Sugarloaf first to open in east!

[snowman]

As a 19 year old UMaine Farmington sophomore, I skied Sugarloaf in October 97...I believe it was October 21 or 22. You uploaded on the short side double above boardwalk, and one of the spillway doubles was running...I think it was short side. Spillyway was open, and towards the bottom not even the entire width was covered.

To get back down bottom, you just walked down grassy boardwalk. I remember a red pickup truck giving other people rides to the bottom and up to the spillway chair. I think Fox 51 news was there as well.

Those were the days...

I think those days are coming back in "wild west" fashion now that the resort "cartels" are broken up and a bunch of them are itching to show how big their guns are! :beer:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

As a 19 year old UMaine Farmington sophomore, I skied Sugarloaf in October 97...I believe it was October 21 or 22. You uploaded on the short side double above boardwalk, and one of the spillway doubles was running...I think it was short side. Spillyway was open, and towards the bottom not even the entire width was covered.

To get back down bottom, you just walked down grassy boardwalk. I remember a red pickup truck giving other people rides to the bottom and up to the spillway chair. I think Fox 51 news was there as well.

Those were the days...

I was also a freshman in college that year at UVM...and Sugarbush was open for a week in late October...wow that was a great early season..until the ice storm..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I think those days are coming back in "wild west" fashion now that the resort "cartels" are broken up and a bunch of them are itching to show how big their guns are! :beer:

But we have global warming to contend with...we'll see I think it could still be pretty warm in late October..too warm to make an October opening worthwhile..:angry:

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I think those days are coming back in "wild west" fashion now that the resort "cartels" are broken up and a bunch of them are itching to show how big their guns are! :beer:

That's funny...the Loaf was owned by the "cartel" in 97. Besdies, we haven't gone back to the "wild west" days...we've just traded one "cartel" that was founded in new england (though it did move to Utah) for three different "cartels" from "away." None of the previous ASC owned resorts have been bought by a local Tom, Dick, or Harry...or a co-op like MRG.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

That's funny...the Loaf was owned by the "cartel" in 97. Besdies, we haven't gone back to the "wild west" days...we've just traded one "cartel" that was founded in new england (though it did move to Utah) for three different "cartels" from "away." None of the previous ASC owned resorts have been bought by a local Tom, Dick, or Harry...or a co-op like MRG.

It's pretty tough for a Tom, Dick, and Harry to buy a ski resort. Richard Carlson recently bought Montage mountain from Lackawanna county PA for about $5 million and it hardly does any skier visits..maybe 100k per year tops..Me personally if I had $100 million, I wouldn't invest in a ski area...I'd rather just be a customer...there are alot of headaches with running a ski resort..due to the weather, economy, and other factors...Did Boyne also buy Sugarloaf? I keep seeing the $299 season pass for The Loaf and The River being advertised on here..

 

[snowman]

That's funny...the Loaf was owned by the "cartel" in 97. Besdies, we haven't gone back to the "wild west" days...we've just traded one "cartel" that was founded in new england (though it did move to Utah) for three different "cartels" from "away." None of the previous ASC owned resorts have been bought by a local Tom, Dick, or Harry...or a co-op like MRG.

Good point I suppose. Fine then, Now that the MEGA cartel is gone. I guess my point was two of our new cartels are ready to do battle like SKI did back in the 90's. 1 cartel can not do battle with itself!

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

It's pretty tough for a Tom, Dick, and Harry to buy a ski resort. Richard Carlson recently bought Montage mountain from Lackawanna county PA for about $5 million and it hardly does any skier visits..maybe 100k per year tops..Me personally if I had $100 million, I wouldn't invest in a ski area...I'd rather just be a customer...there are alot of headaches with running a ski resort..due to the weather, economy, and other factors...Did Boyne also buy Sugarloaf? I keep seeing the $299 season pass for The Loaf and The River being advertised on here..

Sorta...CNL Income Properties is the co that actually bought the two resorts (they also own Loon, Bretton Woods, Brighton among others), Boyne is the operator and will be running the resorts, paying a lease back to CNL. The $299 pass is non-holiday, midweek only. Silver pass is $499 for some blackouts, $799 for no blackouts. Still one of the best deals in new england and I give Boyne a high five for doing it.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Remember the one Year when Sugarloaf re-opened for June turns??? I think it was 1997..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Sorta...CNL Income Properties is the co that actually bought the two resorts (they also own Loon, Bretton Woods, Brighton among others), Boyne is the operator and will be running the resorts, paying a lease back to CNL. The $299 pass is non-holiday, midweek only. Silver pass is $499 for some blackouts, $799 for no blackouts. Still one of the best deals in new england and I give Boyne a high five for doing it.

