VAIL SUCKS

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I too, already had a Epic pass for this season. Though I wouldn't have had one had I not got some credit carried over from previous year that I would have lost.

Many of my skiing buddies had left Vail. I'll have to ski alone a lot this year. So it's almost certain I will be going over to Ikon next year.

That said, I just don't know how representative we're of the skiing population.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Im going to see how it goes..since i have a pass already...but...since i can hit stowe or SB in the same amount of drive time...i could go ikon only next year...

your calculus is different tho as a retired now local person who i presume can ski midweek. i would hope that once we finally have some fucking snow your stowe experience will be normal and good on random tuesday in feb. as much as i would hate to pay vail, i'd still buy access to stowe in your scenario. but i'd also have other options for all weekends and holidays, whether ikon, indy, jay/burke, smuggs, mrg, or some combo

 

[2Planker]

I know five skiing families I'm close with that had 18 passes across that group who did the same. These are people who spend quite a bit on resort F&B too. Not just in it for the pass.

Same here. 6 ski families on our private rd.
All here since 2004-7
3 permanent residency & 3 MA/RI ski houses.
TOTAL 21 Passes. NOW ZERO. We all bailed on Vail.
5 worked for WC/AT (Patrol, Instructors, lifties)

We figured that just our group was good for $20K/year. Probably more like $25K, when you count F&B, Retail shop
Not to mention losing 2 OEC Senior Level Patrollers w/ more than 25 years experience who worked every weekend for FREE.

I've been in the ski industry since 1982, and this is the worst I've ever seen.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

your calculus is different tho as a retired now local person who i presume can ski midweek. i would hope that once we finally have some fucking snow your stowe experience will be normal and good on random tuesday in feb. as much as i would hate to pay vail, i'd still buy access to stowe in your scenario. but i'd also have other options for all weekends and holidays, whether ikon, indy, jay/burke, smuggs, mrg, or some combo

Passes are cheap enough to buy one of each. I worry what will happen to Ikon resorts next year. Mostly just my resort

 

[Kingslug20]

It would be a shame to not ski stowe due to Fails mismanagement..it really is a great mountain..
And yes..passes are so cheap its easy to buy both..
But man..ive skied the same few runs for weeks now...november was the best..snowstorm..huge moguls..now its all just flat icy groomers...which ive been using as a warmup for jackson...

 

[JimG.]

It would be a shame to not ski stowe due to Fails mismanagement..it really is a great mountain..
And yes..passes are so cheap its easy to buy both..
But man..ive skied the same few runs for weeks now...november was the best..snowstorm..huge moguls..now its all just flat icy groomers...which ive been using as a warmup for jackson...

When are you heading to Jackson?

 

[snoseek]

I won’t. I also won’t set foot on one of their mountains this year unless I am skinning up for free. Who else is in?

I intend to use my pass till the spring but nit give those fuckers another dime under any circumstances. I'm mostly at cannon anyhow. Next year will be cannon plus something chill and independent.

 

[IceEidolon]

If you've already gotten a pass, I don't see any reason not to use it this season. In fact if you get decent conditions, higher utilization per purchase, especially without F&B sales to pad things out, hurts their metrics.

 

[Kingslug20]

When are you heading to Jackson?

22nd

 

[snoseek]

It would be a shame to not ski stowe due to Fails mismanagement..it really is a great mountain..
And yes..passes are so cheap its easy to buy both..
But man..ive skied the same few runs for weeks now...november was the best..snowstorm..huge moguls..now its all just flat icy groomers...which ive been using as a warmup for jackson...

This was my dilemma going into the season. I mostly ski midweek and I loved the portfolio so much I bit and hoped they turned things around. Its a good deal if.you can cherry pick days but I guess I doesn't matter if the company can't run a somewhat functional area.

I worked for this company for many years. As much shit people gave them about things then, this is much different and it's not just nh. This would have been unthinkable even 5 years ago. It's not just the diehards but the masses are taking note.

