Urban Terrain Park Opening Nov. 22 near Boise

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SamSandmire

Member
After battling political BS, NIMBYs & CAVEs (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), Gateway Parks will finally be able to open their terrain park in Eagle, Idaho. Rails, jumps, a mini-halfpipe (13' for now) and tubing will be accessible without having to drive up the mountain. (Bogus Basin depends on natural snow & is not yet open). Gateway season passes are discounted to $125 through opening day. Daily tix are $15 & that includes equipment rental + a lesson if it's your first time. Thanks to everyone on NS who signed the petition. You won!
http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2014/11/17/eagle-terrain-park-to-open-saturday/19196459/
 
13226486:JustGoWithIt said:
$15 for a pass, lessons, and rentals? How are they even going to make any profit?
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The free rental & lesson is for anyone's first time skiing/boarding. After that, it's $15 for the lift ticket only. Season passes are $125 now thru opening day, then I think they go up to $149.

The idea is to get kids who never had easy access before to start skiing/snowboarding. It's inexpensive. They don't have to drive up icy, winding roads. The whole family can go tubing there, too. I think urban parks like this could reinvigorate the industry by expanding the base.
 
13226504:SamSandmire said:
The free rental & lesson is for anyone's first time skiing/boarding. After that, it's $15 for the lift ticket only. Season passes are $125 now thru opening day, then I think they go up to $149.

The idea is to get kids who never had easy access before to start skiing/snowboarding. It's inexpensive. They don't have to drive up icy, winding roads. The whole family can go tubing there, too. I think urban parks like this could reinvigorate the industry by expanding the base.
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I think it is a really good idea, however I would hate to see the quality and construction of the park and tubing hill suffer in the name of keeping dirt cheap prices.
 
Stoked to see this project coming together. Haven't seen or heard anything new from him in a while other than getting the yearly park rakes ordered. I hope small operations like this start to become a trend.
 
13226515:JustGoWithIt said:
I think it is a really good idea, however I would hate to see the quality and construction of the park and tubing hill suffer in the name of keeping dirt cheap prices.
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To allow kids from low income families who would otherwise would never have had a chance to ski... who cares about having perfectly shaped jumps and all that all the time if everyone's having fun and it's safe.

I'd rather have some mountains be dirt cheap to get new people stoked on the sport and thus funnel money into the industry, however little that may be, then to have every mountain try to cater to the same group of people and charge some obscene lift prices

**This post was edited on Nov 19th 2014 at 8:35:19am
 
13226823:nutz. said:
To allow kids from low income families who would otherwise would never have had a chance to ski... who cares about having perfectly shaped jumps and all that all the time if everyone's having fun and it's safe.

I'd rather have some mountains be dirt cheap to get new people stoked on the sport and thus funnel money into the industry, however little that may be, then to have ever mountain try to cater to the same group of people and charge some obscene lift prices
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Well yes, I see your point. Then I hope the income generated is used in a constructive and effective way.
 
13226776:T.L. said:
Stoked to see this project coming together. Haven't seen or heard anything new from him in a while other than getting the yearly park rakes ordered. I hope small operations like this start to become a trend.
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This. More accessible skiing = awesome. I would love to get involved in something like this someday. Stoked that they're still at it. One of my favorite things that's happened in the skiing world.
 
When political BS & cranky neighbors kept Neptune from opening the park he planned last season, he built a fun terrain park/tubing hill mid-season on a tiny incline in a nearby state park (Eagle Island). He & his crew changed up jumps & features every week & it was way more fun than anything the local ski hill (Bogus Basin) had ever built. With more acreage, a steeper hill, frigid early-season temps, and a huge water tank at the top of the hill, the sky's the limit. The best thing is, these guys actually listen to the kids and are stoked to build what they suggest. They're even planning a mini-pipe. There's even hope for Bogus this year cuz they actually hired a guy who knows what he's doing and put him in charge of the park. So the stoke around Boise shredding is rising...finally!
 
13226823:nutz. said:
To allow kids from low income families who would otherwise would never have had a chance to ski... who cares about having perfectly shaped jumps and all that all the time if everyone's having fun and it's safe.

I'd rather have some mountains be dirt cheap to get new people stoked on the sport and thus funnel money into the industry, however little that may be, then to have ever mountain try to cater to the same group of people and charge some obscene lift prices
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Yea except they built in Eagle which is where the richest people in the area live haha
 
13226964:SamSandmire said:
When political BS & cranky neighbors kept Neptune from opening the park he planned last season, he built a fun terrain park/tubing hill mid-season on a tiny incline in a nearby state park (Eagle Island). He & his crew changed up jumps & features every week & it was way more fun than anything the local ski hill (Bogus Basin) had ever built. With more acreage, a steeper hill, frigid early-season temps, and a huge water tank at the top of the hill, the sky's the limit. The best thing is, these guys actually listen to the kids and are stoked to build what they suggest. They're even planning a mini-pipe. There's even hope for Bogus this year cuz they actually hired a guy who knows what he's doing and put him in charge of the park. So the stoke around Boise shredding is rising...finally!
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You have me pretty sold on how rad this little place sounds. Bump the thread with some edits if anyone gets at it this season!
 
