VAIL SUCKS

[2Planker]

Different guy, JD Crichton is who I'm thinking of. He was also at CB last year as F&B Director. He's originally from Maine, so he knows how vital snowmaking is here in the East. So having Stuart as his boss probably helped some.

If I were JD, I'd be inquiring with Boyne about Shawnee management positions after this year's disaster

Honestly, I try and do this most anytime I see a snowmaker on the hill. They create a product we all love so we can do the sport we all love, and often they get little to no acknowledgement from the public for doing so. If you see them out on the hill, just a quick stop, a thumbs up and a thank you will always get a positive reaction from them in my experiences

Ran in to a couple of them in Delaney's last night.
Let's just say that they aren't all lovey dovey over their new temporary assignments..
They were told 2 weeks initially......

 

[snoseek]

Ran in to a couple of them in Delaney's last night.
Let's just say that they aren't all lovey dovey over their new temporary assignments..
They were told 2 weeks initially......

As somebody that did quite a few years of hard time with this company this right here sounds like reality lol.

Anyhow I am glad they are making some kind of effort. I think dhs list of operations is a good baseline. If they did all that they get my money. If they did 80 percent of that they get my money. I just assume they get their shit together, figure out the balance with pricing/volume vs fail.

 

[MadKitty]

While it's nice they sent in snowmakers for the sake of this season's skiing product I do not like the precedent this sets. The excel monkeys in Broomfield may get the idea to have mobile snowmaking crews move around as needed. Wouldn't surprise me if they sub snowmaking out to a third party to avoid paying benefits too. Might look great in a spreadsheet but will be a disaster when every Vail area in VT, NH, NY and PA needs resurfacing.

 

[thetrailboss]

While it's nice they sent in snowmakers for the sake of this season's skiing product I do not like the precedent this sets. The excel monkeys in Broomfield may get the idea to have mobile snowmaking crews move around as needed. Wouldn't surprise me if they sub snowmaking out to a third party to avoid paying benefits too. Might look great in a spreadsheet but will be a disaster when every Vail area in VT, NH, NY and PA needs resurfacing.

Don't give the MBA's in Colorado any ideas!

 

[MadKitty]

As somebody that did quite a few years of hard time with this company this right here sounds like reality lol.

Anyhow I am glad they are making some kind of effort. I think dhs list of operations is a good baseline. If they did all that they get my money. If they did 80 percent of that they get my money. I just assume they get their shit together, figure out the balance with pricing/volume vs fail.

I assume they get worse and worse and try to become as terrible/profitable as comcast. Notice how much better the product is at the privately owned resorts, they don't focus on the quarterly profits BS like Vail does.

 

[IceEidolon]

You're assuming those people care more about making snow, but not so much about skiing it?

Besides, what rumor did you hear about extra pay?

Vail'd absolutely pay more to bring in outside snowmakers if they thought they were vulnerable to unionization.

There are absolutely snowmakers that are in it for the snowmaking more than the skiing. Many are in it because it's a job that pays (barely) enough and rewards effort, swearing, initiative, hijinks, skill, and action. If you're in a job for the pass, don't pick a job that works seven days a week, 12 hours a day, with the potential for snow removal duty on powder days.

 

[icecoast1]

While it's nice they sent in snowmakers for the sake of this season's skiing product I do not like the precedent this sets. The excel monkeys in Broomfield may get the idea to have mobile snowmaking crews move around as needed. Wouldn't surprise me if they sub snowmaking out to a third party to avoid paying benefits too. Might look great in a spreadsheet but will be a disaster when every Vail area in VT, NH, NY and PA needs resurfacing.

Are there even any contractors out there that would make snow? And even if one happened to form, Vail could pay their snowmakers 50/hour with union benefits and a pension and still be saving money.

 

[Mainer]

How about that snow report. Gave info, had a personal touch. Attitash used to be able to open the whole mountain in a month. Shouldn’t take long for a full crew to open the rest up. Hopefully rock bottom was Saturday with just the yankee open and 3 trails (1 was closed for racing though)
Lifts tickets were $104

 

[MogulMonsters]

How about that snow report. Gave info, had a personal touch. Attitash used to be able to open the whole mountain in a month. Shouldn’t take long for a full crew to open the rest up. Hopefully rock bottom was Saturday with just the yankee open and 3 trails (1 was closed for racing though)
Lifts tickets were $104

Best Attitash snow report of the year.

 

[IceEidolon]

There are snowmaking services contractors. Some of the guys who work both hemispheres are contractors, and some help with the first month or two out west and go east for the season after - but most places don't use contractors or only hire a couple. It's far less common than handling things in house.

 

[thebigo]

Ran in to a couple of them in Delaney's last night.
Let's just say that they aren't all lovey dovey over their new temporary assignments..
They were told 2 weeks initially......

Delaneys back to seven days? That is good news, thought they were closed mondays.

 

[thetrailboss]

Are there even any contractors out there that would make snow? And even if one happened to form, Vail could pay their snowmakers 50/hour with union benefits and a pension and still be saving money.

I don't know of any, but someone inside Vail could theoretically "create" such company (or convince someone outside to do so) and then proceed.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Sounds like I need to start a snowmaking contracting business. I don't know shit about snowmaking, but I am a quick learner!

 

[2Planker]

Delaneys back to seven days? That is good news, thought they were closed mondays.

OOps, You are right.
Musta been Sunday eve, Place was packed w/ disgruntled Attitash victims

 

[thetrailboss]

OOps, You are right.
Musta been Sunday eve, Place was packed w/ disgruntled Attitash victims

How many "Vail Sucks" stickers were there?

 

[2Planker]

How many "Vail Sucks" stickers were there?

See them more & more around town....

 

[Kingslug20]

Didnt Hunter set up snow making in other resorts and train the people..many moons ago....
They used to be one of the best at it...

 

[IceEidolon]

Sounds like I need to start a snowmaking contracting business. I don't know shit about snowmaking, but I am a quick learner!

Get a big enough IPO and offer housing and half decent pay and you can poach Vail'd existing crew and force them to hire you. Genius plan, and you stay in the HQ handling HR/PR (you're giving snowmakers money, there will be PR problems).

 

[thetrailboss]

Uh oh.....

Vail Resorts Property Posts About Cheap Weekday Tickets, But They Aren't Open On Weekdays This Season...

The faithful skiers and snowboarders of Alpine Valley in Geauga County, Ohio are just a little bit confused by a recent Facebook post from the resort.

unofficialnetworks.com

 

[Edd]

I listened to the podcast. There were a few good questions about NH ski areas being a shitshow but Katz dodged everything.

The worst was that he was asked point blank why Pat’s Peak is crushing Crotched from an operational standpoint. He went on about not knowing about every single ski area. Fuck him, he’s a destructive force in the ski industry.