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What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area?
- rippy
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7 years 9 months ago #231656
by rippy
What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area? was created by rippy
A lot of TAY'er's remember when a good powder day at Crystal afforded many clean un-tracked runs before skiers could cut it up. That was the "days of old" norm but now, fresh snow gets skiied out a LOT faster and unless you go side-country or hit a gate opening on time, better like the chop or groomer's. By and large, those are your choices after hour 1 with a typical crowd. So if an area did something like "first tracks", moderate enough terrain to not interfere with control work but gave an early opening to say the first paying 50 (or some reasonable number), what "special fee" would you pay to have an hour to carve powder before the mountain opens? This wouldn't be exclusive all-mountain access....just runs that offer good skiing and limit user risk. Not the early breakfast / ski kind of thing either, just a pay to play early approach. I'm curious given how everything seems marketable these days. If I got 4 - 5 runs and maybe 6K vertical out of the deal, sure would improve my day and I admit, some mornings I'd gladly pay if it was fair.
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- filbo
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7 years 9 months ago #231657
by filbo
Replied by filbo on topic Re: What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area?
They started that at Whistler many moons ago and it pissed me off so much I haven't gone back.
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- Scotsman
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7 years 9 months ago #231660
by Scotsman
Replied by Scotsman on topic Re: What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area?
They already did that at Crystal.
First tracks breakfast.
You paid for an overpriced meal at the summit house and got to ski Green valley for 30 mins before they opened the resort.
You were then allowed to score fresh tracks in the rest of the resort while the punters were approaching the top on the lifts.
It became so popular that you had to book it in advance and it sold out when the forecast was good,
It started off well then gradually over time developed into a farce.
The breakfast got worse and worse and it ended up with people in the Summit House actually forming a line by the door with a patroller doing his/her best to keep the hordes from breaking the door down.
Since the toilet was reached by going outside the clever powder pigs begged to be let out to have a pee/poop and then lurked outside so you could be first.
Although i liberally used it and paid the cost gladly...... I was happy when they cancelled it.
First tracks breakfast.
You paid for an overpriced meal at the summit house and got to ski Green valley for 30 mins before they opened the resort.
You were then allowed to score fresh tracks in the rest of the resort while the punters were approaching the top on the lifts.
It became so popular that you had to book it in advance and it sold out when the forecast was good,
It started off well then gradually over time developed into a farce.
The breakfast got worse and worse and it ended up with people in the Summit House actually forming a line by the door with a patroller doing his/her best to keep the hordes from breaking the door down.
Since the toilet was reached by going outside the clever powder pigs begged to be let out to have a pee/poop and then lurked outside so you could be first.
Although i liberally used it and paid the cost gladly...... I was happy when they cancelled it.
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- rippy
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7 years 9 months ago #231661
by rippy
Replied by rippy on topic Re: What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area?
Yes, been around awhile and I believe, always done with a breakfast of institution quality offerings. Previous gigs had their issues and didn't make many friends with the general public but I speed inhaled a breakfast at Whistler once and had the best early 40 minutes ever. The head start made a difference for the next hour as guests arrived. I suspect paying for the early "shot" isn't everyone's idea of appropriate area management but I'm certain money would exchange hands on good days. Scotsman, that's funny about the line-up of skier's ready to run through the door and related shenanigans. Easy to understand why it wasn't sustainable....need the patrol out controlling snow, not a caboose load of adrenalized skiers.
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- Nate Frederickson
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7 years 9 months ago #231662
by Nate Frederickson
Replied by Nate Frederickson on topic Re: What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area?
Last time I skied Crystal 5 years ago we did a first tracks breakfast for my bachelor party, a perfect memorable powder day with about 5 laps untracked before crowds caught up. Paying for the privilege might have felt naughty if it hadn't been a special occasion. I think it was $20-30, I ski lift served so infrequently I would pay that again in a heartbeat on the right day.
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- DG
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7 years 9 months ago #231663
by DG
Replied by DG on topic Re: What would you pay to ski untracked in a ski area?
I wouldn't pay for it and would probably be pretty annoyed by it, maybe enough to go elsewhere. Having a bit of flexibility in my work schedule, knowing the nooks and crannies of the local resorts, and keeping a nuanced eye on the weather forecast seems to work pretty well, even in these ever-more-crowded days.
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