What the heck is going on at Magic?

[MMP]

Be sure to check out the flags

 

[Euler]

What are your thoughts about what the surface will be like Thursdday. Tues-Weds will be in the 40s and sunny, then Thursday back below freezing all day.

Will Thursday likely be a "Groomers only"day? Or does being closed on Tues-Weds make it less of an issue since no one will be skiing on Tues/Weds?

 

[prsboogie]

Got a $45 Magic Groupon voucher I'm not going to get to use, $35 and its yours!!

 

[drjeff]

The flags looked GOOD today!

I have to admit, driving to Magic this AM, after some decent amounts of warm and wet yesterday, and temps below freezing on the ride over, I was expecting much, BUT Magic's 1 yellow Bombardier 350 groomer DELIVERED some GREAT snow when the Red opened at 8:30 this AM. Skiing with my friends, who also had kids racing at Magic today, on our 2nd run of the day were #'s 2-6 down an absolutely sublime Talisman - it was like skiing perfect corn, except it was below freezing! Two of my group, who are members at The Hermitage, said it was the "best" groomer of the year for them (and today was roughly their 50th day this season and one of them regularly finishes in the top 10 in any tele race he enters!

After my son's race QUICKLY finished (Magic runs a race as good, if not better than anyone!!) we quickly left to head over to Bromley, where my daughter was in a SLOWLY run race today - much firmer, scratchier conditions just 15 minutes down the road!!

Magic delivered on a challenging day from a mountain ops perspective! Can't wait to head back next Sunday when my daughter has a race there!

 

[jrmagic]

Talisman was so good I hit it at least 4 ot 5 times. Trick also skied very well rven kste in thr day and that got a lot of traffic. Overall it was much better than I was expecting.

 

[JoeB-Z]

Talisman was so good I hit it at least 4 ot 5 times. Trick also skied very well rven kste in thr day and that got a lot of traffic. Overall it was much better than I was expecting.

Agreed. Got on the lift at 12:45. Trick warmup. Talisman, Sorceror was ungroomed, Black Line (cheated and zig-zagged to Magician and back as it was unpleasant), 5 more runs on Talisman and quit before last chair. Talisman was really nice. The base is really consistent and holds an edge everywhere. You could just play with every type of turn, really bomb it, whatever you wanted.

 

[slatham]

I skied Magic on Friday and was extremely impressed with the conditions on the groomers. I had tried a couple of runs at Bromley and given the warmth and sun it must have gotten too wet and then froze up pretty good so I bailed. I gave Magic a try just to compare/contrast and was glad I did. They obviously had better luck with exposure and lower skier traffic (offsetting lower elevation) as the groomers were very edgeable. Tali was tops, but Trick, Show Off, Kinderspiel, Up Your Sleeve - even Magic Carpet were just a GS skiers dream. I actually wished they had groomed more!!!! Magic has done a great job grooming this winter and will hopefully will lose the "they never groom" reputation.

Now if I could just get one more pow day.........

 

[RustyGroomer]

I skied Magic on Friday and was extremely impressed with the conditions on the groomers. I had tried a couple of runs at Bromley and given the warmth and sun it must have gotten too wet and then froze up pretty good so I bailed. I gave Magic a try just to compare/contrast and was glad I did. They obviously had better luck with exposure and lower skier traffic (offsetting lower elevation) as the groomers were very edgeable. Tali was tops, but Trick, Show Off, Kinderspiel, Up Your Sleeve - even Magic Carpet were just a GS skiers dream. I actually wished they had groomed more!!!! Magic has done a great job grooming this winter and will hopefully will lose the "they never groom" reputation.

Or they just groom better. Let's give credit where credit is due this year. Magic has done an unbelievable job grooming this year.

 

[yeggous]

The wife and I will definitely be there on Saturday. We're considering our options for Sunday. We could do another day at Magic, but are leaning toward somewhere else nearby for the sake of variety. Let's hear the suggestions. We've been to Okemo and Stratton before. Wife liked Stratton more than Okemo, but we were smart and worked just the sun bowl side. How is Bromley?

