The "Sugarbush Thread"

[drjeff]

The one notable exception is Stratton from my POV. They’ve replaced lifts there and will do another one next season IIRC.

They seem to be operating Stratton as what it is, a cash cow, but they're actually pumping $$ back into the resort, rather than sending the $$ to capital improvement at their other resorts. Even Stratton's Summer ops have expanded quite a bit the last few years, and they arguably have the best, biggest production, regular non ski season concert series of any ski area in VT. Alterra has chosen to operate Stratton in a way that is trying to both support and build up year round activities and vistors at the resort

 

[Dezzy]

Early ups, I understand this is not something everyone agrees with. After watching Early Uppers pass by me waiting in line for the past several years this was the year I was thinking of paying the premium and signing up for the season. I cant find the add on anywhere, anyone know anything about it.

Back when it was first initiated I thought of all the ways to give a benefit to the big spenders, this was a great way to do it (since Castlerock and Heavens Gate chairs weren’t included). Not anywhere as disgusting as “Fast Tracks” at Killlington. But I also wouldn’t miss it much if I had previous access to it, how many lower mountain runs do most bush skiers want to lap anyhow.

 

[Newpylong]

They seem to be operating Stratton as what it is, a cash cow, but they're actually pumping $$ back into the resort, rather than sending the $$ to capital improvement at their other resorts. Even Stratton's Summer ops have expanded quite a bit the last few years, and they arguably have the best, biggest production, regular non ski season concert series of any ski area in VT. Alterra has chosen to operate Stratton in a way that is trying to both support and build up year round activities and vistors at the resort

They definitely are putting some money into the snowmaking system as I can attest.

 

[machski]

The one notable exception is Stratton from my POV. They’ve replaced lifts there and will do another one next season IIRC.

The spending at Deer Valley is excessive, although it’s not entirely clear who is spending that money (Alterra, Extel, or both). Again a lot of unnecessary lifts and HS lifts where they are not needed considering that there are other areas with lifts that can barely operate and need replacing.

I’m very sad for Sugarbush.

Well, Alterra did replace Lowell Thomas Triple to a HSQ at Tremblant and they did install a new FGQ this year (L'Hymms de Trebles) but that is mostly a real estate access lift with just a single return ski run to the Casino base (probably funded off the real estate developement I would think too). Like I said, the North Side Duncan Express is long and cold, a nice D-Line Bubble Heated 6 up that way is long overdue. And the South side TGV express could definitely use an upgrade to a 6. Huge choke point lift on weekends when I've been there. But I guess the revenue from up there is CAD so a lower USD ROI from their point of view.

 

[Hawk]

Early ups is done. Friend who owns in Clay Brook said were all told it is cancelled because of low use and high hours on Bravo. It ran for an extra half hour on Sat/Sun in mid winter. They are pissed as it was a perk as part of purchasing. Things seem to be going downhill. No summer activities on the hill, early ups gone, lack of capital investment this year on critical needs, cancelled projects like NRX, Gatehouse MB flow trails. We had it good under Win and now we're just another dot on a map that is not DV or Steamboat for Alterra. The attitude has become the customer gets what they get and if they don't like it they can go somewhere else.

Yup, Hamond said this to us last March. If the lifts are not running for the paid customers, its not running for the Claybrookers. Though I would bet the Claybrook people will still retain thier line cutting priviliges. So they still get that.

It is noticiable that cuts have been made and improvements are minimal. We did get the new HG. I know people were expecting more but it is what it is. Something changed over the last year. I think the uncertainties with the market, economy and intrest rates have spooked them a little. Why Sugarbush suffers is the mystery. Maybe a sell off is in the works? Who knows. No one in management is going to show their hand.

 

[x10003q]

The one notable exception is Stratton from my POV. They’ve replaced lifts there and will do another one next season IIRC.

The spending at Deer Valley is excessive, although it’s not entirely clear who is spending that money (Alterra, Extel, or both). Again a lot of unnecessary lifts and HS lifts where they are not needed considering that there are other areas with lifts that can barely operate and need replacing.

I’m very sad for Sugarbush.

Stratton has only replaced one lift in the last 25 years and that was the Snow Bowl FGQ to HSQ in Summer 2018. They did a complete rebuild on the Ursa6 (summer 2024) and rebuilt AMEX6 this past summer. The complete rebuilds are great but absolutely needed and really not replacements. Most of the high speed lifts at Stratton were installed between 1995-2001. The gondola was updated in 2014 with new cabins a few years ago. The 50 year old Tamarack triple was updated with a new motor and chairs summer of 2020 and is due to be replaced with a HSQ next summer.

It sucks what is going on at Sugarbush.
We skied SB on a Mon-Fri in early March, 2023, and the Slide Brook was operating every day.

 

[tumbler]

Yup, Hamond said this to us last March. If the lifts are not running for the paid customers, its not running for the Claybrookers. Though I would bet the Claybrook people will still retain thier line cutting priviliges. So they still get that.

It is noticiable that cuts have been made and improvements are minimal. We did get the new HG. I know people were expecting more but it is what it is. Something changed over the last year. I think the uncertainties with the market, economy and intrest rates have spooked them a little. Why Sugarbush suffers is the mystery. Maybe a sell off is in the works? Who knows. No one in management is going to show their hand.

Clay Brook owners lost their line cutting privileges a while ago and I think it was offered only for initial buyers.

I agree with you on the uncertainties probably being a big factor and I think that they might not have the staff to run summer activities without the J-1's. I will say the golf course is in really good shape so it is nice that has not been neglected. Good news on snowmaking work from Newpy. At least something is going on.

 

[Boxtop Willie]

Anybody else notice that SB is recruiting a new VP of Mountain Ops?
The last guy (whose name escapes me) just started a few years ago, no?
Internal strife perhaps?

 

[thetrailboss]

I believe most of the spending is being done by Extel. Deer Valley essentially just agreed to roll in and run the new Mayflower side of the resort.

Yeah, I will have to see if Peter Landsman has any info on who paid for what, because it is not clear.

 

[Blurski]

It had not been the same since Win sold the resort. The experience we had over MLK weekend last season was not good and we plan on hitting MRG next season ins

Yup, Hamond said this to us last March. If the lifts are not running for the paid customers, its not running for the Claybrookers. Though I would bet the Claybrook people will still retain thier line cutting priviliges. So they still get that.

It is noticiable that cuts have been made and improvements are minimal. We did get the new HG. I know people were expecting more but it is what it is. Something changed over the last year. I think the uncertainties with the market, economy and intrest rates have spooked them a little. Why Sugarbush suffers is the mystery. Maybe a sell off is in the works? Who knows. No one in management is going to show their hand.

I was at Killington yesterday, understand a totally different animal, interest rates & economy don't seem to slowing them down, the heli was flying in concrete at Starship gondi, all new gondi cabs, new condi garage, new super star lift, and what seemed to be multiple infrastructure projects going on based on all of the heavy equipment working around the mountain.
Even though I feel SB has been a shit show for several years, I am sticking with it, it still works for what I want out of skiing.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

I was at Killington yesterday, understand a totally different animal, interest rates & economy don't seem to slowing them down, the heli was flying in concrete at Starship gondi, all new gondi cabs, new condi garage, new super star lift, and what seemed to be multiple infrastructure projects going on based on all of the heavy equipment working around the mountain.
Even though I feel SB has been a shit show for several years, I am sticking with it, it still works for what I want out of skiing.

We were at Ellen last weekend, SB installed a new enclosed surface lift there. Very fancy for SB!