Plattekill Conditions

[Brownski]

If I’m being honest, Plattekill is one of the places I was thinking of when I started the Branding thread. I think they know their brand but I think they’re now interested in attracting a different type of skier. I don’t blame them. Families and newbies probably spend three times as much per visit. Even when I bring my kids there’s no rental or lesson income from me. I make a point of buying some food there, especially if I’m skiing on a voucher or a discounted ticket but nobody’s making bank based on me showing up to ski.

 

[raisingarizona]

Cause most people can’t ski bumps and it’s not that big a place to begin with? They’re trying to attract newer skiers and families. Not you and me. I think it would be cool to leave either Freefall or Block AND Plunge bumped up. I just don’t see it happening.

Sure but.....with what’s their trail count? 28? 38? What’s two dedicated bump runs going to harm? If you turn your shoulder completely to the legit skiing crowd what are ya? A steeper version of Okemo? Two dedicated mogul runs imo isn’t asking a lot and the reputation will always be a part of their brand.

I’m a firm believer in leaving a few things to inspire and aspire to. Skiing shouldn’t be completely easy and every run doesn’t have to accommodate the bottom third of ability in order to create a marketable product. In fact, I’d say that leaving a few runs as something to work towards makes your overall product more attractive.

I saw Harvey’s Facebook post of the front five and the little patch of bumps left for their dedicated ski crowd was laughable. One thing about having a business imo is to not turn your back on your core, dedicated long term customer. Like I already said, I’d be pretty darn disappointed if I were a season pass holder right now.

dont epic Plattekill for dollars. I get it, they got to survive but please don’t sell out by grooming every run. That’s just another McSkiing experience

 

[Brownski]

I agree with you in general. I’m just saying what I think is going on there.

 

[raisingarizona]

I agree with you in general. I’m just saying what I think is going on there.

I feel ya brownski, I’m just expressing my disappointment in what I’m seeing. Bump skiing is sacred and some things should be earned. A soulful ski area shouldn’t make every run easy to accommodate every rich dweeb from the city. Leave some challenge for the people that work at it.

 

[raisingarizona]

Cause most people can’t ski bumps and it’s not that big a place to begin with? They’re trying to attract newer skiers and families. Not you and me. I think it would be cool to leave either Freefall or Block AND Plunge bumped up. I just don’t see it happening.

No one will be able to ski bumps if every run gets regularly mowed.

it’s more pussification of society, the mogul cancel culture if you will ?

 

[Low Angle Life]

dont epic Plattekill for dollars. I get it, they got to survive but please don’t sell out by grooming every run. That’s just another McSkiing experience

I haven't been going to Platte since the 90's like some of you but I have been riding both bikes and snowboards there for almost 10 years now and I think the change this year is far more driven by how covid has changed the dynamic of skiing. More people out than ever, more new people out than ever, and people looking to get further out/off the beaten path to avoid the crowds. It ain't Epic and it won't be Epic, those people need their domed heated high speed chairs. But what do I know about bumps, I'm just a knuckle dragger.

 

[Harvey]

If I’m being honest, Plattekill is one of the places I was thinking of when I started the Branding thread. I think they know their brand but I think they’re now interested in attracting a different type of skier. I don’t blame them. Families and newbies probably spend three times as much per visit. Even when I bring my kids there’s no rental or lesson income from me. I make a point of buying some food there, especially if I’m skiing on a voucher or a discounted ticket but nobody’s making bank based on me showing up to ski.

There's no question about what, or who, drives the business, in the minds of the owners. Regardless of what you think about the decision to cater to families at Plattekill or Whiteface or wherever, the owners are doing what they think is best for their business.

Laszlo dreams of a slopeside hotel. He wants 100% snowmaking. He's an entrepreneur, he thinks about growing his business every waking moment. That's where mountain rental came from.

I try to represent the hardcore by spending money in ways the owners will notice. (That's what the NYSB annual meeting is about.) And every single time someone an NYSBer decides to buy a pass, or commits to Plattekill, I send Danielle and Laz a link. (The last one I sent was about JT going in for a pass for 20/21, they were pumped!) They love seeing that stuff and I think it helps them appreciate what we are doing.

None of that makes up for the fact that powder hounds bring their own beer, and grills to cook out, after trying to redeem a bogo on a $25 Friday.

 

[Harvey]

More people out than ever, more new people out than ever, and people looking to get further out/off the beaten path to avoid the crowds.

More new skiers and beginner lessons this year than ever, by a big margin.

 

[Low Angle Life]

Just to add in another opinion, when you start looking the lifetime value of visitors to any given mountain, catering towards the family becomes even more important. If that kid has consistent good memories of time spent out on a particular hill with their family, they are more likely to return in their 20's and eventually when they have a family of their own bring them along to form the same lifetime memories they have of skiing. Wash rinse and repeat. I know for a fact this was Win Smiths focus during his time owning Sugarbush. If these kids get brought up at the right places, hopefully an acquired taste for the finer things will also accompany their preference for where to ski as well.

 

[raisingarizona]

There's no question about what, or who, drives the business, in the minds of the owners. Regardless of what you think about the decision to cater to families at Plattekill or Whiteface or wherever, the owners are doing what they think is best for their business.

Laszlo dreams of a slopeside hotel. He wants 100% snowmaking. He's an entrepreneur, he thinks about growing his business all every waking moment. That's where mountain rental came from.

I try to represent the hardcore by spending money in ways the owners will notice. (That's what the NYSB annual meeting is about.) And every single time someone an NYSBer decides to buy a pass, or commits to Plattekill, I send Danielle and Laz a link. (The last one I sent was about JT going in for a pass for 20/21, they were pumped!) They love seeing that stuff and I think it helps them appreciate what we are doing.

None of that makes up for the fact that powder hounds bring their own beer, and grills to cook out, after trying to redeem a bogo on a $25 Friday.

There definitely needs to be a redirection of some consumers attitudes. I talked at length a few years back with Ray (Alba adventures) and he mentioned how his buddies were always trying to score deals on ski gear and passes. In all honesty I was kind of like wtf? Guys making good money should be bragging about how they spend and support small businesses, not trying to score deals! That mentality is prett f-d imho.

still, laz, has a good product their for all spectrums of the ski scene, no need to not provide for the few dedicated.

one fully dedicated bump run wouldn’t turn new customers away imo, it would create new ones.