Any other suggestions? Keep in mind that we typically ski northern New Hampshire so we don't do well with crowds or Joey from New Jersey.


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[RustyGroomer]

I like Bromely as a whole but get pretty bored skiing there. Nice mountain, seems to be run very well etc. I just find myself done by noon. See you Saturday. If around Saturday night, check out the band in the lodge. My friends daughter & her band are playing. Should be interesting. They are all about 14 yrs old.

 

[Savemeasammy]

Magic is my favorite south of the mad river valley, how ever I did enjoy my day at Bromley. I was there for some fresh snow, so the skiing was really sweet. There is a family vibe that we enjoyed, and the DB factor was low. I don't see why you couldn't enjoy it for a day.


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[deadheadskier]

I get the impression that Bromley is kind of VTs Cranmore.

 

[yeggous]

I get the impression that Bromley is kind of VTs Cranmore.

Check. That analogy helps tremendously. That makes Okemo their Bretton Woods, just with more people and less glades. And Stratton their Loon, lift line for the gondola and all.


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[slatham]

Yeggous, Given your comments on crowds and crowd type you will be better off at Bromley than all the local "resorts". And though I appreciate Rusty's comments on variety, assuming all terrain is available/skiing welll, there is more variety than one would expect looking at the trail map (just not the extreme and trees of a Magic). Would be a worthwhile day.

Rusty, good point on Magic grooming - it's been top notch this winter. But Bromley knows a thing or two about grooming so I think the deciding factors were exposure and low skier traffic keeping the raw product in better shape at Magic for the groomers to then make perfect. But just think about comparing Magic grooming to Bromley grooming - never would have happend a few years back. They've come a long way! Hope all is well Greg.

 

[mishka]

discussion on subject of Magic and grooming ..... especially quality grooming and Magic in the same sentence makes me feel sad.

 

[slatham]

Mishima, lots of people like groomed terrain, even those (like me) who love the steeps, bumps and trees. And there are days in VT where if you don't groom you really can't ski. So they need to groom to be a more attractive alternative for more people more often. I'll bet you'd be sader if they failed and couldn't open for the season.

 

[mishka]

your correct in many way but magic just like MRG is not loved for its grooming.

there are days in VT where if you don't groom you really can't ski

and I don't ski. If ONLY grooming trails skiable there is no point in my opinion to drive 3 plus hours

 

[dlague]

Mishima, lots of people like groomed terrain, even those (like me) who love the steeps, bumps and trees. And there are days in VT where if you don't groom you really can't ski. So they need to groom to be a more attractive alternative for more people more often. I'll bet you'd be sader if they failed and couldn't open for the season.

Agree with this post, I take what the mountain gives me which is preceded by going some place that will make that possible. Skiing refrozen bumps or refrozen trees does not interest me so high speed groomers works! Option of not skiing vs skiing - well not skiing is not generally an option, so I take what the mountain gives me.

 

[deadheadskier]

same. make the best of what the conditions will be.

And if I were a Southern VT skier and Magic didn't have a few decent groomers, I'd likely head to one of their competitors for the day. Even MRG will groom things a bit to have something to offer on a lousy natural surface day.

 

[MMP]

your correct in many way but magic just like MRG is not loved for its grooming.

and I don't ski. If ONLY grooming trails skiable there is no point in my opinion to drive 3 plus hours

completely disagree with you. Mad and Magic are both known for the groomers. Not everyone is hardcore, or is born being able to ski Lynx, Red Line or Catamount Bowl.

Magic Carpet, Bunny, Chipmunk, Snail, Showoff, etc. are all trails that people learn to ski on. SKI THEM IF YOU CAN!

That both of these areas leave a large portion ungroomed on powder days (with a swipe of the groomer for non-pow skiers and bailouts) before necessity requires they be groomed is a bonus for a guy like you.

The reputation that magic isn't known for awesome intermediate skiing and groomed surfaces does more to hurt them than a guy that only skis if theres fresh because his passion doesn't run deep enough for a 6 hour round trip to rip groomers in the fresh air with your friends and/or family does to help.

Limited uphill capacity is what makes these areas the experience they are IMO.