The 2007 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: Sugarbush's Win Smith Joins Us AGAIN!!

[thetrailboss]

Win Smith, the President and Co-Owner of Sugarbush 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 Win and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Sugarbush needs to be discrete about certain information.

We are honored to have Sugarbush join us for their FOURTH AZ Challenge!!! We are also thrilled to have Win take time out of his busy schedule to answer your questions. :beer: Please take advantage of this special opportunity!


Ask away!

Sugarbush’s Profile

Previous Sugarbush Responses:

2004 Responses.
2005 Responses.
2006 Responses.

 

[andyzee]

Win, up until the 2003/2004 season Sugarbush offered the Escape Pass which gave skiers the opportunity to purchase a block of tickets to Sugarbush at a discount rate. I think this was a really good idea and gave people that normally wouldn't buy a season pass to Sugarbush incentive to ski there more frequently than they normally might. In my case I would split between the Escape Pass and the ASC ME tickets and frequent both Killington and Sugarbush an equal amount of days. Since that time the Escape pass has been discontinued and ASC came out with the All for One. Being that my wife and I ski 40+ a year, we do have a tendency of skiing where we find discounts. The Sugarcard does offer a discount, but not as much and doesn’t lock skiers into multiple days. Any thought to bringing back the Escape Pass or an equivalent?

If not, any possibility of giving your fellow AZers a discount on passes? ( Shameless attempt to save money at a great mountain )

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow...Only ONE question?????

Come on folks!

Win--it is obvious that you have really stepped up your presence at the 'bush and it is working. It seems that you have personalized a resort that has not been personalized since maybe the Gadds ran it back in the day. Are you finding that your efforts have been paying off? Do you think that other resorts could benefit by having a more "hands-on" President?

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Win -

As if you didn't know I'd be chiming in. Thanks for doing this again.

1) I have heard well-placed rumors that the mountain received some sort of approvals/permits from the USFS to step up its work in the woods in some capacity. Not sure if its glading, clearing out of old, abandoned trails, or just general forest health. Can you share with us what approvals were received and what, if anything, are the implications?

2) Related question to #1 - can you provide us with an update on your thinking with respect to overall forest health is? Though you wouldn't know it after Valentine's Day, there was more blow down in the forest especially above 2500') this year than I've ever seen. You could see it from the chair lifts (skiers right of Ripcord being an obvious example) and you could see it while in the woods. Areas such as Paradise Woods and lower skiers left of Ripcord remain glaring eyesores and clear evidence of a troubled forest, at least at a localized level. I am eager to know whether SB has plans to pursue an enhanced, holistic, forestry health initiative along the lines as MRG has implemented. Given the USFS approvals that would be necessary (perhaps your answer to #1 makes this moot), is such a proposal at least in the works with the relevant authorities?

3) Can you confirm that you will be building the guest Services Lodge this off-season? We haven't heard much about it in a few months. Whether the answer be yes or no, can you share with us some of your plans for this facility? Will it include a cafeteria for its primary users? Will it have a retail component on the ground floor or residential up top?

4) There were a lot of critical comments over at SkiMRV, and other Internet venues, regarding the crowding in both the Gate House cafeteria and especially the Castlerock Pub. While the former was partially alleviated by reopening the Valley house lodge, there was no solution for the latter until the weather warmed up in the last 4-6 weeks of the season. Can you address the solutions, if any, you and your team are considering to relieve the crowding problems? One would presume that, if the GSL is built, the cafeteria issues will go away. The bar issues seems a little more intractable to me. I can say from personal experience that while my friends and I, all in our early to mid 30s, used to always stick around for a few adult beverages in years past, we only did so twice this year, as the crowding was a huge turn-off. Have you given any thought to putting some sort of temporary enclosure over the south patio of the bar so that you could use it for the 70% of the season where it isn't sunny and 30 degrees or more?

5) Any chance you can speed up the Inverness chair? Seriously. It's brutal.

 

[Greg]

Thanks for participating, Win.

1. Sugarbush was criticised for moving the spring venue from Mount Ellen to Lincoln Peak this season. While I understand the decision was made to take advantage of the expanding LP base area, there were many compelling arguments as to why Mount Ellen is a better spring venue from a skier's perspective (higher elevation of F.I.S. vs. Stein's, downloading option on the GMX, etc.). You obviously scored big this spring with an abundance of natural snow in April which kept South skiing well through the entire month. Will this "luck" impact whether this will be the approach next season? I think you've alluded to the possiblity, but if LP had melted out sooner than anticipated, were you prepared to move operations back to Ellen this spring? Were you temped to reopen Ellen given all the snow this April?
   
