When Does The Ski/Snowboard Season Really Start?

[abc]

I'm proud to proclaim I'm one of those who start late and finish late: I don't usually start till after New Year, but I typically ski into April, some years into May!

There're some years I started in December. But those are few and far between, about as many as the number of years I ski in May!

There're multiple different angle to look at it.

- First, my ski season ONLY start AFTER cycling season ends. That, puts a limit on temperature. If it's above 50 where I am (down state NY), I'm riding. So no skiing, no matter what temperature up north.

- Second, I refuse to pay full window price for lift ticket, nor do I pre-purchase date-specific tickets. So short of scoring non-restricted multi-date ticket packs, I basically don't ski during the holiday period.

- Third, I don't ski unless the mountain is at least 30% open. Since I'm "paying" daily to ski, even if it's a discount price, I want to make the price worth it. Besides, I don't particularly like to ski down the same WROD over and over again.

Put all of the above together, it's very rare that I start in December. Never once did I bother to ski in November (except the year when we had the "Franken storm" that dump a foot of snow on my doorstep last day of October! -- I took out my xc skis and stump around for a couple hours).

I'm perfectly content to keep it that way.

 

[Highway Star]

October 1st bro!

 

[Powderhound]

October 1st bro!

And here I thought you'd say whenever the mighty K first spins their lifts.

 

[Savemeasammy]

I had hoped to get some October turns this year, but I started Nov. 10th. House and family obligations sometimes have to take precedence... Oh well...!


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[Cannonball]

I'm proud to proclaim I'm one of those who start late and finish late: I don't usually start till after New Year, but I typically ski into April, some years into May!

This is probably the standard. This start late, finish early approach is all the industry banks on and needs to survive. Those of us who target October, May, and June aren't adding much to the bottom line.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

This is probably the standard. This start late, finish early approach is all the industry banks on and needs to survive. Those of us who target October, May, and June aren't adding much to the bottom line.

True but those of us looking to start early and extend the season as long as possible hardly care about the bottom line. Just looking for turns and smiles =)

 

[abc]

This is probably the standard. This start late, finish early approach is all the industry banks on and needs to survive. Those of us who target October, May, and June aren't adding much to the bottom line.

Not so sure about that.

By April, I'd be one of the few on the slope, usually riding the chair alone. I doubt I'm "adding to the bottom line" much, especially with my typically heavily discounted late season ticket price. Granted, they're not wasting millions making snow for those of us skiing late in the season so at least we're not taking too much from the bottom...

Looking at the way the mountains SPENDS their money, they're targeting Christmas - end of March as the core season.

Thanksgiving is what I don't get: all that man made snow they spend millions doing rarely survive through Christmas for much of NE mountains except for the few up in the far north...

[EDIT]
Sorry, I mis-read your post. You said late start and early finish, not late finish.

 

[C-Rex]

Thanksgiving is what I don't get: all that man made snow they spend millions doing rarely survive through Christmas for much of NE mountains except for the few up in the far north...

I don't know about that. I think most of them have built a very solid base. Even with a stretch of warm weather and rain I don't see it taking a big hit. Now all they need is one or two good storms to be fully open.

 

[ScottySkis]

I don't know about that. I think most of them have built a very solid base. Even with a stretch of warm weather and rain I don't see it taking a big hit. Now all they need is one or two good storms to be fully open.

+1 And if they waited to Late Dec. To make snow The hills wouldn't open to January.

 

[witch hobble]

I'm with Cannonball. I'm fine with a Turkey day - May Day season. I'll gladly jump out early if winter presents itself in all it's glory, but just because some ski area somewhere is open doesn't mean I have to start skiing.

i have activities to keep me busy in all weather and all seasons.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I'm proud to proclaim I'm one of those who start late and finish late: I don't usually start till after New Year, but I typically ski into April

Same.

This will be the first Christmas/New Years in 15 years that I'm not in Florida, so I'll likely ski Christmas week this year, but normally I dont ski until January 5th or so, but then I'm a weekend warrior to the Catskills or Northern Vermont until you cant ski no more.

Some similar reasons to you too, I'm a patient human being, and I have no interest in paying $45 for 11 trails of man-made snow or something similar. To me that's lame. Different strokes/different folks.

 

[Cannonball]

Same.

This will be the first Christmas/New Years in 15 years that I'm not in Florida, so I'll likely ski Christmas week this year, but normally I dont ski until January 5th or so, but then I'm a weekend warrior to the Catskills or Northern Vermont until you cant ski no more.

Some similar reasons to you too, I'm a patient human being, and I have no interest in paying $45 for 11 trails of man-made snow or something similar. To me that's lame. Different strokes/different folks.

Good point. This probably brings up the side-question of when passholders' seasons start vs non-passholders. As you point out it's not worth paying $45 for early season crud. On the other hand, if you already have a pass those days are freebies or they drive the daily cost down (depending on how you see it). Today was a good example. I wouldn't have paid for it and I wouldn't have driven out of my way for it. But I was there and it cost nothing, so I went.

 

[Abubob]

I was a bit torn about paying $45 for a half day at Cannon so for this weekend I had better things to do. But last week $30 for a half day was fine. I skied right up to last chair and that was good enough for me. Next weekend Kton and the week after that Ragged. I don't have a problem buying advanced tickets for $10 for midweek at Jay. If it sucks it'll still better than work. My season is on!

 

[JDMRoma]

Good point. This probably brings up the side-question of when passholders' seasons start vs non-passholders. As you point out it's not worth paying $45 for early season crud. On the other hand, if you already have a pass those days are freebies or they drive the daily cost down (depending on how you see it). Today was a good example. I wouldn't have paid for it and I wouldn't have driven out of my way for it. But I was there and it cost nothing, so I went.

Thats why I skied today, certainly wouldn't have wanted to pay the price for a lift ticket but with the pass its Game on as long as theres something to ski on…..Left at noon and didn't feel guilty about not staying the whole day. Place was empty….skied on all morning. just trying to build up my legs for my Steamboat trip in 2 weeks……at least they have some SNOW !!

 

[catsup948]

I started two weeks ago at Okemo but for me the season really starts after the first snowstorm.

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[steamboat1]

This year was the earliest I ever skied (Nov. 13). I've only skied in Nov. once before & that was very late Nov. The conditions I had several weeks ago were better than what I had this week with just as much terrain open. They've only added some beginner terrain since then. My usual start is the first week in Dec. which was this past week & I usually ski till mid May (conditions permitting). Already have 5 days in this year & hope to get a few more in before the holidays. That's way ahead of my normal amount of days before the holiday.

 

[where's the snow]

My season runs November 1st-June 1st. Wifey has a ski ban from june2nd-October 31st I dont blame her I ski almost 7 days a week. Lifts and resorts are irrelevant there's always snow somewhere.

 

[St. Bear]

When Does The Ski/Snowboard Season Really Start?

Tomorrow!

 

[Euler]

November 17th.