Snow Journal - Serious About Snowsports!

Home

Forums : NELSAP Discussion : NELSAP Discussion
Moderated by: Chris, nelsap, Betsy, the_hop

Anonymous posts are not allowed in this forum

Stratton Loses 2 Big Events, Tries to Recover

Page: 1

Author	Post
70s gore kid Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Mar 09, 2010 Posts: 314 Location:Top of Cheat Mountain, WV	Posted: Sep 10, 2012 - 8:24 PM GMT Stratton's loss of the Burton US Open to Vail has been discussed on this board previously. However, have not seen any thread on it also losing the US Freestyle Championship after 2 years. That event is also moving West, to Heavenly, after barely getting held this past year in 75 degree weather in Vermont the weekend of March 24th. Stratton has just sent out an email blast saying it will be holding a new event "The 24 Hours of Stratton" that last weekend in March, when families can ski 24 hours straight. Not quite the same marquee value. Wondering how much recent March heatwaves and meltdowns had with losing these 2 major events.

newman Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Aug 21, 2008 Posts: 2124 Location:The mighty SKI WARD Shrewsbury MA	Posted: Sep 10, 2012 - 10:40 PM GMT Edited: Sep 10, 2012 - 10:42 PM GMT I guess 24 hours is 3 days? OR- It would be fun to ski in the dark with cat rides up. Party on Flatton.

skierpilot Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 01, 2006 Posts: 632 Location:	Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 3:00 AM GMT I really like the idea of 24 hrs. of skiing. Finally, somone is getting out of the box here. I hope they open it up to alot of skiers at a good price. I'll be there!

DrJeff Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 29, 2002 Posts: 907 Location:	Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 3:43 PM GMT Not quite so sure if the loss of the Freestyle Nationals is that big of a deal as typically the US Ski and Snowboarding Association moves the site of it's national championships to different mountains in different parts of the country every couple of years. For example the US Alpine Championships were at Sugarloaf 2 years ago and then they moved onto Winter Park, CO last year and this coming season they're at Squaw Valley. The Burton US Open, that was a BIG deal

Bill29 Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Dec 19, 2002 Posts: 2414 Location:	Posted: Sep 11, 2012 - 7:06 PM GMT I know these events get the area's name in the papers, and publicity is good. But do they result in a benefit for the area's pocketbook? Don't some skiers steer away from an area that is holding an event like this because they can't ski on a trail or trails or snowboard in the places where the events are being held? Anyone have any evidence, one way or the other?

pucknski Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 27, 2004 Posts: 73 Location:	Posted: Sep 12, 2012 - 7:37 PM GMT The US alpine and Freestyle championships are always awarded on a 2 year basis. They often return to the same places years after, i.e. Sugarloaf. Now you guys are just going to have to come out here and ski/ride during the US Open.

millerm277 Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 28, 2006 Posts: 1133 Location:Somerset County, NJ	Posted: Sep 13, 2012 - 3:21 AM GMT I have never ONCE heard of skiers wanting to go to an area because it's hosting an event of the Burton US Open sort (aka: They/their friends can't participate). Maybe the old BMMC where they had a good on mountain party going on at Killington and most people didn't know the participants (although they were amateurs/open to whoever). Sure, it's publicity, but the cost to put on an event (not to mention the # of skiers who dislike the event taking away from their skiing) is incredibly expensive for the amount of marketing you get. Now, the "24 Hours of Stratton", a thing people can actually participate in, is much more likely to actually get skiers to the mountain. It's something to do. Even if I'm not planning on trying to ski for 24 hours, that could be a bit of fun.

rickbolger Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Mar 14, 2005 Posts: 2299 Location:Great Gorge, NJ	Posted: Sep 13, 2012 - 1:43 PM GMT Quote: Sure, it's publicity, but the cost to put on an event (not to mention the # of skiers who dislike the event taking away from their skiing) is incredibly expensive for the amount of marketing you get. in any business...if its done right, the buzz, the sponsors, tv cameras, crowds, all the activity, and in this case the "star" athletes, elevates perception and creates momentum both inside the company and among the customer base. sort of a "rising tide lifts all boats" the "24 hours of Stratton" may put more skiers in the lift lines, but I just don't see how it can capture the excitement of the Burton US Open (not for me, I wouldn't be caught within 100 miles of Burton anything)

brian1 Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Nov 05, 2009 Posts: 380 Location:Skiing somewhere	Posted: Sep 13, 2012 - 1:53 PM GMT We skied the week of the US Open and didnt see any crowds at all.

pucknski Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 27, 2004 Posts: 73 Location:	Posted: Sep 15, 2012 - 6:42 PM GMT Also keep in mind when an event like this is at an area the size of Stratton, it can have a big impact on the rest of the skiers on the mountain. In a place like Vail, the venue where the event is held, is a self contained part of the mountain. Everyone else skiing won't even know the event is taking place while skiing on the rest of the mountain. Its more the party in the town during the event that is the draw. Anyway, just my 2 cents. Bring on the snow!

mapnut Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Jul 31, 2002 Posts: 5062 Location:New York City	Posted: Sep 15, 2012 - 7:10 PM GMT Edited: Sep 15, 2012 - 7:14 PM GMT First-hand account from 2008.

dirk109 Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Nov 21, 2001 Posts: 1082 Location:Stratton, VT	Posted: Sep 16, 2012 - 1:06 PM GMT As a So. Vermont local, I can tell you that Stratton losing US Freestyle Championship is no big deal. The two years is was at Stratton, It was very under attended. In fact the only people who really attended were competitors, parents and those that happen to ski Stratton that weekend. And as for the OPEN, while losing it is sad, Stratton was lucky if they broke even with the event. The people who will lose out are the local inns, rentals and restaurants… Let’s be real, it is no secret that Intrawest is a financial nightmare, so Stratton is reaping the non-benefits of this. The money that Stratton will save and then re-invest in the Mtn is pretty large.

1259 Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Dec 21, 2010 Posts: Location:	Posted: Sep 17, 2012 - 4:57 AM GMT I really like the idea of 24 hrs. of skiing. yes

mt.tom Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 14, 2009 Posts: 289 Location:New England	Posted: Sep 18, 2012 - 5:16 PM GMT Stratton has also ditched the 22 foot half pipe and is going back to an 18 footer!

DrJeff Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 29, 2002 Posts: 907 Location:	Posted: Sep 18, 2012 - 7:15 PM GMT Quote: Stratton has also ditched the 22 foot half pipe and is going back to an 18 footer! Let's be honest, how many people actually can use a 22 foot 1/2 pipe?? (Even with the Stratton Mountain School kids there?) Stratton would likely find a greater percentage of use and user satisfaction if they "only" built a 10 to 12 foot mini pipe I'm sure that a far greater percentage of Stratton's clientele would rather see a few extra feet of jumps in the terrain park than in the 1/2 pipe. And frankly the way that things are going and current trends in park and pipe skiing and riding, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if you see 1/2 pipe dropped as an Olympic Event by the 2022 games. The trend is solidly towards parks and away from the 1/2 pipe, and given the amount of time and $$ it takes to build and maintain a superpipe and the smallish amount of use that they get, it's getting tougher and tougher i'm sure for ski area GM's to make the decision to build a superpipe vs. more park construction with the finite pool of resources they have in their operational budget each year

mapnut Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Jul 31, 2002 Posts: 5062 Location:New York City	Posted: Sep 18, 2012 - 11:55 PM GMT No kidding. In season I look at the Mount Snow webcams frequently and there's hardly ever anyone in the half-pipe.

Page: 1