coldsmoke
New member
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/01/19/ski-resorts-reap-profits-unlikely-sources/
I have noticed this the last couple of years on a small level.
I have noticed this the last couple of years on a small level.
Tony Crocker":3mtczus5 said:With regard to Vail Resorts' pass, it's priced near the one week retail price. I had read somewhere that is intended to lure some vacationers to visit more than once per season.
I agree the discount season pass helps some families. The people with small children who need daycare or lesson programs probably feel the worst financial pressure. I think there is danger that some families who stop skiing for 5 years or so with very young kids might not resume. I realize that would not apply to us nutcases here on FTO. :lol:
I'm curious to know how many people here learned via lessons. I started downhill skiing at age 35 by watching other people and reading books (Harald Harb and Lito Tejada-Flores) and have only taken a few isolated lessons over the years, maybe five days?rfarren":304cpytl said:IMHO the most expensive part of skiing is not the lift tix but the educational aspect, i.e. lessons.
jamesdeluxe":ixul2nu0 said:I'm curious to know how many people here learned via lessons. I started downhill skiing at age 35 by watching other people and reading books (Harald Harb and Lito Tejada-Flores) and have only taken a few isolated lessons over the years, maybe five days?
I'm sure that I would've advanced a lot quicker and probably gone well beyond where I am today skill-wise if I'd spent the money for extensive lessons, but as Rob mentions, it ain't cheap.
rfarren":17ksmp08 said:I'm surprised there aren't more private contractors, or outside the resorts teachers who can undercut the ski resort's educational services, at least for private lessons.
rfarren":1efh6lbx said:jamesdeluxe":1efh6lbx said:I'm curious to know how many people here learned via lessons. I started downhill skiing at age 35 by watching other people and reading books (Harald Harb and Lito Tejada-Flores) and have only taken a few isolated lessons over the years, maybe five days?
I'm sure that I would've advanced a lot quicker and probably gone well beyond where I am today skill-wise if I'd spent the money for extensive lessons, but as Rob mentions, it ain't cheap.
When I was very young a was put in ski school but maybe 4 days or so. I've never had a private lesson but have skied a ton and read a bunch on technique growing up. However, when you want your wife to learn you realize quickly you can't teach her yourself. That's where ski-school, and especially private lessons become important. IMHO it's better to leave it to the professional when pushing an intermediate/beginner into intermediate/expert territory.
I guess you're referring to Epicski (aimed predominantly at beginner/intermediates) or Str8line (expert level), which bring instructors to a specific host ski area (Stowe, Aspen, Big Sky, Brighton, Snowbird, Chamonix are a few of them) for a long weekend or an entire week. It goes against the typical model of preventing non-affiliated instructors from teaching at their mountain, but I guess the resorts look at them as a large revenue-generating group (from lift tickets, lodging, food, etc.) that would go somewhere else if they said no. I remember that Stowe welcomed the Epicski group because they were going there in early/mid December, a dead destination-skier period, so it was all win for the resort.EMSC":14ty9xxa said:very high end adult products that are above what ski school offers.
jamesdeluxe":2y7r767o said:I guess you're referring to Epicski (aimed predominantly at beginner/intermediates) or Str8line (expert level), which bring instructors to a specific host ski area (Stowe, Aspen, Big Sky, Brighton, Snowbird, Chamonix are a few of them) for a long weekend or an entire week. It goes against the typical model of preventing non-affiliated instructors from teaching at their mountain, but I guess the resorts look at them as a large revenue-generating group (from lift tickets, lodging, food, etc.) that would go somewhere else if they said no. I remember that Stowe welcomed the Epicski group because they were going there in early/mid December, a dead destination-skier period, so it was all win for the resort.EMSC":2y7r767o said:very high end adult products that are above what ski school offers.
Tony Crocker":1lme2sgt said:If there is a real issue in the healthy growth of the sport, it is affordability for families. This issue is not being addressed by either the strategy of this thread nor by soulskier and MRA.
JSpin and I managed quite well doing most of the instruction ourselves with young and motivated kids. EMSC is eminently qualified to do likewise when the time comes.berkshireskier":1fkjx425 said:I would echo that sentiment as well for your children.
soulskier":mdcwmedz said:Tony Crocker":mdcwmedz said:If there is a real issue in the healthy growth of the sport, it is affordability for families. This issue is not being addressed by either the strategy of this thread nor by soulskier and MRA.
One of MRA's goals is to make skiing affordable and available to all social classes.
Mike Bernstein":3b7su0bt said:soulskier":3b7su0bt said:Tony Crocker":3b7su0bt said:If there is a real issue in the healthy growth of the sport, it is affordability for families. This issue is not being addressed by either the strategy of this thread nor by soulskier and MRA.
One of MRA's goals is to make skiing affordable and available to all social classes.
You're going to have a dedicated beginner lift and trail pod for kids at your freeride area? With daycare too?
Awesome!
Tony Crocker":1bpbd2vr said:JSpin and I managed quite well doing most of the instruction ourselves with young and motivated kids. EMSC is eminently qualified to do likewise when the time comes.berkshireskier":1bpbd2vr said:I would echo that sentiment as well for your children.
Once Adam attained advanced skills (age 7) I made a point of him getting a lesson or two each year as it was obvious he would pass me by well before he was an adult. Advanced lessons tend to be small groups, move at a faster pace and Adam always enjoyed them, particularly with his friends Ben and Amy at the Iron Blosam. Hopefully rfarren's wife will soon progress to a level where the lesson groups will get smaller and more personalized.
rfarren":374wp7nd said:IMHO the most expensive part of skiing is not the lift tix but the educational aspect, i.e. lessons.