Rest in Peace Betsy Pratt 3/12/28 - 03/17/23

[Andy_ROC]

.... To me, she always will get dinged for not letting snowboarders ride at MRG.

To me that makes her even better.

 

[saratogahalfday]

Haven't the owners (coop) have supported that decision more than once since she retired?

Yes, to the point it's not even brought up anymore at shareholder meetings.

 

[saratogahalfday]

You need to change that ya know!

RIP Betsy! I think celebrating her life is more appropriate than grieving this worlds loss. I can't say as I don't have a clue but I bet she lived a good one. She has certainly always been a legend and a pioneer in my opinion.

If there was a Mount Rushmore of VT mountain proprietors, she would be on it. She is a legend.

 

[timbly]

To me that makes her even better.

The legend I heard was that MRG was among the first places that allowed snowboards, but they had to stop letting them ride the single chair as the boarders were derailing the cable from the top bullwheel upon dismount, due to the push-off required (there's no down ramp at the top of the single). After that ban, a couple of boarders dressed Ms. Pratt down in a grocery store, so she banned them entirely--ya gotta admit, Burton's early rebellious marketing, which was very successful, didn't instill diplomacy into snowboard culture at that time.

 

[raisingarizona]

The legend I heard was that MRG was among the first places that allowed snowboards, but they had to stop letting them ride the single chair as the boarders were derailing the cable from the top bullwheel upon dismount, due to the push-off required (there's no down ramp at the top of the single). After that ban, a couple of boarders dressed Ms. Pratt down in a grocery store, so she banned them entirely--ya gotta admit, Burton's early rebellious marketing, which was very successful, didn't instill diplomacy into snowboard culture at that time.

And ironically snowboarding became the best thing to ever happen to skiing.

 

[2000yroldskier]

" You could play croqet on St.Andrews but that wouldn't make it right"

 

[tirolski]

To me that makes her even better.

Betsy may have even coined the term “dang boarder”...

Mad River Glen: Are they actually Mad? More on the banning of snowboarding, on one chair ski lifts, and limited use of artificial snow. – History of Skiing & Snowsports

 

[Campgottagopee]

To me, she always will get dinged for not letting snowboarders ride at MRG.

Same here. I've certainly skied MRG but sparingly. The no boarder law is why. Back in the day one of our housemates was a boarder and he ripped.
I always, and still feel, the no boarding law is foolish.

 

[tirolski]

Same here. I've certainly skied MRG but sparingly. The no boarder law is why. Back in the day one of our housemates was a boarder and he ripped.
I always, and still feel, the no boarding law is foolish.

There was a pack of ‘em ripping around when I left Lab yesterday when the snow got soft. They were having some good fun.

 

[Benny Profane]

OK, hands up class. Honestly, how many have skied MRG, and, if you have, how many times?