The 2007 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: MAD RIVER GLEN

[thetrailboss]

Eric Friedman, the Marketing Director of Mad River Glen Resort has agreed to take the 2007 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 Eric and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Mad River Glen needs to be discrete about certain information.

We are honored to have Mad River Glen and Eric join us for their FOURTH AZ Challenge!!! Please take advantage of this special opportunity!


Ask away!

MRG’s Profile

Previous Sundown Responses:

2004 Responses.
2005 Responses.
2006 Responses.

 

[thetrailboss]

Just one comment: every year we have gotten lots of comments and questions about the snowboard ban. During the past few years, the topic has really led to some real :argue: and :uzi: on that topic. I think it is in the best interest of everyone if we have that discussion on the one or two other threads for that topic.

I am not stating a view on that topic, just saying that we need to focus on other issues. This one has been asked every year on this thread and the answer has been consistent.

 

[wa-loaf]

When's that high speed detachable single chair going in? ;-)

 

[kcyanks1]

(1) I think I suggested this one last year but my question wasn't picked...so I'll try again: Have you considered having early/late season skiing on the upper mountain with loading at the mid-station and downloading to the base?

(2) Will the new single have a mid-station?

 

[andyzee]

Couple of questions:

1. Do you plan on continuing the ban on snowboarders?
2. Do you plan on not replacing the single chairlift with a double, triple, or quad?
3. Do you plan on continuing the tradition of being one of the best mountains around?

 

[awf170]

1. Do you plan on continuing the ban on snowboarders?

I heard that it goes against your constitutional rights to not allow people to snowboard on their trails so I think they are going to have to lift the ban.

 

[thetrailboss]

[/LIST]I heard that it goes against your constitutional rights to not allow people to snowboard on their trails so I think they are going to have to lift the ban.

OK folks, we're not going to go there....

Good questions so far.

 

[millerm277]

1. Are you still on schedule for having the single ready for next year?
2. This is a broad question, but are there any changes/improvements planned for next year (besides the single)?
3. Any plans to change anything in the future?

 

[Greg]

I think this was mentioned somewhere before, but what was the fate of all the old single chairs? Was the $7,850.00 winning bid on the eBay auction more or less than you expected? Did that dude ever pay? Finally, where's my chair?

 

[thetrailboss]

Might be cutting it close here, but here goes.

I listen to WDEV and hear a lot of your ads (particularly Eric talking a lot! :wink: ). Wondering if you are focusing a lot on the local skiers and riders vs. a national or regional audience. What is the break down? Do you think that price keeps the locals coming? The spirit of the place? Overall, do you find that locals are more loyal skiers when the weather tanks?

 

[thetrailboss]

NO more questions??????????????????

 

[wa-loaf]

NO more questions??????????????????

Eh, we all know about the single chair being replaced. Aside from that MRG doesn't change much, so we pretty much know what to expect from them. So unless they have something big up their sleeves like, allowing snowboarding :evil:, putting in snowmaking :-? or a superquad :-o, we don't have many questions. And most of us like it that way.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Couple of questions:

1. Do you plan on continuing the ban on snowboarders?
2. Do you plan on not replacing the single chairlift with a double, triple, or quad?
3. Do you plan on continuing the tradition of being one of the best mountains around?

ROFLMAO

Obviously the tough one on your list is #3, I for one expect them to plan on continuing the tradition.....#2 is another good one....Sure they are replacing the single with a single now but what about 10 years from now when most people, according to the food experts, will weigh 300lbs, will they then "plan on not replacing the singl.....

 

[bvibert]

Are there any terrain expansion possibilities in the future?

 

[Mike_451]

As the pass prices down the road and up the hill at Sugarbush seem to be on the increase every season, it seems like MRG is in an ever growing position to become the mountain of choice for locals. Is this a part of your plan, to possibly compete with Sugarbush for more of the non snowboarding local market?

I know that Snowmaking has been discussed over and over again and that the conclusion is that MRG does all the snowmaking it needs, and that increased snowmaking wouldn't necessarily be a good thing I agree that there is nothing better than Skiing on Natural Snow on top of a Natural Base, when there is Natural Snow to be had. Fortunately even this season turned out to have many epic dumps, and deep days well into the spring.

My question regarding snowmaking is that due to possible climate change from either natural trends and or global warming, does MRG have a contingency to increase snowmaking capacity if needed?

 

[Canonizer]

I think a number of people were disappointed that the mountain wasn't willing to extend the season when we had all of the late snow. A lot of us felt that the mountain was only going to be taking its season ticket holders and not actually making money from non-local visitors. I understand that construction of the new single chair had to begin but shouldn't snow fall determine the end of the season?

 

[Canonizer]

Eh, we all know about the single chair being replaced. Aside from that MRG doesn't change much, so we pretty much know what to expect from them. So unless they have something big up their sleeves like, allowing snowboarding :evil:, putting in snowmaking :-? or a superquad :-o, we don't have many questions. And most of us like it that way.

I think terrain is an intriguing question as well. I appreciate, and applaud, the mountain's regrowth areas. Seeing the way Sugarbush has allowed many of its trees to die slow deaths from not being protected from the elements is a travesty, but I seeing new terrain development go hand in hand with reforestation

 

[maplevalleymaster]

Eric, thanks for taking the AZ challenge!

1.) Have you ever considered adding more snowmaking? It seems like this could really help is seasons like this one.

2.) Have you ever considered adding any summer activities?

 

[awf170]

1.) Have you ever considered adding more snowmaking? It seems like this could really help is seasons like this one.

Greg, have you ever thought of adding one of the banging your head against the wall smiles?

 

[Greg]

I think a number of people were disappointed that the mountain wasn't willing to extend the season when we had all of the late snow. A lot of us felt that the mountain was only going to be taking its season ticket holders and not actually making money from non-local visitors. I understand that construction of the new single chair had to begin but shouldn't snow fall determine the end of the season?

Interesting question. I'll add that while I understand the construction schedule made running the Single nearly impossible beyond Easter Sunday, was any though given to running the Double?

Welcome Canonizer!

Greg, have you ever thought of adding one of the banging your head against the wall smiles?

:lol: