NYT's article on Ikon/Epic and weekend skiing changes at some resorts

[dbostedo]

@dbostedo you were recently at Copper. Did you notice the line cutting?

I noticed the special lines, but don't know that I saw anyone using them. That's the rare case in skiing where I want them to attempt to maximize revenue by keeping it exclusive, the price really high, and the impact to everyone else really low.

 

[DanoT]

I was at Copper on Presidents Day a few years ago (MC Pass) and it snowed from Sunday noon until Monday at noon.

While waiting for the 6 pack to open for the day there was a special line for early loading for people who I think were staying at a certain lodge.

There seemed to be hardly anyone taking advantage of the early loading and I had a great powder day by mostly avoiding the detachable chairs and just mostly riding fixed grip lifts with little or no lines.

 

[Mister Tea]

The reason that HSQs increase capacity is because usually they are replacing a fixed-grip double.

Right.

Uphill capacity has everything to do with how many seats (double, triple, quad, six-pack) and little to do with rope speed. Replace a fixed grip double with a fixed-grip quad and you'll have (almost) the same increase as replacing it with a HSQ.

I don't understand why this is such a hard concept.

 

[Mister Tea]

The business of ski resorts explained

 

[New2]

I think someone at Mountain High read this article... this coming Sunday's "Epic Ikon Day"!

epic ikon day

Epic and IKON Pass Holders, experience the "Mountain High Way." Join us for a day of discounts, drink specials, giveaways, and more.

www.mthigh.com

 

[Slim]

Squaw/Alpine sends me surveys pretty much every other time that I use my pass, and I would say a third of the questions focus on how much money I've spent in the village at Alterra-owned establishments. I don't know what the motivations of other ski areas are to be a part of multi-resort passes, but I've been convinced for years that at Squaw at least, it's to get people to the mountain to spend more money, with a side attraction of the slopes.

My friend working at Aspen also said that lift tickets are not the income generator for the resort, it’s the lodging, dining and retail.