Plattekill Conditions

[raisingarizona]

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.

I’ve seen plenty of families rip bump runs together. I’m not sure why every family should want boring, easy skiing.

 

[Low Angle Life]

Here’s my bottom line opinion, keep it real Plattekill and keep one or two dedicated bump lines on the hill. You won’t turn people away from ya if ya do but you will if you don’t. Don’t sell out.

I think everyone here agrees with you in regard to the bumps, but I'm going tie this together with your point about small outdoor gear shops. Plattekill and any small outdoor retailer are in very similar positions as small businesses. Do they need to sellout to stay alive? Probably not. However, appealing to a small group of your core audience as Harvey points out, does little for your bottom line. Love it or hate it, doctors, lawyers, city folk whoever "general consumer" is are the ones spending meaningful money on things like skiing and mountain biking right now. They may be a little clueless and new to things that are incredibly familiar to us but these individuals are driving a huge boon in the outdoor world right now. A few of them may even stick around when this whole new normal thing starts. Plattekill and small outdoor retail both exist in spaces ever more controlled by consolidated corporate interests, a phenomena that was accelerated 10X by the pandemic. The dedicated entrepreneurs that care to stay independent will continue to do just that, but things may also start to look a little different as they are forced to adapt to changing realities.

 

[JTG]

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.

This post is spot on....and exactly why Platty should let more runs bump up! The first ten years of my skiing life were spent skiing Vermont. We skied Stratton, a lot. We also skied Sugarbush, Magic, MRG, Stowe. I never have, and never will, bring my kids (or anyone else) to Stratton. Part of creating experiences and memories, yes....for families, is having things like memorable bumps. Half of Plunge isn’t enough.....

 

[G.ski]

I agree with RA about having at least 2 dedicated bump runs at ANY ski area. I'd add a low angle option as well.
Sorry I missed everyone at Platty yesterday. I did speak to Dave a telemarker who was with his son at the deck area. Grabbed a burger at about 1:30 before I had to leave. I had limited time and an agenda to ski all open trails and the many tree lines still skiable. Wow what a great spring skiing weekend!

 

[raisingarizona]

I agree with RA about having at least 2 dedicated bump runs at ANY ski area. I'd add a low angle option as well.
Sorry I missed everyone at Platty yesterday. I did speak to Dave a telemarker who was with his son at the deck area. Grabbed a burger at about 1:30 before I had to leave. I had limited time and an agenda to ski all open trails and the many tree lines still skiable. Wow what a great spring skiing weekend!
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Looks like fun but sooo smooth. Too smooth imho

 

[raisingarizona]

Having all of the front five groomed smooth looks like some seriously boring skiing to me but whatever, I don’t live there or ski there anymore. That shit looks seriously lame to me, like really boring skiing but whatever, have at it Plattekill, you’re blowing it imho. Please don’t keep doing this. Save your soul.

ive sadly just lost a bit of respect for platty. The skiing there is starting to look too much like whindham

 

[raisingarizona]

I think everyone here agrees with you in regard to the bumps, but I'm going tie this together with your point about small outdoor gear shops. Plattekill and any small outdoor retailer are in very similar positions as small businesses. Do they need to sellout to stay alive? Probably not. However, appealing to a small group of your core audience as Harvey points out, does little for your bottom line. Love it or hate it, doctors, lawyers, city folk whoever "general consumer" is are the ones spending meaningful money on things like skiing and mountain biking right now. They may be a little clueless and new to things that are incredibly familiar to us but these individuals are driving a huge boon in the outdoor world right now. A few of them may even stick around when this whole new normal thing starts. Plattekill and small outdoor retail both exist in spaces ever more controlled by consolidated corporate interests, a phenomena that was accelerated 10X by the pandemic. The dedicated entrepreneurs that care to stay independent will continue to do just that, but things may also start to look a little different as they are forced to adapt to changing realities.

F em. Let em earn it on at least one or two runs out of 30 whatever runs. No need to sanitize every damn run. Skiing is a sport and it shouldn’t be handed to any idiot that has money. The front five right now looks like shit sanititized for every poseur with a credit card. Sad days.....and bad form Plattekill, way to dumb down good terrain for joeys

 

[jasonwx]

F em. Let em earn it on at least one or two runs out of 30 whatever runs. No need to sanitize every damn run. Skiing is a sport and it shouldn’t be handed to any idiot that has money. The front five right now looks like shit sanititized for every poseur with a credit card. Sad days.....and bad form Plattekill, way to dumb down good terrain for joeys

I can’t ski bumps for for shit but I don’t mind seeing a few bump runs. I skied mrg a few springs ago. Boy did I suck. But I had a fantastic day. Just like biking it’s real fun to ride a buffed flow trail. But the chunk is where it’s at.

 

[Harvey]

But that’s the point that’s been made in regards to maintaining financial viability

I missed it. What does the Stratton Windham customer want?

Some years the way the weather goes (an without too much traffic) we don't get any bumps. Man was Sunday fun.

 

[Campgottagopee]

Some years the way the weather goes (an without too much traffic) we don't get any bumps.

I was going to mention the same. You need natural snow to have good bumps. You also need good bump skiers to ski them in.