4 Things I Wish More Midwest Ski Areas Did!
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- Опубликовано: 13 июл 2024
- Traveling around the Midwest, I have had the opportunity to see many different operations and some of the things that make a difference for skiers and riders. That said, I wanted to compile a short list of things that I think more ski areas in the Midwest should consider as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Intro 00:00
Let There Be Light! 00:45
Do you Mind If I Join You 02:20
Early Bird Gets The Turns 04:15
New High Score! 07:15
Wrap-Up and Outro 09:38 
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If you are a follower of this channel, you should know we keep things positive here, so before posting, please keep the following in mind... (otherwise, we'll delete your comments)
1) Don't throw a specific ski area under the bus. There is no need for this - focus on the areas that are doing your concept/idea well.
2) Be realistic and constructive. Trust me; I would love to have $1 beers and $15 lift tickets every day, but... these areas still are businesses
3)Explain why. Ideas are excellent, but the reasoning behind them is even cooler! Please share with us why you think your idea/concept would be mutually beneficial for ski areas and skiers/riders.
Living in Michigan, I like to hear your insight on things like this. Thanks dude!
On the topic of cool things that resorts do... this season, starting in early March, Boyne Mountain had $20 lift tickets for anyone with a 23-24 Michigan resort/Epic/Ikon season pass. And considering Boyne was open until April 20, that was a very cool thing for them to do!
YES, that was super cool! Especially after the tougher season that we had in the Midwest. 👏
Love it! Thank you Matthew!
🙏🙏🙏
I love seeing the explosion of partner pass programs amongst some of the Midwest's mom and pop hills.
Always cool to see the small areas banding together to help create a stronger product!
There's no such thing as a bad ski hill. Anyone who wants to invest millions just so i can catch an adrenalin rush for a tiny fraction of the total cost is running a good ski hill imo. Good points in vid and in your comment. I'd love to see a 300' vertical hill devoted 100% to freestyle terrain:half pipes, kickers, rails and a boarder-X.
100% agree on no such thing as a bad ski area! Ohhhh, so, like a reopening of Raging Buffalo in IL?! Possibly a bit bigger? I dig the concept - it would prob need to be close to a metro, but if done correctly, it could work!
More Uphill Travel! skinning and skiing please! So many areas out west allow this, and the risk is minimal-especially compared to the (unmanaged) terrain park scene.
Definitely agree with all. I would add copy Hyland and perfect your high speed rope which is at waist level at your park. Not having to reach down and dig a rope out of a trench is amazing. Also a small jump line in the park versus only jib would be such a plus for those who don't want to risk their skulls and bones on a feature but want a bit of lappable adrenaline.
Ah! Yes, high rope high is so nice - and I agree more transitional/jump/snow features for us old folks! 👴👴👴
I love the pass holder idea.
You typical mid west area should try adding more and better snowmaking to cover more of the hill. Perhaps snow guns at the top,bottom and middle and have them going more often. have the guns set up to closer resemble natural snow. In addition to that I've noticed some areas don't have lap bars on their lifts. I think they all should. And how bout having more efficient ski rental services to speed up the wait lines. And a lower cost on rental and lessons would help too. 10:00
Rather than early - how about open late!! Not everyone is a morning lark and the race/ski school crew is who needs those early hours for setting up gear and starting those next generation beginners!! The value in being able to get off work at 8PM and still have two to three hours after the race teams and school groups head out or how many places shut their food service down by 8 or 9PM!!! Everyone's hungry/thirsty when they come off the hill!! And yes! Still love those areas that offer the "Affordable Option" AND the "Bar Food/Bouge/Sit Down Option"!!!! Just like $300 lift tickets, not everyone can afford $18 cheese curds yet is happy with the quintessential ski resort delicacy (IYKYK!) small bag cold soggy fries for $2 and $3 not a quarter pounder cheese/burger!!! That's my "If I could wave a magic fairy wand"... (Plus school kids having the $100 4 lift/beginner lesson/rental group nights to build the sport, but magic fairy wand, not miracle)...
Uh. I work afternoon shift. 9am starts are perfect.
I'd love to see...(wait for it)...more t-bar utilization (yes, I said it, & yes, I'm serious). Better than rope-tows; t-bars are far more cost effective than lift chairs, need less manpower to run, & can be used for more intermediate to advanced runs that help the non-casual skiers avoid lift line traffic. The slight skill required & the fact you still have to stand, limits the newbies & casual skiers desire to "T it up", they'd rather go sit down. For the resort: less install cost, less liability (insurance doesn't have to worry about people falling from them), less on-going labor, less traffic on busy quads = better profit margins. For skiers: can break up lift line waits, doesn't chew up you gloves like rope tows, can pull you up steeper terrain than rope tows, can lap your fav runs easier, & can keep your season pass or daily tix prices from continuing to rise to cover bigger chairs & increasing liability costs. If Breck can run one to the top of a peak, why in the world couldn't a midwest resort run one a couple hundred yards...just saying.
100% agree! Many resorts could dramatically improve slope access with a strategically placed T-bar (or 2). One of the best uses if to allow skiers to lap a mogul run, slalom course, or specific trail. T-bars are below the tree tops and therefore warmer than chair lifts on cold windy days. Added benefit, there is no complex and time consuming evacuation in the event of a breakdown or power loss. T-bars are amazing. Let's have more of 'em.
I'm all for surface lifts! There are a number of ski areas in the Midwest that could benefit from them, but unfortunately, they still aren't "cheap." Bottineau's was well over $500,000. Now, it was new and from Doppelmayr, but far from what I would consider a low-cost investment.
@@MidwestSkiers Fair point, Matthew, & I agree they are still far from a low-cost investment...but still think they're a less expensive alternative to chair lifts. Not only in their initial purchase cost, but over the years in on-going costs/expenses: less liftee/attendee costs, less spring & fall install/breakdown costs, & far less liability insurance (falls off these are great for utoob & Warren Miller vids, but aren't life threatening). Obviously I'm not a fan of getting rid of chairs; just saying the profit margins are tighter for midwest ski areas & instead of the area resorts always thinking they gotta put plush chairs in...mix in some t-bar action to move more bodies back up the hills & shorten them lines for less (long-term) costs. Cheers, buddy!
Problem with a t bar vs chair is the actual keep your skis on the hill throughout starts to get exhausting after a few runs. Much better to just sit and relax. More energy to ski that way
Honestly, I kinda of prefer the old “warm” lighting more than the new bright LED lights.
What ever happen to T bar? I liked those.
Mt Ripleystill has theirs.
We still have a few floating around - in fact, Bottineau just put a new one in last year 😎
I wish there were more moguls.
Yes! Let more runs bump up. Bumps are super fun, a great challenge, and keep the crazies from carrying more speed than their skill can handle.
Agree-bigger ski areas that have a bit more space to dedicate to bumps really should. It will create better skiers and give people a challenge outside of just parks.
MORE OFF-PISTE SECTIONS.
surprised we dont see more solar panel street lights