Damn Marketing

Sunday River opens for a day or two and then closes...

"That's bullshit! That's just marketing!"

I think this attitude is awesome:



Even if SR did beat them to the punch this year.

So... let's take marketing to passholders, and brand building out of it. Say NONE of that mattered.

Who wants a lift-served season of where EVERY DAY is profitable?

Weekends and holidays from Christmas to Presidents Day.

Harvey is SPOT ON.  For all the complaining about marketing and commercial stuff, it is what keeps the places open longer.  I would not want to only have lifts spinning on weekends from Christmas to President's Day and I am sure no one else on here would and don't tell me to earn my turns because most skiers ski only lift served like I do.  Stop complaining about marketing and commercial stuff and embrace it because it keeps you skiing longer.

Sno fires back !

If I'm not mistaken, Sugar in NC opened this weekend - imagine NC beats Vermont!

Totally agree Harvey. Why would anyone complain about marketing/salesmanship? And if they only opened weekends then it would really hurt their season pass sales for sure.

PeeTex wrote

If I'm not mistaken, Sugar in NC opened this weekend - imagine NC beats Vermont!

Crazy weather! They got 2 feet in parts down there. It's the snow ridge of the south down in those nc mountains ;)

Wasn't saying it was here.  I have seen it around and about.  Everyone's a capitalist until those damn commercials come on.

I think Killington's current marketing plan is a great thing for eastern skiers.

Who opened first in the northern hemisphere? Abasin?

Killington's business strategy is to open early and close late, living up to the Beast of the East reputation.  They have the lift access for it since there is a lift that is at high elevation that can easily be downloaded from, and trails that are easy to cover with minimal snow.  This means that people have a much longer season to ski during.  The earliest I have skied is October, 27 and the latest is May, 18.  Although Killington is my favorite mountain in the east, Okemo is starting to give them a run for their money.  Okemo is opening November, 15, only 2 weeks later than Killington did.  However, they close early as the mountain has a hard time holding snow at the base.  Also, spring has lots of bumps/moguls, while their clientele want grooming.  They would most likely stop going and move from their ski house to their beach house.  Killington also has a bunch of old outdated lifts still around like the Snowdon lifts, North Ridge Triple, and Snowshed Doubles.  Hopefully these get an upgrade soon.  Their lodges also need investment which will come with The Village project, at least at Ramshead and Snowshed.

snoloco wrote

  Although Killington is my favorite mountain in the east, Okemo is starting to give them a run for their money.  Okemo is opening November, 15, only 2 weeks later than Killington did.  However, they close early as the mountain has a hard time holding snow at the base.

Okemo is your favorite hill? lmao....they don't even leave powder on the trails. They groom everything flat even on a powder day.

PowderAssassin wrote

snoloco wrote

  Although Killington is my favorite mountain in the east, Okemo is starting to give them a run for their money.  Okemo is opening November, 15, only 2 weeks later than Killington did.  However, they close early as the mountain has a hard time holding snow at the base.

Okemo is your favorite hill? lmao....they don't even leave powder on the trails. They groom everything flat even on a powder day.

I've never skied Okemo although I am hoping to change that this year.  They are starting to give Killington a run for their money in the industry, but I still think that Killington will be my favorite overall when I do.  

Did you notice my comment about why they don't stay open late.  I though you would get a kick out of how I said that their customers are moving from their ski house to their beach house at that time.

snoloco wrote

PowderAssassin wrote

snoloco wrote

  Although Killington is my favorite mountain in the east, Okemo is starting to give them a run for their money.  Okemo is opening November, 15, only 2 weeks later than Killington did.  However, they close early as the mountain has a hard time holding snow at the base.

Okemo is your favorite hill? lmao....they don't even leave powder on the trails. They groom everything flat even on a powder day.

I've never skied Okemo although I am hoping to change that this year.  They are starting to give Killington a run for their money in the industry, but I still think that Killington will be my favorite overall when I do.  

Did you notice my comment about why they don't stay open late.  I though you would get a kick out of how I said that their customers are moving from their ski house to their beach house at that time.

Really, don't waste your time.  Okemo is very, very, very lame and overpriced.  Drive to Killington or drive farther north or west.  Really, don't waste you time.  It is a ridge style mountain with some OK cruzzers... that is about it.  Don't go there.  I don't think I have said that enough.  Last time I skied there was 4 years ago with my brother from Nashville.  We hit Gore the next day.  At the end of it we wished we just did two days at Gore.  Hell, go to Stratton first.  You are not missing anything.  

Yes! PowderPrancher is back!!  

KMart sux!  

Mountain Creek!  

Footer wrote

snoloco wrote

PowderAssassin wrote

snoloco wrote

  Although Killington is my favorite mountain in the east, Okemo is starting to give them a run for their money.  Okemo is opening November, 15, only 2 weeks later than Killington did.  However, they close early as the mountain has a hard time holding snow at the base.

Okemo is your favorite hill? lmao....they don't even leave powder on the trails. They groom everything flat even on a powder day.

I've never skied Okemo although I am hoping to change that this year.  They are starting to give Killington a run for their money in the industry, but I still think that Killington will be my favorite overall when I do.  

Did you notice my comment about why they don't stay open late.  I though you would get a kick out of how I said that their customers are moving from their ski house to their beach house at that time.

Really, don't waste your time.  Okemo is very, very, very lame and overpriced.  Drive to Killington or drive farther north or west.  Really, don't waste you time.  It is a ridge style mountain with some OK cruzzers... that is about it.  Don't go there.  I don't think I have said that enough.  Last time I skied there was 4 years ago with my brother from Nashville.  We hit Gore the next day.  At the end of it we wished we just did two days at Gore.  Hell, go to Stratton first.  You are not missing anything.