2. Any big announcements for the 2007-08 season that you would like to unveil right here on the AZ ski area challenge?
   
3. Any update on the Valley House Double replacement? Timeline? Have you decided on a fixed grip triple or a quad? Either way, is it likely that The Mall will be altered in any way?

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Thanks for participating again, Win!

5) Any chance you can speed up the Inverness chair? Seriously. It's brutal.

Tin... I'm disappointed! I thought we resolved this on SkiMRV... the chair is actually running 440fpm, a respectable speed for a fixed-grip quad! It feels slow because of the ridiculous chair spacing, the fact that it is a long ride to begin with, and because you're used to GMX, North Ridge, Gate House, Bravo, and Slide Brook! Quite frankly, I think Heaven's Gate is operated slower than the "I"

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Thanks for participating again, Win!



Tin... I'm disappointed! I thought we resolved this on SkiMRV... the chair is actually running 440fpm, a respectable speed for a fixed-grip quad! It feels slow because of the ridiculous chair spacing, the fact that it is a long ride to begin with, and because you're used to GMX, North Ridge, Gate House, Bravo, and Slide Brook! Quite frankly, I think Heaven's Gate is operated slower than the "I"

But that chair has to be rated up to 550 fpm, no? Most fixed grip chairs built in the last two decades (outside of bunny hill lifts) tend to be. At that higher speed, they would cut a full two minutes off the ride. It's not just the comparison to the other lifts that makes it seem so.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

But that chair has to be rated up to 550 fpm, no? Most fixed grip chairs built in the last two decades (outside of bunny hill lifts) tend to be. At that higher speed, they would cut a full two minutes off the ride. It's not just the comparison to the other lifts that makes it seem so.

Yes, the Poma Alpha series FG lifts are rated at 550. However, at 550, many many injuries would result. Years ago, Killington used to run one of their FG quads (I don't remember which) at 500, and they were constantly having problems with people being knocked over when loading, and being hit in the back/head while unloading. Maybe you and I (and most everyone on this board) could load at 500+ just fine, but consider the general customer who is loading. Also, the faster the chairs are flying around the bullwheel, the more strenuous it is on the lifties (especially with a quad). It would require more frequent rotations of lifties, and likely a few extra hands.

I can't quote any facts on this, but from my experience and knowledge, 400-450fpm is pretty much the industry standard for FG lifts. Beginner FGs will run in the 300-400 range.

BTW, most HSQs load at 150fpm or slower, just for reference.

So... yeah... I'd love to get up there faster too. But it's not really a reasonable move to crank it up much higher than it already is. Just take breakfast and a cup of coffee, and maybe a newspaper, and you'll be content!

Okay... sorry for the hijack. Tin... we can bring this back up in another thread, or on SkiMRV if you want!

 

[mattlucas]

Questions

Hi Win, thanks for answering some of these questions.

1. I had the fortune of being up during those amazing spring days which provided excellent skiing but also incredible crowds. I was very disapointed to find the valley house in each instance not running even after checking out RSN-tv and calling the mountain for snow and lift reports. That defeats my whole gameplan of skiing where "they aint" and accessing some of the best terrain on the hill, I certainly don't want to traverse from the bravo or deal with that mess in the corrals.

Will this lift be open more next season? Was it a staffing issue (always a great staff at SB, sometimes thin)? I don't really care about a quad, I like the emptiness of the lift. Can't the song remain the same there?

2. Any chance for a day/season pass to use at the hotel? I would love to jump in the pool one day.

3. Looking forward to seeing the summer with the lifts up for biking/golf. Will SB be renting bikes at the base? If I'm on the hill hiking (just hiking/biking/taking pictures, not cutting private trails) will any SB employees be giving me a hard time this year with the new commercial aspects of the summer business?

4. Any new plans for trails? It sounds a little silly, but I always though that something off the back (from the bravo???) would be nice in the afternoon when the sun sets at 11:30. I'm sure the forest service would be dificult, but is it even worth skiing the backside?

5. Are there any more plans for the old sugarbush village? That place never lived up to its potential but there were actually more people than ever around this year. I don't know what it needs, but it's depressing when it's a ghost town.

Thanks for answering any of these questions, I was really happy with what the management did this year making me and the general public extremely happy to ski at MRV.

