More ski resorts going to RFID

[marzNC]

@marzNC I am all for RFID. I am really tired of the RFID crew staring at their screens instead of noticing when a whole family where one or two are not getting through end up holding the line up for so long that multiple chairs go empty on long lift line days. I love getting to keep my pass in my wallet in a secure pocket. That I do not miss with the old paper tickets one bit. Or the flapping around sound. I don't mind wearing an armband with my pass which some places allow.

What you don't like is pretty much the same feeling I get when a bored liftie scans a bar code with no interaction at all. Even worse when they are in the middle of a conversation with someone else.

Where I've been going through RFID gates there is one person with a tablet and someone else who is actively paying attention to people going through the gates. That's the person who is responsible for helping out someone who is having issues getting the gate to open.

I'm not thinking about a flapping sound of a paper ticket. I'm thinking about having to fiddle with a paper ticket in order to get the bar code visible to a hand scanner. Of course, I could let the liftie twist the ticket around, but it's faster if I can get it facing the right way while waiting to get scanned.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

You are lucky to visit resorts with two employees at the gates! Not so for us, so they fail to catch the obstructions.

I liked Japan where almost all the resorts jad a paper ticket that could be in a see through armband. They do not require scanning as each day a new ticket is printed which a checker can easily identify.

 

[marzNC]

You are lucky to visit resorts with two employees at the gates! Not so for us, so they fail to catch the obstructions.

At the base lifts with RFID gates at Big Sky there always at least two employees. When it was busy for Ramcharger 8, there was always at least one employee on each side. The RFID gate set up has two sets of 4 gates each, side-by-side, that lead to 8 low gates just in front of the conveyor loading belt. The liftie on the side with the singles line was actively paying attention to add single(s) as needed. There is also a separate RFID double gate for ski school on that side. The other liftie was always quick to help out anyone who had a problem with the RFID sensor.

For Switch Current 6, there are lift lines that merge in from both sides. During busy times, there was a liftie managing the people who were next to go to the RFID gates. Would alternate which side to draw from, plus the singles line. There was always someone else at the gate to help if needed.

Alta has three lifties for loading when busy: one with a tablet, one managing the lift lines using the "front row" approach, and one helping people who have a problem with their RFID card.

My home hill in Virginia always has two lifties. There isn't as much emphasis on checking with the tablet at times. More effort is spent making sure the lines move smoothly and the chair gets held a bit since the lifts are all fixed-grip lifts. Massanutten implement RFID last season. Went pretty smoothly overall.

 

[BlueSkies]

One problem I've noticed with gates at some resorts is the positioning the gates too close to the loading area. If there is ample room beyond the gate, enough groups can be lined up so that a problem with one group will not result in empty chairs (and can also provide enough room for a group to wait off to the side for the problem RFID to be resolved).

 

[Moonrocket]

I like the RFID - I was surprised at Sunshine and Lake Louise that we had to pull our passes out to be barcode scanned. It’s been a while since I’ve had to take my pass out- I usually only see it once a year or when I wash or get a new coat.

 

[marzNC]

Magic in VT is moving to RFID for 2023-24. The change is noted on the season pass webpage. Many of the resorts who have moved to RFID in recent years are using a third-party system that is based on hand scanners. I assume that's cheaper than installing RFID gates. Certainly eliminates the fear that jobs would be lost.

"To preserve and enhance our less crowded ski experience, we are also setting limits on the number of season passes we sell at 1,800 passes. All season passes and tickets in 23/24 will now be RFID-enabled so we will know exactly how many skiers visit Magic each day in order to better control skier traffic now and into the future with better usage data. Hand-scanners will be used at the lifts and all you need to do is have your pass card in your pocket somewhere, no need to take it out or have it showing in the lift line! The scanner let’s us know it’s you and not some stolen card. With our new purchasing system, every one will need to make a new account this year at purchase."

 

[marzNC]

Wolf Creek in Colorado went to RFID last season. For 2023-24 they will have the ability to re-load an RFID card without going to a ticket window. Last season you had to get a new card for every purchase. Not that big a deal for me and my friends since we got to WCSA during early season. Still it will be nice to not have to stop at a ticket window. The way they sell lift tickets, the maximum number of days for a multi-day ticket is 3.

My home mountain, Massanutten, also didn't have the re-load feature until the second season that RFID was used for lift access.

 

[marzNC]

I think I've noted a few of the resorts moving to RFID in 2023-24 already but here's a list from an article from Peak Rankings.

October 16, 2023

What’s New at Every Destination Ski Resort: 2023-24 — PeakRankings

Over the past few years, ski resorts have absolutely exploded with new investments. And this upcoming season is perhaps the craziest one yet—across the North American ski scene, more than 30 major ski resorts are in for some sort of serious upgrade.

www.peakrankings.com

NEW RFID ACCESS:​

• Crystal, Washington
• Magic Mountain, Vermont
• Stratton, Vermont
• Silver Star, British Columbia
• Tremblant, Quebec

 

[Jilly]

Tremblant has had RFID for the snow school and Club des Montagnards members. It's just going full on for the public this year.

 

[Jilly]

Just noticed on the webcam...gates are up at the gondola at Tremblant.

 

[marzNC]

Tenney Mountain in Plymouth, NH is going to RFID for 2023-24. The new owners, North Country Development Group, clearly have the financial resources and interest to take Tenney to the next level. The new website is quite good.

Recently talked with the Dir. of Marketing for Tenney at Snowbound Expo. He's open to all sorts of ideas for encouraging people to check out Tenney. I had a very good time skiing there on a powder day in 2019.

March 2019

TR Tenney Mountain in NH, day trip from Boston for fresh snow on 3/10/2019

2018-19 was the first full season for Tenney Mountain, near Plymouth, NH, after it closed abruptly in 2008. I had a great time at Tenney after a big snow storm in early March 2018 when the new owners finally could open for a few days after a few years of hard work to restore the place to...

www.theskidiva.com

 

[marzNC]

Discovery in MT has moved to RFID for 2023-24. They just opened for 7-day operations on Dec. 21 and have pretty low snow conditions so Christmas week tickets are bargain priced. Online re-loading will be available once people get an RFID card. Discovery is working with SkiData for RFID lift access.

From the Discovery FAQ:

What is the difference between an RFID and a ticket?​

Paper tickets are the old way to ski. RFID cards are the new improved way. An RFID card is a plastic card that you put in your pocket. Our scanners at the lift will read the card through your clothes and automatically open the gate each time. RFID Keycards can also be reloaded at home so you can skip the ticket office and head straight to the slopes!

 

[Jilly]

Tremblant is having major issues at one lift, TGV. So today I noticed the gates were gone. As you went through it still peeped. There is not enough space before the gate to get into a 4some. But it's a middle lift, so it really isn't needed.