The ALTERRA SUCKS Thread

[4aprice]

@benski Yes I'm looking at it approaching from the north. Hopefully via Lift bus service. when I can. (though I do like to tailgate @ Utah Junction Lot in the spring) The expanded rail service is going to be big in Grand County. Where we are, we could have the ability to get back and forth to DIA without driving. Currently only one train west leaves Denver early in the morning stopping at Granby about 10. the east bound train comes through about 3. If with the expanded service to Craig they would have a west bound train in the late afternoon one could fly in during the day and get up in to the mountains with out a car. I don't think anything but the ski train will stop at the resort platform may have to go Fraser on the regular service.

On the days when those old MJ lifts are running and the parking is lacking I think I'll stay hpme and ski the Ranch.

 

[4aprice]

Winter Park opens for skiing tomorrow.

 

[thetrailboss]

Oh boy....

This Utah ski area will let you skip the lift lines, but you’ll pay for it.

Fast passes aren't just for Disneyland. A Utah ski area plans to sell an add-on to season passes and day tickets this season that will let skiers and snowboarders skip the lift line. It will be the state's second ski area to offer such a program.

www.sltrib.com

And this guy is full of shit. Nobody asked for this, except Alterra HQ. Nice spin job.

Marc Lodmell, Solitude’s director of marketing, said the Reserve Pass is a product of visitor feedback.

“We are always listening to our guests and reviewing what they want,” Lodmell said. “We also look to other industries in the hospitality realm and watch what is working, what trends are appealing to consumers, and follow suit where appropriate for us.”

 

[4aprice]

However, in social media posts, many skiers have disparaged what they see as a class-based system that further enforces the idea that skiing is only for the rich.

This is something I have a hard time accepting. Was reading some of the comments from Crystal skiers and a lot of them were of this mind set. One spends their entertainment dollar as they choose. Skiing has never been inexpensive but if you are passionate about it you will spend what it takes to do it. Class has nothing to do with it.

 

[Edd]

However, in social media posts, many skiers have disparaged what they see as a class-based system that further enforces the idea that skiing is only for the rich.

This is something I have a hard time accepting. Was reading some of the comments from Crystal skiers and a lot of them were of this mind set. One spends their entertainment dollar as they choose. Skiing has never been inexpensive but if you are passionate about it you will spend what it takes to do it. Class has nothing to do with it.

Well, I see their point if richer people get to skip lines poorer people have to stand in, so access to the slopes obviously becomes tiered. That does bring class into the equation.

 

[ThatGuy]

However, in social media posts, many skiers have disparaged what they see as a class-based system that further enforces the idea that skiing is only for the rich.

This is something I have a hard time accepting. Was reading some of the comments from Crystal skiers and a lot of them were of this mind set. One spends their entertainment dollar as they choose. Skiing has never been inexpensive but if you are passionate about it you will spend what it takes to do it. Class has nothing to do with it.

Most people don’t have an extra $1000+ to throw away so they can skip a line…

 

[thetrailboss]

However, in social media posts, many skiers have disparaged what they see as a class-based system that further enforces the idea that skiing is only for the rich.

This is something I have a hard time accepting. Was reading some of the comments from Crystal skiers and a lot of them were of this mind set. One spends their entertainment dollar as they choose. Skiing has never been inexpensive but if you are passionate about it you will spend what it takes to do it. Class has nothing to do with it.

I think that Crystal skiers and riders are particularly peeved because since Alterra bought them the crowding has been out of control. They now have very strict parking limits and reservations. I think that the Crystal community is just fed up with it all.

 

[thetrailboss]

Well, I see their point if richer people get to skip lines poorer people have to stand in, so access to the slopes obviously becomes tiered. That does bring class into the equation.

Yeah, it's the same argument that folks raised with Snowbird and POWDR. And I imagine that Alterra will respond the same way--silence.

 

[kbroderick]

Well, I see their point if richer people get to skip lines poorer people have to stand in, so access to the slopes obviously becomes tiered. That does bring class into the equation.

Skiing is expensive, and it generally takes some combination of luck and privilege to participate. Once you get on the hill, though, things have traditionally been egalitarian with limited exceptions (particularly if you can and want to spend the money to pay private lesson money to get line cutting privileges). If you want to get the best conditions, you show up early, regardless of whether you're coming from your slopeside mansion or your rusted out Subaru and a bunk bed in a questionable apartment full of ski bums.

Fast lane type systems (as well as expensive "early up" programs that some mountains offer) change that, and it rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

 

[Former Sunday Rivah Rat]

Winter Park has an early ups 30 minutes every day for only $299 a season. That's not too expensive for a pass add on.

