Ripitz
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- Dec 23, 2020
Windham Mountain Going Private?
- Thread starter dubstar
- Start date
Benny Profane
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- Jul 25, 2020
Hey, it's the 21st century. No doubt an RIFD gatehouse.
Peter Minde
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- Jul 19, 2020
x10003q
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- Jul 21, 2020
What Windham’s Controversial, Cloudy Future Tells Us About the Current State of Lift-Served Skiing
“Windham Mountain Club will always continue to sell season passes and lift tickets, and it won't be exclusive to members" - Windham President Chip Seamanswww.stormskiing.com
- still selling lift tickets and season passes to the general public, this season and into the foreseeable future
- implementing a two-day minimum on Saturday (and holiday Sunday) lift tickets starting the first week in January 2024
A 2 day minimum for a Saturday ticket will put big limits on the number of skiers at Windham on weekends.
As mentioned, it seems they will probably leave IKON. They say they have been limiting ticket sales for a few years and claim they will lower the limits by 10-15% (less tickets available).
One smart financial thing they mentioned is putting the terrain expansion on hold to just focus on the existing terrain. At almost 300 acres and even less ticket sales (based on the 2 day requirement and lower limits), Windham will be a lot less crowded on weekends. There are lots of comparisons with the full private Hermitage Club (Haystack) in VT. The Hermitage has stabilized financially and is fulfilling the wants of the members. I see Windham following the same path with the added benefit of sales to the general public to increase financial security of the area.
MarzNC
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- Jul 18, 2020
Although if they simply didn't have many Ikon reservations available on Saturdays, but a few more on Sundays, and plenty on weekdays that could be a good way to let potential members check out the slopes. Can't quite imagine they are going to see out memberships in a year.
I don't see an Ikon holder wanting to do a 5-7 day ski vacation at Windham. Or anywhere in the Catskills for that matter. I supposed it depends on whether or not there a minimum expectations for an Ikon Partner.
Benny Profane
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- Jul 25, 2020
Can't see both coexisting for long. Private is private. Imagine writing a check like that, and then sharing a lift with people like me.
Milo Maltbie
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- Jul 21, 2020
I only read the free part of that Storm Skiing article, but I think Stu agrees with me that this is mostly a (badly executed) rebranding to justify higher prices. It's exactly what you expect anyone to do when they have bigger crowds than they can handle. I don't even think the 2 day minimum on weekend passes is a big deal because they've raised the window rate so much that no one buys it anymore.
The six figure club seems the most controversial thing about it. It sounds like they're gonna hit up the current third floor club members for another $150K or so just to stay in the club they already bought into. How is that gonna work? Maybe they think there's enough high income work from home in the Catskills now that they can justify it with a golf membership, but that seems like a pretty small market. A "Hudson River outpost" in Coxsackie is not gonna impress the Hamptons crowd, or even anyone who's ever been to the Jersey shore.
mm
The six figure club seems the most controversial thing about it. It sounds like they're gonna hit up the current third floor club members for another $150K or so just to stay in the club they already bought into. How is that gonna work? Maybe they think there's enough high income work from home in the Catskills now that they can justify it with a golf membership, but that seems like a pretty small market. A "Hudson River outpost" in Coxsackie is not gonna impress the Hamptons crowd, or even anyone who's ever been to the Jersey shore.
mm
This is an interesting discussion. I'm getting a little tired of comments like this however:
"these aren't serious skiers. How could you be if Windham is your home mountain?"
Some of you either have little experience with Windham, aren't very good at figuring out the terrain, or have some deep-seated grudges. Windham is my home mountain for the past 40(?) years and I can assure you I am "serious". I also put in time at Plattekill and Belleayre. Here I am 3/14/23 having a lark on Wedel, one of Windham's typically flat trails
And Plattekill 1/27/23 when we were the first ones up on the double behind patrol. This was taken on the second or third run. Note the empty chairlifts:
Plenty more photos and videos from all three mountains last season, but definitely not "serious", as Windham is my home mountain smh
"these aren't serious skiers. How could you be if Windham is your home mountain?"
Some of you either have little experience with Windham, aren't very good at figuring out the terrain, or have some deep-seated grudges. Windham is my home mountain for the past 40(?) years and I can assure you I am "serious". I also put in time at Plattekill and Belleayre. Here I am 3/14/23 having a lark on Wedel, one of Windham's typically flat trails
And Plattekill 1/27/23 when we were the first ones up on the double behind patrol. This was taken on the second or third run. Note the empty chairlifts:
Plenty more photos and videos from all three mountains last season, but definitely not "serious", as Windham is my home mountain smh
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Ya appears ta be a “serious" dang boarderThis is an interesting discussion. I'm getting a little tired of comments like this however:
"these aren't serious skiers. How could you be if Windham is your home mountain?"
...Windham is my home mountain for the past 40(?) and I can assure you I am "serious". I also put in time at Plattekill and Belleayre. Here I am 3/14/23 having a lark on Wedel, one of Windham's typically flat trails
Plenty more photos and videos from all three mountains last season, but definitely not "serious", as Windham is my home mountain smh
, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
