Terrain park “park passes”

[prisnah]

If it's a small one time fee, I'm all for it. Keeps people who shouldn't be there outta there.....you know how many times I've had to take a dive so I wouldn't smash into some knucklehead in a neon jacket and jeans snowplowing through an LZ?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

If there's somebody in my way whether in the park or on a trail..like somebody that cuts out right in front of me...I'd rather crash into them then swerve and risk crashing into a tree/lift tower...people are alot softer than solid objects..

The Ludicras song..Move Bitch Get Out the Way is in my head almost everyday I ski..it boggles my mind how many people enter a trail without looking uphill to see what's coming...would you drive onto a highway blindly without yielding???

 

[prisnah]

A lotta of areas now have specifically designed beginner parks, learn there, no charge for it....then once you got some experience and are familiar with all aspects of smartstyle, then pay your $ and hit the park. I do agree that it sucks that they're closing down a section of the mountain due to this, and it is probably just another way to nickel and dime so the resorts can boost their revenue, but overall it's probably a smart thing to do.

Either way, it won't affect me too much....you gotta pay to play sometimes.

 

[DJAK]

Whether you like park passes or not, the need to educate and/or downright restrict access is real.

 

[MRGisevil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOmG5xlEvMk

Whether you like park passes or not, the need to educate and/or downright restrict access is real.

Fine, restrict them. Put a fence up. Enter at your own risk. Must be this tall to ride. But paying extra to get in? Who is that going to benefit but the park. So called "gapers" and "newbies" can still pay $5 and get in everyone's way.

 

[JimG.]

Whether you like park passes or not, the need to educate and/or downright restrict access is real.

There is no doubt of that. But the solution isn't as simple as just charging $5.

If your going to charge people to use terrain features, then out of courtesy to folks who don't use those areas that activity should be banned (and enforce it) in other areas of the mountain. I mean, if those folks can't use that area unless they pay, they shouldn't have to put up with out of control airtime where they have to stay.

 

[SKIER4LIFE1281]

butternut does the same thing with that park pass, but it is free and all you have to do is sign a form that u read the rules. the guy at the gate never really checks ur passes after the first week of the park being open. and everybody has a park pass now there and the little kids jsut sit on the top of the jumps and rails and dont move . they should have a height restriction, also it is ridiculous to pay money to go in the park.

 

[Hawkshot99]

First year Jiminey had the Park pass they didn't charge for it, just made you watch a movie. Had no problem with that, I watched the movie and got my pass. Last year they started charging you. As I rarelly use the park other than a run or 2 a day I said screw that, till I found a pass one day after all the ski clubs had left.

If they are gonna charge you for the park, it better be way better than it was last year.

 

[SnowRider]

As a park person myself I think that the $5 makes a lot of sense. When I am at Pat's Peak for example it is frustrating to see parents teaching there kids how to ski in the park. The $5 keeps those people out of the park making it more safe.

As for bump runs they will never charge $5 because parents don't teach there kids how to ski in the bumps.

 

[danny p]

about 3 to 4 years ago I was riding in a Terrain Park at Windham Mountain on a weekend and Ski Instructors had a ski school of maybe 4-6 year old kids in the terrain park riding over the jumps (riding, not jumping). Some ski areas perpetuate this nonsense. There is no reason for ski schools to be in the terrain park (unless they are capable and its a terrain park clinic). IMO this was just teaching these kids to ride through the terrain park and features as if its any other trail, which is dangerous. Oh yeah and I got b*^&*ed at for cutting off the ski school to hit the jumps.

 

[Greg]

As for bump runs they will never charge $5 because parents don't teach there kids how to ski in the bumps.

This parent will!

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

What's wrong with a ski area making money to help off-set the costs of the park?

I'm not much of a park person, so I could be wrong, but don't the parks take a lot more effort to set up and maintain? These costs are fairly new costs, and are not part of the old business model of snowmaking and grooming.

I for one will probably never go in a park, since I've done enough damage to myself off mogul run jumps, etc., to get much out of throwing myself off of fake terrain, so why should someone like me subsidize those who want to use the parks?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

about 3 to 4 years ago I was riding in a Terrain Park at Windham Mountain on a weekend and Ski Instructors had a ski school of maybe 4-6 year old kids in the terrain park riding over the jumps (riding, not jumping). Some ski areas perpetuate this nonsense. There is no reason for ski schools to be in the terrain park (unless they are capable and its a terrain park clinic). IMO this was just teaching these kids to ride through the terrain park and features as if its any other trail, which is dangerous. Oh yeah and I got b*^&*ed at for cutting off the ski school to hit the jumps.

At Blue mountain in the instructors room in Big Letters it says...NO Lessons in the Terrain Park or Halfpipe..there is a freeriders program for that every Saturday and Sunday though with students ranging from pre-teens to thirtysomethings..

 

[JimG.]

about 3 to 4 years ago I was riding in a Terrain Park at Windham Mountain on a weekend and Ski Instructors had a ski school of maybe 4-6 year old kids in the terrain park riding over the jumps (riding, not jumping). Some ski areas perpetuate this nonsense. There is no reason for ski schools to be in the terrain park (unless they are capable and its a terrain park clinic). IMO this was just teaching these kids to ride through the terrain park and features as if its any other trail, which is dangerous. Oh yeah and I got b*^&*ed at for cutting off the ski school to hit the jumps.

