F Vail

[MarzNC]

I bought a nordic Indy Pass this year and didn't take advantage of it. It includes a few nordic centers out west that I'd like to add to my life list. I'm unfamiliar with all the different Epic Pass resorts and what nordic they might offer.

Well, there is at least one American resort for which an Epic pass is also good for the nordic trails. Here's what I found for Stevens Pass in WA.

What was more surprising was this webpage, which is on a Euro-centric website. Includes quite a few nordic trail systems in Europe, Australia, and Japan.

Cross-country skiing Epic Pass - trails Epic Pass

Best cross-country resorts in the Epic Pass area of validity, ski resorts with top cross-country skiing in the Epic Pass area of validity, best trails in the Epic Pass area of validity, cross-country skiing holiday in the Epic Pass area of validity

www.skiresort.info

 

[Peter Minde]

Thank you for that URL. Skiing in Europe might be a long shot. But Mont-Sainte-Anne in Quebec is driving distance and it's on my bucket list!

 

[MarzNC]

The comments by the Alterra CEO in a recent interview written up by Jason Blevins are worth checking out. The acquisition of ABasin was covered, as well as the KSL "single asset continuation vehicle." The interview was done at a conference for professionals in the travel industry, held near Palisades Tahoe held in mid-April.

April 24, 2024

Alterra CEO says skiing has reached a “tipping point,” resorts need to ease pain of “really, really mad” customers

In a Q&A, we talk with Jared Smith about climate change, next-gen finance and growing skiing without tarnishing the experience

coloradosun.com

 

[Benny Profane]

Yah, the former CEO of Ticketmaster, one of the most hated monopolies in our country, is going to tell me how he's he's going to squash the anger of the average skier in America. Right.

 

[tirolski]

Recent court news in the state where Vail Resorts Inc is headquartered.

Waivers signed at ski areas don’t always shield them from liability, Colorado Supreme Court rules

Justices ruled 5-2 against Crested Butte ski area. Michael Miller and his daughter, Annie, sued after she fell 30 feet from a ski lift.

www.cpr.org

Waivers don’t shield ski resorts that violate state law from liability, Colorado Supreme Court rules

The pages of fine print that skiers and snowboarders must agree to when hitting the slopes in Colorado — waivers of liability — do not protect ski resorts when resorts violate state laws or regulat…

www.denverpost.com

Vibes to the kid.

 

[tirolski]

Vail Resorts Inc. reported financials for the recent qtr. on Monday.

Vail Resorts says skier visits are down nearly 10% this season

Park City Mountain owner Vail Resorts reported a decrease in skier visits in the company’s quarterly earnings report Monday. Executives are blaming low snow.

www.kpcw.org

Looks like they didn’t buy any of their own shares this qtr. but used some for compen$ations. Info is in 10Q.

Here’s the transcript of earnings call.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4677476-vail-resorts-inc-mtn-q2-2024-earnings-call-transcript

Looks like they bought some more of their own shares this qtr.

Vail Resorts Reports Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Results, Provides Updated Fiscal 2024 Guidance, and Provides Early Season Pass Sales Results

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today reported results for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 ended April 30, 2024, reported early season pass sales, updated fiscal 2024 guidance, and announced share repurchases completed during the quarter.

finance.yahoo.com

...and repurchased approximately 0.3 million shares during the quarter at an average price of approximately $217 for a total of approximately $75 million. This amount brings the Company's total fiscal year-to-date repurchases to $125 million for a total of 0.6 million shares.

With the price now at ~$182 (after news release stock dropped >6%) they’d be $10.8M ahead if they hadn't.

Vail Resorts slides to a multi-year low after poor skiing conditions impact results

Vail Resorts (MTN) reports FQ3 earnings, with total revenue up 3.2% YoY.

seekingalpha.com

 

[takeahike46er]

“The company attributed the reduction to lift ticket visitation not returning to typical historical spring behavior as expected in the March and April period, primarily at Whistler Blackcomb…”

Vail really needs to reevaluate their ticket pricing. In high season, they can get away with absurd ticket prices because demand is higher and the mountains are already busy with folks redeeming their pass products.

In the spring, however, demand for skiing is significantly lower but the prices remain brutally high even with a reduced operating footprint. Discounted lift tickets to W/B are somewhere around $210 CAD / $152 USD after taxes and fees. That’s way too high.

As someone who doesn’t have an Epic Pass, I’d consider adding an additional spring day here or there if the price was right, but I refuse to pay that much for a day of skiing—and I’m an avid skier.

No wonder Whistler was a ghost town this spring. It wasn’t because of weather. The conditions were actually quite good, I just chose to do it elsewhere.

 

[trackbiker]

“The company attributed the reduction to lift ticket visitation not returning to typical historical spring behavior as expected in the March and April period, primarily at Whistler Blackcomb…”

Vail really needs to reevaluate their ticket pricing. In high season, they can get away with absurd ticket prices because demand is higher and the mountains are already busy with folks redeeming their pass products.

In the spring, however, demand for skiing is significantly lower but the prices remain brutally high even with a reduced operating footprint. Discounted lift tickets to W/B are somewhere around $210 CAD / $152 USD after taxes and fees. That’s way too high.

As someone who doesn’t have an Epic Pass, I’d consider adding an additional spring day here or there if the price was right, but I refuse to pay that much for a day of skiing—and I’m an avid skier.

No wonder Whistler was a ghost town this spring. It wasn’t because of weather. The conditions were actually quite good, I just chose to do it elsewhere.

I agree. I do an early season trip every year to Vermont with a group of guys. Two have Epic passes. The rest of us don't. We used to ski Okemo a lot early season but not any more. I'm not paying those prices during the peak season and I'm sure not paying it for early season on limited terrain. Neither are about 10 others on the trip. Same with the spring season where you typically only ski a few hours in the morning before everything turns to mashed potatoes.

 

[Andy_ROC]

Vail stock at a 4 year low. I wonder they'll do now? Probably won't be good for employees or skiers. After all they're in the stock price business not the ski business.

Vail Resorts stock hits 4-year low after announcing that next season’s pass sales are down

Vail Resorts has been attempting to move guests away from walk-up lift ticket sales and into pre-purchased passes in recent decades, and that strategy seems to have worked better than intended in 2023-24. Company officials...

www.vaildaily.com

 

[tirolski]

Vail stock at a 4 year low. I wonder they'll do now? Probably won't be good for employees or skiers. After all they're in the stock price business not the ski business.

Vail Resorts stock hits 4-year low after announcing that next season’s pass sales are down

Vail Resorts has been attempting to move guests away from walk-up lift ticket sales and into pre-purchased passes in recent decades, and that strategy seems to have worked better than intended in 2023-24. Company officials...

www.vaildaily.com

Some exec may look at a computer screen and have the “idea” to buy more for the share repurchase plan. Then may get said shares for the “work” accomplished.

The beat goes on.