Mike Pratt Retiring

[tirolski]

How was Mr. Pratt "qualified"?

He was GM at Gore before he got promoted to be ORDA prez.
His dad was there when the “Miracle on Ice” happened and we beat the pro Ruskies with college kids, so there’s that.

 

[Ripitz]

“Miracle on Ice”

That miracle might have happened because he drove that Zamboni.

 

[tirolski]

That miracle might have happened because he drove that Zamboni.

His dad, Ray, was good at hockey and coaching it.

"Ray’s hockey coaching legacy was renowned. In 2005, Ray was inducted into the New York State High School Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 2008, USA Hockey awarded Ray the John Mariucci Award, which is given to the secondary coach who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and enthusiasm of the “God Father of U.S. Hockey.” Ray not only had a love for the game of hockey but also a love for his players, many who followed his footsteps into teaching or coaching careers.

In 1978, Ray resigned from teaching and coaching to become the director of sports for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid. After the Olympic Games, New York State created the Olympic Regional Development Authority to manage the venues used during the Olympic Games. Ray became the vice president of events. Under his guidance, Lake Placid was reaffirmed as the Winter Sports Capital of the World. Several years after his retirement, Ray returned to ORDA as a consultant and then interim president in 1994 and 1995. In 2008, Ray was inducted into the Lake Placid Hall of Fame for his positive impact on the community."

Raymond W. Pratt

On April 10, 2019, Raymond William Pratt passed away. Ray was born June 5, 1936 to Katherine Manning Pratt and Raymond Pratt in Lake Placid. His mother and stepfather, Roger Senecal, raised Ray and his two sisters, Barbara and Geraldine, all of whom preceded him in death. Ray graduated from Lake...

www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com

Running ORDA is a tough job but somebody gotta do it.

 

[Harvey]

He was GM at Gore before he got promoted to be ORDA prez.
His dad was there when the “Miracle on Ice” happened and we beat the pro Ruskies with college kids, so there’s that.

Mike Pratt has had almost every job you can have in ski resort ops. Certainly snowmaking, grooming, lift maintenance and general GM'ing.

I give Mike credit for going with it, to the extent that he could, at Gore. Gore has an pretty cool culture, terrain is constantly being improvised and expanded. Locals, for sure driving it. Some of those props goes to Mike too, I say.

 

[tirolski]

Mike Pratt has had almost every job you can have in ski resort ops. Certainly snowmaking, grooming and general GM'ing.

I give Mike credit for going with it, to the extent that he could, at Gore. Gore has an pretty cool culture, terrain is constantly being improvised and expanded. Locals, for sure driving it. Some of those props goes to Mike too, I say.

Didn’t know he made snow nor groomed it.
It’s hard to improvise terrain at Gore though, with all the APA/DEC rools.

 

[Milo Maltbie]

It’s hard to improvise terrain at Gore though, with all the APA/DEC rools.

Maybe it's ironic, but of all the places I've skied Gore may have the most "improvised" terrain of all.
I'm pretty sure almost all the glades were originally added by skiers, not by ORDA decisions. @Cork and others probably know more that than I do.

mm

 

[snoloco]

Pratt's history at Whiteface is far less stellar.

1. Banned outside food at mid station.
2. Stuck a fork in uphill travel.
3. Implemented draconian anti-poaching policy, after becoming far more cautious about opening terrain.

I don't think it's possible to take more time and effort to make a ski resort less fun. Good riddance.

 

[tirolski]

Maybe it's ironic, but of all the places I've skied Gore may have the most "improvised" terrain of all.
I'm pretty sure almost all the glades were originally added by skiers, not by ORDA decisions. @Cork and others probably know more that than I do.

mm

9 sides on 4 peaks ... somebody must’ve done something.

 

[Harvey]

all the glades were originally added by skiers, not by ORDA decisions.

Not disputing this. This actually my point, sorta. Mike was in charge when Charlie and the Men did all that work. I think it counts for something.

 

[tirolski]

Pratt's history at Whiteface is far less stellar.

1. Banned outside food at mid station.

Bring a sammich if ya wanna. There’s gotta be places to eat it.

2. Stuck a fork in uphill travel.

Skimo is an Olympic sport. They’ll have a Skimo track someday.

3. Implemented draconian anti-poaching policy, after becoming far more cautious about opening terrain.

Dang poachers.

I don't think it's possible to take more time and effort to make a ski resort less fun.

Ya got to ski the slides. Ya didn’t bitch that day.