Sugarbush's New Pass Aims to Capture the '20 something' Market

[AdironRider]

Yeah, I think most would expect those rinky dink hills to have cheaper passes.

Every time Ive been to Stowe it seemed the college crowd was pretty separate from most of the hoity toity types. They were either park rats or the 'im super extreme and going to hike even though its not worth it' types for me. Youd find em in the woods though for the ones that knew where to go.

 

[Geoff]

Yeah, I think most would expect those rinky dink hills to have cheaper passes.

Every time Ive been to Stowe it seemed the college crowd was pretty separate from most of the hoity toity types. They were either park rats or the 'im super extreme and going to hike even though its not worth it' types for me. Youd find em in the woods though for the ones that knew where to go.

Not every college student is hiking for the sidecountry or hanging out in the park. Like the rest of the ski industry, there are an awful lot of intermediates.

 

[mlkrgr]

As I'm 25 myself that recently earned a Masters Degree but has yet to find a job, I'd jump on it if I knew my skiing friends would or if I knew the more buses would go to Sugarbush from where I live. Though, logistics is always an issue and they don't seem to be available when I want to ski, and vice versa. The big problem that I have with Sugarbush as I live on the MA/NH line alongside Route 3 is that day trip buses that go there are few and far between. I can justify paying $67-$75 for someone else to do all the driving as long as I know its going to be a good day weatherwise when I need to book (generally a few days before) and getting a lift ticket for the day as I typically do 6-7 days per year. Since "bus only" price is $35-$40, breakeven is higher for all passes I see than the ticket portion of what i pay. Generally, 2-3 of those days would be on comp tickets so I'd be paying for about 4 bus trips, which is what I did the past few years and then I also do North Conway and go to Wildcat once a year and ski there for 2 days (I have connections to at least squeeze couple days in there for the right price). Keeping in mind that gas is an expense, its not a bad deal for me.

I almost made it to Sugarbush this past year (I've never made it), but the weather looked pretty bad so I ended up postponing and doing my annual Wildcat trip a few days later. Unfortunately, I have no money to blow on getting to and from the mountain when weather does not permit skiing.

Another idea is creating a hostel for people in the "20 somethings" category to mingle and meet as a lodging option. I just learned of one at Sunday River (its not run by them) and there's a few successful ones in Cape Cod in the summer. Many of us are single but the problem I have is that I don't like bars so that means options are limited in meeting people especially now I am out of school. Having some way to facilitate car pools would help tremendously along with this hostel.

The pass certainly helps and props to Win.

 

[gmcunni]

if i was in my twenties and not married i'd buy this pass and join a ski club with a house near the mountain. then i'd ski and ski and ski.

 

[deadheadskier]

mlkgr

There is a hostel in the MRV.

http://hosteltevere.com/stay/rooms-and-rates

might be a good option for you.

 

[mlkrgr]

mlkgr

There is a hostel in the MRV.

http://hosteltevere.com/stay/rooms-and-rates

might be a good option for you.

Thanks; I'll definitely have to consider it while figuring out what to do.

And yes, if things remain the way they are for the next couple months, I'm going to consider going away to a ski mountain like that and hopefully, find some way to make some money on the side. I think my biggest need is to meet people professionally and personally (I used to be an introvert for the longest time and now I'm making my way into being an extrovert).

 

[win]

Sugarbush is named so because it is in a Maple tree grove and maple syrup is the product other than skiing up here. For those of you who are not experts in maple syrup there are a number of different grades and the best quality is called "Fancy".

 

[WWF-VT]

Someone else posted about the line cutting issue. Stowe must care somewhat about the youth market cause they offer a dirt cheap (by Stowe standards) college pass. And unlike Bush with its Ellen park focus, I bet the college crowd rubs elbows a bit more with the upper crust at Stowe than Bush (of course, Stowe separates the park crowd via the triple chair area).

There really isn't a line cutting issue at Sugarbush . Some people bitch about Claybrook owners being able to use the ski school line at the Super Bravo and Gate House chairs. Mt Ellen is hardly a place with a "park focus" it just happens to be where the park is located and the Sunny Double is the lift that services the park and a few beginner trails. Most every mountain offers a "cheap" college pass. Sugarbush is offering a discounted option for the 19-29 year old demographic.

 

[HowieT2]

Thanks; I'll definitely have to consider it while figuring out what to do.

