What shifts in the general skier mentality would you like to see?

[Greg]

I have a few things in mind. The first is probably not attainable, but the second is definitely more tangible.

1. I'd like to see more people take advantage of late season skiing. I know it's hard to combat the draw of warmer weather activities, and I'm just as guilty as anyone. Despite last April being so good, I only skied three days. However, I'm going to try to focus the bulk of my skiing this season to March with some more days later in the season as well. Not sure what could be done to get more people interested in spring skiing, but taking the focus off Christmas Week as the big money maker would be better for the industry overall.
2. I'd like to see ski areas offering more ungroomed terrain. I feel all ski areas should maintain at least two quality top to bottom bump runs, on both an intermediate pitch as well as a steeper pitch. There is a huge emphasis on terrain parks. I just wish there was as much a demand for moguls.

What shifts in the general skier mentality and/or ski industry in general would you like to see? Could these changes ever be realized?

 

[jsul]

Everyone has indivdual perferances for out door activities. I for one agree and wish the ski season was longer like it used to be. In the 90's Killington would blow snow on one trail, Superstar, during the entire month of January. So average snowfall was irrelevant to late season skiing. The snow depth would be so deep it was even with the hieght of the chair lift. Anyone remember this? Anyone have pics?? :-D

I love to hike and do anything outdoors but nothing beats skiing in 50 degree weather with a ski lift for me. Wildcat was a treat this year with 6 ft. of snow in April. I would love to see a resort like Sugarbush or Sunday River committ to late season skiing with spring pass like K's used to do. Who will be the new King of the east for the hard core because K'mart threw in the white towel.

Secondly, I agree with Greg, more bumps. One third of one trail with seeded bump line is all I ask. Skiing bumps takes practice just like racing. My wish would be to put a seeded run just like a racer has Nastar. A racer needs a practice area and so does a bumper. Steep open flat runs are great for racing but they still have a dedicated gate coarse. Natural mogul runs are great for mogul skiing but their are very few dedicated mogul coarses.

Right now I'll take one snow flake to get the season started :-D.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I also wish more people skied in the spring-time because then some ski areas might stay open an extra week or two due to increased attendance..as long as there was adaquate coverage. Last April I skied a total of 12 days which isn't too bad considering I live in PA. I skied one day at Blue mountain, one day at Mad River Glen, 8 days at Stowe, and 2 days at Belleayre. Alot of die-hards I know are burnt out on skiing by early April and aren't gung ho about skiing the way they are early season. Plus alot of people don't care for sloppy spring snow. I personally enjoy spring snow second only to powder. Early in the morning the refrozen snow is fast..and then it turns to sa weet creamed corn..then just smashed tators which are great..especially late season when our legs are the strongest. Ski areas could market special spring rates and packages more...but it seems like by spring..most of the marketing budget for radio and print ads has been spent.

I think there's less demand for moguls because a lot of the former mogul mashers from the 80s and 90s who are baby boomers prefer the groomed and the new crop of park rats are all about jibs and jumps. I could see a half groomed intermediate mogul run as a good thing..me personally I prefer moguls with a steep pitch..but that's intimidating for somebody to learn on. Due to freeze thaw cycles and rain in the east..moguls often have to be groomed to make them more skiable to the masses.

I sort of like the way things are though. At the local ski hill..it's only real crowded on fair-weather January and February weekends, a handfull of nights, and December 26th-30th if most of the terrain is open...The rest of the time it's very empty..

 

[cbcbd]

I'll have to agree on the later skiing season, but realistically, most folks probably give up on skiing once spring vacation is over (most families do plan their big winter outing for the vacation weeks) and the end of the school year gets near (time to start planning the family's summer vacation). To shift the season would take a lot of shifting of other things, IMO...

Wildcat was a treat this year with 6 ft. of snow in April.

Big kudos to Wildcat for extending their closing because they had snow.
Have snow, will keep open? What a crazy concept

 

[mattchuck2]

I'd like to see LESS people skiing in Springtime . . .

That's part of the appeal of Spring Skiing . . . Lack of crowds.

