The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Cheetah440]

While I'm not a "local" per se, it is still not easy/cost effective for me to take advantage of a lot of the Ikon partner options. My condo is at Sugarbush. So either I need to drive an hour (or substantially more for anywhere other than K/Pico) to go to another resort (after driving 5 hours to get to my condo) or I need to pay to stay somewhere. Neither of those are very appealing to me other than an occasional trip to K/Pico.

I agree that communication has been severely lacking and weak. We went from having one of the most visible and open and communicative owners in the business to almost the exact opposite. And the stubbornness to seemingly refuse to adjust operating plans and build in contingencies is also pretty shocking. With the HG closure last year, ME should have been open an extra weekend. And this year they should have seriously considered making ME the early season plan especially once they knew HG was behind schedule.

I'm a 8-10 times a year weekend renter up there and usually plan a few days at MRG, but agree for those like you, you're all in at Sbush. Driving up 5hrs then driving to Kmart is kinda silly and not many are gonna do that.

 

[MadPadraic]

Yeah, my buddy raved about Epic pass when he could go to France for a week, go to Vail, was "free". Then sit in 45min lines at Okemo on Feb and March weekends.

I've only been to Okemo a handful of times, but I think they were all pre-Vail. That mountain has always had long lines. It's just how it is.

 

[Lotso]

I’m personally more annoyed at how the valley has been directly affected by the slow and unimaginative rollout and poor communication which has allowed rumors to fester. I am also still salty about the dumpster fire that was the Mt Ellen lift system last winter. Much of it may have been out of SB’s control but terrible communication really didn’t help. They leave their paying clientele in the dark for weeks at a time and then get mad when rumors begin circulating.

Bingo.

 

[Cheetah440]

its still the obvious best deal in skiing for anyone who travels on at least one big destination trip and/or enjoys bouncing around a region a lot without a strong tether to one resort/town

i work around the worst crowding by supplementing my ikon with an indy. in the future i'd consider supplementing with other options like NY3, MRG or Smuggs, Magic, Platty etc.

it works great for me, but i fully acknowledge the externalities the passes create. i havent been very critical of alterra but the situation up in sugarbush this fall has been pretty grim.

hoping that a month from now this is all ancient history and we're sliding on natural snow on the new hg quad

I think we should all supplement as well. I will always keep a pass at Ragged as we can hit that for a day trip in 1:15. If I had a condo up there it would be MRG no question and/or Bolton as well. just has to be a sunk cost.

 

[tumbler]

I'm 100% on the lack of communication. It's marketing and PR 101, it might be tough sometimes but it is almost always better than not saying anything. I like Getskied's point about SB getting annoyed with the rumors. The Valley has always been about rumors so just be more transparent and there won't be as many rumors about SB. I find it arrogant that they feel they don't need to communicate proactively and instead do it reactively and take their customers for granted. I'm with Hawk and maybe it drives some folks away and we can have less crowding. I'm happy that there is a new HG lift but would like Alterra to step up with a 3-5-10 year capital investment plan for SB. Or if SB management has it to share it.

 

[cdskier]

I'm a 8-10 times a year weekend renter up there and usually plan a few days at MRG, but agree for those like you, you're all in at Sbush. Driving up 5hrs then driving to Kmart is kinda silly and not many are gonna do that.

I typically ski 40+ days per year at Sugarbush. On average I ski somewhere outside the MRV about twice per season. It is very hard to motivate myself to literally drive right past the Lincoln Peak base area and ski somewhere else.

I've only been to Okemo a handful of times, but I think they were all pre-Vail. That mountain has always had long lines. It's just how it is.

Okemo was the first mountain I skied in Vermont. That was 24 years ago (before Jackson Gore was even built). Lines at the main HSQ were long, but if you stayed on the upper mountain or one of the side pods they were much more manageable back then. I don't know how those other lifts compare now.

