Thoughts on Killington's shortened season (expected closing day is 4/13/2008)?

[Greg]

Lots of talk on the elevated pass prices. What about the plan to close on April 13? Please discuss.

 

[dmc]

There's really no reason for left for me to go to killington anymore.. I'll just drive the extra time to Sugarbush..

 

[JimG.]

I think this is going to be a very long thread.

 

[andyzee]

Is this a trick question?

 

[Vortex]

Aw. Early and late seson was the only reason I ever went to K.

 

[Greg]

I think this is going to be a very long thread.

Just chummin' up the waters...

 

[nycskier]

It's awful and a big part of why for the 1st time in 3 years I am not planning on buying a pass at Killington.

The reason I choose Killington over other closer mountains was because of the long season. I knew they would be the 1st to open and the last to close.

I like to ski Killington early and late in the season because that's when their conditions are WAY better than any other nearby resorts.

I skied 22 days at Killington this year (20 day on my pass and 1 blackout day for $20 discount ticket with my pass). 4 of those days were AFTER 4/13!!!!

Closing in Mid-April means Killington will not be blowing monster amounts of snow to keep the place open late. That means late March and early April skiing could be piss poor.

One of the hopes was the new owners would return Killington to being the Beast of the East. This to me shows they plan to break with the traditions of the pass and throw away what makes Killington unique.

What does it say when freak'n Hunter could have a longer ski season the Killington?

Horrible message for the new owners to send to loyal Killington skiers.

 

[Marc]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Killington.

 

[ctenidae]

Makes little difference to me, personally- never been a big fan of Killington, anyway. Every time I've gone, it's been less than enjoyable. I'd rather go to Snow at that distance.

Though, it does go against the Killington ideal of open early, close late. Could be Powdr getting bad news in early, then they'll be heroes for staying open later than projected.

Overall, I give it a "meh"

 

[dmc]

What does it say when freak'n Hunter could have a longer ski season the Killington?

That they make great snow?

And it's not only just Hunter.. there's a few more that go further..

 

[andyzee]

Powdr gives you lemons, go to Tux.

 

[JimG.]

What does it say when freak'n Hunter could have a longer ski season the Killington?

freakin' Hunter!

The original managers of Killington LEARNED to make snow from the Slutskys and ex-Hunter snowmaking personnel.

Hunter always has a deep manmade base every season.

I'm shocked you find it hard to believe that Hunter could rival K for length of season. There was snow top to bottom on Racer's as late as Killington's closing date THIS PAST SEASON.

I could see the fuss if this were the 90's when K opened in early October and stayed open until 6/1 the earliest, but the real days of the extended season ended around 2000.

 

[Greg]

And it's not only just Hunter.. there's a few more that go further..

Right. I'm not basing this on anything concrete; total speculation, but I think Mount Snow is going to make a run at an extended season this year. They have the downloading capability and I just get that vibe from Peak.

 

[Greg]

I could see the fuss if this were the 90's when K opened in early October and stayed open until 6/1 the earliest, but the real days of the extended season ended around 2000.

Yeah, but that's the point. ASC scaled it back to early-November to mid-May. Many hoped the new owners would head back to the 7-8 month season. Instead, it's getting cut back even more. I can see how many loyal K skiers would feel slighted. How would you feel if Hunter decided to cut their snowmaking output? At least Killington has been up front about it since the pass announcement.

 

[JimG.]

Yeah, but that's the point. ASC scaled it back to early-November to mid-May. Many hoped the new owners would head back to the 7-8 month season. Instead, it's getting cut back even more. I can see how many loyal K skiers would feel slighted. How would you feel if Hunter decided to cut their snowmaking output? At least Killington has been up front about it since the pass announcement.

I'm missing something...please let me in on whatever it is that got anyone associated with Killington into the mindset to hope the new owners to do anything about lengthening the season? I mean, the season got shorter every year, but it was still amongst the longest.

I could see hoping they might do something about the food, but there was nothing at all in place to indicate a longer season was to be hoped for. Nothing.

Hunter has improved snowmaking capacity/capability every year for the past 15 or so. I mean, to me it's overkill already. So the current owners need not impress me with any more. Now if they cut back suddenly and drastically, that would anger me. They have cut back on later season snowmaking, but really, it's not necessary. It would be nice though.

But I don't recall POWDR ever saying anything about extending the season and anyone who has been following should have expected this. I mean, it's not like they said they would and are now backtracking.

 

[Greg]

I'm missing something...please let me in on whatever it is that got anyone associsted with Killington into the mindset to hope the new owners to do anything about lengthening the season? I mean, the season got shorter every year, but it was still amongst the longest.

I could see hoping they might do something about the food, but there was nothing at all in place to indicate a longer season was to be hoped for. Nothing.

Okay. How about at least maintaining lift-serviced into May?

 

[JimG.]

Okay. How about at least maintaining lift-serviced into May?

Is 2 weeks enough to keep the LOYAL Killington skier away? This is the question I am looking forward to answering when the season starts. There are 2 families on my oldest son's soccer team who own up at K...there every weekend as much as possible. Both have been owners for over a decade. Kids are in racing programs. Their hopes:

1) Better and cheaper food.
2) More reasonable day ticket rates so that their friends would want to go there.

When I ask either about the extended season, the replies are the same...ain't happening.
I'm going to ask them both about closing 2 weeks earlier. I doubt either will care. They both plan on being at K again next season.

 

[2knees]

I could see the fuss if this were the 90's when K opened in early October and stayed open until 6/1 the earliest, but the real days of the extended season ended around 2000.

not to split hairs but their early may closings have only happened the last two years. As a matter of fact, they made it to memorial day as recently as 02/03 and june 1st as recently has 00/01. The only reason i'm even bringing this up is that an april 13th closing is exceptionally early when put into play against those dates. However, it certainly is well within their rights to try to run a profitable business and if that means earlier closings, so be it. I dont like it, but thats because i really enjoyed skiing superstar in may. The furor over the pass increase is perplexing to me in that people had to know that wasnt going to last.

 

[nycskier]

I could see the fuss if this were the 90's when K opened in early October and stayed open until 6/1 the earliest, but the real days of the extended season ended around 2000.

JimG, the hope was that with Killington raising pass prices by 70% adding and 40% more blackout days to their pass they would give something back by returning to late season skiing. Granted the last couple of yeaars the early close was either weather (or sale of mountian related). But they still managed to stay open to mid May. Now the new owners are committed closing in mid April.

What happens if we get late snow again this year? Will Killington be closed (like Stratton and Mad River was) in late April with tons of snow on the mountain?

This is a break with what Killington used to be about and a raw deal for Killington skiers

 

[JimG.]

not to split hairs but their early may closings have only happened the last two years. As a matter of fact, they made it to memorial day as recently as 02/03 and june 1st as recently has 00/01. The only reason i'm even bringing this up is that an april 13th closing is exceptionally early when put into play against those dates. However, it certainly is well within their rights to try to run a profitable business and if that means earlier closings, so be it. I dont like it, but thats because i really enjoyed skiing superstar in may. The furor over the pass increase is perplexing to me in that people had to know that wasnt going to last.

Close enough and it's clear you got my drift.