Big Mountain kids

M

MissMontana

Member
I am in a Public Relations class for which we have to pick a public issue and do a little PR campaign on an aspect of it. I am doing it on Fred Jones, WSI, and the affects it will have on Big Mountain and the community at large.

For the project, we have to write, distriubute and analyze a survery. I chose you guys because, straight up, you are the skiers. You are the ones the changes will affect. You are what the sport is about.

I would LOVE it if you would take a second to fill out the survey. If you have suggestions as to what a better/necessary question would be, please leave them. I'm actually from a surf town in California, so I am doing purely out of the newfound love I have for Big Moutain. I am not a local, so if I am missing a major point or concern, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know.

Thank you so much!

For my first project, I am going to analyze the public opinion on Fred Jones, president of Winter Sports Inc. and “new” owner of Big Mountain. Particularly, what they think about the changes he has already proposed or made. I am going to try to inform the public about the changes he has and will continue to change. In my personal opinion, this guy is a bummer. That being said, I hope my research and the project as a whole will help the public reach concensus that Big Mountain started in the community and needs to be designed around the skiers, not the potential to attract tourists. The skiers own the mountain, end of story.

1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

1. Nothing, I don’t ride it.

2. Be bummed, but ride different features.

3. Find a new one at a different mountain.

4. Be happy; terrain parks aren’t what skiing is about.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development? Yes No

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

1. No

2. Yes, but I have no opinion on it.

3. Yes, and I thought it was fair.

4. Yes, and I thought it was unethical of Mr. Jones and unfair to the people of

Whitefish.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are going in the right development?

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

1. Yes, it is too “rough” for my taste.

2. Yes, some of the older features (like Chairs 1 and 2 and/or the base village)

need to be re-done.

3. No, the mountain started in the community and should stay that way.

4. No, because the changes proposed aren’t the ones we need.

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief reason why.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment rental prices, et cetera.)

 
fuck i had a huge reply going and i accidentally clicked away. here's a condensed version because i don't feel like typing a whole lot again

First of all, make sure your facts are right. It's called "Whitefish Mountain Resort," and from what I've heard, even though Jones is the CEO, Foley is calling the shots. That's just hearsay though.



1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

(Whitefish MOUNTAIN Resort) I think it is unnecessary. No locals are for it, and the reasons they gave for changing it are bogus. They wanted to "tie it into the town of Whitefish," but if anything it distances it from the locals. I would rather see well paying jobs for locals, an opening date on Thanksgiving rather than December 8th, and maybe reduced rates for locals. That would tie them to Whitefish.

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

They said it was because of confusion with Big Sky, and because Canadians came down to "Ski Whitefish" rather than Big Mountain. But that's bullshit nobody gets confused with Big Sky...it's just a corporate reason.

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

I don't ride pipe much so I wouldn't care a whole lot. They don't get it done until March anyway so it wouldn't make a big difference. And if they sold the Zaugg they could make a better park and what not. I'm indifferent.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development? Yes No

When I went to Lake Louise this past year they had one big lodge, a huge parking lot, and that was it. On Big Mtn houses are everywhere. They're even taking over the hill. Chair Six had a tubing hill before the Condos, and Chair Three got a lot of terrain chopped off for that road and what not.

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

No, but I do know that my mom was given stock in Big for her 16th birthday by her father, and it was split then forced to be sold to the mountain. (She's still barely holding on to her Alpenglow unit)

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping

Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are

going in the right development?

If the development is for chairlifts and other on-mountain things, I am basically for it. (Depending on what it is obviously) If the development goes towards Real Estate and other touristy bullshit, then I'm obviously against it.

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

Chairlifts, Day Lodge, Hellroaring is safe I guess....

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

If this means like terrain-wise then that's a big no.

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much

will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief

reason why.

I can't really put a number on it. I've grown up my entire life in Whitefish and skied since I can remember. I love Big Mountain and it's been in the family but just like Whitefish all these people are coming in and changing it. Locals are thrust aside and the results hurt us. I'm going to college next year and was planning on coming back at Thanksgiving to ski, but they aren't opening until December 8th "to focus on making good snow for the tourist season." That affects me. I'll buy a pass and miss out on four prime days of using it up.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the

area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you

are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment

rental prices, et cetera.)