 

[BenedictGomez]

this guy is full of shit. Nobody asked for this, except Alterra HQ.

Executives who pee on your leg & tell you it's raining are the worst of the worst.

 

[bigbob]

Face it, these companies are in buisness to make money. They invest millions into these resorts and want a ROI. I am sure there aren't too many on this forum that can right a check for a $400K snowcat.

 

[4aprice]

Not trying to be argumentative, just a little rebuttal

Well, I see their point if richer people get to skip lines poorer people have to stand in, so access to the slopes obviously becomes tiered. That does bring class into the equation.

They are buying the privilege. Just because I choose not to purchase that privilege doesn't mean I feel the people who do are "looking down" on me.

Most people don’t have an extra $1000+ to throw away so they can skip a line…

But a lot do and why is it a bad thing for the ski areas to try and make them part with that money?

I think that Crystal skiers and riders are particularly peeved because since Alterra bought them the crowding has been out of control. They now have very strict parking limits and reservations. I think that the Crystal community is just fed up with it all.

While not totally familiar with the Crystal situation it seems to me to be somewhat similar to A Basins especially in regard to parking. But if over crowding is the problem why the resistance to reserving parking and a spot on the mountain? Aspen requires it as does Loon in New Hampshire, its not hard to do. Ultimately the customer has the greatest weapon and that is the power of the purse.

 

[thetrailboss]

I can't take credit for this. It was on social media...posted by Tim Mccrohon:

 

[thetrailboss]

They are buying the privilege. Just because I choose not to purchase that privilege doesn't mean I feel the people who do are "looking down" on me.

I think what frustrates people is not just the class issue, but the fact that folks already pay a lot for a season pass (relatively speaking), and are thrown into the masses, and then are asked to pay more to not have a crowded ski experience.

While not totally familiar with the Crystal situation it seems to me to be somewhat similar to A Basins especially in regard to parking. But if over crowding is the problem why the resistance to reserving parking and a spot on the mountain? Aspen requires it as does Loon in New Hampshire, its not hard to do. Ultimately the customer has the greatest weapon and that is the power of the purse.

I think in part because regulars never had problems parking or getting to the slopes.

 

[Edd]

Not trying to be argumentative, just a little rebuttal


They are buying the privilege. Just because I choose not to purchase that privilege doesn't mean I feel the people who do are "looking down" on me.

I hear you and, being a midweek independent area skier, I don’t have a dog in this fight but I don’t think the problem here is being looked down on. The problem is a skier paid $X for their normal season pass, Rich Guys buy extra privileges, and the normal skier kinda loses their place in line, depending on how many Rich Guys blew past the skier that day. This devalues the skier’s pass in a way.

Hard to say what the effect will be IRL. Might not move the needle much in the end.

 

[x10003q]

Paying to bypass the line is much ado about nothing. When there are 10k people on the mountain at Crystal, a few hundred with this pass are not going to change anything.

Here's another thought, I bet many of Crystal complainers are rocking a 5 ski quiver in increments of 5mm under foot from 95 to 115. Nobody really knows that you have $6000 tied up in your quiver, but we can all see who ponied up for the extra pass.

Whether you want to spend your money on a bypass the line pass or 5 pairs of ski I say have at it.

 

[Smellytele]

Paying to bypass the line is much ado about nothing. When there are 10k people on the mountain at Crystal, a few hundred with this pass are not going to change anything.

Here's another thought, I bet many of Crystal complainers are rocking a 5 ski quiver in increments of 5mm under foot from 95 to 115. Nobody really knows that you have $6000 tied up in your quiver, but we can all see who ponied up for the extra pass.

Whether you want to spend your money on a bypass the line pass or 5 pairs of ski I say have at it.

Those buying the bypass probably have 6 pairs of skis as well.

 

[thetrailboss]

Paying to bypass the line is much ado about nothing. When there are 10k people on the mountain at Crystal, a few hundred with this pass are not going to change anything.

Here's another thought, I bet many of Crystal complainers are rocking a 5 ski quiver in increments of 5mm under foot from 95 to 115. Nobody really knows that you have $6000 tied up in your quiver, but we can all see who ponied up for the extra pass.

Whether you want to spend your money on a bypass the line pass or 5 pairs of ski I say have at it.

I'm not really following you. I think that Edd's point (devaluing the season pass) is a bigger issue.

 

[thetrailboss]

I think that the other rub is that for a long time folks have complained about crowding issues and Alterra's response is to monetize the solution to its advantage (like POWDR did).