What the heck is going on at Magic?

[Do Work]

That is VERY impressive. My concern, however, is that they have broken even because of a ton of deferred maintenance.

Not really. I mean, yes to a certain degree of course and I would have loved to see them fix the black chair last year but in all honesty that was more of a function of the mountain manager over-micro managing every little project rather than just letting a pro handle it and moving on to the next thing.

They've had a plan to steadily improve snowmaking and believe me when I say they've stuck to that really well. I know they're planning to make snow for a base on Sorcerer for the first time since reopening this year and that's really cool IMO. Also tracking down and fixing small leaks and inefficient points on the hill is of far greater importance than one would imagine, and they've been all over that too. Also, the Red Chair saw a full rebuild two years ago which was a large expense as well.


As I said before- incremental improvements are adding up. Also with the new management and ownership, a lot of big doors are being kicked open which makes me very happy. I'd say we stand to see the largest single year advance in Magic's history since reopening. Exciting times!

 

[deadheadskier]

re: snowmaking

I've always heard that one of Magic's major challenges here is lack of access to substantial water. True?

 

[Do Work]

re: snowmaking

I've always heard that one of Magic's major challenges here is lack of access to substantial water. True?

As with most things Magic, yes and no. I'd say inefficiencies and a lack of compressors/pump capacity are higher up on the list. They've never emptied their pond as far as I know. So yes in that it's not a huge pond but no because that's not exactly stopping them from doing anything.

If they could get more of what they're paying for to actually get on the hillside that would be great and thankfully that's a priority. Diesel is expensive. The capacity to blow more at once though would be nice. As it stands now it takes time to get the coverage needed to open but there's also a plan for that which makes me happy.

 

[Newpylong]

I'm shocked at the 20k skier visit number. For as geographically challenged as Burke is, it was always rumored that they drew 70k or so per year.

I hate to say it, but Magic would be perfect for a private ski club. It's located close to major metropolitan areas and it would have MUCH more compelling terrain than the other options out there. And it just may be the most viable option.

Considering even a place like Whaleback gets that many skier visits than that I don't know how they can keep the lights on, let alone make snow and put capital into anything.

I think I mentioned it before but when I talked to a lift inspector last year he said he wasn't sure how Black could even be given a license anymore. Let's hope they can do the work to get it.

What does Magic have for pumps and compressors? Oddly out of all my visits I never remember seeing the plant, is it that cluster of buildings directly behind Black? If diesel stays as or near current prices they may make out better this year. Assuming they have diesel compressors of course...

 

[Do Work]

Considering even a place like Whaleback gets more skier visits than that I don't know how they can keep the lights on, let alone make snow and put capital into anything.

I think I mentioned it before but when I talked to a NH lift inspector last year he said he wasn't sure how Black could even be given a license anymore.

And this is exactly the type of speculation that makes my fucking blood boil. Don't read the thread and definitely hop in with out of state left field speculation, brah. This post is par for the internet, lemme tell ya.


I fkn give up. Let me know when you guys decide the fate of the hill. Lol. Fucking internet experts... I seriously give up.

 

[VTKilarney]

And this is exactly the type of speculation that makes my fucking blood boil. Don't read the thread and definitely hop in with out of state left field speculation, brah. This post is par for the internet, lemme tell ya.


I fkn give up. Let me know when you guys decide the fate of the hill. Lol. Fucking internet experts... I seriously give up.

Yikes! I thought that it was a valid observation. It boggles my mind as well that a place with only 20,000 skier visits could break even. It's possible that it does, but I think you need to be a little understanding. The facts would make any reasonable person scratch their head.

 

[MMP]

And this is exactly the type of speculation that makes my fucking blood boil. Don't read the thread and definitely hop in with out of state left field speculation, brah. This post is par for the internet, lemme tell ya.


I fkn give up. Let me know when you guys decide the fate of the hill. Lol. Fucking internet experts... I seriously give up.

is it true they don't have a bucket truck? I heard the previous ownership stole the bucket truck, rendering flagpole repairs impossible. care to comment on that???

 

[Do Work]

Yikes! I thought that it was a valid observation. It boggles my mind as well that a place with only 20,000 skier visits could break even. It's possible that it does, but I think you need to be a little understanding. The facts would make any reasonable person scratch their head.

Obviously nobody wants to hear how, they just want to talk about what they think they know. Internetfluenza at it's finest.


