VAIL SUCKS

[Hastur]

I could easily see Vail going to 4 or 5 day / week operating schedules with the smaller skier visit mountains. Its not like it would make a dent in their pass sale numbers.

 

[gittist]

FWIW RE the people who don't hit the "breakeven" on any pass. (They call it "breakage" I think.)

Without breakage all passes would be more expensive. So don't hose on those peeps.

I agree that we shoudln't hose the peeps b/c they finance the rest of us

 

[gittist]

Switching Jackson Frost and Big Boulder is kinda silly since Big Boulder is the highest ski area in east pa iirc and the entirety of it is higher than JF

Historically BB was known for long season since it is relatively easier to cover in snow - lots of lift deferred maintenance and removal there under vail also

Dont you get it?

You CAN possibly open Big Boulder early, but it's almost certain Jack Frost wont be able to open early. By switching them, Vail gets to keep BOTH of them closed & act like it's just so, so, so very unfortunate.

If memory serves me correctly BB always opened before JF but was limited to nights and/or weekends only. During the full season JF was open during the day (no lights) and BB was only open nights.

I agree that Vail may be planning to fail but I hope that they actually pull off opening JF on schedule b/c I'm a day skier. Skiing BB and driving home puts me way past my bed time .

 

[BenedictGomez]

I agree that Vail may be planning to fail but I hope that they actually pull off opening JF on schedule

It's possible both will be true. Like maybe they'll "open" the park at JF and that's it just to say it's open. My 2nd guess is that my Machiavellian idea that Vail did this intentionally to 100% on-point just to keep both closed.

 

[Geoff]

Since they finished the West Lake Snowmaking project a few years ago, IF Mother nature is feeling cooperative with a decent window, Cascade/Canyon, Long John top to bottom, Gulch at Carinthia, River Run and Freefall on the Northface plus the Discovery learning area is their goal for opening. Hasn't always happened though (sometimes the Northface is delayed, last year it was Carinthia).

In the past they talked about Ridge and Snowdance as well for opening with their added pumping capacity... hasn't happened yet though..

With a planned November 19th opening this year, if Mother Nature gets cooperative from say November 7-10 and beyond, who knows what they could have open, as they certainly can pump the water to get a bunch of trails going quickly!

Is that all fan guns so the limit is water pump capacity? I’m used to compressed air at near freezing temperatures being the limiting factor.

 

[jaytrem]

Is that all fan guns so the limit is water pump capacity? I’m used to compressed air at near freezing temperatures being the limiting factor.

Not on Freefall, River Run, top of Long John and top of Cascade. I'd guess about 80% fan guns.

 

[abc]

You strike again with your contrarian random anecdotal bullshit about a topic you just proved you know nothing about.

And YOU, know everything but only in your own little corner. And think the world is just like you and your 2 neighbors.

Everyone who has seen more of the world are just contrarians purposely bursting your “I know everything” bubble.

 

[Geoff]

And YOU, know everything but only in your own little corner. And think the world is just like you and your 2 neighbors.

Everyone who has seen more of the world are just contrarians purposely bursting your “I know everything” bubble.

I don’t see what’s contrarian about a boat you can sleep on. My harbor is stuffed full of them. A basic 35’ to 40’ sailboat in my harbor probably has a $20k to $25k per year operating cost. If you DIY as much as possible and store in your yard, maybe $10k. Not particularly different from a condo and pass/equipment costs at a ski resort. You can also be part of the Bayliner Navy at the town landing in my harbor and do it for ~ $1,000/year or buy your season pass and day trip with a peanut butter & jelly sandwich in your pocket for similar money.

I imagine Vail doesn’t care about the Wildcat day trip peanut butter & jelly market since it’s not profitable. They care about the big spenders at their destination resorts who generate all the profits.

 

[gittist]

I'm sorry and I apologize because this whole Vail thing is my fault. Vail bought Peak Resorts a few months after I told my wife that I wished Vail would buy Jack Frost so I could use my Epic pass there. I hope they buy Killington next .

 

[Smellytele]

I'm sorry and I apologize because this whole Vail thing is my fault. Vail bought Peak Resorts a few months after I told my wife that I wished Vail would buy Jack Frost so I could use my Epic pass there. I hope they buy Killington next .

You are evil

 

[jimmywilson69]

I hope they buy Killington next .

I wouldn't advertise that wish...