For the record, I have no issues at all with any ski area charging money for those who want to use the terrain park. And I like to go in the park unlike some skiers. I'm no park rat, but I enjoy the halfpipe even though I don't get much more than 2-3 feet of air.

I'm just fearful that people who don't want to pay will try to set up their own personal hits and cause havoc elsewhere.

Also, when I taught skiing and especially when I was a kid's seasonal program coach, I stayed out of the terrain park with my classes unless it was early morning (before 9:30) or late afternoon (after 3:00). And then we spent alot of time on learning proper park etiquette and waiting our turn.

 

[danny p]

I'm just fearful that people who don't want to pay will try to set up their own personal hits and cause havoc elsewhere.

As far as the money thing, if I had a pass I would not want to pay more for a terrain park. If that was the only option so be it, 5 bucks isn't gonna break me so I wouldn't make that big a deal if it was for the whole season.

I hear you on this point, but it's hard to say I agree just because some of my favorite jumps are on the sides of trails (I don't personally set them up, but..). That being said I always check behind me to see who will be in my landing when I go for it. Plenty of times I've passed that one really good hit on the trail because the trail had too much traffic. Next run!

I know many people have a problem with people like me who like to hit the left or right banks on the trails or hit the "jersey jumps" but I live for that, freestyle riding on a trail is much more fun than going to a dedicated trail and being forced to freestyle on man-made obstacles IMO.

 

[Greg]

I hear you on this point, but it's hard to say I agree just because some of my favorite jumps are on the sides of trails (I don't personally set them up, but..). That being said I always check behind me to see who will be in my landing when I go for it. Plenty of times I've passed that one really good hit on the trail because the trail had too much traffic. Next run!

I know many people have a problem with people like me who like to hit the left or right banks on the trails or hit the "jersey jumps" but I live for that, freestyle riding on a trail is much more fun than going to a dedicated trail and being forced to freestyle on man-made obstacles IMO.

I'm with you on this one. Hits at trail merges are my favorite, provided the coast is clear, of course...

 

[JimG.]

As far as the money thing, if I had a pass I would not want to pay more for a terrain park. If that was the only option so be it, 5 bucks isn't gonna break me so I wouldn't make that big a deal if it was for the whole season.

I hear you on this point, but it's hard to say I agree just because some of my favorite jumps are on the sides of trails (I don't personally set them up, but..). That being said I always check behind me to see who will be in my landing when I go for it. Plenty of times I've passed that one really good hit on the trail because the trail had too much traffic. Next run!

I know many people have a problem with people like me who like to hit the left or right banks on the trails or hit the "jersey jumps" but I live for that, freestyle riding on a trail is much more fun than going to a dedicated trail and being forced to freestyle on man-made obstacles IMO.

Got no issues with those sides of the trail hits...I like them too and if I'm just going fast I try to stay away from them...awareness is a two way street.

My concern is the hit that a group decides to build on their own and who wind up sitting there all day blocking part of the trail.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

What's wrong with a ski area making money to help off-set the costs of the park?

I'm not much of a park person, so I could be wrong, but don't the parks take a lot more effort to set up and maintain? These costs are fairly new costs, and are not part of the old business model of snowmaking and grooming.

I for one will probably never go in a park, since I've done enough damage to myself off mogul run jumps, etc., to get much out of throwing myself off of fake terrain, so why should someone like me subsidize those who want to use the parks?

For the same reason the park rat should subsidize your skiing all over the rest of the mountain...all that snowmaking and grooming you expect...all those lifts you ride...all over the mountain...miles of snowmaking pipe, miles of trails that need to be groomed...all those lifties, etc.

 

[wa-loaf]

For the same reason the park rat should subsidize your skiing all over the rest of the mountain...all that snowmaking and grooming you expect...all those lifts you ride...all over the mountain...miles of snowmaking pipe, miles of trails that need to be groomed...all those lifties, etc.

It seems to me that everyone benefits from these and they are covered by your lift ticket. Building the parks takes a lot of extra effort and man power ( and cat time) on top of all those benefits. So it makes sense to have an extra fee to use them and to restrict access to those who don't pay.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

As far as the money thing, if I had a pass I would not want to pay more for a terrain park. If that was the only option so be it, 5 bucks isn't gonna break me so I wouldn't make that big a deal if it was for the whole season.

I hear you on this point, but it's hard to say I agree just because some of my favorite jumps are on the sides of trails (I don't personally set them up, but..). That being said I always check behind me to see who will be in my landing when I go for it. Plenty of times I've passed that one really good hit on the trail because the trail had too much traffic. Next run!

I know many people have a problem with people like me who like to hit the left or right banks on the trails or hit the "jersey jumps" but I live for that, freestyle riding on a trail is much more fun than going to a dedicated trail and being forced to freestyle on man-made obstacles IMO.

I never heard the expression.."Jersey Jump"..so that's getting air off the side of the trail..I like to get tons of air off blind spots..lol