Whos goin open?

[awf170]

So Steve said someone is going to open this weekend, and I agree with him on this. So who will it be?

I dont know why I think this, but truly for some strange reason I think it might be wildcat.

So whos your guess?

 

[andyzee]

Think you're right about wildcat, but I would be suprised if others didn't open as well.

 

[Treeskier]

What an intersting start

Kmart desides to be conservative and not open early like usual and they get dumped on. Sunday River shows they are making snow on the 20th. and shows skiers but plans to not open till the 11th. Wildcat claims 38" in the last 3 days and still dumping..but talks of a late Nov. opening. Only Bretton Woods is saying it will open the first week of Nov. but if they get dumped on there is not enough pitch to ski it.

What is up with NE are we become old fart resorts. If you get over 2 feet of snow any and all resorts with that depth should open something.

Emailed to Mad River and they are claiming...not ready....what ever happened to Ski it if you can!

Skis are ready. Maybe hiking on Thursday...if no resort opens otherwise will ski there.

How may Christmas(s) have we had less snow then this.

 

[stomachdoc]

It's mighty hard to just hang an "Open" sign on a major ski resort and crank it up 3 weeks early.

No burger patties in the lodge......no lifties at the chairs......no ski instructors.....

Everything from food delivery to employee contracts starts on a certain day.....

Nevertheless, I'll be up in NH this weekend doing some work on the condo.....and if there are turns to be made.....

 

[riverc0il]

while i don't expect ski areas planning to open around thanksgiving week to be opening early for the reasons stomachdoc mentioned, i think at least a dozen ski areas shot for early to mid-november that can pull the staff and are likely already working on prepping the kitchens and shops.

mrg's moto during this time of year should be "skin it if you can" :lol: they prob can't swing the staff this early unfortunately. if they could, they'd have the you know whats to do it.

someone definitely spins this weekend, that is for sure. at least for the weekend, prob not mid-week.

 

[Powderhound21]

Snowshoe has my bet. Lol.

10" there. Still dumping. Rumors of testing tonight.

 

[deadheadskier]

they prob can't swing the staff this early unfortunately.

I'm pretty certain that they can swing the staff, they're just unwilling to pay the staff. All of the ski bums are dying for work right now in ski country. Late October until Thanksgiving and early April to mid June are killer shoulder seasons for most who work in these areas. People are chomping at the bit to work. If they wanted to open, they'd have the staff to do it easily, its more of question of whether or not things make fiscal sense. Right now it doesn't. Honestly, the only time staffing is an issue at Eastern ski resorts is Christmas week, MLK weekend and Presidents week.

My experience as a manager trying to staff F&B operations at a ski area (and I know its the same for other departemtents) is reminiscent of the movie Brave Heart. There's that scene where Wallace (Mel Gibson) is on the battle lines and he keeps saying, "Hold, hold, hold" as the masses are rushing towards them. Then at the last minute, he says "Now".

Same thing at a ski resort. The CFO's hold everything back until the last possible moment knowing that you've got 12 weeks out of the year to make money in operations - that's it. The profits are huge during those twelve weeks, but the other 40 weeks are a struggle to break even at all.

The only reason any resort opens at all before Thanksgiving are for marketing reasons - most specifically appeasing the people who shell out millions for on slope Real Estate and attracting new buyers.

MRG or any resort for that matter has people willing to work yesterday if they wanted to open. They'll only do it though if the 'live profits' make sense or they think their decicion will result in new Real Estate sales. Obviously MRG is not in the Real Estate business, they are in the ski business and looking to maximize profits during that 12 week period or in their specific case - fund the year long operating costs for the co-op

 

[Treeskier]

The race is on!

Wild cat is trying to open for the weekend according to the chamber of commerce (who is answering the phone calls becouse the phone lines to Wildcat are in storm repair) But if you go to www.skibasin.com the ski shop on Kmarts access road...who has a much better snow report then Kmart. He hiked today and said that they where setting up and running guns and "don't quote me but it looks like they maybe open on Friday"

Anyone heard any other news?

 

[ALLSKIING]

I bet Killington opens for the weekend but only for the weekend.

 

[eatskisleep]

Wildcat.

 

[NHpowderhound]

Um, I thought I posted this earlier today on this particular thread but I cant find it. My guess would be Bretton Woods. They have been pretty agressive the last couple of years in thier hopes to have the longest season in NH. They have already said they will go as soon as Mo Nat says it's OK.
I skinned up B.W. two years ago on Nov. 1 on artificial so it would surprise me to see them squander this opportunity.
Of course the terrain open may not be suitable to experts/type 3 skiers unless you close your eyes.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[Vortex]

I checked brettonwoods page last night. They had a picture posted of a guy skiing. Said early November opening still planned. www.brettonwoods.com/alpineski/index.cfm?edit_id=56
click on picture and scroll down.

