The Average Skier is the Enemy!

[Greg]

I wasn't talking about ability at all.

My neighbor belongs to a country club and is a 5 handicap.
My friend plays in a Friday after work golf league and is a 17 handicap.
My cousin plays whenever he can get away from the family and doesn't have a handicap.
The local pro, who gives lessons to earn his living is not an average golfer, IMNHO the first 3 are.

Some guys have more opportunity, money, ability, etc., but their in it for recreation.

Glen Planke said it best, "Recreational skiing isn't a sport, it's a great past time".

I think we're arguing semantics here, HPD. By "average", I meant the average skier demographic - the one that accounts for the majority of skier visits. I don't have hard data so maybe I'm the one painting with a broad brush, but I would imagine it's the sub 10 days per season skier who skis primarily from late December to late February.

But I think you knew what I meant.....

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I don't don't see how having a resort giving back revenue they MIGHT have made in peak season by being open with little business in late April and May helps anybody. Convincing the golf courses to not open till the middle of May would help.

The cost of gas and insurance has skyrocketed in the last few years, many resorts make money on the weekends/holidays but give it back during the week. IMHO if the trend continues I suspect some resorts might close during the week to survive.

...wonder if golf courses are opening earlier than they did 10 years ago.

 

[wa-loaf]

Perhaps having bikini contests every day the temp is north of 40 in the spring. :lol:

You could have a spring concert series, ala Reggae Weekend at Sugarloaf, but just do it every weekend all spring. Mix up the type of music each weekend. The party atmosphere would certainly draw a lot of people, who may not even be skiing. The money you make on booze, concessions, and lodging might help keep the lifts running for the hardcore skiers.

 

[bobbutts]

everything has become too fancy and expensive
to run a place you need a small army of staff and a large amount of expensive energy + the energy to stockpile snow.

Still the main difference is that Killington is out of the game, they were pretty much the perfect place in NE for spring skiing.

 

[hiroto]

for us its time....durning the winter there arent sports for our 5yrs old, but in the spring its soccer and Tball on the weekends...and Easter being early this year I think has folks already in the "spring" mood...dont discount gas prices, that's swaying alot of folks as well ..... I'll still grab a day here or there, but cant foresee anymore than 1 more day....

Same here. My son's soccer team is starting practice this week and games will kick in a few weeks. Spring sports are THE ENEMY of spring skiing.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

The average skier is repsonsiblie for day tickets, but many resorts with land ....the focus is going after people who can buy big houses. Even better if you can make it have a 4 season feel.

Staying open gives folks a reason to buy a place ie enjoy a long season.

I agree with you that for many resorts the money is in real estate development. However, I think those people are on the opposite end of the demographic spectrum that Greg is trying to tap into.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

But I think you knew what I meant.....

Yeah, but you know that this type of thread is right in my wheelhouse. It's a thread that provokes thought and debate and I like to try and add a little fodder to the conversation.

 

[WWF-VT]

My son's soccer team is starting practice this week and games will kick in a few weeks. Spring sports are THE ENEMY of spring skiing.

My two kids play soccer and I coach and the season starts the first weekend in April. Limits the chance of our family of four ( season pass holders) getting to VT for a weekend

 

[MommaBear]

Same here. My son's soccer team is starting practice this week and games will kick in a few weeks. Spring sports are THE ENEMY of spring skiing.

Same here, too. I think THE KIDS are THE ENEMY. My older two have always been die hard skiers - other families head to Florida for April break, but we've ALWAYS gone to Killington. This year, baseball and lacrosse are already happening and their focus has turned to those. They want to be done with skiing for the year. And unless we find someone to babysit the next few weekends, that means my husband and I are done for the season. That sucks. Spring sports used to start around April vacation week, now they start a good month earlier. :-(

 

[happyjack]

as an average skier i'm trying to do my part! i'm getting in a car after working 8 hours on thursday to drive 8 hours from baltimore to londonderry. my son will be missing lacrosse practice thursday and a tournament on saturday just so we can get three more days on the snow and i can reach my goal of 12 days skiing this year.

i think the economy is gonna play havoc with many expensive recreation activities. golf has already seen a notable decline since it's peak 4-5 years ago. i'm already seeing lots of ads from the $80-$100 daily fees courses offering discounted seasonal memberships.