What if I said "I talked to my buddy who's a urologist in New Mexico and he said he has no idea how your dick will ever work again. He hasn't looked at your file but he heard from someone else it's probably fucked."


It's just annoying what people think they know nowadays and I'm getting pretty sick of everyone being so happy to write off the place. I'm done trying anyways. Believe it or don't believe it, I don't give a shit. Lol.

 

[MMP]

this aggression will not stand, man

 

[VTKilarney]

this aggression will not stand, man

Time to raise a white flag? ;-)

 

[Newpylong]

And this is exactly the type of speculation that makes my fucking blood boil. Don't read the thread and definitely hop in with out of state left field speculation, brah. This post is par for the internet, lemme tell ya.


I fkn give up. Let me know when you guys decide the fate of the hill. Lol. Fucking internet experts... I seriously give up.

I am going to ignore your rudeness and ask what exactly are you doubting here?

If they were swimming in cash there would be a Green lift and both Red and Black would have ran consistently in the past few years.

If they were swimming in cash every trail that has snowmaking capacity would have been used.

I certainly didn't make up the part about the lift inspector. Granted he is a NH and Maine inspector, word about specific lifts gets around. There aren't many inspectors anymore.

So why don't you pop a valium and take a some deep breaths. No one here wants Magic to fail. I surely want it to thrive, been going there since I was about 8. But many on this site have either been around the industry or in the industry for decades, but reality is reality.

 

[Do Work]

I am going to ignore your rudeness and ask what exactly are you doubting here?

If they were swimming in cash there would be a Green lift and both Red and Black would have ran consistently in the past few years.

If they were swimming in cash every trail that has snowmaking capacity would have been used.

I certainly didn't make up the part about the lift inspector. Granted he is a NH and Maine inspector, word about specific lifts gets around. There aren't many inspectors anymore.

So why don't you pop a valium and take a some deep breaths. No one here wants Magic to fail. I surely want it to thrive, been going there since I was about 8. But many on this site have either been around the industry or in the industry for decades, but reality is reality.

Lol... Whatever you say maaaaaaaaan! With that kind of support who needs detractors *winky*

 

[sull1102]

You gotta relax Do Work. What's there point of this forum if people can't speculate? I've enjoyed reading your seemingly inside information posts, but you gotta let everyone talk.

 

[Do Work]

You gotta relax Do Work. What's there point of this forum if people can't speculate? I've enjoyed reading your seemingly inside information posts, but you gotta let everyone talk.

No I don't... On either count. Simple math skills seem like an obvious requirement to speculation, no?? I mean hell, if your overhead and payroll are super low you don't need a lot to break even. But what am I saying- we've got assumptions, conjecture and asinine questions to entertain! And flags!!

 

[deadheadskier]

Jesus dude. Take it easy. Of all people, Newlypong is a member of this community who is passionate about the underdogs and I think most would consider Magic an underdog.

So he had a conversation with a lift inspector and shared the information. Don't shoot the messenger. He's right that there's a small employment pool in that profession, so word gets around. I've ridden the chair with a few over my years skiing and I'll ask about places I'm curious about.

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the 20K figure based upon what I know of other businesses and having looked at a few P&L statements from working in the business in the past. That said, I'll take your word for it. You're very well connected.

So, instead of getting hyper defensive and going on attack for what really was a relatively innocuous statement, why not just say, "the information you received doesn't mesh with what I hear locally." Not difficult

 

[Do Work]

Like I said- whatever you guys say.

Come to Magic and I'll show you guys around, otherwise I've had enough of trying to convince people the place isn't going to implode every page. It's getting pretty annoying tbh, as even the basic points don't seem to be sinking in at all. New management, ownership... It all means nothing when people have se random axe to grind.

 

[deadheadskier]

Hope to make it there this season. I don't doubt you that they're moving in the right direction. Looking forward to the formal announcement of the new ownership and their plans.

 

[RustyGroomer]

I've said it before, let me know DeadHead. I ski with these assholes though.

not applicable for MMP

 

[deadheadskier]

hey no worries, I'll be there. It's been way too long since I've been back. If there's one place I definitely plan on skiing this year outside of my pass (Wildcat,Attitash,Crotched) it's Magic.

 

[RustyGroomer]

Just wanted to make sure you know MMP is a tremendous asshole. No winky.