The Whale is Back!!

[thetrailboss]

Regarding your 10e comment... In 2003, Tenney had more than their fair share of press for their SnowMagic system.

Yes they did and they squandered it as well as their relations with skiers and riders. Rumor has it the place is to be sold again to a large hotel chain that wants to develop it.

 

[VB]

I wish I had skied before they closed, but I was in the ski program at Sunapee, so I skied there instead. From the sounds of people who were skiing before they closed last time, its at least as good as last time, and its getting better. The busyest days are Fridays, and the weekends. The rest of the week is mainly school programs and people skipping school or work. When I worked over the vacation in december, there were alot of out of staters, even all the way from Texas!

 

[thetrailboss]

Good to hear that things are going well so far. I will say I've heard some good ads on the radio for the Whale including:

*Advertisement on Q106 I think that was for the CHaD Rail Day that is happening next Saturday at Whaleback.

*A regular ad on another local radio station that listed their hours and phone number.

Good stuff. Let's hope for more

 

[ozzy]

still no new info on either of their websites.

 

[NYDrew]

aha, so its like that little local mountain (like the one I work for) except its an exceptionally well done local mountain...or at least before it closed.

I think I understand the hype.

 

[thetrailboss]

aha, so its like that little local mountain (like the one I work for) except its an exceptionally well done local mountain...or at least before it closed.

I think I understand the hype.

Yep, local place. I think once they get going it will have more of a draw because of its special niche. We just need more snow for this season. I've been hearing more and more about it and, despite its low profile online so far, the place has been busy when I have driven by it. Lots of folks on the double, so something must be working (probably cheaper rates and location).

 

[VB]

Yep, they are busy all right. Very busy. I get there around 3:00, and the parking lot is almost always filled.

 

[Joshua B]

That's awesome. Very glad to hear it.

 

[thetrailboss]

Heard another good radio ad today. Now just tell your bosses, VB, that they should put that info on their website so that those outside the area and who may not hear the ads know what is going on :wink: Also encourage them to come in here and talk with us. :beer:

 

[thetrailboss]

Heck, maybe we can do a special round of AZ Challenge with them if they want. :wink:

 

[HDHaller]

aha, so its like that little local mountain (like the one I work for) except its an exceptionally well done local mountain...or at least before it closed.

I think I understand the hype.

NYDrew, the hype is mainly due to the fact that the area was bought and restarted by the ex-Olympic/World-Cup mogul skier Evan Dybvig and was supposed to become a year-round meca for freestyle and skateboarding, with great on-slope freestyle features and terrain, and a huge new base facility containing trampolines and skating ramps and other such stuff. That, at least, is what the local press was suggesting all summer and fall.

VB, has any of this come to pass?

-HDH

 

[snowmaker4191]

They have all the ramps and such in one of the parking lots, this will be for the outdoor skate park.....one would think

 

[VB]

They do have all the jumps made, and the equiptment, all they really need to do is pour in the foundation for the skate park and build the buildings and they are set, just need to wait for spring to come so they can start building stuff. as for the freestyle park stuff on snow, that has been growing slowly, but its getting there. So far there are two jumps, lots of rail, and two picnic tables, plus a couple of other odds and ends.

 

[Joshua B]

as for the freestyle park stuff on snow, that has been growing slowly, but its getting there. So far there are two jumps, lots of rail, and two picnic tables, plus a couple of other odds and ends.

Thanks VB. On what trail(s) are these elements set up?

 

[dl]

Easy on these guys

My personal feeling is that Evan and his crew at Whaleback have a very full plate and as a result I think they need a free-pass on some of the things that are being discussed here. Starting up a full-season resort can't be an easy task. It's easy for us to pick apart the things they haven't done but have you ever had to deal with hiring a complete staff - of very different skills (customer service, lift ops, snowmaking, first aid, ski instruction, etc) - and train them in time for "opening day?" Have you ever had to deal with the local, state and federal regulations that are associated with ski areas? Have you have to deal with the insurance/liability issues? Take all this and add in the weather and you've got some tremendous hurdles to clear.

Should they have a website up and running - sure. Is it the priority - obviously not yet. Should they be doing a better job of spreading the word - sure. Is it the priority - not yet. My feeling is they are taking a walk-before-you-run approach. Get the operations working and then tell the masses to get their @sses over there.

Whaleback has always been a locals mountain and that seems to be the clientele they are reaching out to right now. Going forward they have announced intentions to target the free-ski, snowboard, and skate customer. Time will tell if that proves to be a successful strategy but hey, at least they have a strategy.

So, in short, I say let's welcome Whaleback back from the dead and instead of hitting them for not having a website, let's offer them our support.

Someone should invite Evan to "speak" to the forum. Given declining overall skier numbers and the associated increase in snowboarders and "park" kids, Evan should be able to share some very interesting insights.

 

[JimG.]

Re: Easy on these guys

My personal feeling is that Evan and his crew at Whaleback have a very full plate and as a result I think they need a free-pass on some of the things that are being discussed here. Starting up a full-season resort can't be an easy task. It's easy for us to pick apart the things they haven't done but have you ever had to deal with hiring a complete staff - of very different skills (customer service, lift ops, snowmaking, first aid, ski instruction, etc) - and train them in time for "opening day?" Have you ever had to deal with the local, state and federal regulations that are associated with ski areas? Have you have to deal with the insurance/liability issues? Take all this and add in the weather and you've got some tremendous hurdles to clear.

Should they have a website up and running - sure. Is it the priority - obviously not yet. Should they be doing a better job of spreading the word - sure. Is it the priority - not yet. My feeling is they are taking a walk-before-you-run approach. Get the operations working and then tell the masses to get their @sses over there.

Whaleback has always been a locals mountain and that seems to be the clientele they are reaching out to right now. Going forward they have announced intentions to target the free-ski, snowboard, and skate customer. Time will tell if that proves to be a successful strategy but hey, at least they have a strategy.

So, in short, I say let's welcome Whaleback back from the dead and instead of hitting them for not having a website, let's offer them our support.

Someone should invite Evan to "speak" to the forum. Given declining overall skier numbers and the associated increase in snowboarders and "park" kids, Evan should be able to share some very interesting insights.

Well said!

 

[VB]

I could try to get him to get him to say a few things, don't know when though. He's pretty busy right now. But yeah, it is alot of work for them, and they are doing there best to accomplish as much as possible in the little amount of time they have. I Think that they have done great so far, being able to open the day after Christmas this year, only having about three months to perpare, after being closed for 4 years. The place was a mess when I got there in december, they were still finishing off the upstairs, and remodeling the downstairs.

 

[JimG.]

Here you go website fans:

http://www.whalebackmountain.com/whaleback.htm

http://www.whaleback.com/

From our friends at FTO.

 

[VB]

these sites have been up for a while, but don't really give any information at all, except the basic concepts of Whaleback. So those sites wont help you all that much for right now. I know that they have someoe working on the whaleback website, not sure exactly what, but it should be eventually updated.

 

[airhed316]

VB You are doing Evan a huge favor by posting data for us re: The Whale. The word needs to be spread.

Evan has his hands full. The weather this year sux for all ski areas.