ORDA's Biggest Wins

[Campgottagopee]

They work on Ruby Mtn?

Gore and Ruby

 

[tirolski]

Hot damn. If 20 years ago you told me that Belleayre was one day going to trump Hunter (now a part of Vail Enterprises) for snowmaking capabilities and popularity I would thought you were crazy and yet, here we are.

It's totally wild man.

This right here is definitely ORDAS greatest victory.

A big win for Belle was not getting involved with the WUG.

 

[Cork]

 

[tirolski]

That mine has/does employed a bunch of my family.

New article about mining the garnet at Gore.

North Country at Work: Mining garnet on Gore Mountain

Barton Mines' operations at Gore Mountain was once the largest garnet mine in the world, digging up some of the biggest garnet crystals in the world. It was also a key industry in the North Creek area.

www.northcountrypublicradio.org

 

[Peter Minde]

My grandparents took me to Barton Mines back in the day.

 

[Peter Minde]

Another ski jumping World Cup in LP next winter, in addition to the biathlon World Cup in 2026. 2023 jumping meet might have brought more spectators than FISU games.

https://orda.org/2023/09/15/fis-ski-jumping-world-cup-returns/

 

[Tjf1967]

Another ski jumping World Cup in LP next winter, in addition to the biathlon World Cup in 2026. 2023 jumping meet might have brought more spectators than FISU games.

https://orda.org/2023/09/15/fis-ski-jumping-world-cup-returns/

It won't take long living up here for you to realize it's not about the spectators... It's about the teams that come to the event. 20 people per team times however many teams fill up hotels. Restaurants. Great for shoulder seasons

 

[snoloco]

For the FISU games, I don't think the teams themselves spent much time or money at local businesses. There were also far fewer spectators than anticipated. I consider it to have been a flop. The world cup at the ski jumps though? That drew near Killington world cup crowds and was a resounding success. Yet no one talks about it.

 

[tirolski]

Since we have the thread for ORDA's biggest mistakes, it's only fair to also start one about the best things ORDA has done well. This will only be chain-wide, and not resort-specific.

Keeping Lift Ticket Prices Reasonable: Let's face it. Skiing is ridiculously expensive, especially if you don't have a mega pass. But if you don't have a mega pass, you can ski at the ORDA mountains without totally breaking the bank. They also discount tickets pretty deeply midweek and early and late season. This keeps skiing more affordable to a wider demographic, at a lower commitment..

Yup.
50% off (M-Th) midweek & they give discounts to old farts.

Seems the prices for online lift tickets varies by venue.
Example (65-69 YO) as of now:
WF $56 (M-Th). “Weekend” (F-Su) is $75.
Gore $53 M-Th). “Weekend” (F-Su) is $71.
Belle $41 (M-Th). “Weekend” (F-Su) is $60.

Why is Belle so much less? Their snowmaking crew seems to be good.

 

[Zykamps]

Yup.
50% off (M-Th) midweek & they give discounts to old farts.

Seems the prices for online lift tickets varies by venue.
Example (65-69 YO) as of now:
WF $56 (M-Th). “Weekend” (F-Su) is $75.
Gore $53 M-Th). “Weekend” (F-Su) is $71.
Belle $41 (M-Th). “Weekend” (F-Su) is $60.

Why is Belle so much less? Their snowmaking crew seems to be good.

Maybe because Belle is smaller? Less vertical? More like a local mountain. Seems to make this a good deal if you favor Belleayre, make a trip or three to Gore or Whiteface, but don't want to buy a full pass.

As for snowmaking Belleayre has been aggressive with all the new equipment. Only one of three to open even if was just for one day.