Please state where I hated on anyone? I have CLEARLY stated several times on this thread that Ikon is here to stay, it will find it’s level. My beef is with people who are not here all the time telling us that Ikon is not having a big effect on the traffic. I have given first hand accounts of my daily observations. I have recounted conversations with DV employees that directly refutes a lot of drivel being posted about 3%-6% Ikon traffic.
So yeah, I do think a lot of people are full of crap without the time on the snow at Ikon locations to make reliable judgements. Sorry, but that is how I feel.
The problem ,as has been identified is that without further segmentation the "data" from resort employees as passed to others, just doesn't tell us much beyond a "it's busier and quite a few people are using Ikon". To use it to deny what Alterra or Ikon related resorts are saying publicly seems a stretch. And being a private corporation they may never publish the hard data needed to fully understand it. Think about it you are basically calling the owners of DV liars on the public internet when you say the 6% is wrong. I'm pretty sure there is something in the small print that might allow them to refuse to sell you a pass next year (not that I think they'd be stupid enough to blunder into that PR nightmare).
DV mgt have the tool to restrict Ikon passholders at will - I had to preregister my days. They obviously are choosing not to exercise it because the consequences of pissing off vactioners by preventing them skiing is worth more to them than keeping some grouchy locals onside. You're already committed so they need to work far less hard to keep that season pass money rolling in from you (though it wouldn't be hard for you to switch to PC if it weren't for your hatred of snowboarders). Sell up and move to the Yellowstone Club would be my advice to anyone seriously miffed by Ikon.
With the greatest respect because I do appreciate your contributions (and the grouchiness) you are not a veteran skier and perhaps you lack the same perspective that many of us who have skied far more places, states, countries and continents have*. I've never really been anywhere that I haven't got on with the locals and been discriminated against. It seems odd that the grey mafia at DV, which has always been shorthand for a pleasant ski experience (even if it's also shorthand for moneyed reactionary holdouts against snowboards) would be the surf punks of the entire ski world , venonously protecting their breaks from outsiders.
* I suspect this is also the reason you don't see any personal benefits from Ikon - how great to be able to ski with friends at other SLC resorts, how great to be able to be able to take a spring trip to Mammoth, how great when you become a better skier to have JH only a few hours up the road, how great to be able to take a short swing down to the SE Utah national parks and hit up Aspen for a coupla days (think the Roaring Fok also has pretty good fishing). When you really breakthrough as a skier having all that on your plate will make concerns about a few more people on the groomers at DV seem small beer.