Well the pass prices aren't ridiculous and I pretty much just drive my car up and eat ramen, so it's not a big deal. It's not a big concern/problem.



This sounds like an interesting project you're doing. Again, just make sure to get your facts right and make sure to ask the NS Big Mtn community any questions you may have. There's a lot of us. And make sure you give updates I want to see how this goes. PM if you need anything else.
 
forgot this:

Shane Dowaliby

17 years old

Grown up in Whitefish my whole life, skied at Big since I can remember. My mom's family has skied here forever also.
 
Yo soy Blake Bjornson, a local 18 year old

1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

well, it's kinda lame, for a few reasons

1) i didn't even find out about the name change until a day before the official change, so obviously the public wasn't given an opportunity to give their opinion on it

2) the name was given quite a bit ago, and that has in a way shaped it, it's like taking a 25 year old's name away from him

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

so that tourists will link the town with the mountain

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

1. Nothing, I don’t ride it.

2. Be bummed, but ride different features.

3. Find a new one at a different mountain.

4. Be happy; terrain parks aren’t what skiing is about.

i wouldn't care one bit, it sucks anyways

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development? Yes No

depends, if the money attained can be turned around and used in good ways that benefit the mountain, then no. but, if the money is used to make some capitalist pig's pocket a little deeper, then heck no.

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

1. No

2. Yes, but I have no opinion on it.

3. Yes, and I thought it was fair.

4. Yes, and I thought it was unethical of Mr. Jones and unfair to the people of

Whitefish.

No, it wasn't publicized all that much.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are going in the right development?

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

chairs, name, village reorganization

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

1. Yes, it is too “rough” for my taste.

2. Yes, some of the older features (like Chairs 1 and 2 and/or the base village)

need to be re-done.

3. No, the mountain started in the community and should stay that way.

4. No, because the changes proposed aren’t the ones we need.

upgrades are generally good, i heard we're getting a six pack, which is cool. however, i think that this one dude, who is not really taking into the consideration the townsfolk opinion, should not be making decisions

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief reason why.

definitely hard to put a number on it, i just graduated and probably won't be spending a whole lot of time on the big in the near future

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment rental prices, et cetera.)

what sucks is how expensive the town is getting, because i love whitefish, and could see myself living here again after college and what not, so i hope it will still be affordable.

COMMENTS:

I think the most important thing is that we don't destroy the very thing that draws people here, and in my opinion, it isn't great skiing, or big lifts, or a name, it is the feel.

it's cozy, and genuinely nice, the people are cool, not uptight with a couple dead animals draped lavishly over their shoulders. big mountain, as i and many others will forever call it, should retain that feel, and not become gay.

werd,

blake
 
1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

I

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

1. Nothing, I don’t ride it.

2. Be bummed, but ride different features.

3. Find a new one at a different mountain.

4. Be happy; terrain parks aren’t what skiing is about.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development? Yes No

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

1. No

2. Yes, but I have no opinion on it.

3. Yes, and I thought it was fair.

4. Yes, and I thought it was unethical of Mr. Jones and unfair to the people of

Whitefish.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are going in the right development?

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

1. Yes, it is too “rough” for my taste.

2. Yes, some of the older features (like Chairs 1 and 2 and/or the base village)

need to be re-done.

3. No, the mountain started in the community and should stay that way.

4. No, because the changes proposed aren’t the ones we need.

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief reason why.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment rental prices, et cetera.)
 
Sorry about that.

1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

I don't see why a name change will bring them "closer to Whitefish". Actions speak much loader than words here.

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

Somebody was probably very bored in the marketing department.

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

1. Nothing, I don’t ride it.

2. Be bummed, but ride different features. This option. They will be shooting themselves in the foot by doing this though.

3. Find a new one at a different mountain.

4. Be happy; terrain parks aren’t what skiing is about.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development? Yes No

Hell yes.

