So it is time for the annual winners for 2010-2011, at least from my armchair perspective. Here is my list...feel free to add your perspectives...
Jay Peak for the second year in a row has been bullish with extending the season. They went two more weekends than any other resort in Vermont and even braved the weekend rains to go one more weekend than Sugarloaf. With all the snow, all the construction, and all of the catering to the hardcore AZer, I can only say, "BOOM! Jay Peak!"
Cannon debuted the Mittersill Double, which provided lift accessed terrain to that area for the first time since 1989 or so (and I mean direct lift access, not hike to access). They picked the right season to do it with the snow cover. They also pushed the season out another weekend or two.
Word has it that Saddleback has been discovered and had many holidays with lines for the chairlifts. It sounds like this place has taken off finally and is on solid ground.
And who can forget the incredible early season pitch that Sunday River made last fall? Skiing in October? Yep, that is Sunday River. Nice move. They have solidified their place as the early season go-to option. Hell, I even skied there on November 7th and had a great time. Boyne has got the right idea here.
As for who to watch this summer and for next season, I'd include:
Burke is cutting a lift line to the summit from MidBurke. They had supposedly all but sealed the deal on buying Ascutney's old HSQ, but now word has it there might be a snafu or two. So is there a backup plan? Will Burke see a new HSQ to the summit finally? They had a solid season with a bonus weekend of skiing and riding. Tons of snow helps out.
After the Spillway disaster, Sugarloaf is expanding Brackett Basin into Phase II of that project and is putting in the new heavier and supposedly wind resistant Spillway Quad. Fingers crossed that those Doppelmayr Quad chairs weigh more than those old loaded Borvig double chairs. So what is next for the 'loaf?
And the slow economy is forcing Bolton Valley's primary owners, Redstone, to think about their exit strategy. The first move was to lease off their Ponds complex to the Inn at Essex (New England Culinary Institute) for weddings and other parties. This is a long-term lease with an option to buy. Second, and more controversial, is that they said that they were in a P&S Agreement with someone to buy the extensive parcel of land that holds the prime BC and XC terrain. What will the land be used for? A second home. Hopefully they won't be using the 1,800 acres in the winter so folks can still ski the deep snow out there. If it is lost, this is a shame and a real blow to BV. Beyond that Redstone is looking for someone to either partner or take over the alpine area. The hotel and much of the base area is owned by Ralph DesLaurier's ex-wife. Damn divorce lawyers!
After moving on Wildcat to add a serious mountain to their portfolio, Peak Resorts is going public to help get some cash to pay down debt and move ahead with improvements. They are going ahead with the new six pack at Mount Snow and trying to push for water access at the nearby Somerset Reservoir. This sounds eerily like the former ASC Empire, whose Emperor blamed Wall Street investors for the fall of the Empire in an interview with Killington historian Karen Lorentz. Speaking of Les Otten, where are his negotiation skills when you need them? He gave up Northeast Passage in exchange for a long pipeline to Woodward Reservoir in the late 1990's. Folks complain about the loss of Northeast Passage while standing on deep machine made snow bases at Killington. But then again, Killingtonians complain about everything....
Jay Peak for the second year in a row has been bullish with extending the season. They went two more weekends than any other resort in Vermont and even braved the weekend rains to go one more weekend than Sugarloaf. With all the snow, all the construction, and all of the catering to the hardcore AZer, I can only say, "BOOM! Jay Peak!"
Cannon debuted the Mittersill Double, which provided lift accessed terrain to that area for the first time since 1989 or so (and I mean direct lift access, not hike to access). They picked the right season to do it with the snow cover. They also pushed the season out another weekend or two.
Word has it that Saddleback has been discovered and had many holidays with lines for the chairlifts. It sounds like this place has taken off finally and is on solid ground.
And who can forget the incredible early season pitch that Sunday River made last fall? Skiing in October? Yep, that is Sunday River. Nice move. They have solidified their place as the early season go-to option. Hell, I even skied there on November 7th and had a great time. Boyne has got the right idea here.
As for who to watch this summer and for next season, I'd include:
Burke is cutting a lift line to the summit from MidBurke. They had supposedly all but sealed the deal on buying Ascutney's old HSQ, but now word has it there might be a snafu or two. So is there a backup plan? Will Burke see a new HSQ to the summit finally? They had a solid season with a bonus weekend of skiing and riding. Tons of snow helps out.
After the Spillway disaster, Sugarloaf is expanding Brackett Basin into Phase II of that project and is putting in the new heavier and supposedly wind resistant Spillway Quad. Fingers crossed that those Doppelmayr Quad chairs weigh more than those old loaded Borvig double chairs. So what is next for the 'loaf?
And the slow economy is forcing Bolton Valley's primary owners, Redstone, to think about their exit strategy. The first move was to lease off their Ponds complex to the Inn at Essex (New England Culinary Institute) for weddings and other parties. This is a long-term lease with an option to buy. Second, and more controversial, is that they said that they were in a P&S Agreement with someone to buy the extensive parcel of land that holds the prime BC and XC terrain. What will the land be used for? A second home. Hopefully they won't be using the 1,800 acres in the winter so folks can still ski the deep snow out there. If it is lost, this is a shame and a real blow to BV. Beyond that Redstone is looking for someone to either partner or take over the alpine area. The hotel and much of the base area is owned by Ralph DesLaurier's ex-wife. Damn divorce lawyers!
After moving on Wildcat to add a serious mountain to their portfolio, Peak Resorts is going public to help get some cash to pay down debt and move ahead with improvements. They are going ahead with the new six pack at Mount Snow and trying to push for water access at the nearby Somerset Reservoir. This sounds eerily like the former ASC Empire, whose Emperor blamed Wall Street investors for the fall of the Empire in an interview with Killington historian Karen Lorentz. Speaking of Les Otten, where are his negotiation skills when you need them? He gave up Northeast Passage in exchange for a long pipeline to Woodward Reservoir in the late 1990's. Folks complain about the loss of Northeast Passage while standing on deep machine made snow bases at Killington. But then again, Killingtonians complain about everything....
