The 2006 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: WHALEBACK OWNER AND OPERATOR EVAN DYBVIG

[thetrailboss]

Evan Dybvig, Olympic Skier and the current Owner, Operator, and Manager of Whaleback has agreed to take the 2006 Alpine Zone Challenge!!! This is your opportunity to ask questions, offer suggestions, or say some praise to the men and women who are in charge of the Northeast’s Ski Areas. Please post some suggested questions in this thread and we'll select ten to present for official responses.

Also please don't be offended if we edit/change your question for grammar, tone, or some other minor thing. In order to get in all of the questions we MAY merge some questions but we'll do our best to keep the substance of your question. If we don't get your question in, feel free to post a follow up after we get the results...we are encouraging the representatives follow the threads. :wink:

As always, please be respectful of Evan and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Whaleback needs to be discrete about certain information.

We are honored to have Evan participate in this challenge—Whaleback’s first! :beer: Please take advantage of this special opportunity!

Ask away!

Whaleback’s Profile

 

[Vortex]

What is your approach and nitch? What is your plan to compete with the more northern resorts?

 

[thetrailboss]

Evan, how has your experience as an Olympic Skier prepared you for the ski resort industry? Do you find it more demanding then training for the Olympics? Less so? More stressful?

We applaud your work in reopening Whaleback. Why Whaleback and not another ski area such as King Ridge or Pinnacle? How are your plans coming for the year-round aspect of the ski area?

What has been the biggest challenge that you've faced this season?

 

[Jonni]

What are your plans if any about possibly replacing the double chair with a FGTriple or FGQuad? Are you planning on updating the website to show snow reports, current information?

 

[Vortex]

Welcome Jonni.

 

[thetrailboss]

Great questions, Jonni!

 

[JimG.]

Evan,

I like bumps and I know alot of other skiers who do too. In recent years, it seems that good bump lines have dropped to the bottom of the list of terrain options at most resorts. Everything is groomed to death or has been converted to terrain parks.

Whaleback interests me alot because of the resort's stated emphasis on freestyle training, both on snow and dry land. Will there be terrain devoted solely to bumps? Will these be naturally formed, seeded, or both? Will there be "A" and "B" level courses set up? And most important to a visitor like me, will courses be available to the skiing public as well as competition teams?

I think you have chosen a niche that has become undervalued by most other resorts and I'm interested in your progress.

 

[thetrailboss]

Another great set there, Jim! I'm sure Evan will have some great responses. Keep them coming folks!

 

[hammer]

Do you have any plans on being a "Ski New Hampshire" resort?

 

[ga2ski]

Whaleback is a great hill. Unforyunately I only skied it once back in 85 or 86, but it was a powder day. I think you can do a lot with it.
Do you have any plans for adult mogul camps? How about tele mogul camps? What are the plans for summer activities (mtn. biking, ramps with pools, etc)?

This question has more to do with the industry than you mountain, but since you are a former olympic skier. Recently I have noticed the bumps at several resorts to be lacking "good zipper lines". What do you think has caused the downfall of the lines? Is it new shaped skis? Did people change the way they ski? I know I may take a beating for this, but are the snowboarders changing the lines?

 

[jack97]

Do you have a layout of where you’re going to place the various courses; mogul course, racing course and terrain park (pipe and rails).

What about specific training courses for techniques and jumps?. For example, Smart's mogul camps has an "absorption tank", just a staircase of bumps to practice absorption and extension.

The web site claims 80% snowmaking, what about capacity? How fast will it take the equipment to get the courses in decent conditions after a rain/thaw to freeze cycle?

As mentioned previously, will you have mogul lesson/camps for adults? What qualifications will you looking for in your teaching staff?

Do you have plans for a demo center specifically for freestyle gear?

 

[thetrailboss]

Great questions thus far...keep them coming!

 

[jack97]

Got some more questions that just popped up while daydreaming…..

What are the plans for the indoor training, sport center, water ramp, bmx and paintball. Will they be available this coming season, will it be a progression over several years?

You’re targeting the programs to the youth markets, what programs will be available to parents that still have to drive theirs kids to this area.

What ratio of skier to boarder are you anticipating in terms of visit count and program participation?

Crotched has Midnight Madness (open till 3:00 am) during mid winter weekends. Will you have similar hours?

 

[thetrailboss]

Midnight Madness at Whaleback. That would be such a great idea for the Upper Valley. There is very little nightlife and the Whale could monopolize on it!

 

[jack97]

Midnight Madness at Whaleback. That would be such a great idea for the Upper Valley. There is very little nightlife and the Whale could monopolize on it!

I heard the Crotch has a live band for the weekend. They have a big lodge with a medium size bar; they can pack in a crowd. If I was a local, it would be a great way to settled down after a night of skiing.

 

[thetrailboss]

Evan--I see that you kept the original trail names for this season. They have a maritime theme to them. Any plans to rename trails with a new theme like Crotched did?

Have you considered offering reciprocal pass deals with nearby ski areas (Burke, Ascutney, Dartmouth, etc.)? I also was glad to hear advertising for the ski area this season on the local radio. What promotions/deals are you anticipating for next season?

 

[thetrailboss]

Any more questions?

 

[thetrailboss]

This thread is closing tonight...get the questions in!