 

[Cheetah440]

I've only been to Okemo a handful of times, but I think they were all pre-Vail. That mountain has always had long lines. It's just how it is.

I used to ski Stowe about 5-6 per winter in the late 80's and throughout the 90's. Friends who bought up there 20yrs ago dont' even bother skiing weekends anymore. I haven’t bee on a weekend in years but hear horror stories.

I typically ski 40+ days per year at Sugarbush. On average I ski somewhere outside the MRV about twice per season. It is very hard to motivate myself to literally drive right past the Lincoln Peak base area and ski somewhere else.

You're the core that makes up the base there. And really, this is such an anomalous year outside of maybe a couple of weeks in early mid Nov or May you wouldn’t need to ski anywhere else. I would personally have an MRG pass as well for the odd Mon or Sun whatever but not usually needed.

 

[Hawk]

Perspective varies based on the commitments you take on. Skiing is my winter so I will go where the adventure brings me and always have my Home to come back to. Sugarbush. I actually have expanded my appriciation of the Valley and spend more time up there in the off season. Things are slower and calm. The MTB , cycling and hiking are top notch and the Valley is beautiful. I can see that if you put all your eggs in one basket it would be frustrating. I have learned to adjust. I think things will be better but I am an optimist. Also if the mountain was up front and told everybody everything, people would still bitch so what is the difference. People still show up in mass.

 

[jimmywilson69]

^^^^^
This guy gets it.


If I'd ever own at a ski area, the summer things would be just as important of a consideration as the winter. The MRV checks a lot of boxes year round...

 

[djd66]

As far as the communication goes, I can only assume they don't want anyone to know what is actually going on - given the fact they shut off most of their web cameras

 

[MadPadraic]

[OKEMO]....That was 24 years ago (before Jackson Gore was even built). Lines at the main HSQ were long, but if you stayed on the upper mountain or one of the side pods they were much more manageable back then.

Ironically, that's sort of the case everywhere BUT Sugarbush and Tremblant. Loon, Sunday River, Sugarloaf--even Cannon on Superbowl Sunday--can all be managed with a small amount of local knowledge.

The problem with Sugarbush is that in the last few years Bravo, HG, GMX, Iverness, and NRX have all been very unreliable. When NRX goes down Ellen becomes largely unusable. Having either HG (hopefully fixed for a few decades) or Bravo break causes stupid lines everywhere else.

Of course the problems that happen when a key lift goes down isn't unique to Sugarbush. I was at Sugarloaf once when Superbravo went down and the lines at Double Runner were about 45 minutes, but the number of frequently broken lifts at Sugarbush does feel unique at the moment.

Anyway--I don't mean to pile on too much. They are about to open the new HG.

I guess what I don't understand is how they didn't foresee this water issue, and why they aren't being public with plans to prevent recurrences in the future.

 

[Blurski]

its still the obvious best deal in skiing for anyone who travels on at least one big destination trip and/or enjoys bouncing around a region a lot without a strong tether to one resort/town

i work around the worst crowding by supplementing my ikon with an indy. in the future i'd consider supplementing with other options like NY3, MRG or Smuggs, Magic, Platty etc.

it works great for me, but i fully acknowledge the externalities the passes create. i havent been very critical of alterra but the situation up in sugarbush this fall has been pretty grim.

hoping that a month from now this is all ancient history and we're sliding on natural snow on the new hg quad

Fortunately for me I am the only skier in the household & I can swing owning an EPIC, IKON & a small local pass, saved my ass this season so far. I justify having the IKON & EPIC for skiing in BC for 15 days a season

 

[Shredmonkey254]

^^^^^
This guy gets it.


If I'd ever own at a ski area, the summer things would be just as important of a consideration as the winter. The MRV checks a lot of boxes year round...

What I learned over 18 years of ownership in the MRV - Summer is actually more fun then winter! It is a great place to live and recreate. Winter is stressful, needing to get to the mountain early, gotta get the goods, gotta battle the crowds, deal with mountain issues, then deal with all the things at the house / condo that snow and winter brings, make dinner/have drinks, then do it all over again the next day. So much to do, so little time... Summer is long days and lots of good times doing many different things each day! ...Summertime and the living is easy...