The $499 Silver pass seems like a no brainer...I pay more than that for a 1000 vert hill in PA

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Good point I suppose. Fine then, Now that the MEGA cartel is gone. I guess my point was two of our new cartels are ready to do battle like SKI did back in the 90's. 1 cartel can not do battle with itself!

Ahh, MEGA cartel...there's one lurking in the shadows of new england skiing...check my last post and look them up on line, ASC was chump change compared to what these guys own.

 

[The Sneak]

Remember the one Year when Sugarloaf re-opened for June turns??? I think it was 1997..

yeah it was may 97 a few days after final exams ended. GOOD TIMES.

 

[snowman]

P.S. The "cartels" also now have there holdings spread out amongst enough different markets that they still have to be competitive, yet we still have owners that can reap the rewards of bulk purchasing power. +++++ For Joe Skier 8)

(One could argue that's not the case for the loaf/river, however the new owners seem to be treating them as one big resort versus everyone else in the eastern market. Thank god they seem to not be choosing to take the has and has not route with the loaf and river which they could easily have done!)

 

[snowman]

yeah it was may 97 a few days after final exams ended. GOOD TIMES.

That's nothing. They re-opened in AUGUST in the 80's as a result of testing out new snow insulating blankets.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

That's nothing. They re-opened in AUGUST in the 80's as a result of testing out new snow insulating blankets.

But wasn't that just a big pile..or was it lift serviced?

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

P.S. The "cartels" also now have there holdings spread out amongst enough different markets that they still have to be competitive, yet we still have owners that can reap the rewards of bulk purchasing power. +++++ For Joe Skier 8)

Uh-oh, don't look now, but the holdings just got more concentrated...add Loon to that list!

 

[snowman]

Uh-oh, don't look now, but the holdings just got more concentrated...add Loon to that list!

Yeah, I'm not liking that one very much. I liked the idea of Boyne promoting the loaf/river/maine vs. everyone else much better. The fundamentals still exist though, there are rivals. When rivalry exists, skiers win. Monoply (ASC) means skiers lose.

 

[snowman]

But wasn't that just a big pile..or was it lift serviced?

They declared themselves "open", not sure if it was lift served or not. In terms of truthiness of openess (thanks Colbert), they were more open than Woodbury has ever been on "opening day" :flag:

 

[prisnah]

Yeah, I'm not liking that one very much. I liked the idea of Boyne promoting the loaf/river/maine vs. everyone else much better. The fundamentals still exist though, there are rivals. When rivalry exists, skiers win. Monoply (ASC) means skiers lose.

I don't know if I buy that....A41 was the cheapest and best pass option for years. Yeah single lift tix prices went up, but that affects more the 2-4 times a year vacationing skier than it does people who are out there even 10-15 times a year. Not to mention I wouldn't even mention a monopoly, they own 3 resorts. 2 within Maine and Loon is less than an hour away. They own nothing in Vermont and I would guess that state has a lot more skier traffic than Maine and NH combined. This can't hurt anyone except Booth Creek and their employees. Could be wrong, but I just don't see it.

 

[snowman]

I don't know if I buy that....A41 was the cheapest and best pass option for years. Yeah single lift tix prices went up, but that affects more the 2-4 times a year vacationing skier than it does people who are out there even 10-15 times a year. Not to mention I wouldn't even mention a monopoly, they own 3 resorts. 2 within Maine and Loon is less than an hour away. They own nothing in Vermont and I would guess that state has a lot more skier traffic than Maine and NH combined. This can't hurt anyone except Booth Creek and their employees. Could be wrong, but I just don't see it.

Cheapest isn't always the best. The Monopoly was ASC, not the current owners. ASC owned all the major resorts in the east which meant none of them were competing for who could open first, who would close last and who has the newest infrastructure. That left skiers riding lifts that have seen better days over trails receiving no real snowmaking love for many less days a year. I'm an early season/late season skier and would love to see the majors going back to trying to out do each other on days of operation.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Cheapest isn't always the best. The Monopoly was ASC, not the current owners. ASC owned all the major resorts in the east which meant none of them were competing for who could open first, who would close last and who has the newest infrastructure. That left skiers riding lifts that have seen better days over trails receiving no real snowmaking love for many less days a year. I'm an early season/late season skier and would love to see the majors going back to trying to out do each other on days of operation.

In 1995..ASC put 28 million into Sugarbush..