Storm Skiing Podcast with Vail Inc. Eastern Head Honcho

[Ripitz]

sustainable

Drink!

 

[raisingarizona]

Given how hard it is to get to Taos with the reduced flight schedules, I think Taos is safe for a few more years. Plus TSV wants to keep the winter vibe about the same. They are far more focused on building up the summer business in order to become a true 4-season resort. That's a much more sustainable business model. I want to go do the Via Ferrata.

Taos decided a while back NOT to build a lift up to the steeps above Lift 8. That says a lot about who they want as their regular guests.

When I was there a few years back during one of the busiest ski weekends of the season the majority could care less about the steeps above lift 8 or anywhere else for that matter. They were mostly on the few groomers down in the canyon bottoms.

That hike is also barely a hike. My first day there patrol had to do a very serious rescue involving ropes to get a cliffed out skier that was visiting from Texas. It’s probably not in their best interest to deliver a lot of those folks directly into that sort of terrain.

Taos is no fucking joke.

 

[MarzNC]

When I was there a few years back during one of the busiest ski weekends of the season the majority could care less about the steeps above lift 8 or anywhere else for that matter. They were mostly on the few groomers down in the canyon bottoms.

My first trip to Taos it was a great day on non-holiday Saturday. Good snow and blue sky, no wind. The locals were out in force doing the Ridge hike all morning. The hike for them takes 10 min. That's including the team kids who are 8 or 9. My ski buddies and I hiked up for the view, as suggested by our host (special tour for MCP that first year). First day at altitude. It was an effort. I wasn't ready to ski down yet, so that's why we didn't take our skis. Took a few more years of lessons and experience. But the hike is still an effort coming from low elevation.

What's less obvious if you are only there for a day or two is how many regulars return annually for a Ski Week who are advanced/expert skiers. They spend the week happily following their instructor on double-blacks. My ski buddy who lives in Albuquerque was in the top group for a couple seasons. After that instructor retired, he put himself one step down to work on technique and not charge quite so hard in the mornings. He's pushing 70.

The locals don't bother to ski much in March during the Texas spring break weeks. I have another friend in Albuquerque who starts playing golf in early March.

Taos is requiring Ikon holders to make reservations for 2021-22. I don't think it's a public health issue to limit capacity. But that way they can control Ikon use during the busy holiday periods and Saturdays.

Check out Stuart's conversation with David Norton of TSV from September.

Podcast #53: Taos Ski Valley CEO David Norden

A huge master plan takes shape at one of America's most spectacular ski destinations

www.stormskiing.com

 

[Benny Profane]

Given how hard it is to get to Taos with the reduced flight schedules, I think Taos is safe for a few more years. Plus TSV wants to keep the winter vibe about the same. They are far more focused on building up the summer business in order to become a true 4-season resort. That's a much more sustainable business model. I want to go do the Via Ferrata.

Taos decided a while back NOT to build a lift up to the steeps above Lift 8. That says a lot about who they want as their regular guests.

Taos will never be mega because Taos has so little room at the base for beds. So, tourists have to drive over twenty miles a day to ski it. Well, the ones who weren't the lucky, and rich, bed winners.

 

[chumpomatic]

Not to be contrarian or anything but if Stowe was my home mountain and season passes went from 2200 to 800 overnight, I'm not sure how anti-corporate I'd be feeling. I don't know what the numbers are, and COVID probably throws a monkey wrench in the data for now, but I don't know just how much more crowded Epic has made it there. From where I'm sitting, with WF as my home mountain, it's great to have the mega passes drawing folks away from here and at the same time keeping the pressure on for affordable passes. I understand the negative feelings too for sure, just saying it's not all bad...

 

[raisingarizona]

Not to be contrarian or anything but if Stowe was my home mountain and season passes went from 2200 to 800 overnight, I'm not sure how anti-corporate I'd be feeling. I don't know what the numbers are, and COVID probably throws a monkey wrench in the data for now, but I don't know just how much more crowded Epic has made it there. From where I'm sitting, with WF as my home mountain, it's great to have the mega passes drawing folks away from here and at the same time keeping the pressure on for affordable passes. I understand the negative feelings too for sure, just saying it's not all bad...

If Stowe had been your home mountain before epic and then there after I bet you wouldn’t be so stoked on the changes.

 

[raisingarizona]

Taos will never be mega because Taos has so little room at the base for beds. So, tourists have to drive over twenty miles a day to ski it. Well, the ones who weren't the lucky, and rich, bed winners.

I get to stay with my buddy who’s a lift mechanic for the mountain.

 

[tirolski]

That hike is also barely a hike. My first day there patrol had to do a very serious rescue involving ropes to get a cliffed out skier that was visiting from Texas. It’s probably not in their best interest to deliver a lot of those folks directly into that sort of terrain.
Taos is no fucking joke.

Vail Inc.’s recently anointed “Eastern Head Honcho” is from Texas.

 

[Campgottagopee]

If Stowe had been your home mountain before epic and then there after I bet you wouldn’t be so stoked on the changes.

Agree
The 2200 pass price kept a bunch of people away. Most likely way more crowded than before. No crowds for me.

 

[Low Angle Life]

If Stowe had been your home mountain before epic and then there after I bet you wouldn’t be so stoked on the changes.

The place really went downhill since letting the Epic Pass poors in, I can't even park my 6x6 G-Wagon in the Mercedes Benz owner preferred parking lot over on Spruce Peak thanks to Vail doing away with that too!