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

1. No

2. Yes, but I have no opinion on it.

3. Yes, and I thought it was fair.

4. Yes, and I thought it was unethical of Mr. Jones and unfair to the people of

Whitefish. Yes, the people of Whitefish are being screwed, but this is nothing new from a massive corperation that is concerned about real estate, not skiing.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are going in the right development?Yes and no. I fully applaud redoing Chairs 1 and 2, both are old and falling apart. However, too much emphasis is being put on the beginner area ( which currently has the most lifts), and not enough on expansion to the top of Flower Point from the bottom of 7 or up onto Hellroaring peak. I completely disagree with destroying parking for condos and businesses.

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

1. Yes, it is too “rough” for my taste.

2. Yes, some of the older features (like Chairs 1 and 2 and/or the base village)

need to be re-done. I fall about here.

3. No, the mountain started in the community and should stay that way.

4. No, because the changes proposed aren’t the ones we need.

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief reason why. About a 4ish. I won't be here full time next year, so I am not as mad as I would be. But the skiing I will do will be affected.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment rental prices, et cetera.) I am sick of middle and lower class families not being able to ski or snowboard because they have been priced off the mountain. That is unfair and is a trend that should be reversed, starting here.
 


1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

I feel that it is a good change. According to the Independent, Big Mountain Hired some company out of California to help them get their marketing department straightened out. The company they hired apparently is the same company that works for Apple computers and Fed Ex, which are two great companies with an INSANELY well done marketing program and simple face of their brands and are also great companies. So I put pretty good faith in them that they know what they are doing. Also the new logo for the mountain is tight as hell , its a fish incorporated into a mountain, looks clean and well done. The old one was like a snowflake with different colors (boring)

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

To make the mountain more distinct from Big Sky. If you ever go out of Montana and tell people you are from Montana they always think you are from Big Sky i swear to god haha. Time have changed and in my opinion, its very smart to change your companies name to something more specific and unique.

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

I would be pretty pissed for sure, because I often prefer pipe over tables. BUT, I dont think they will get rid of it. All mountains these days are striving to build pipes/parks to pull in that crowd of people, not deter them. So I think they will just work on getting that whole operation more efficient hopefully rather than just bag it.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development?

No. Real Estate is Big $$$ these days and there is a lot of room for houses etc that is just land not being used or some crappy cabin built on it that looks like shit along the road. The CEO guy basically said that he doesnt want to make it into a new Aspen colorado, but you cant blame him for selling off some really good parcels of land to willing buyers. They arent out to destroy the mountain. He wants to keep it low key for the most part. He basically said in that interview in the Independent that he is losing money over doing all of this for us, he basically just has a shit load of money and wants to spend it on good things before he dies. He sounded stoked on Montanas uniqueness.

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

3. Yes, and I thought it was fair. I read that interview in the Independent and it made sense to me really. If there are too many voices/opinions on what should be done with the mountain, nothing will get done because of clashes. Apparently before the S- Corporation was formed, the mountain was in debt bigtime. There wasnt a single stockholder that had an endless amount of money to be a solid backbone of the mountain like their is now. Alot of shit needed to be replaced/rebuild to keep up with the times but nothing ever changed really because of lack of money im sure.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping

Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are

going in the right development?

Yes, the Chair 6 lodge that they are putting in is so freaking sick, the old one was ghetto and old. There wasnt enough room for alot of people there and i imagine next season it will be a great big homebase cause there is alot going on at chair 6.

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

Opening 2 weeks later than normal.

Season passes are being sold until like november rather than like may (which is good) and they are cheaper if i recall.

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

2. Yes, some of the older features (like Chairs 1 and 2 and/or the base village)

need to be re-done. Alot of the buildings really were getting old and unefficient and small for what the mountain is capable of carrying. The chairs were breaking down alot when there were large crowds of people. (i.e. this season they were spreading out chairs between loads) . Trying to run a shoddy chairlift with human beings suspended in the air 50+ feet is not something you want to slack on and that shit needs to be upgraded often and before I doubt they had enough money to take on something like that. Chair two was mad outdated and was a huge pain in the ass to get to, now that you can get to it from one, will be sick as fuck.

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much

will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief

reason why.