 

[Vortex]

HPD. I think day skeirs matter till Feb vacation as mentioned. Cash flow.

Resorts stay open to sell real estate/lodging/ food /drinks/ gear and season passes. Some resorts survive without the average skier as thier core base.

I guess its my feeling that the average skier is a day skier. JMO

 

[SIKSKIER]

So true on the skier visits dropping.I was at Cannon on Monday and there could not have been more than 100 people total.You could look up the mt all day and at times not see one person on the trails.I thought it was great to have my own mt but wow.Cannon has benn cutting back on lift operations already.The tram will not run this week,then will run March22 and 23 and close for the season.That base area will also be closed.Then after April 6th they will close for the weekdays and reopen with 3 lifts for the final days April 12 and 13.I don't blame them at all as much as I being a season passholder want more.

 

[loafer89]

I can tell you that last April we conributed hardly a penny to Sugarloaf's bottom line when we skied there for a whole week. We stayed in Stratton and took most of our meals in the kitchen in our room and we had a season's pass.

I plan to do much the same this April, it's the only way we can afford to ski for a week.

I do not consider myself the average skier, just one on a budget.

 

[tekweezle]

what the ski resorts hope you;ll do is bring beginners with you to try out the sport. these are the guys who spend on lessons and take maybe 5 or 6 runs total per day. They take long breaks in the lodges and buy food.

 

[tjf67]

I don't don't see how having a resort giving back revenue they MIGHT have made in peak season by being open with little business in late April and May helps anybody. Convincing the golf courses to not open till the middle of May would help.

The cost of gas and insurance has skyrocketed in the last few years, many resorts make money on the weekends/holidays but give it back during the week. IMHO if the trend continues I suspect some resorts might close during the week to survive.

...wonder if golf courses are opening earlier than they did 10 years ago.

Golf courses for sure are opening earlier than they were ten years ago. As soon as it is dried out enough to walk on it open. That a good thing

 

[Greg]

Yeah, but you know that this type of thread is right in my wheelhouse. It's a thread that provokes thought and debate and I like to try and add a little fodder to the conversation.

Only old farts like yourself use a term like "fodder"... :lol:

 

[kingslug]

Only way to combat this..................is hike for turns when the lifts shut off. Not that I've ever done this...but I would like to.

 

[cbcbd]

Only way to combat this..................is hike for turns when the lifts shut off. Not that I've ever done this...but I would like to.

Agree - get some snowshoes or an AT setup and hit the hills.... or just boot up.

 

[riverc0il]

No. But you retain the right not to buy a season's pass next year.

Buy a pair of skins and keep skiing.

Amen. One of my favorite sayings has become 'don't let the ski areas dictate the length or your season." On the bright side, with winter seeming to continue into April, there will be ample chances for low competition powder days coming up soon, much like last year and the low competition is thanks to most people hanging up their boards. It is all a supply and demand thing... there are not even enough "die hards" and passionate skiers and riders to make it worth many big resorts to push towards the end of April and into May. Even as most resorts shut down, inevitably usually the last resort shuts down with at least some lift accessible skiing that could be have if it was worth the money to remain open. Fact is, even the truly dedicated and passionate skiers abandon lifts during April.

That brings me to your other enemy... earn your turners You can bet your last day of skiing lift serviced that I will be choosing Tuckerman Ravine or GoS top to bottom over lift serviced at least once or twice next month and I am hardly alone as thousands descend upon Mount Washington on April weekends.

 

[riverc0il]

for us its time....durning the winter there arent sports for our 5yrs old, but in the spring its soccer and Tball on the weekends...and Easter being early this year I think has folks already in the "spring" mood...dont discount gas prices, that's swaying alot of folks as well ..... I'll still grab a day here or there, but cant foresee anymore than 1 more day....

You had me until the gas prices issue. That extra 10-15 cents a gallon certainly adds up to.... a buck or two more when most people are spending over $200 for a weekend. Even for a one person day trip, that is a drop in the bucket. I had this conversation with my significant other just this past weekend about hunting for the lowest gas station in town to fill up at. She only saves one buck on a fill up when the price difference is +/- $0.08, not worth hunting if the pumps are not convenient... you could burn money on gas driving to the cheapest place than just eating an extra buck.