Vail: How it's changed skiing and where it might be going.

[ski diva]

Excellent article summing up the situation here in Vermont in Vermont Ski + Ride:

Why Is Everyone So Angry at Vail Resorts?

 

[NWSkiGirl]

Excellent article summing up the situation here in Vermont in Vermont Ski + Ride:

Why Is Everyone So Angry at Vail Resorts?

Excellent article! Unlike many of the skiing industry articles I’ve seen, which seem to be influenced by Vail and Alterra themselves. I think a lot of the ski industry blogs and reporters are reliant on the two big ski companies to gain and keep readers/followers and that slants their reporting.

I hope all the changes that will be made in 2023 will yield a better experience at Vail properties. With 1 billion in reserves, Vail can certainly afford to put money into fixing the issues they created.

 

[marzNC]

Excellent article summing up the situation here in Vermont in Vermont Ski + Ride:

Why Is Everyone So Angry at Vail Resorts?

It's a good article about what's been happening in recent years, especially for the northeast.

However the history of the Epic pass and the Vail Resorts acquisition path is a bit misleading. The implication is that the "Max Pass" influenced Rob Katz, while in fact Epic was created in 2008 and the original M.A.X. Pass started in 2015-16. The first acquisitions of small family-owned mountains in the midwest for the "urban" division started in 2012, not immediately after Epic proved to be a useful business strategy to even out the revenue stream since interest on getting on the slopes is so dependent on weather conditions for most people.

A bit nit picky, but it should be "Stevens Pass" not "Steven's Pass."

 

[Christy]

A bit nit picky, but it should be "Stevens Pass" not "Steven's Pass."

impressive catch for someone not from here.

 

[marzNC]

impressive catch for someone not from here.

Thanks. The spelling error I really noticed was "Wayz" instead of "Waze" for the navigation app. In general, the article needed better proofreading.

 

[Amie H]

Vail Resorts in the news again today with their acquisition of a Swiss ski resort.

Vail Resorts expanding into Europe with acquisition of Swiss ski area

The Colorado-based company plans to take a 55% ownership stake in Andermatt-Sedrun.

www.travelweekly.com

 

[Amie H]

Vail Resorts in the news again today with their acquisition of a Swiss ski resort.

And here is VR's media release on the buy:

Vail Resorts to Acquire Majority Stake in and Operate Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, a Leading Swiss Resort | Vail Resorts Corporate

news.vailresorts.com

 

[marzNC]

Comparisons about the Swiss acquisition and the paired resorts VR has dealt with in the past: Arrowhead and Beaver Creek, PCMR and Canyons. Apparently Andermatt-Sedrun has an unusual recent ownership history compared to other European ski resorts.

March 29, 2022

In Europe, Vail Resorts finds something similar to its marquee US resorts

In Switzerland, Vail Resorts has found something similar to some of its United States properties in the recently linked ski areas of Andermatt and Sedrun.

www.parkrecord.com

 

[lisaski]

"Vail Resorts- We're not happy until you're not happy" -I saw that on a sticker that was pasted to a ski lift tower in Park City. As a Park City local, I have seen the resort become super crowded in the years since Vail aquired control of both Canyons and Park City. The character of the resort is changing. I am really not fond of corporate control of skiing. Their emphasis seems to be more on real estate and ski travel customers with little emphasis on locals. This is evidenced by the proposed real estate development of the already over subscribed parking lot at the Park City base. I have been skiing at a smaller resort in Utah that is not a member of EPIC or IKON. It is so chill there. No crowds and mostly locals ski there. I love the experience there a heck of a lot more than the crowds of Park City. I won't name the resort because I want to keep it my secret.

 

[Amie H]

I feel like a traitor.
I bought my 22/23 EPIC pass today.New pricing structures for day passes..

I downgraded to a 3-day pass but UPGRADED so I can use for 3 days at Beaver Creek (Or Heavenly if one of my casino junkets is timed for when they actually have snow!)
Plus I believe I still get a few bonus days at my local sledding hill (Wilmot) with it. I need to verify how many "urban" visits I get. Anyway more expensive than last year but cheaper than daily resort pricing, so I'm ok with it.

 

[santacruz skier]

Don't feel guilty. I'm buying my Epic for 22-23 as I have accommodations at Heavenly, Northstar, and friend in Tahoe City (who likes Northstar). I also like to ski Kirkwood.

I didn't experience the problems many incurred because 1) parking is not an issue for me - I can park at the house. 2) I don't ski weekends or holidays and often not driving to ski as accommodations across the street from Heavenly gondola and in Northstar (where property owners have shuttles - I'm not an owner but BF family is).

One thing I did notice is that Northstar had some lift closures due to staffing issues but that was occasionally, not all the time.

Diva West skiers were at Northstar Wednesday, March 2 (I think) and there were no lift lines, right divas? Think we had Lookout Mtn to ourselves !

Heavenly, I noticed nothing other than my timeshare week was spring break for Texas, Georgia , eastern schools. Remind me not to book mid march again.

And now Andermatt is on the Epic pass....... a new swiss resort definitely worth checking out.

 

[Amie H]

Don't feel guilty. I'm buying my Epic for 22-23 as I have accommodations at Heavenly, Northstar, and friend in Tahoe City (who likes Northstar). I also like to ski Kirkwood.

I was half-joking...but yeah, high chance I'll have opportunity to ski 3 days in Tahoe and/or CO plus with my free local visits, it's hard to pass up for $267.