5

Im ready for something new up there personally. Yea, opening two weeks later than normal will be wierd but oh well. I think they will keep night skiing and the park/pipe personally cause if they put in the new chair two alot more people will want to night ski because of the better chairlift (the old one kinda blew) so I dont think it would be in their best interest to totally stop night skiing. Besides they only do it on like fridays and saturdays most of the year. The old marketing group that worked at the big seemed to suck pretty bad and all of their magazine adds etc looked like a twelve year old made them. So I think there is alot of room for improvement. Its nice to have something be fresh. I honestly cant argue with a guy who wants to dump a shit load of money into a really sick resort. If I can get to my powder faster (new chairs) and have higher quality lodges/buildings to hang out in, its hard to complain. I tend to think that change is good.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the

area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you

are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment

rental prices, et cetera.)

I buy a season pass and as far as I recall, they will be cheaper than normal?

Food is always expensive up there and generally ill pay it because their shit is good haha

I dont live in Whitefish, so i wont be affected by the cost of living there at the moment. I'd like to buy a place their hopefully someday.

Name: Dever

Age:23

I have been a local to Big Mountain ever since I was 12. I learned to ski here and really love the mountain. This year especially was a good powder year :D

I ride park and pipe alot as well as trees etc. hell even moguls sometimes

I have a bachelors degree in Anthropology with the option of Archaeology from the Univ of Montana fyi

By the way, interesting thread, was fun to take part in that survey.

I might have more to say later.



 
Ben Fagan 19 born and raised wfish mt. i hike the mtn b4 it opens and after it closes im up there everyy day i can be

1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

the name isnt really that big of a deal to me, i mean it is just a name... i mean it bothers me a lot, why change something thats been a part of this towns history for 60 yrs? what really bothers me is that the management says they are changing the name to tie the mountain closer to the town.... why not keep chair 6 free for locals who are learning.... i also heard nite skiing may come to an end... fuck that! all the management cares about is money they do not care about the locals in the town, closing the resort early, opening it late... poor management of park and pipe- and yeah we dont live in park city, we dont expect a park city park... but seriously why buy an 80,000 dollar pipe grinder and use it two or three times a year... and if youre charging prices as though you are a world class resort... then fucking give the park their own groomer. Oh and then flying in help from other countries....... we could have good hard working locals working on the mtn and big mtn flys in foreigners to and pays them i dunno probly around 7 or so an hour... why not have real locals working up there and support the LOCAL economy, pay them a dollar or two more an hour, rather than fly in help from other countries.

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

cuz out dumbass yuppie rich people want to make change big mtn into sum fucking......... i dont even know fuck them!

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

i would not really give a shit cuz i dont really ride pipe, but it would piss me off cuz they spent all that money getting all that shit together and then they just bag it.... im not a park rat by any means but shit, if they have the resources they should keep that shit up cuz then all the park rats will stay in the park and leave my POW ALONE!! haha

1. Nothing, I don’t ride it.

2. Be bummed, but ride different features.

3. Find a new one at a different mountain.

4. Be happy; terrain parks aren’t what skiing is about.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development? Yes No

HOLY SHITT is this an actual question? fuck BIG MTN MANAGEMENT! ski resorts are called ski resorts cuz people fucking ski at them there not called house building resorts......... it so refreshing to go up to canada

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

yeah and fuck that shit....... there are families that still live in wfish that were involved with big mtn from the star t and fucking rich ass, out of state, fuckers that just want to make lots of money took over that shit. they do not give a shit about supporting or helping out the local economy - there just in it for themselves

1. No

2. Yes, but I have no opinion on it.

3. Yes, and I thought it was fair.

4. Yes, and I thought it was unethical of Mr. Jones and unfair to the people of

Whitefish.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are going in the right development?

i think chair 1 and 2 are good mostly........ just means my pows gunna get tracked out faster... faster chair lift carrying 6 ppl at a time..... guess ill just hike further away..... but as far as some of the begginner lifts like wtf? the whole mtn is basically begginer lifts, why not spend like a little money clearing out hellroaring basin along chair 11 area or put some lifts further out...