 

[Greg]

I'd like to see LESS people skiing in Springtime . . .

That's part of the appeal of Spring Skiing . . . Lack of crowds.

I'm sure most of us would like less crowded trails all year, but being realistic we have to understand that this industry is like any other and money talks. Less skiers in the spring = shortening seasons further.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I'd like to see the "average" skier/rider get out there more often and bring a new friend to the sport. Probably need more of a shift in the general population...so people don't automatically associate skiing with a broken leg or just as a sport for multi millionares and hollywood types.
I'd like to see everyone still on straight skis or rear entry boots pry the lock off their wallets and get some new skis and boots...the retailers and manufacturers could use their help right about now...and those stalwarts would be amazed at how well they could ski with new equipment.

 

[tcharron]

What shifts in the general skier mentality and/or ski industry in general would you like to see? Could these changes ever be realized?

Treat the sport less as an upper class sport, and more as something the common man can do. Granted, I didn't ski for a LONG time, but (Hoh boy, a 'when I was a kid speech..) when I was a kid, I remember the after school ski program being an everyone's involved thing. Now I see what participation my children have from their schools, and it no longer busload*S*, it's like, one half sized bus.

I KNOW it's costing the industry more money then it used to. But there HAS to be a way to use an economy of scale so EVERYONE isn't priced out of the market.

Perhaps if towns started to reopen all those rope tows that have long since been disconected. :-D

 

[ajl50]

1. I'd like to see less drinking + skiing. I'm tired of seeing a pack of 30 year old weekend warriors bombing down a trail with little control because they had a few at lunch.
2. I'd like to see an increase in the use of helmets. Wearing one should be a rule.
3. I'd like to see more people taking lessons.

 

[Greg]

Wearing one should be a rule.

Not sure I agree with this, but it brings up a new (old) topic:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/18417-should-there-helmet-law.html

 

[bill2ski]

Perhaps if towns started to reopen all those rope tows that have long since been disconected. :-D

I'm glad to read this quote, because, I have been saying this for years. If more municipality's took the initiative to create local snow sport attractions. Even something as simple as a snow gun or a rope tow, at the local sled hill.It could create interest in winter sports. Imagine, the local sled hills, are over run with sledders, and the few kids who can't make it to the resort to ski/ride are building a makeshift park out of whatever is kicking around.Often, more elaborate contraptions are brought to the spot and the sessions begin. IT stands to reason that the more interest that can be garnered at the local level, the more likely people are to continue their interest in a more challenging environment. Grammy and Grampa might not make the trip to the mountain but they will gladly drive to the local spot to watch sonny boy do his latest trick, maybe even buy him a new set of skis or a lift ticket. They, in turn, inspire others, who may otherwise, never been exposed to the experience.

 

[tcharron]

I'm glad to read this quote, because, I have been saying this for years. If more municipality's took the initiative to create local snow sport attractions. Even something as simple as a snow gun or a rope tow, at the local sled hill.It could create interest in winter sports. Imagine, the local sled hills, are over run with sledders, and the few kids who can't make it to the resort to ski/ride are building a makeshift park out of whatever is kicking around.Often, more elaborate contraptions are brought to the spot and the sessions begin. IT stands to reason that the more interest that can be garnered at the local level, the more likely people are to continue their interest in a more challenging environment. Grammy and Grampa might not make the trip to the mountain but they will gladly drive to the local spot to watch sonny boy do his latest trick, maybe even buy him a new set of skis or a lift ticket. They, in turn, inspire others, who may otherwise, never been exposed to the experience.

Its funny, because this sort of relates to something that caused me to start skiing again a few years ago. I used to live out behind the hospital in Derry, NH, over the hill from the old Derry sledding slope which once upon a time had a rope tow. Some of the kids started using my back yard because there was a nice rock that made for an nice place to put a jump. When I caught them after I stayed home from work one day, they actually started to appologize, started to leave. I told them to stay and as long as it was just the three or four of them, feel free to have a blast. Watching them over that season made me really crave wanting to put some skis on for the first time in a LOOONG while.

