Killington's new 'Early Season Policy' !

Jonny D

Jonny D

New member
I wanted to stay abreast of when K was going to open, so In September I subscribed to their newsletter... here is a segment from the latest one : <BR> <BR>It got cold this past weekend. Saturday was beautiful. Blue sky, <BR>in the teens up top, and a whole lot of snowmaking, top to <BR>bottom, along our Great Northern route. Today's the day we've <BR>been looking forward to for several months. I've actually been <BR>enjoying my weekends, but let's keep our eyes on the ball here.. <BR>Today, Killington opens for the 2003-2004 ski and snowboard <BR>season. No riding in a truck. No skimpish patch of almost-snow. <BR>And quite possibly, to the obvious detrement of my confusing <BR>career, no fanfare. We're ok with that. Raising the flag on <BR>first to open has been one of our brand-pillars (apparently <BR>that's what smart marketing folks call the stuff we're really, <BR>really good at), since we first started doing what we do several <BR>decades ago. We're now going to claim (after all, what are we, <BR>Killington, if not claimers..) the 'Best to Open' title. A ton <BR>of good snowmaking, a cushy gondola and a Triple chair to get <BR>you to the action, a mini-park, and skiing and snowboarding for <BR>all abilities ('cept never-evers--we'll have you covered in a <BR>week..). Expect other eastern American Skiing Company resorts to <BR>soon follow suit. Heck, The Canyons (bless and damn them..) have <BR>had natural snow measured in feet already and will be opening <BR>within the next few weeks. <BR> <BR>Anyone else see that part about how they said they will no longer offer any skiing that is not T2B and they will no longer even try to push for frist opening? Yeah... that's what I though. <BR> <BR> <BR>The King is Dead... Long live the King!
 
Hahaha... the "best" to open. <BR> <BR>they will always find something. For the vertical, that may be true, but what's the terrain open ? Low-intermediate ? <BR> <BR>Anyway, this proves that Killington is just not "our" area anymore and I don't expect to see them reach the Memorial weekend this year. May be.........
 
Let me just add this: <BR> <BR>I am willing to drive 2+ hours to ski 150' of vertical serviced by a ROPE TOW, and pay $27 per person to do so. So if Killington does not think that there is a market for early season skiing without a top to bottom run they are wrong. Without Killington opening upper elevation trails with downloading they have lost my business for good. I must say that it appers to me that there is a growing cancer in the industry of just not pushing the season any longer than necessary to make a profit. (Woodbury excluded thankfully) <BR> <BR>P.S: can anyone confirm what terrain Belleayre had open last weekend? I might try to ski there or at Hunter this weekend.
 
It seems like you guys feel like the big K owes you something. You know my preference, to not ski until there is a good amount and variety of terrain open. And I think it's fine that areas are opening with just enough brown-stained-whiteness to make a dozen or so turns. I've done that myself. But what I don't understand is why you guys are so pissed off at big K? Hey, I've never been particularly fond of their overcrowded, overhyped bigness... even though there is some great skiing there, I usually avoid the place like the plague. But they are running a business and the reson they are doing that is to make money.
 
Anon- You make perfect sense, Killington doesn't owe us anything...with that said I'll also say that the amount of marketing they do is sickening. It does make me, an occasional customer, feel like if they are going to claim for years the first to open, well they should open whatever they can at the first chance. I agree with you as well, that I don't want to ski one crowded trail with crappy snow. But come October my body is in serious withdrawl; the ski magazines have been arriving for months now and I need to get on the snow. Will I go more than once or twice with highly limited terrain? No. Will I go once? Yes. For some reason, knowing that they will be open in October and then again in May and June almost makes the $60 lift ticket seem not *so* bad....knowing that they will be there for me when I need a skiing fix might make that ticket seem just a little more worth it. <BR> <BR>If they become just another mid November to Late April ski area...forget it, they have lost their niche. <BR> <BR>Just my $.02 <BR> <BR>-Scott
 
I obviously can't speak for everybody here, nor will I try, but I think that the generaly feeling goes something like this: <BR> <BR>Killington has always pushed for early opening, late closing, and has made their mark by being pretty much the only resort to open from mid Oct - late may/early june every year. <BR>They have been really the only player in "shoulder" seasons game over the past 40 years or so. <BR>We all realize that you have to make enough money to pay for everything that your resort does. And as far as I can tell (though I could be wrong) killington's buisness has been reasonable for the entire time that they pushed opening and closing dates (though i also don't pretend that it made them filthy rich either). <BR> <BR>But now for some reason, ticket prices have gone up and they have had to cut their shoulder season to keep expenses low... since on mountain expansion is not that much, it is largely believed that their realestate interests are soaking up their cash flow. <BR> <BR>I think what it boils down to is that K had a good buisness model to keep people on the hills 8 months of the year (longest by far in the east). Now that the ASC has done something to change their buisness model, there isn't really a player in the shoulder season game. <BR> <BR>So I guess we feel like we've been sold out for some bad realestate, and nobody like to play second fiddle to a failing condo development. <BR> <BR>Anybody else agree/disagree?
 