 

[ALLSKIING]

One guy on K-zone that works at K says no guns till Mon..but thats just rumor.

 

[skiadikt]

One guy on K-zone that works at K says no guns till Mon..but thats just rumor.

monday's ridiculous. the time to blow is now. things warmup this weekend with next week back in the low 50's. it's now or wait ...

 

[thetrailboss]

Re: What an intersting start

Kmart desides to be conservative and not open early like usual and they get dumped on. Sunday River shows they are making snow on the 20th. and shows skiers but plans to not open till the 11th. Wildcat claims 38" in the last 3 days and still dumping..but talks of a late Nov. opening. Only Bretton Woods is saying it will open the first week of Nov. but if they get dumped on there is not enough pitch to ski it.

What is up with NE are we become old fart resorts. If you get over 2 feet of snow any and all resorts with that depth should open something.

Emailed to Mad River and they are claiming...not ready....what ever happened to Ski it if you can!

Skis are ready. Maybe hiking on Thursday...if no resort opens otherwise will ski there.

How may Christmas(s) have we had less snow then this.

Unfortunately you forget that these areas are all BUSINESSES who are already operating on lean budgets. Most of them have NO STAFF right now. So combine those factors and you have your answer...this was a freak thing.

 

[Treeskier]

Wildcat a head at the corner!!!!!

Wildcat's snow report this morning:

Date Thu Oct, 27 2005 (updated at 07:27am)
To Print a
One Page Report
- click here Open Lifts Opening . . . possibly 10/28/05!
Open Trails 0
New Snow last 24 hours: 16-36 this week: 20-48
annual: 20-48+
Primary Surface
Secondary Surface
Winter Hours Base Depth
Groomed
Weather Forecast Fri/Sat/Sun - Mix of sun & clouds, highs mid-40'sF.
Conditions/Comments:

Wow! It's other worldly with the leaves & fall colors and so much SNOW! At least 16" of new snow at the base of the Cat from Tuesday's storm -- up to 36"+ higher up -- which puts you on about 4 feet (conservatively) of new snow this week!!! It's a Winter Wonderland & it's hard to imagine until you get around the final bend in the Notch! Start thinking about a road-trip this weekend --- we are going for a Friday opening (& for the weekend only) if at all possible! Look for an up-date right here with details!

 

[Vortex]

Skiadikt. Welcome.

 

[skiadikt]

Re: What an intersting start

Kmart desides to be conservative and not open early like usual and they get dumped on. Sunday River shows they are making snow on the 20th. and shows skiers but plans to not open till the 11th. Wildcat claims 38" in the last 3 days and still dumping..but talks of a late Nov. opening. Only Bretton Woods is saying it will open the first week of Nov. but if they get dumped on there is not enough pitch to ski it.

What is up with NE are we become old fart resorts. If you get over 2 feet of snow any and all resorts with that depth should open something.

Emailed to Mad River and they are claiming...not ready....what ever happened to Ski it if you can!

Skis are ready. Maybe hiking on Thursday...if no resort opens otherwise will ski there.

How may Christmas(s) have we had less snow then this.

Unfortunately you forget that these areas are all BUSINESSES who are already operating on lean budgets. Most of them have NO STAFF right now. So combine those factors and you have your answer...this was a freak thing.

bad for business? me thinks if k opened this weekend they'd be parking them down the access road & shuttling them up from snowshed. place would be rocking. doesn't sound like they'd be losing any bux.

and maybe not so freaky ... in '01 or '02 we had a spectacular t-b opening aided by over a foot of snow w/ cascade & east fall open nov. 2. we were skiing nat trails. if this had been the pres smith k, lifts would be open, the guns would be roaring and then they would try to hang on through the warmup beginning sunday and they would have viewed it as money well spent.

death to the bean counters. :uzi:

 

[thetrailboss]

Re: What an intersting start

if this had been the pres smith k, lifts would be open, the guns would be roaring and then they would try to hang on through the warmup beginning sunday and they would have viewed it as money well spent.

I agree with you...times change I guess :roll:

 

[skiadikt]

though apparently k has guns going on the upper mtn and are putting the cabins on the k1. dammit make an announcement already. what's with the cloak & dagger stuff.