SNOWBOARDS @ ALTA?

[jamesdeluxe]

Deer Valley G.M. Bob Wheaton said Deer Valley would not allow snowboarding in the foreseeable future = an unambiguous policy

Onno Wieringa of Alta left the door open. “As the plan gets more refined, [Alta’s snowboarding policy] will be one of the things that gets addressed,” Wieringa said. = "We'll be happy to welcome snowboarders to a new, more inclusive Alta!"

 

[Admin]

 

[socal]

In this case I don't know that it's a troll, I read that article and thought the same thing yesterday. Deer Valley saying no, Alta saying, we'll think about it.

 

[Marc_C]

If you've ever spoken with Onno, perhaps it is easier to read between the lines.

 

[Bobby Danger]

 

[reefuss12]

How much of the newer terrain that is opened up with this interconnect compare to the terrain at Alta and Snowbird. Is it more skiing from one ski area to another or does it open up some really good new bowls and stuff.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Onno is goofing on the Powder writer, noted.

 

[Marc_C]

Onno is goofing on the Powder writer, noted.

"We'll address the issue of snowboarding."

"Yep. We addressed it. No snowboards."

 

[socal]

Onno is goofing on the Powder writer, noted.

"We'll address the issue of snowboarding."

"Yep. We addressed it. No snowboards."

You're probably right but I'll keep a mental note when they announce they're actually building this whole project and alta lets boarders on the lifts.

Seriously though, without Alta they can't connect to LCC, something's gotta give if they actually are going to make this work. They can do without Deer Valley according to the article.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

You're probably right but I'll keep a mental note when they announce they're actually building this whole project and alta lets boarders on the lifts.
Seriously though, without Alta they can't connect to LCC, something's gotta give if they actually are going to make this work.

Most of us don't possess the requisite amount of coolness to grasp the subtle nuances of the Alta clique's language codes.

 

[Marc_C]

You're probably right but I'll keep a mental note when they announce they're actually building this whole project and alta lets boarders on the lifts.

Seriously though, without Alta they can't connect to LCC, something's gotta give if they actually are going to make this work. They can do without Deer Valley according to the article.

I suspect it's possible to interconnect without opening *all* of Alta's lifts and terrain to boards. There's nothing that says that connections between resorts needs to be by ski lift nor is there any requirement that a connection brings someone to the *top* of a run. Also, a lot of people are unaware of Alta's land boundaries.
Consider the possibility: a cat track corridor on the north side of LCC road. On it's east end is a new Alta lift that connects to Solitude. On it's west end is a new tunnel under LCC road that connects to the Tram Plaza at the Bird. For people headed east, there would be some sort of transfer mechanism - rope tow, mini monorail, moving carpet, rail cars hauled by cable, etc. The corridor and single lift would be the only part of Alta where boards are allowed.

 

[socal]

You're probably right but I'll keep a mental note when they announce they're actually building this whole project and alta lets boarders on the lifts.

Seriously though, without Alta they can't connect to LCC, something's gotta give if they actually are going to make this work. They can do without Deer Valley according to the article.

I suspect it's possible to interconnect without opening *all* of Alta's lifts and terrain to boards. There's nothing that says that connections between resorts needs to be by ski lift nor is there any requirement that a connection brings someone to the *top* of a run. Also, a lot of people are unaware of Alta's land boundaries.
Consider the possibility: a cat track corridor on the north side of LCC road. On it's east end is a new Alta lift that connects to Solitude. On it's west end is a new tunnel under LCC road that connects to the Tram Plaza at the Bird. For people headed east, there would be some sort of transfer mechanism - rope tow, mini monorail, moving carpet, rail cars hauled by cable, etc. The corridor and single lift would be the only part of Alta where boards are allowed.

Agreed I sorta doubt they'd just open up to boards rather figure out a way to get them through without skiing the mountain. But you said

"We'll address the issue of snowboarding."

"Yep. We addressed it. No snowboards."

So without having the intimate knowledge of Onno as you have it's tough for me to read between the lines but when he said, “As the plan gets more refined, [Alta’s snowboarding policy] will be one of the things that gets addressed,” it seems pretty clear that he is open to "change" in some form.

Personally, love that there's no snowboarders but this whole project is a huge deal and seems to have support from the ski areas, can't imagine Onno didn't anticipate this and have something in his mind as a solution.

 

[Marc_C]

Although I've met Onno and chatted with him a few times over the years, I certainly don't have intimate knowledge of him. However, I can see him saying that to Powder but thinking "yeah, we have a plan to address the issue, but the boarders probably aren't going to like it and it certainly won't involve opening up the entire resort to boards".

I think he was being very coy as any good CEO would. It's hardly "leaving the door open" as Powder suggested and certainly not "caving" like jamesdeluxe opines.

 

[socal]

I think he was being very coy as any good CEO would.

Agreed

It's hardly "leaving the door open" as Powder suggested

We'll agree to disagree, I'd take the position that his quote was EXACTLY "leaving the door open"

and certainly not "caving" like jamesdeluxe opines.

Agreed, but I think he was just being funny on that point.

 

[Marc_C]

and certainly not "caving" like jamesdeluxe opines.

Agreed, but I think he was just being funny on that point.

Probably - and trolling as well. We know of the quirky humor of James' on-line persona, although not nearly to the level of high camp refinement as evidenced in the climate change threads.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

As socal pointed out, if One Wasatch pans out (a big if, obviously), there'll be plenty of watching how Alta adjusts since it doesn't have the advantageous end-of-the-line positioning of Deer Valley.

I'd like to hear how the SLC crew rates the chances of One Wasatch becoming a reality in the next five or so years.

 

[Admin]

Five years? No way in hell.

 

[Marc_C]

I'd like to hear how the SLC crew rates the chances of One Wasatch becoming a reality in the next five or so years.

First there need to be some actual plans - meaning we plan to put this lift here.
Then the draft EIS, public comment period, probably revised draft EIS, additional public comment, then the real EIS, more public comment, then the inevitable blocking lawsuits and injunctions. There will be huge watershed and water quality concerns. Save Our Canyons will not budge in their opposition to any expansion....

I'd be very surprised if anyone is able to get a build permit for the first lift, let alone any of the others. 10 years is more likely before any ground breaking takes place.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

This issue is becoming to Powder Mag what Chris Christie/Bridgegate is to MSNBC.
Article
Editorial

 

[Admin]

This issue is becoming to Powder Mag what Chris Christie/Bridgegate is to MSNBC.
Article
Editorial

Yep, that's true...in that both incidents are non-starters.