I agree wholeheartedly with the above. I now that I need my fix, and waiting for Killington to open top to bottom, instead of with upper elevation trails means a shorter season by 2-4 weeks. I don't feel that big K owes me anything at all, but they were the major player early and late in the season, and without them other resorts may follow this lead of a shorter season. I serously doubt that Woodbury is making any profit at all by opening up so early in the season, but the owner is dedicated to skiing and snowsports, not profit and we need more people like this in the industry.
 
I mostly agree with Jonny me too. <BR> <BR>For Woodbury ... 27$ ??? ouch... not surprising that there was less than 20 skiers/boarders on the hill. It was 12,5$ at MSS and 10$ on MSB on the first day. The real skier/number are 700+ at MSS and 400 at MSB, I think, for the first day. <BR> <BR>About Belleayre, the trail that opened sunday is the beginner one under the double chairlift of the lower mountain, according to what I saw. I don't know the vertical, but it's certainly not comparable to the Hellgate at Hunter !! <BR> <BR>Actually, here, it's raining, with heavy snow sometimes but Tremblant is all white <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> hmm. I think it's falling in snow north of the "Porte du Nord" (North Gate) which is 6 miles southeast from MSS.
 
I agree with both Jonny and Kevin...that's about all I have to say on the subject. <BR> <BR>That said...it snowed off and on in Burlington today. Coating on the grass and dirt areas. Bring it. <BR> <BR>-Scott
 
Hey Scott... do they still forecast some snow, for thursday/friday ? <BR> <BR>Here, the forecasts are bad for most of the precipitation <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":("> <BR> <BR>I hope that it will fall in snow on the peaks !
 
Woodbury charges $27 for there regular day pass valid from 9am-5pm, so it really is not that expensive except for right now with very limited terrain open for the money. I want to go skiing this weekend but the weather looks iffy for snowmaking until thursday night. I think I will go to Jimminy Peak now that I saw there webcam. I have skied the same top to bottom that they will have open this weekend with the old triple chair, but the 6 pack detachable makes it more tolerable. <BR>Sugarloaf looks to have an impressive opening day with Boardwalk, Sluice and Tote Road open by the 21st, bring it on!!
 
Looking good for Jiminy Peak and Sugarloaf ! <BR> <BR>I hope that the cold temperatures will come back soon... cause wed and thurs don't really look good for the snow <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":(">
 
I skied Saint-Sauveur today, and it dumped pretty wet heavy snow for basically the entire afternoon... not too much more than an inch but the surface softened up a bit... only for a few minutes was there a slight bit of drizzle mixed in... Hopefully with the new snow they can get their night skiing started soon. Too bad I missed out on the 2 for 1 tickets on Sunday, but I guess $20 isnt all that bad either <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)">
 
Nice to see you here, Sven ! <BR> <BR>Effectively, that remains good, 20$ for 2 real trails at this time of the season ! <BR> <BR>A question, was the Nordic enough wide, today. Sunday, it was really narrow on all the vertical of the trail. I guess the conditions were pretty interesting today with that snow <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)">
 
Two periods of snow here in Burlington today that both lasted about 15-30minutes each. Enough to coat the ground on the dirt and grassy areas, but it's melted off now. They were squall-type snowfall with very windy conditions and low visibility. <BR> <BR>As for late in the week...I do like what could set up for much of the Adirondacks and the northern Green Mountains (from I-89 north). I'm afraid to say that Killington shouldn't get more than an inch or two and Sugarbush maybe 2 or 3. Looks like Bolton Valley, Stowe, and Jay Peak could pick up 5-10 by Friday afternoon. Temps will plummet Thursday night and stay that way through the weekend with ample snowmaking weather. It'll be extremely windy out on Thursday night and Friday though, making snowmaking tough. <BR> <BR>I also think that some of the southern Quebec ski resorts and Mont Tremblant could pick up 3-6 inches from the storm system but the heavy snow in the Adirondacks and Northern Greens will be mostly from orographic lift due to the strong winds and ample moisture. Stuff tapers off into northern NH but they could still pick up appreciable amounts, though most of it will be way up in the Berlin area north of Mount Washington...most of the NH ski areas will just experience flurries and maybe an inch or so. By the way- look for some impressive wind speeds on Mount Washington on Thursday night and Friday. <BR> <BR>-Scott
 
Thanks for the complete forecast ! <BR> <BR>Looks interesting for VT this weekend ! <BR> <BR>I don't think that MSS is at a correct elevation to receive all in snow, but I hope that the conditions will be good, in case I had the time to do a little 4h of skiing this weekend ;)
 
Has Killington really been the only player to extend their season over the last 40 years? <BR> <BR>That's what K been saying and we were all caught in the hype. Biggest, Longest, etc. <BR> <BR>Best in the East, they mean most expensive in the East. $39 from 3 runs, oups sorry 8 trails. OOOUCHHH!!!! <BR> <BR>As mentioned before, K has lost my business over the years, because it is NO LONGER the best skiing Price/Quality wish in the East - and it's no longer open long enough in the Spring for making it worth driving and paying that much for one or two extra weekend at the end of the season.
 
The only time I ski Killington,S.R.,Attitrash,etc is when I get free tickets from work.I wont even buy a hamburger when i'm there.Besides ,work usually caters it.Its been years since I've given ASC the priviledge of taking my hard earned dollar.They used to make early season worth it.Not anymore IMO.Just for passholders. <BR>((* <BR>*))NHPH
 
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