I skied Stratton last year.  Okemo was supposed to be done last year, but they charged almost 700 a night for lodging on President's Day.  I could probably go this year in March and not spend that much (meaning my dad won't need to spend that much) on hotels.  The thing is that Okemo looks like a big Windham, so if I want that experience, Windham is closer and cheaper.  However, I really want to try out Okemo's new bubble lift.

snoloco wrote

However, I really want to try out Okemo's new bubble lift.

Said no one ever.

With 100 dollar lift tickets becoming standard, I think the new Killington owners are on a better track and not bothering with that race to the first opening, and last closed. That's a lot of money spent for the PR. There has to be better ways to promote yourself.

Benny Profane wrote

With 100 dollar lift tickets becoming standard, I think the new Killington owners are on a better track and not bothering with that race to the first opening, and last closed. That's a lot of money spent for the PR. There has to be better ways to promote yourself.

A lot of money? They barely even have a single trail open and it's not even top to bottom. It's totally a low cost "opening". They're not attempting to open half their mountain and then have all that snow melt. That would make no sense.

They're not really open, but if you live nearby it's great to get out again early even if it's just a half length of one trail!

PowderAssassin wrote

Benny Profane wrote

With 100 dollar lift tickets becoming standard, I think the new Killington owners are on a better track and not bothering with that race to the first opening, and last closed. That's a lot of money spent for the PR. There has to be better ways to promote yourself.

A lot of money? They barely even have a single trail open and it's not even top to bottom. It's totally a low cost "opening". They're not attempting to open half their mountain and then have all that snow melt. That would make no sense.

They're not really open, but if you live nearby it's great to get out again early even if it's just a half length of one trail!

Some time ago I walked up to the ticket window at Killington on, I think, about Nov. 8 or whereabouts, and, first, there was a sign announcing the price, which was almost full price for the season, and a second, hand written sign next to it (no doubt a reaction to the whiners) that said, "snowmaking is expensive". Which it is. That cheap little run of yours requires a little team of snowmakers to set up (labor), energy to blow the snow, and at least one groomer to make it into corduroy (again, labor and energy). Just for a few days of skiing, maybe, if the weather turns, which it very well could at this time of year. Then, you have to turn a chair (more labor and energy) for a bunch of no good slacker season pass holders who, will, in effect, bring no new stream of revenue to the mountain to pay for all of that capital spent for their pleasure, because I doubt they'll be dropping 20 bucks for lunch. That's why it's a bad financial decision, besides the advertising potential, so the marketing people better have a pretty good friend in the manager and CEO of the company to convince them to spend that cash. 95% of the market they are catering to could care less. They'll be there, at a minimum, the day after Thanksgiving, but, more likely, Xmas week. If you really want them to get excited by skiing, any hill manager worth his salt will tell you that the best thing to do is put those guns in their backyard down in New Jersey, because there is nothing like a storm or snow event down in the population centers to get people excited about going skiing up north.

Same for the whiners who want mud bumps on Memorial Day. I guess it's nice (not my thing), but they are losing money on those people showing up. Again, the drunken stoned slacker season pass holders who brown bag it. No money in that.

Benny Profane wrote

PowderAssassin wrote

Benny Profane wrote

With 100 dollar lift tickets becoming standard, I think the new Killington owners are on a better track and not bothering with that race to the first opening, and last closed. That's a lot of money spent for the PR. There has to be better ways to promote yourself.

A lot of money? They barely even have a single trail open and it's not even top to bottom. It's totally a low cost "opening". They're not attempting to open half their mountain and then have all that snow melt. That would make no sense.

They're not really open, but if you live nearby it's great to get out again early even if it's just a half length of one trail!

Some time ago I walked up to the ticket window at Killington on, I think, about Nov. 8 or whereabouts, and, first, there was a sign announcing the price, which was almost full price for the season, and a second, hand written sign next to it (no doubt a reaction to the whiners) that said, "snowmaking is expensive". Which it is. That cheap little run of yours requires a little team of snowmakers to set up (labor), energy to blow the snow, and at least one groomer to make it into corduroy (again, labor and energy). Just for a few days of skiing, maybe, if the weather turns, which it very well could at this time of year. Then, you have to turn a chair (more labor and energy) for a bunch of no good slacker season pass holders who, will, in effect, bring no new stream of revenue to the mountain to pay for all of that capital spent for their pleasure, because I doubt they'll be dropping 20 bucks for lunch. That's why it's a bad financial decision, besides the advertising potential, so the marketing people better have a pretty good friend in the manager and CEO of the company to convince them to spend that cash. 95% of the market they are catering to could care less. They'll be there, at a minimum, the day after Thanksgiving, but, more likely, Xmas week. If you really want them to get excited by skiing, any hill manager worth his salt will tell you that the best thing to do is put those guns in their backyard down in New Jersey, because there is nothing like a storm or snow event down in the population centers to get people excited about going skiing up north.

Same for the whiners who want mud bumps on Memorial Day. I guess it's nice (not my thing), but they are losing money on those people showing up. Again, the drunken stoned slacker season pass holders who brown bag it. No money in that.

Ok great let's run with your idea and have only weekend skiing Christmas to presidents day. Have fun with that. And groom all powder flat.

What powder? What are you talking about?

Benny Profane wrote

What powder?

The powder that falls from the sky. Like the 2 feet that just occurred in NC mountains.

You sound like an industry plant. Wants skiing only when it's profitable for the "industry". I bet you flame the hell out of anyone that complains stowe is too expensive. lol