Vail resorts to add racing feature

[ScottySkis]

http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/n...tml?.b=index&.ts=1345759576&.intl=us&.lang=en

 

[AdironRider]

Billskis boner for Vonn just got the equivalent of a "pump" if you know what I mean.

 

[wa-loaf]

Sounds like they are just tying in the RIFD tag to the NASTAR course.

 

[drjeff]

Looking forward to checking this out 1st hand the last week of February!

 

[gymnast46]

Total rip off of NASTAR and a kick in the teeth to the 133 racers who represented Vail's resorts at the NASTAR Nationals last year. Those racers now have to go elsewhere to qualify.

 

[AdironRider]

Total rip off of NASTAR and a kick in the teeth to the 133 racers who represented Vail's resorts at the NASTAR Nationals last year. Those racers now have to go elsewhere to qualify.

NASTAR is dead. Hate to break it to you, but its been on the way out for years now. Major resorts have been consistently dropping the program.

 

[gymnast46]

NASTAR is dead. Hate to break it to you, but its been on the way out for years now. Major resorts have been consistently dropping the program.

Far from "on the way out" the NASTAR program has flourished in the past decade. I've been fortunate enough to participate at the National Championships eight of the last nine years and have witnessed a constantly improving program that has introduced recreational ski and snowboard racing to thousands.

This past season three resorts recorded over 10,000 racer days and that had not been accomplished since the 2006-07 season. Overall participation numbers were extraordinary considering the limited snow we saw. "Small" mountains with active race programs saw tremendous turnout. Here in the northeast you only needed to visit Wachusett Mountain and Cranmore and you'd witness a very vibrant program.

Over the years I've made friends with many Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, and Keystone regulars and I stay in touch with them. I can tell you that they are highly upset about having an established, vibrant program yanked out from under them.

The folks at Vail have demonstrated clearly that their business model is dictated by the almighty dollar. There's absolutely nothing wrong with generating revenues but when it works to the disadvantage of loyal customers, they need to rethink their priorities.

 

[SIKSKIER]

The folks at Vail have demonstrated clearly that their business model is dictated by the almighty dollar. There's absolutely nothing wrong with generating revenues but when it works to the disadvantage of loyal customers, they need to rethink their priorities.

Sounds like I'm listening to the DNC convention.Those evil corperations have the nerve to want to make more of that almighty dollar.What the hell kind of business model would not be dictated by the "almighty dollar"?

 

[AdironRider]

Far from "on the way out" the NASTAR program has flourished in the past decade. I've been fortunate enough to participate at the National Championships eight of the last nine years and have witnessed a constantly improving program that has introduced recreational ski and snowboard racing to thousands.

This past season three resorts recorded over 10,000 racer days and that had not been accomplished since the 2006-07 season. Overall participation numbers were extraordinary considering the limited snow we saw. "Small" mountains with active race programs saw tremendous turnout. Here in the northeast you only needed to visit Wachusett Mountain and Cranmore and you'd witness a very vibrant program.

Over the years I've made friends with many Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, and Keystone regulars and I stay in touch with them. I can tell you that they are highly upset about having an established, vibrant program yanked out from under them.

The folks at Vail have demonstrated clearly that their business model is dictated by the almighty dollar. There's absolutely nothing wrong with generating revenues but when it works to the disadvantage of loyal customers, they need to rethink their priorities.

You answered my own point. NASTAR is dying not because you old guys like to think your Rahlves, but because it is a loser for the mountains that run it.

Jackson, Whiteface, Vail, Beaver Creek, etc all have dropped the program over the past five years. Its not just Vail, its all the major players.

Pretty much Squaw and Alpine, Loon and Waterville are the biggest names now. I would bet they drop it within 5 years as well.

Its a dated program.