Vail says The hell with getting into the East ski area business.

[Smellytele]

I was just saying that they seemed to go in a different direction for now then everyone here keeps writing about wanting.

 

[WWF-VT]

I was curious why he titled his thread with something that is an opinion, and which is not contained in the very article he linked.

.

+1 and who cares anyway?

 

[EPB]

I was just saying that they seemed to go in a different direction for now then everyone here keeps writing about wanting.

I think they're a $3.5+ billion market cap company. They could probably have their pick of who they want out east (if they want to sell). I'd keep my eye on Peak's stock price. If it keeps falling too far, things could get interesting.

I still think places like Wachusett or (in theory) Synapse/Gunstock would fit their Epic Pass sales plan the best for cheap. Loon or Sunday River would probably be good for the right price too.

Buying Jay Peak and/or Burke out of bankruptcy might be a good play down the line too. That way they could get the Boston and MTL markets coveted.

 

[VTKilarney]

How many Asians ski in Australia compared to Japan and Korea? I am wondering if they are trying to court the Asian market in some fashion. Or perhaps the play is to lure the Australians to North America when there is no skiing to be had in Australia.

 

[EPB]

How many Asians ski in Australia compared to Japan and Korea? I am wondering if they are trying to court the Asian market in some fashion. Or perhaps the play is to lure the Australians to North America when there is no skiing to be had in Australia.

No idea - on a percentage of Asian skier basis, it's probably pretty limited because they're on opposite hemispheres from each other. My impression is that it's an Aussie play. The place is the largest area in Australia and splits Melbourne and Sydney, which is nice. Deal still seems like a stretch though.

 

[4aprice]

As much as I would like to see all sorts of multi-mountain options all over the country maybe Vail feels they have eastern people already. Face it the epic pass is a real bargin if you can get out there twice. (assuming you are skiing 5-6 consecutive days). Maybe its more profitable to entice you into more time out there then it is to try to break into the eastern market.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[drjeff]

How many Asians ski in Australia compared to Japan and Korea? I am wondering if they are trying to court the Asian market in some fashion. Or perhaps the play is to lure the Australians to North America when there is no skiing to be had in Australia.

I know that they also have a fair amount of instructors who work at Perisher in our summer and at Vail in the winter. One of my friends is an instructor at Beaver Creek, and she goes and teaches for about 2 months roughly every other year at Perisher, and started doing so when I asked her because she said that at Beaver Creek she had 25-30 instructors who were from Perisher and encouraged her to head to Australia for a few months to pursue the elusive consecutive months of skiing dream that many of us have.

Who knows if that played ANY roll in Vail Resorts decision to acquire Perisher??

 

[VTKilarney]

Who knows if that played ANY roll in Vail Resorts decision to acquire Perisher??

That would make a lot of sense. You could even have some lower-level managers work in both places.

As much as I like skiing, I would hate to work in locations that resulted in my missing out on summer. Better them than me.

 

[VTKilarney]

As much as I would like to see all sorts of multi-mountain options all over the country maybe Vail feels they have eastern people already. Face it the epic pass is a real bargin if you can get out there twice.

If that were the case I don't see why they would have picked something up in the Midwest. The same applies to people who live in that part of the country.

 

[drjeff]

As much as I like skiing, I would hate to work in locations that resulted in my missing out on summer. Better them than me.

That's why my instructor friend, as much as she's a ski addict, only teaches at Perisher every other year! (and she's eluding to the fact that she's thinking about taking a few of our summers off to actually enjoy summer)

Cold and snowy is great, but for me at least (and many others too I'm guessing), a nice warm, summer day at the beach or at a lake has its appeal too!

 

[tipsdown]

CNL is selling their land holdings, but Boyne has a long term contract to operate the ski areas. I guess I picture Vail wanting to pick up a major area or something they could turn into one. Saddleback is to far even though there is some potential for expansion.

This may hold no water whatsoever but I heard there was some interest with Saddleback when I was there a couple of weeks back. Location is always a sticking point but there is huge potential for expansion....like 5k acres

 

[Jully]

The expansion plan at Saddleback in the mid 2000s was massive. Backcountry area with the West Bowl lift. https://skimap.org/data/446/260/1286400713.jpg.
It's skeptical as to whether it could overcome the location. Also as of now the family that owns Saddleback isn't selling the surrounding area so expanding wouldn't be immediately wouldn't necessarily be possible

 

[tipsdown]

That was originally the case but that's since changed...They're unloading most of their land holdings. It interesting to see how much development wasplanned and it didn’t even include The Horn and the peak lookers left of thehorn, which they own. It just shows much expansion potential thereis.

 

[deadheadskier]

I thought the Horn was off limits because of the AT?

 

[tipsdown]

Not all of it..There was some easements but I don't know the details. The AT doesn't run up the peak to the left so that would be ripe for expansion....I think its around 3700/3800 ft....