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

skiable terrian being turned into housing

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

1. Yes, it is too “rough” for my taste.

2. Yes, some of the older features (like Chairs 1 and 2 and/or the base village)

need to be re-done.

3. No, the mountain started in the community and should stay that way.

4. No, because the changes proposed aren’t the ones we need.

i think our resort needs exactly the opposite.... its turning into a real estate resort..... big mtn is a ski resort not a real estate resort

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief reason why.

i could say what number i would put on this i dont know where im going to end up in life, but i suppose it wont affect me too much ill be skiing here for sure next winter and likely the following winter...... i may get in trouble a lot for vandilizing "WHITEIFSH MTN RESORT" signs but other than that ill probly just have to hike a little further out of bounds each year.... i may/ likely will end up moving back to wfish and settling down, and most likely big mtn will have sold all of chair 2 and 3 by then so they will be focused more on real estate.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment rental prices, et cetera.)

well pass prices arent incredibly bad yet, and i ride the snow bus most days or hitch and i bring my own beer and ramon noodle soup so i suppose not but if i had a resonable alternative i would rather not support big mtn. maybe later on in life if i still live around here ill just have a sled and go up to canada to ride resorts once and a while.

 
haha sry if my reply was well... yeah i was drunkish... but yeah i think i decided im not going to buy a pass to big mtn this year b/c i can get a pass to louise, kimberly, fernie, and nakiska for around 900 USD. and it would cost me 400 for a big mtn pass, so im thinking maybe ill just borrow a big mtn pass this year.
 


1. How do you feel about the changing of the name of Big Mountain to Whitefish Valley Resort?

I think it is really stupid, and it has minimal applications as far as advertising.

2. Why do you think the name change was made?

I think it was made for advertising purposes so people wouldn’t confuse it with Big Sky. I also think some of the higher ups have too much power and decided to change it just because they could.

3. If the half pipe was to be destroyed, what would you do?

2. Be bummed, but ride different features—they don’t maintain it very well anyway.

4. Do you feel that there is too much emphasis on real estate development?

Yes

5. Do you know much about the acquisition of the mountain?

Not too much.

6. Aside from the estimated $6.8 million being invested in revamping Chair 1, 2, and eventually 6, do you think the $20 million changes are going in the right development?

Probably not, I suspect they will build more developments and limit the parking even more.

7. Please list some of the changes you know of that are being made:

New outpost, new houses all over, that’s about it besides the new lifts.

8. Do you think that the resort needs this facelift?

I think changing some of the chairs might be beneficial, but I don’t really see the need to change the name.

9. On a scale of 1 (being not at all) to 10 (being extremely), how much will these changes affect you? If you feel like it, include a brief reason why.

3, I am leaving town for college anyway, but they affect my opinion of the mountain.

10. Are you concerned with the cost of lift tickets and living in the area in general going up? Please specify which costs in particular you are worried about. (Food, lift tickets, hotel rental prices, equipment rental prices, et cetera.)

I am leaving town, so I’m not too worried about it. Lift tickets are a concern though.

Alex Adams, 18 years old, Whitefish, MT. I've skiied here since I was 2. It seems as though it has changed from a family oriented resort to a rich person tourist resort.
 
big mountain is such sweet name and hill.......whitefish valley resort just sounds too richie rich and lame

althought the locals are probably just gonna keep calling it big mtn
 
Im gettin so pissed, ive heard a couple tourists around saying like "yeah i ski whitefish mtn resort in the winter" and then theres fucking whitefish mtn resort stickers on ppls cars... i think someone should make fuck foley stickers that we can put over the wmr stickers. anyhow big mtn is in for a lot of graffiti this year.
 
nick ferrington is selling those exact stickers. and i have also heard that some downtown businesses are selling shirts that say "ex-foley-ate whitefish"
 
see thats just not cool... like wtf everyone is always just all about money....

Big Mountain management sells out then people try to profit off that and become sell outs to money.....

someone should mass produce stickers like that so they end up all over whitefish and up on the mtn... well i guess i dont know how much the stickers are going for, so itd be cool if ppl are just trying to cover the cost of making them...
 
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