 

[deadheadskier]

I don’t see what’s contrarian about a boat you can sleep on. My harbor is stuffed full of them. A basic 35’ to 40’ sailboat in my harbor probably has a $20k to $25k per year operating cost. If you DIY as much as possible and store in your yard, maybe $10k. Not particularly different from a condo and pass/equipment costs at a ski resort. You can also be part of the Bayliner Navy at the town landing in my harbor and do it for ~ $1,000/year or buy your season pass and day trip with a peanut butter & jelly sandwich in your pocket for similar money.

I imagine Vail doesn’t care about the Wildcat day trip peanut butter & jelly market since it’s not profitable. They care about the big spenders at their destination resorts who generate all the profits.

Bingo,

Exactly my point. There are people who spend that kinda dough and use their boats only a handful of days a year. 4 figures per outing. They don't think about that cost per day.

Same difference with season ski passes. People seem incredulous to the idea that some people buy an Epic pass and use it only 3-4 days per season. Many do whether it's a good financial decision or not.

 

[drjeff]

Is that all fan guns so the limit is water pump capacity? I’m used to compressed air at near freezing temperatures being the limiting factor.

Yup, Mount Snow now, the vast majority of the time that they're making snow, *if* there is a limiting factor, it's much more likely to be how much water they can pump vs how much air they have for the system.

And even now, since all of the air/water guns are low-e HKD's and Snow Logic's, they can simultaneosuly run on as many, if not more air/water trails as they used too, even though they no longer bring in any outside rental air compresors.

 

[abc]

Bingo,

Exactly my point. There are people who spend that kinda dough and use their boats only a handful of days a year. 4 figures per outing. They don't think about that cost per day.

Same difference with season ski passes. People seem incredulous to the idea that some people buy an Epic pass and use it only 3-4 days per season. Many do whether it's a good financial decision or not.

Nope, you completely missed the point.

A boat that can be slept on are "used" many more days than the 3-4 times they're out of the harbor! Totally reasonable once you add the days the boat is used as a "water front condo".

But can you sleep on your ski pass when you're not skiing it?

 

[Geoff]

Nope, you completely missed the point.

A boat that can be slept on are "used" many more days than the 3-4 times they're out of the harbor! Totally reasonable once you add the days the boat is used as a "water front condo".

But can you sleep on your ski pass when you're not skiing it?

I’m sure I’ve slept on my season pass more’n once after a bar crawl.

I think the better comparison is a ski condo. I owned one at Killington for 28 years. The ownership costs and season passes are sunk costs just like my excise taxes, insurance, boat yard bills, dinghy float bill, town waterways & mooring permit, and the mooring winter storm stick & inspection fee. I’ve had winters where I got really busy or had an injury where I wasn’t in Vermont much. Ditto for the boat. The cost per day number in those years isn’t something I’d want to calculate.

I don’t know about you guys but the season pass price is lost in the noise. When I was an every weekender in a share house, automobile was my biggest expense. Bar tab probably a close second. Even buying things on sale in May, I imagine equipment cost more than my pass most years. I look at it that I have one very expensive first run and then the pass cost is already spent.

 

[Whitey]

Crotched and Wildcat GMs gone, "left the company". Positions posted. . . .

 

[jimmywilson69]

considering how Wildcat was run perhaps that's not a bad thing. trying to find someone to run a ski resort at this time of the year is not a good thing though...

UNLESS! they come to this site and recruit one of us! I feel confident many here could run it better with limited GM knowledge.

 

[deadheadskier]

Perfect timing!

 

[drjeff]

With the multiple levels of corporate management Vail has in the East, worst case I am guessing one of their "Senior Eastern Resort Coordinators in charge of Equity and Diversity in the Snow Surfaces, Food and Beverage, and paid parking departments to ensure a World Class experience everyday" people might be able to create a sub committee which will then seek approval from corporate HR in Broomfield to create another sub committeee to study whether a the title of General Manager has any sub contextual meaning that would draw the ire of the woke crowd, the vast majority of whom likely have never skied or ridden a day in their lives, who will eventually determine a proper candidate to oversee the operation of both resorts at some point in the future....

In the mean time there's probably multiple current employees, who when not "handcuffed" by some of the Vail management decisions could do the job, and very well starting any day now.....

 

[thebigo]

Crotched and Wildcat GMs gone, "left the company". Positions posted. . . .

The Crotched GM used to host a kickoff for seasonal competitive programs in the Onset. He always came across as competent and engaged, it will undoubtedly be a loss for the mountain and community but I am sure he will land on his feet elsewhere in the industry. As for the wildcat GM? Not sure he is capable of shagging carts at Grants.