memory. thanks

almost as good as making a left after the lodge onto powerline and being second in line going down then the right into the rolling woods and ducking under that huge fallen log in the early season. that was the first run then we went to the gondi and did the traverse thats when i fell in love.

I have been skiing New England for more over 40 years (I am 45). I spent the 80's at Killington mostly before moving onto to MRG/Sugarbush in the 90's. Done my time in the Jay backcountry as well.

I had never liked the trail/lift network at Stowe. But during the 2000/2001 season I started exploring the backcountry in the Notch and elsewhere on Mansfield. There is more backcountry skiing around Mansfield then you can get to in one season, stuff off of all sides of Mansfield and both sides of the Notch from Smugglers Ski area all the way south to the Bruce and Burt trails and the Skyline Ridge and beyond.

For quality and quantity of powder and backcountry terrain, nothing in the East comes close to Stowe. It is an epic 2900 vertical foot run of backcountry powder from the Chin down to the road - thats a good shot even for the Rockies!

When on the east coast, I only ski Stowe (but never on their trails).

when there is new snow there is no place i would rather be. but in spring i tend to wander around VT.

 

[atkinson]

JD, you know where I work, both winter and summer. How does saying that these other areas are good and worth visiting make me a shill?

You can argue about which is tastier, have at it. Meanwhile, I'll be out chewing.

And a little montage from Mansfield, with Bush Pilot Coach Dean Decas.

Enjoy and go ski!

John

 

[JD]

John. Honestly, I don't care that much...I know two things. We both love to ski, we both love to ride....other then that, it's all good.

You guys love where you work enough to promote it alot. I just wish you would start off your pro-Bush posts by letting people who might not know who pays your bills that you are a full time employee...


Consideration: I was reading a review of the new Diesel, a Kayak. It was written by a sponcered Wavesport paddler, they make the Diesel. All the blog comments were basically, "it looks like a good boat, but it is really fair to have a wavesport paddler review wavesport products? " In other words...how do we know if you are just promoting or really believe Sugarbush is so great? W/O divulging your connection to the resort in your posts, it could seem to those who know your affiliation that you are attempting to pass yourselves off as regular paying customers who's opinion might be more objective then someone whos livelyhood and lifestyle are payed for by Sugarbush. I'm not saying you're not objective, but by past threads, questions could be raised as to weather or not some are here for marketing purposes or not.

Other folks let it be known that they are associated with operations they are giving opinions on, others don't...
But I really don't care that much, Just passing time. Didn't know the word "shill" was taken so seriously.
BTW, love your pics.

 

[WWF-VT]

I thought it was well known that Atkinson is employed by Sugarbush