ORDA Snowmaking Improvements

[Campgottagopee]

It’s a wonder watcha can do with a couple hundred million bucks.

"ORDA’s capital budget is separate from its operational budget — the hundreds of millions of dollars the state has invested into upgrades to ORDA’s winter sports venues over the past few years are part of ORDA’s capital budget. The state recently approved another $105 million for ORDA projects in its 2023 fiscal year budget. ORDA got $105 million in the 2021-2022 state budget, $144.5 million in the 2020-2021 budget, $80 million in 2018-2019 and $20 million in the 2017-2018 budget."

ORDA approves capital expenditures

LAKE PLACID — The state Olympic Regional Development Authority Board of Directors approved more than $91.7 million in upcoming capital projects on Monday, April 18, including the construction of a new lodge at the North Creek Ski Bowl and a new lift at Whiteface Mountain. The ORDA board passed...

www.lakeplacidnews.com

Yep, when you can spend like a drunken sailor with no accountability it's amazing what you can do. LoL

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

It’s a wonder watcha can do with a couple hundred million bucks.

To be fair that money is divided among 3 ski resorts for snow making as well as new lifts lodges etc, state of the art cross country centers, year round ski jumps, bobsleds, ice rinks and who knows what else ORDA does.

Yes it's a lot of public money, but let's not give people the factoid that half a bil was spent on just snow making

 

[tirolski]

I don't think enough attention has been brought to the sheer magnitude of a difference ORDA's recent snowmaking improvements have made. All 3 ORDA mountains are opening earlier than almost anyone, and in Whiteface's case, with the most terrain ever available on opening day. Killington and Sunday River will only beat Gore and Belleayre by one day, and only beat Whiteface by two days.

ORDA used to be last and least when it came to snowmaking. They were never among the first non-Killington or non-Sunday River resorts to open. They always had limited terrain, and often poor conditions. Then they had the slowest terrain rollout, often lasting into February.

Over the last several years, all 3 have put many millions of dollars into snowmaking, and now we are really seeing the difference it all made. Between pumping capacity upgrades, efficiency improvements, and hundreds upon hundreds of new guns, it all added up. Time will tell how fast their full terrain rollout is, but I have to think it will be significantly better than in previous years.

When I switched to Killington last year, I swore I'd never buy another ORDA pass again, but I am now seriously considering getting one.

With 3166’ of vertical to be open at WF this Saturday, would that make it the most vertical open in the USA on the Saturday b4 Turkey Day 2022?

They’ve had a good year for snow outwest early this year too.

 

[Peter Minde]

ORDA has also done a great job with snowmaking at Mt van Hoevenberg. The only thing I could ask for additionally is getting and amendment for the Ho in Article XIV so they can expand snowmaking to the Flatlander network...

 

[Tjf1967]

ORDA has also done a great job with snowmaking at Mt van Hoevenberg. The only thing I could ask for additionally is getting and amendment for the Ho in Article XIV so they can expand snowmaking to the Flatlander network...

That place is really special. Incredible facility for the 50 or so people that use it.

 

[Peter Minde]

That place is really special. Incredible facility for the 50 or so people that use it.

Let's see.... Last year, 1 Olympic trials, 2 national championships, 1 collegiate championship, one SuperTour. There was a sixth big event that I can't remember. Remind me how many big time events WF had.

 

[LIskibum91]

Let's see.... Last year, 1 Olympic trials, 2 national championships, 1 collegiate championship, one SuperTour. There was a sixth big event that I can't remember. Remind me how many big time events WF had.

Only visited the new lodge last summer. The wait for the mountain coaster was a pretty long. It was packed.

 

[tirolski]

With 3166’ of vertical to be open at WF this Saturday, would that make it the most vertical open in the USA on the Saturday b4 Turkey Day 2022?

They’ve had a good year for snow outwest early this year too.

I’ve checked most of the big boys outwest.
Aspen/Snowmass, Mammoth & Snowbird could be contenders...
The Face is running

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

Back to Belleayre, I initially found it odd that they were opening with Algonquin first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. With Algonquin, it requires opening connector trails like Route 9 and The Crossing. This provides a more seamless connection as they start getting terrain on the east side open. A

We have ZERO ground on which to nit their plan, but personally I liked having Seneca and Dot as an early season pod last year. Sounds like soon though.

 

[snoloco]

I noticed that instead of Dot Nebel, that Belleayre is actually working on Peekamoose and Pepacton. Also unheard of for early season. Additionally, they are planning to open Deer Run tomorrow instead of Sunday, and all the way to the bottom, ending downloading.