The Plattekill Bump Thread

[Harvey]

I've been thinking about the bump thing raised by RA and others in the conditions thread.

When it's all over, this summer, maybe I'll ask Laz about this topic, and listen to his thinking.

If it still seems like the thing to do after I've heard him out, maybe propose an idea:

Next season we try an experiment on Block.

Laz "commits" to leaving half of Block bumped, and if by some miracle we get another stretch like the one this year, maybe he lets the other half bump too.

Then NYSkiBlog commits to relentless promotion of the "Bumps on Block." We'd count on the Plattekill Plunge Army to do their thing.

Then at year end Laz gets to decide if it was worth it. Pros and cons, savings in grooming, complaints from people who want grooming, marketing value of the images, whatever.

 

[G.ski]

I think it would increase customer satisfaction. Belleayre had bumps on 4 trails last day I skied there this past Friday.

I enjoyed Plattekill this winter and I've already decided to get a season pass for next season. I think it's the best deal ever for me for weekend skiing. Will probably buy the parking pass again too not ashamed to indulge my laziness when it comes to parking. Wish other ski areas would offer a parking pass like that.

Having a top to bottom bump option there is the missing piece to an unbeatable combination.

 

[raisingarizona]

For the record, I wasn’t trying to ruffle Laz’s feathers on his management of his ski area. I think we all know that he’s done amazing things for Plattekill and has crushed it keeping that place going.



That being said, I think a ttb. Bump skiing option makes the ski experience there much better. I look forward to hearing his thoughts Harv.

Here’s a pic of some bumps created by snowboarders and skiers I skied yesterday. Those tight little zipper lines were fun as heck to try and hold onto.

 

[tirolski]

Next season we try an experiment on Block.

Looks like a nice laboratory for experimentin.

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

Even though I'm now a season pass holder, I've only skied Platty all of two days, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but seems like letting half of Blockbuster bump up is a win win. There will still be a groomed way down for the "families", but it also gives expert skiers more of a reason to come to Platty.

My ultimate question is who is Plattekill trying to appeal to? It seems like a hard sell to get downstate novice/intermediate skiers to drive the extra 20 - 40 minutes further than other Catskill mountains to ski a smaller number of trails, with less on mountain amenities, and even less off mountain amenities. The only place around Plattekill I can find to get breakfast is the Arkville B+B, and it's definitely a locals kind of place.

Where I think Plattekill can gain customers is trying to market to the advanced downstate skiers driving up to Vermont and the Daks, who also may not care as much about amenities. They should be selling that you can get all the steeps, trees, and bumps of those farther off mountains without the 5 hours of driving.

I'm a new pass holder to Plattekill and as an Advanced/Expert skier, I based my decision off what I read here in the blog. Seems like there's a marketing opportunity for Platty to go after other skiers like myself.

 

[Q*bert Jones IV]

I'm quite new to skiing so I may be talking out my hole but it seems to me there's a market for "Mad River Glen but closer."

 

[marcski]

A couple of things.
1st. Skier's left of Block, kind of out of the reach of the snowmaking guns, is almost always bumped up with natural snow and man-made blow-over. That side (agreed much less than 1/2) of the trail has traditionally been left ungroomed. That and the line on Plunge under the chair. With that said, personally, I do love bump skiing and can always use more. ?

2nd. @TheGreatAbyss, basically the answer is a resounding No. Plattekill needs novice/intermediate families. Families (novice/intermediates) are the ones that drive revenue at all ski areas, Plattekill included. I think Plattekill is already the Advanced/expert/powder skier's choice in the Catskills. Those guys (and gals) tend to bring their own lunches and beers. Families don't. They have too much crap to take to the hill between kids, equipment etc. Even if they bring their own lunch, the kids will want french fries and a brownie and mom and dad will have a cocktail at the bar. Mom and Dad get buzzed and want another round or 2, so they buy the kids a couple of tubing passes. Plattekill and Laz needs those novice/intermediate families to survive, not someone buying just a lift tix. So, even if he were selling more tickets to experts etc., I think from a $$ standpoint, he is still going to make more grooming Block and having some big bellied corporate guy go back to the City and tell his friends and co-workers: "I skied this awesome ♦♦ run at Plattekill this weekend. Oh, yeah, I hadn't heard of it either but it is a really cool place in the Catskills."

 

[raisingarizona]

I'm quite new to skiing so I may be talking out my hole but it seems to me there's a market for "Mad River Glen but closer."

These were literally my two most favorite ski areas before I moved out west during the fall of 94.

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

I'm quite new to skiing so I may be talking out my hole but it seems to me there's a market for "Mad River Glen but closer."

I was actually thinking of saying that in my post, but I do think "ski it if you can" might be a bridge too far. Even MRG tries to sugar it up in their radio ads by not making it sound so "intense". Hard to describe over text but if you've ever heard those radio ads you know what i mean.

As to expert's not spending money on the mountain - That's a fair point, but I'm not sure it's so much expert/novice vs local/out-of-towner. I always spend $$ on the mountain and bought both breakfast and lunch when I went to Platty two Saturday's ago. Think of the umbrella bars at Killington or the base at Bear which are mostly adults getting a drink after a few bump runs on OL or Superstar. It's really the locals who tend to do the tailgating (not that I have anything against it).

And by local I'm also including out-of-towners with a vacation house nearby

 

[raisingarizona]

Sure, expert skiers generally don't spend as much as a family looking to get away from it all on a weekend vacation or day trip but I wouldn't turn my back on the experts needs either. Especially if they have been the backbone of regular visitation numbers, season pass purchases and the ones beating the Plattekill drum and blowing the horn telling folks how awesome the place is.

Season pass holders don't spend the same kind of money at the area because we are there regularly and can't afford ski area prices more than a few times a season. I don't know how Plattekill prices are but they are stupid here. Who would spend 12 bucks on 16 ounces of PBR? An unprepaired tourist sure but a working class season pass holder? No F-ing way! It's pretty easy these days to blow 40 to 60 bucks feeding yourself and your kid on food that sucks and some cheap beer. Ski areas were already creating the tail gating scene we have today before covid showed up, covid just pushed things further. They've been out pricing locals for years now.

I've already said this but I just don't see how leaving one ttb dedicated mogul run is going to hurt intermediates experience there. If anything it will at least give them something to strive for and look forward to.