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Fortunately for me I am the only skier in the household & I can swing owning an EPIC, IKON & a small local pass, saved my ass this season so far. I justify having the IKON & EPIC for skiing in BC for 15 days a season

amen. no kids and my fiance doesnt give a shit for this but doesnt care that i do. i really get to luxuriate in my own selfish pursuits.

 

[urungus]

Okemo was the first mountain I skied in Vermont. That was 24 years ago (before Jackson Gore was even built). Lines at the main HSQ were long, but if you stayed on the upper mountain or one of the side pods they were much more manageable back then. I don't know how those other lifts compare now.

It’s still true, both at Okemo and many other “crowded” ski areas.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

It’s still true, both at Okemo and many other “crowded” ski areas.

A slight topic change here, I'm thinking about the days to come when the snow is deep and we are all in our happy place. Does anyone know if our exit from Slidebrook is going to be working for us as usual or is there going to be trouble with the road being in use? Anyone know anything about this?

 

[VTSkiBike]

What I learned over 18 years of ownership in the MRV - Summer is actually more fun then winter! It is a great place to live and recreate. Winter is stressful, needing to get to the mountain early, gotta get the goods, gotta battle the crowds, deal with mountain issues, then deal with all the things at the house / condo that snow and winter brings, make dinner/have drinks, then do it all over again the next day. So much to do, so little time... Summer is long days and lots of good times doing many different things each day! ...Summertime and the living is easy...

I'm a local teacher who is fortunate to have summers off and there is nothing better than summers in VT. Long bike rides, grilling, swimming holes, cold beers in the sun......it's just the best.

Ski season is great but it's definitely way more effort than summer living.

 

[ducky]

Don't travel to ski ever. Usually 100 plus at SB and maybe 10-15 at MRG. This means having around 40 days by 12/31, so far this year...2.

 

[Hawk]

What I learned over 18 years of ownership in the MRV - Summer is actually more fun then winter! It is a great place to live and recreate. Winter is stressful, needing to get to the mountain early, gotta get the goods, gotta battle the crowds, deal with mountain issues, then deal with all the things at the house / condo that snow and winter brings, make dinner/have drinks, then do it all over again the next day. So much to do, so little time... Summer is long days and lots of good times doing many different things each day! ...Summertime and the living is easy...

We are the same Shred. I bought in 2006 on St Patricks day! But my god, if I thought of my skiing experience like that I would be Stressed also. LOL
No I dont have that same Stress. My ski partner is my Wife and we is a gem. Goes anywhere. Loves life and adventure. She pushed to get the condo at Sugarbush. God Bless her.

My Condo is off of Village Run so we ski down. No shoveling to deal with. Dinners are pre planed mostly and we much enjoy cooking. Much like CDskier. I know he can cook with the best of them. Many friends in the complex so we sometmes just go next door and someone else cooks. or walk down to Chez Henri, Reks or Rumbles. So after our 3 or 4 early ups runs we blast out a few and head for the woods. Down to the bus and over to Ellen or something like that. When the lines get long we go skinning at North, or lincoln Gap road or Rochester RASTA. Also other places in the valley that will remain un-named.

I guess what I am saying is you make of it what you want. It took us a bunch of years but we have fully figured it out. I don't do stress on My ski time.

Don't get me wrong. Summer is great also and I have that dialed also but Winter is my real love.

 

[HowieT2]

I'm a local teacher who is fortunate to have summers off and there is nothing better than summers in VT. Long bike rides, grilling, swimming holes, cold beers in the sun......it's just the best.

Ski season is great but it's definitely way more effort than summer living.

can confirm. spent a month in the valley each of the last 2 summers. Pure bliss. If/when we do buy a place it will be with summers in mind and not skiing.