MarzNC
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
To each his own . . . I have no interest in touring but I appreciate that it's great fun for some folks.
Big Snow - American Dream - 9/14/22
- Thread starter OldTimer88
- Start date
OldTimer88
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- Joined
- Jan 10, 2022
I think it's intentional due to the number of kids, beginners and walk-ins during the summer. It probably keeps the short slope as uncrowded and safe as can be. Seems to me that it's a fun thing for first-timers, camp kids and the occasional snow rat like me to experience. What I really enjoyed learning is that there are a lot of camps and trips for inner city kids, underprivileged kids and just kids in general during the summer. I talked to a chair mate pass holder about that and he said that's the only way they make make money, which is totally fine. And it's a cool engineering project for those of us interested in building construction and engineering (my field). Idk, if anything, it got me more fired up about the upcoming season and let me know my legs still aren't ready.
raisingarizona
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2020
Yup, I’m good.
raisingarizona
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2020
That makes sense. The moisture has no where to go as it’s trapped in an enclosed environment.
I think I’d need a buddy or two and copious amounts of drugs and alcohol to make the experience entertaining enough.
I think it’s fun for what it is and great training to keep in shape for the upcoming season. My goal is to ride straight through until the mountains open up and I currently have 11 consecutive months on the snow, something I was never able to accomplish in the past. Last day in the mountains was May 13th at Killington.
The snow does get tracked out as the day unfolds, but riding earlier in the day, avoiding weekends, and making sure your gear is properly waxed keeps you moving. They definitely groom more than three nights a week; you can actually watch the nightly grooming and snowmaking on the live cam feed.
Every time I’ve gone, I’ve been one of the first up the chairlift. Fresh groomed corduroy lines usually last about 45 minutes on the “alpine” side depending on the crowd or lack of. After that it can get mashed up but still fun. I don’t think the snow is necessarily slow, but it does give / release differently than mountain snow if you really trench your carves. Outside temperature and humidity seem to have an effect on the snow.
The park side actually rides faster and I usually switch over after the other side gets tracked out and crowded. At 51, Big Snow (along with Windham Parks at the end of last season) has me back boosting airs and hitting flat boxes, pole jams, tires, etc. (no rails yet though ha), all of which can only help when I’m back on natural terrain early in the new season.
I agree the runs are short. A 500 foot extension would really open things up. Given how poor the surf was this summer, I’m stoked this place exists.
The snow does get tracked out as the day unfolds, but riding earlier in the day, avoiding weekends, and making sure your gear is properly waxed keeps you moving. They definitely groom more than three nights a week; you can actually watch the nightly grooming and snowmaking on the live cam feed.
Every time I’ve gone, I’ve been one of the first up the chairlift. Fresh groomed corduroy lines usually last about 45 minutes on the “alpine” side depending on the crowd or lack of. After that it can get mashed up but still fun. I don’t think the snow is necessarily slow, but it does give / release differently than mountain snow if you really trench your carves. Outside temperature and humidity seem to have an effect on the snow.
The park side actually rides faster and I usually switch over after the other side gets tracked out and crowded. At 51, Big Snow (along with Windham Parks at the end of last season) has me back boosting airs and hitting flat boxes, pole jams, tires, etc. (no rails yet though ha), all of which can only help when I’m back on natural terrain early in the new season.
I agree the runs are short. A 500 foot extension would really open things up. Given how poor the surf was this summer, I’m stoked this place exists.
MarzNC
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
Will be interesting to see what the new Big SNOW locations will be like in terms of length. They inherited the current set up from the failed developer, so had no input into the design of the slope section at all.
June 19, 2022
Podcast #91: Snow Partners (Big Snow, Mountain Creek) CEO Joe Hession
Listen now | “We are really focused on new Big Snows,” and a monster Mountain Creek lift project in the works
www.stormskiing.com
MarzNC
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
If Big SNOW goes smaller, then the target market would be just beginners and people who like park features. Some of the parks in the southeast are on pretty short slopes without much pitch, but they are still popular.
Alpine-X is partnering with a company that has large indoor resorts with snow slopes in Europe. Those have longer runs. That makes it possible for high level freestylers to practice bigger tricks when there isn't snow in the mountains. Alpine-X is farthest along in the building process in northern VA. The target market is newbies to snow and snowsports. John Emery was CEO of Great Wolf Lodge, the indoor waterpark company, before he got involved in starting up Alpine-X. Fairfax is slated to open in 2024.
November 2021
A chat with John Emery, CEO of Alpine-X: Can indoor skiing make the sport more accessible to a broader range of people? | The Ski Diva
John Emery, CEO of Alpine-X, talks about plans for their resort in Fairfax VA, and how indoor skiing can bring the sport to a wider audience.
www.theskidiva.com
SD: How will your facility be different from those elsewhere?
JE: In Europe, the facilities are more focused on existing skiers and boarders. Our resort will have dozens of things to do that don’t require any skill. In addition to skiing and boarding, there’ll be sledding and an entire snow play area — kind of like a winter version of an indoor water park. Outside of the snow dome you’ll have a full family entertainment center — a ropes course, things for kids, zip lining, a mountain coaster, tubing, lots restaurants, a 200-room hotel. Basically, we’re going to provide a full resort experience. What we really want is a place where you can go with your family or friends and have lots of different things to do so you can bond as a group. I really wanted to design it so that everybody in the community knows that it’s designed for them.
. . ."
MarzNC
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
Here's the slope Alpine-X is planning for Fairfax Peak.
" . . .
SD: Can you describe the hill to me?
JE: The vertical is over 200’, the length of the runs are 1500-1700’, and there are three specific runs. The longest is the green run. Then you’ve got a black run that’ll be used for training, so that has the most vertical; it’s being designed by people who train competitive level skiers. Then you have a full terrain park, which kind of acts like a blue run. You can use the features to weave in and out and create your own run. The park is every bit as robust as an outdoor park, because you don’t need a ton of vertical for that.
. . ."
" . . .
SD: Can you describe the hill to me?
JE: The vertical is over 200’, the length of the runs are 1500-1700’, and there are three specific runs. The longest is the green run. Then you’ve got a black run that’ll be used for training, so that has the most vertical; it’s being designed by people who train competitive level skiers. Then you have a full terrain park, which kind of acts like a blue run. You can use the features to weave in and out and create your own run. The park is every bit as robust as an outdoor park, because you don’t need a ton of vertical for that.
. . ."