There used to be SOO many rope tows. I really, REALLY wish that towns would bring them back. I really don't know what led them to go away.

 

[Greg]

I'm glad to read this quote, because, I have been saying this for years. If more municipality's took the initiative to create local snow sport attractions. Even something as simple as a snow gun or a rope tow, at the local sled hill.It could create interest in winter sports. Imagine, the local sled hills, are over run with sledders, and the few kids who can't make it to the resort to ski/ride are building a makeshift park out of whatever is kicking around.Often, more elaborate contraptions are brought to the spot and the sessions begin. IT stands to reason that the more interest that can be garnered at the local level, the more likely people are to continue their interest in a more challenging environment. Grammy and Grampa might not make the trip to the mountain but they will gladly drive to the local spot to watch sonny boy do his latest trick, maybe even buy him a new set of skis or a lift ticket. They, in turn, inspire others, who may otherwise, never been exposed to the experience.

Beautiful concept, in theory. Tough to sell given the X-box generation that is growing up now. Wow; now do I feel old...

One thing is for damn sure; my kids will be exposed to many things that keeps them outdoors. I can already see how the boob tube totally sucks my 4 year old in. She's almost trance-like when it's on. We've become very good at limiting it lately. It's now a special treat and not a default activity. In fact, there is no TV on at all or the kids during the week, and they're only 4 and 1. We've had many neighbors comment how are kids always seem to be outside, playing in the yard. That's the way it should be, no?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

1. I'd like to see less drinking + skiing. I'm tired of seeing a pack of 30 year old weekend warriors bombing down a trail with little control because they had a few at lunch.
2. I'd like to see an increase in the use of helmets. Wearing one should be a rule.
3. I'd like to see more people taking lessons.

O.K. Hitler..I'm sure everybody will take lessons, wear helmets, and abstain from lunchtime beers...is this post a joke???

 

[trtaylor]

Beautiful concept, in theory. Tough to sell given the X-box generation that is growing up now. Wow; now do I feel old...

One thing is for damn sure; my kids will be exposed to many things that keeps them outdoors. I can already see how the boob tube totally sucks my 4 year old in. She's almost trance-like when it's on. We've become very good at limiting it lately. It's now a special treat and not a default activity. In fact, there is no TV on at all or the kids during the week, and they're only 4 and 1. We've had many neighbors comment how are kids always seem to be outside, playing in the yard. That's the way it should be, no?

+1

 

[bill2ski]

Its funny, because this sort of relates to something that caused me to start skiing again a few years ago. I used to live out behind the hospital in Derry, NH, over the hill from the old Derry sledding slope which once upon a time had a rope tow. Some of the kids started using my back yard because there was a nice rock that made for an nice place to put a jump. When I caught them after I stayed home from work one day, they actually started to appologize, started to leave. I told them to stay and as long as it was just the three or four of them, feel free to have a blast. Watching them over that season made me really crave wanting to put some skis on for the first time in a LOOONG while.

There used to be SOO many rope tows. I really, REALLY wish that towns would bring them back. I really don't know what led them to go away.

Check out this sitehttp://http://www.nelsap.org/

 

[tcharron]

Check out this sitehttp://http://www.nelsap.org/

Hehe, I have. Still can't pin down what change happened in society that led to most of their endings tho. Most of them ended in the 80s.

 

[millerm277]

Hehe, I have. Still can't pin down what change happened in society that led to most of their endings tho. Most of them ended in the 80s.

Maybe the need for liability insurance (and it's high cost).

 

[prisnah]

I'd like to see more focus on the rider mentality being more open minded to all forms of skiing/snowboarding. Whether it be freestyle, freeski, snowboard disciplines, mogul, racing, halfpipe, whatever, if you're gliding on snow it's all good.....forget screwing up mogul lines, powder, etc...there's plenty of that to be had if you wanna get it.

Except, of course, skiboarders, fruitbooters or whatever you wanna call 'em. If you wanna ice skate call a rink.

 

[snoseek]

a more laid back atmosphere with less judgement would be pretty cool.