Sincerely,

Matt Lucas

 

[Greg]

Lodging Question

Anything in the future planning for additional on-slope lodging at Lincoln Peak? If so, what type of units should be expected? More condos? Suites? Hotel-style rooms?

 

[madskier6]

5. Are there any more plans for the old sugarbush village? That place never lived up to its potential but there were actually more people than ever around this year. I don't know what it needs, but it's depressing when it's a ghost town.

I'll let Win answer this one directly but I do know that Sugarbush & Summit Ventures does not own or otherwise control Sugarbush Village. It is a separately owned & operated entity that the mountain has nothing to do with (other than being a neighbor).

Nevertheless, I've heard talk about building something in the space between Lincoln Peak Village & Sugarbush Village that would serve to link the 2 villages better. I've heard talk of an ice skating rink in the winter.

Win: Any truth to the ice skating rink rumor? Thanks.

 

[snoseek]

completely self serving question (aren't they all). I need incentive to go all the way to sugarbush, i already carry other passes that are a bit closer to me but think maybe sugarbush could get some of my money by running a constant deal for passholders from other hills (possibly sun-fri). your going to turn the lifts anyways, why not make some extra revenue. Also you could get $$ from f+b and maybe retail. Jay does this and i think it works for them.

 

[Greg]

I need incentive to go all the way to sugarbush

Not to detract from your question as it's a good one, but I have to chuckle when I read "all the way to Sugarbush". I can get there in 4 hours from CT. Killington takes a bit over 3. The extra hour is worth it IMHO.

 

[Greg]

An interesting thread to consider when asking questions regarding base expansion:

http://forums.skimrv.com/viewtopic.php?t=953

 

[thetrailboss]

Any more questions???

 

[kbroderick]

Both last year and this year, Sugarbush extended its season into May. Many resorts choose not to do this, largely due to a lack of customer interest (apparently the rabid skiers who are still finding places to make turns are not the norm). Without going into proprietary information, can you enlighten us as to your motivations in doing so? Is the marketing value alone worth it, or do you actually get enough paid tickets to offset the cost of the additional snowmaking and prolonged operations? Or is it just so you can get some more lift-served days in yourself?

 

[MikeTrainor]

We have seen a lot of action at the Lincoln peak base. What plans if any do you have for Mt. Ellen?

 

[AHM]

Plans for Mt Ellen

Mt Ellen is one of the highest ski lift served mountains in New England, with a lot of North facing aspects. Given this huge attribute, Summit Ventures plans for ME will be "shock and awe" for the 2007 - 2008 season.

First off, that lift line everyone always mentions will have a HSDQ put in place by Sept 1 with 6 new glades starting from the ridge. Besides the lift addition and glading in that area, glading will be extended all the way down the backside of Exterminator to J-town. But it does not end there. We will have a new fleet of enviro friendly cats sitting in J-town to bring skiers back to the summit. These will be run strictly using the french fry oil from the new gate house lodge. This will also help the "Win hold" situations that many have commented about.

Next, many have heard we plan to remove the Valley House lodge from LP. We will, but we plan on simply jacking it up and actually placing it right on top of the ME base lodge. When ARA owned the bush back in the 80s, they improved the support structure of the base lodge to handle the addition of 3 more floors. This will allow us to put the VH right on top of the ME base lodge. There will be a couple of the "missile silos" (a la Claybrook) added to the "new" ME base lodge.

Finally, we plan on leveling the ME parking lot and completely flattening it. It will have a brand new, 6 abreast magic carpet, complete with colorful awning (a la the Vail Rasta Bahn) to ensure you stay dry while "riding up" to the new ME base lodge. In addition to the awning, we will put infrared heaters in there to ensure skiers stay nice and warm when they get out of their high end euro SUVs and sedans.

If that is not enough, we have contracted with the Warren Store to provide culinary treats and each day at 4 pm, Hardy will play his strat, while handing out warm cider (complete with Captain Morgans)...............

The all new 2007 - 2008 Sugarbush...........coming next fall!!!

 

[Zand]

^ If you replaced everytime you said Mt. Ellen with Stratton, I'd actually believe it. Haha.

 

[snoseek]

Not to detract from your question as it's a good one, but I have to chuckle when I read "all the way to Sugarbush". I can get there in 4 hours from CT. Killington takes a bit over 3. The extra hour is worth it IMHO.

yeah i guess i'm spoiled. when i do get over to vt. there's lot's of options though. jay often gets my $$ because of the 39$ ticket. personally i'd prefer sugarbush because it's a bit closer, awesome skiing, and really big. i wish i lived closer to northern vt.