Corey Ryan

“We have had some very unusual weather so far this season…
…Despite these conditions, we were very pleased that season to date our total lift ticket revenue was up 0.6%…compared to the prior year when record snowfall was reported across our resorts”

Think that this INCREASE of revenue combined with LESS visitors could be attributed by the massive lift ticket fee–increased from last year? A single lift is now $111 at Vail. RIDICULUS.

Robbie boy, you win genius of the year. Way to be a great CEO and spin the story positive while raping tourist during a terrible economy.

This kind of puts Tahoe Skiing in focus… and it ain’t a pretty picture!

Dear Valued Pass Holder,

It’s no secret that natural snow has been hard to come by this year and we know that has been a disappointment for many of you. When you buy a season pass, everyone hopes it will be an amazing snow year. Last year at this time, we had more snow than many of us had seen in years and while hopefully the big powder dumps are just around the corner this season, we know the waiting can be tough.

We want to make sure all of you know that when you buy one of our season passes, it comes with a promise. Regardless of the expense, we will make as much snow and open as many trails and restaurants as we possibly can. We know our slopes are not as busy as they were last year, but we will go to the same great lengths nevertheless because our mission is to provide each and every guest their experiences of a lifetime, no matter what the conditions.

And our promise is not just about what we are doing this season – it’s about what we have done for many years. It’s about the millions of dollars of investments we make in our resorts each and every year to continually improve our snowmaking. Sure, in big snow years we know our guests don’t care too much about snowmaking and a lot of other resorts try to slide by on that. But we keep investing anyway – so when the natural snow isn’t great – we can provide the absolute best snow surface possible and give our pass holders an opportunity to strap on their skis or boards and get on the slopes with more than just a couple of trails. In a year when most resorts around the lake have fewer than 10 trails open and some as little as 4 – our two resorts have a combined 51 trails and 35 lifts open and running every day.

And it’s not just about the trails, because we also invested in enough snowmaking to get 46 features open in our terrain parks and Northstar has the only 22-foot superpipe open anywhere in the region. That’s the power of snowmaking.

It’s winters like this where a resort shows its true colors and we make sure ours are as white as possible. We don’t just pray for snow, we make it. Praise the snowmakers.

See you on the slopes,
Bill Rock, COO, Northstar California
Pete Sonntag, GM, Heavenly Mountain Resort
By: Northstar California Resort
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While this proposal might look good on paper, the reality is that the tram terminates in an ultra high-end, gated community and the ultimate purpose is to boost real estate sales. I have been skiing for 45 years, live five minutes away from this proposed tram and make a living in the ski industry, yet I would have no use for this tram and highly oppose it. It would be a tragic loss of public lands and set a horrible precedent for other ski resorts and developers to follow. A non skiing example of this would be if Donald Trump owned property on both sides of Central Park and coerced a bill through congress which allowed him to buy up a swath right through the center of the park to connect the two holdings. Not only that, but this tram is being pitched in terms of a transportation solution to a problem that doesn’t even exist, namely that hundreds of cars drive daily between the Canyons and Solitude.

This bill also undermining the years of work that Jeff Niermeyer and the Salt Lake County public has put into the Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow master plan. This survey reaffirmed what Salt Lake residence have been voting for again and again that we DO NOT WANT resort expansion. Case studies in the last 2 years: Altas proposed lift up Flagstaff Peak for “skier compacted avalanche control”. Snowbirds push for the mountain coaster up Superior. Yep that is a ski lift too.

If Talisker does buy this parcel of land in the next 10 years we will see a land grab by these resorts. Where will our water shed be then?

11 minutes is impossible when it takes 4 minutes on the cabriolet, 10 on the “Orange Bubble”, 5 minutes to ski to Tomb Stone Lift, 8 minutes to ride that lift, another 8 minutes to Sun Peak Lift then 5 minutes to traverse to the SkiLink. Those times are rough assuming there is no control work causing a lift to be closed. Total time spent getting to Solitude via SkiLink: 51 minutes. I will take a 45 minute drive AND get first tracks thank you.

Interestingly enough, the inverse of what Talisker Corporation is claiming is true. Skiers from the south end of Salt Lake Valley will be more inclined to drive up Big Cottonwood, park in solitudes already too small lot, then take the 11 minute ride to the Canyons and get first tracks before anyone who parks at the Canyons is even to Red Pine Lodge. Hmmmmm.

The only frustration I had was that we took the time and energy to come over. We had pictures my boys and I picked out of Ted Ligety, Bode Miller, and Lindsey Vaugh to get signed. They really liked their racing pics of Ted and Bode. We waited through the entire event (Mind you again these were 7 and 9 year olds standing wet and cold in a storm) We got in the line for signatures and by the time we came through (we were not that far back in the line…) Both the men had left.

I want to say hats off to Lindsey for her dedication to the sport and young fans. She was great and stayed out. I also have a greater appreciation for the rest of the team that stayed and handed out their own signed cards and signed autographs.

Again it was a great time and a wonderful start to our ski season. The drive over the pass was worth it and the kids had fun.

Go USA!

Thanks for the article. You might also be interested to note that for weekends and short ski breaks in the ski resorts of La Clusaz and Grand Bornand Ski Weekender offer hassle-free catered packages including lift pass to the full lake annecy resorts area, and airport transfers from Geneva from £455 for 4 days (thursday night to monday night). You can find out more at http://www.skiweekender.com/ski-weekends/la-clusaz-grand-bornand/

cheers

This article shows that St Anton can be what you want it to be and its not just for people who want wild apres ski.

Thanks