And yes, if things remain the way they are for the next couple months, I'm going to consider going away to a ski mountain like that and hopefully, find some way to make some money on the side. I think my biggest need is to meet people professionally and personally (I used to be an introvert for the longest time and now I'm making my way into being an extrovert).

That hostel is new and just a tick south of the sugarbush access road. it looks nice, although I dont know anyone who has stayed there. I think they have communal meals too.

 

[riverc0il]

Sugarbush is named so because it is in a Maple tree grove and maple syrup is the product other than skiing up here. For those of you who are not experts in maple syrup there are a number of different grades and the best quality is called "Fancy".

ZING!!!!

Well, now that I am better informed about maple syrup and properly snarked by the President of the Bush, I still think it is terribly lame name for a season pass. You could attribute a lot of names to local significance. But just because you could, doesn't mean you should.

:beer:

 

[darent]

missed out again, still holding my breath that a mountain will have a deal for the 60+ crowd,, any of you youngens know where I can clip a college ID ?

 

[mister moose]

I still can't believe Bush has a pass called the Fancy Pants... oops, I am Fancy Pass. That is just... I don't know.

Sugarbush is named so because it is in a Maple tree grove and maple syrup is the product other than skiing up here. For those of you who are not experts in maple syrup there are a number of different grades and the best quality is called "Fancy".

I learned a few things about Maple Syrup the last few years:

You have to boil the sap before it sours, it does not keep well.
The tree determines the grade, not the sugarhouse.
Earlier sap runs tend to be lighter, and the later runs are darker amber with stronger taste.
'Fancy' grade is the lightest, most subtle flavor of all the grades. Not all would agree it is the best.

Win, I think that without other references in the pass structure to maple syrup grades, the maple reference is lost on the casual reader. Even this one who knows something about syrup. You are left with a non maple interpretation of 'fancy', which conjures up a different set of images, not all of which are positive, as riverc0il points out. "It's sweeter up here" on the other hand works great. And congrats. Don't forget the importance of the monthiversary!

 

[riverc0il]

"It's sweeter up here" on the other hand works great.

A-yup, one of the best tag lines that I have seen in the industry.

 

[Geoff]

Sugarbush is named so because it is in a Maple tree grove and maple syrup is the product other than skiing up here. For those of you who are not experts in maple syrup there are a number of different grades and the best quality is called "Fancy".

I'm an hour south and apparently using Grade C

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm an hour south and apparently using Grade C

:lol:

 

[win]

That's why the USA is great. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Think Snow after Irene passes. At least the streams and ponds will be full for snowmaking.

 

[deadheadskier]

Win,

I think Geoff was making a crack on Killington as C grade.

 

[Geoff]

Win,

I think Geoff was making a crack on Killington as C grade.

Exactly. Of course, a joke isn't funny if you have to explain it.

On the KMart instance of this thread, I wrote that I thought this was a very smart move. As the boomers age, the ski areas need to figure out who is going to replace them. Killington got to where it is from their vibrant share house scene. Those 20-somethings bring in friends & family and create the critical mass to have a bunch of thriving businesses around the ski area. Sugarbush has "premium pricing" on their season passes so I'll bet their season pass demographic doesn't have a heck of a lot of 20-somethings. This is a way to capture the next generation without going down the ASC discount path.

 

[fdskier]

one of the biggest concerns among 20/30 year olds i know is the lack of nightlife at sugarbush. i know skihouse people that went from killington up to the bush for a change of pace but returned after a season because it was too quiet. also i have brought dozens of people to the bush and they all commented on the lack of nightlife. i know the castlerock pub was open sat nights last year - a step in the right direction.

and if a decent amount of 420 passes are sold the mt will have to figure out what to do for happy hour - the pub is a zoo already. imagine another 50-75 regulars in there on a saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Black Phantom]

one of the biggest concerns among 20/30 year olds i know is the lack of nightlife at sugarbush. i know skihouse people that went from killington up to the bush for a change of pace but returned after a season because it was too quiet. also i have brought dozens of people to the bush and they all commented on the lack of nightlife. i know the castlerock pub was open sat nights last year - a step in the right direction.

and if a decent amount of 420 passes are sold the mt will have to figure out what to do for happy hour - the pub is a zoo already. imagine another 50-75 regulars in there on a saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds to me like a good problem to have. :beer: