Park City Ski Patrol Strike

[Peter Minde]

I didn't quite get it either. But here's one that provides a bit more insight.

https://www.powder.com/news/vail-resorts-unlawful-practices-investigation

In the Seeking Alpha report, it was noted that in reassigning patrollers from other Vail-owned mountains such as Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte, Vail risked "damaging workplace morale and creating an unsafe environment for guests." At this news, Vail's stock price fell by $12.29 per share, or 6.56% on January 2.

The investigation, filed by the Pomerantz Firm, concerns whether or not Vail Resorts had engaged in securities fraud and/or other unlawful business practices.

I don't know how you can call this securities fraud.

 

[Campgottagopee]

Downhill resort skiing is a complete luxury.

I completely agree with you. But, I don't feel it's always been that way. Like a lot of other things, money will fuck shit up.

 

[Campgottagopee]

The main problem that both Vail and Alterra are facing is replacing/renewing a slew of old lifts in the near future. This is what has the ability to bury these two entities.

Spot on. Unlike ORDA these folks most definitely are held accountable and are looking for a return.

 

[Q*bert Jones IV]

Spot on. Unlike ORDA these folks most definitely are held accountable and are looking for a return.

If you think ORDA is run poorly because it's state-operated and the capitalist model breeds accountability, I'd encourage you to compare Hunter versus Belleayre.

 

[MarzNC]

The main problem that both Vail and Alterra are facing is replacing/renewing a slew of old lifts in the near future. This is what has the ability to bury these to entities.

It's been interesting to learn how Boyne Resorts has managed to take the long term view for Big Sky. The Kircher family bought the initial skiable terrain in 1976. The first tram was installed in 1995. Additional terrain was eventually added on both sides (Moonlight Basin, Spanish Peaks). After the recession in 2008, it took a while before the plans for upgrading lifts could be executed. Although Boyne sold several resorts to a REIT, they never sold Big Sky. When the time was right, Boyne started putting big money into Big Sky. Not quite done yet.

Boyne Resorts re-uses lifts whenever practical. Either at the resort where a lift upgrade happens or moving it to other Boyne resort or selling it to another resort. That's been obvious based on lift improvements at Loon, Sunday River, and Boyne Mountains and The Highlands in Michigan.

 

[Deez]

compare Hunter versus Belleayre.

I have never been to Belleayre or skied Hunter.
Hunter does or did have a legit Octoberfest years ago - still might.

Not being a wise ass here - because I don't know.
How do they compare ?

 

[Q*bert Jones IV]

They're just a few miles apart, similar terrain, climate & co.

Belleayre is run by the state. They have inarguably the best snowmaking in the region, capital improvements every year, season passes are quite reasonable, they limit the number of guests so that even on the busiest holiday weekend the lines are manageable. This year has been their roughest in a while due to construction problems and it's still a great place to grab some turns

Hunter is a goddamned disgrace. It exists to extricate "value" from people and deliver it to Vail shareholders. The lines are horrific, the snowmaking is barely existent, and they close entire sections of the mountain to avoid paying for them. The mountain opens late in the season and closes early. For that, a season pass is significantly more expensive.

 

[Deez]

Don't hold back - be honest !
Thank you - I did not know any of that.
Good to know.

 

[x10003q]

If you think ORDA is run poorly because it's state-operated and the capitalist model breeds accountability, I'd encourage you to compare Hunter versus Belleayre.

It is not that simple. ORDA only took over Belleayre in 2012 from the NYS DEC and the next generation Slutzky family sold Hunter to Peak Resorts Dec, 2015. Peak then sold Hunter to Vail Sept, 2019.

Belleayre's current run of success is recent history. Before 2012 Belleayre could not touch Hunter on snowmaking, terrain and lifts. Hunter still has way better terrain, but it is takes forever to open or it just does not open. Hunter still has a monster snowmaking system, but the current owners do not use it and this has contributed to more people skiing at Belleayre. There were seasons in the past where Hunter would open 90 percent of the terrain after a 4 day cold spell and people would be driving down from Vermont to ski at Hunter. While Belleayre has greatly improved, if Vail was running Hunter the way the Sluzkys' did, Hunter would still be better than Belleayre.

And before we start singing the praises of ORDA, please note that tomorrow is opening day for Gore's other major entry point, the Ski Bowl, on day 55 of this season and, also, Gore is a little more than half open. It is not like it hasn't been cold enough for snowmaking. Compare that to the 3 major ski areas in southern Vt. who are running 80%-90% open today.

 

[MarzNC]

The evolution of the former Snowtime resorts (Roundtop, Liberty, Whitetail) in PA after the sale to Peak and then Vail Resorts has similarities to the situation at Hunter. Snowtime was a family operation that started with the development of Roundtop from scratch. The mountains opened as early as possible and stayed open relatively late. The complaints on DCSki about lack of early season snowmaking when Mother Nature provides good wet-bulb conditions have been quite noticeable in recent years.

More recently VR bought the western PA trio (Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain). Jury is still out as to how that will pan out in the long run.