 

[Kingslug20]

Hopefully enough take notice and make a difference...send a message...

 

[skimagic]

"NOW ZERO. We all bailed on Vail"

I see a new opportunity for a Facebook page titled "Bail on Vail".

I'm also on the midweek day trip camp and was waiting to see how Vail ran midweek operations at the Southern VT resorts and how crowded it would be given that it seems everyone now has a flex work lifestyle. so that leaves IKON. or freelancing with the VT 4pass, INDY and cheap pico tickets. I suppose the ski clubs are dead forever.

 

[NYSnowflake]

I didn't buy one this year based on last year's performance. I know five skiing families I'm close with that had 18 passes across that group who did the same. These are people who spend quite a bit on resort F&B too. Not just in it for the pass.

I venture that several members of this forum who gave them another chance due to Covid last year thinking it would be better are regretting that decision. It's beyond obvious that Ikon are performing better in New England.

I gave up my Epic pass for Ikon as well. It was waaaaay too crowded at Mt. Snow and tooo crazy at Hunter.

 

[thetrailboss]

I gave up my Epic pass for Ikon as well. It was waaaaay too crowded at Mt. Snow and tooo crazy at Hunter.

Which IKON areas do you frequent?

 

[NYSnowflake]

Which IKON areas do you frequent?

So far just Sugarbush this year… but in the past I have enjoyed Pico and Stratton. I will be going to Sunday River in February.

 

[eatskisleep]

Too Big to Vail: The Downfall of the North American Mega Resort | The Inertia

Locals at Vail Resorts-run mountains like Stevens Pass and Whistler are starting to say, "enough is enough," pushing back against lift lines and low wages.

www.theinertia.com

 

[pinion]

Colorado Sun has been working this story for a few weeks. Conway Daily Sun (not as big but hey it's something) working the beat. WSJ is queuing up something as well. Let the pile-on begin and maybe the Vail's stock price will move in a direction that means spending some free cash where it's needed, not just in NE but across their entire portfolio.

I stuck with Epic this year so my 9-year-old could do All Mountain team at Wildcat. It's the only reason - and I still feel a valuable reason. Hearing about Whistler cancelling their seasonal kids program hurts. As much as a am nostalgically tied to Wildcat if that happened it would be goodbye for a very long time.

 

[2Planker]

Colorado Sun has been working this story for a few weeks. Conway Daily Sun (not as big but hey it's something) working the beat. WSJ is queuing up something as well. Let the pile-on begin and maybe the Vail's stock price will move in a direction that means spending some free cash where it's needed, not just in NE but across their entire portfolio.

I stuck with Epic this year so my 9-year-old could do All Mountain team at Wildcat. It's the only reason - and I still feel a valuable reason. Hearing about Whistler cancelling their seasonal kids program hurts. As much as a am nostalgically tied to Wildcat if that happened it would be goodbye for a very long time.

They did cancel a lot of the kids stuff. SAD, I grew up skiing there as a kid in the 70's
almost 60 years.... Now it's Shawnee, BW, Black, Cranmore and King Pine.
NO Vail Fail for the 25 of us !!!!

 

[thetrailboss]

Colorado Sun has been working this story for a few weeks. Conway Daily Sun (not as big but hey it's something) working the beat. WSJ is queuing up something as well. Let the pile-on begin and maybe the Vail's stock price will move in a direction that means spending some free cash where it's needed, not just in NE but across their entire portfolio.

I stuck with Epic this year so my 9-year-old could do All Mountain team at Wildcat. It's the only reason - and I still feel a valuable reason. Hearing about Whistler cancelling their seasonal kids program hurts. As much as a am nostalgically tied to Wildcat if that happened it would be goodbye for a very long time.

Vail Stock is up 5.89% today; down 12.85% over the last five days. So I think that means turn off snowmaking today.

 

[Kingslug20]

Yup