13227226:NinetyFour said:
You have me pretty sold on how rad this little place sounds. Bump the thread with some edits if anyone gets at it this season!
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YES! I really wanna see what comes out of this little place.
 
13226486:JustGoWithIt said:
$15 for a pass, lessons, and rentals? How are they even going to make any profit?
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I'd be willing to bet that this guy is rich and just wants to give back to the community by giving kids something fun today. But thats just my take on things.
 
13228171:Tanner_McClune said:
I'd be willing to bet that this guy is rich and just wants to give back to the community by giving kids something fun today. But thats just my take on things.
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Thats not your "take". Thats an opinion based on no facts so you can't justify that. it could very well be a community effort for all you know.

Anyways, props Boise. Im hyped to get down there this year.
 
Ryan Neptune is a snow ninja who has built terrain parks on mountains all over the world. We are lucky he lives in Eagle, Idaho (a Boise "suburb") and chose to build his showcase urban terrain park here. Yes, he is financing it and unfortunately, he had to spend a lot of money he didn't count on when Ada County got in the way. But that's all behind, and now he's putting this flagship park in our backyard. He plans to build similar parks all over. He was involved in building Ruby Hill in Denver. There's a Gateway Park in Rockford, Illinois and the last couple years there was one at Hawk Island in Michigan. So yes, Ryan is a benevolent guy. He's also got an excellent, long-term business plan that I believe will "bring the hill to the kids" all over the country. Can you tell we're stoked?
 
I'm from moscow so I like to hate on Boise but between this and that bike park in eagle it seams like you have a really good thing going!
 
13228919:cydwhit said:
I'm from moscow so I like to hate on Boise but between this and that bike park in eagle it seams like you have a really good thing going!
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Gateway Park is AT that bike park in Eagle. Such a blast!
 
13228919:cydwhit said:
I'm from moscow so I like to hate on Boise but between this and that bike park in eagle it seams like you have a really good thing going!
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CY, dont be fooled, its a trap! (stop through on our way back from cali?)
 
SKiing needs more of these. Hopefully areas like this can get sponsorship from local shops, resorts, and larger manufacturers.

This sounds like a great way to get people to try out skiing, since they don't have to drive a million miles, or spend a lot of money on gear and lift tickets just to try it out. It should hopefully lead to more people picking up the sport, who will then buy passes to larger areas, and gear, etc, etc.

BZ on this one.
 
13229837:MRoden said:
another Gateway Park that is going to crash and burn to the ground.
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Care to provide some background?

Anyway, sounds awesome. I grew up skiing southern Idaho where the terrain park situation was seriously lacking, this was back before Sun Valley got into the park game. Glad to hear things are happening in Idaho and I encourage everyone in the area to go check this out and keep it on the right track!
 
Haven't seen an edit yet, but I went out there yesterday & the rail features are plentiful & sick! I'll post links to a couple news stories below. They're billing it as a great place for noobs, but Kevin Allen, who coached Alexi Micinski (US Freeski Rookie Team member), said Gateway Parks has the best features he has ever hit in Idaho before Christmas break. These guys know what they're doing. The park will keep growing until it's all the way to the top of the hill, so they'll be adding a jump line, magic carpet, mini-pipe, etc. when it gets cold enough to make more snow. And in the Boise area, inversions are common & temps drop below freezing many nights/days in the winter. Gateway's now posting photos on their Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/gatewayparkseagle
http://www.jrn.com/kivitv/news/Begi...arders-dont-have-to-travel-far-283601811.html
http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/eag...wayski-snowboard-283617171.html?tab=video&c=y
 
13229884:ESB said:
Care to provide some background?

Anyway, sounds awesome. I grew up skiing southern Idaho where the terrain park situation was seriously lacking, this was back before Sun Valley got into the park game. Glad to hear things are happening in Idaho and I encourage everyone in the area to go check this out and keep it on the right track!
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Example: Hawk Island. Only lasted two seasons. I wouldn't really say Neptune is all the generous. He still owes my boss $6K+ from last season. Pretty sure he has a couple domestic charges too, hide your kids, hide your wife.
 
13227226:NinetyFour said:
You have me pretty sold on how rad this little place sounds. Bump the thread with some edits if anyone gets at it this season!
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Trying again. Took some quick shots of kids having fun at the park:
 
13226823:nutz. said:
To allow kids from low income families who would otherwise would never have had a chance to ski... who cares about having perfectly shaped jumps and all that all the time if everyone's having fun and it's safe.

I'd rather have some mountains be dirt cheap to get new people stoked on the sport and thus funnel money into the industry, however little that may be, then to have every mountain try to cater to the same group of people and charge some obscene lift prices

**This post was edited on Nov 19th 2014 at 8:35:19am
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It would be cool if it was like that, but it is being built in most wealthy part of the greater boise area. I have snob cousins who live in eagle,and its all gated communities
 
Kids from all over the valley (not just Eagle) have been using the park. That's the beauty of it. It's 8 miles from downtown Boise. And you don't have to spend 45 min. driving up winding, slippery roads to get there. At Gateway, parents can drop their kids off for a couple hours after school or sit at the fire pits & watch. Good article on the cover of the local paper.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/12/05/3524915_making-it-snow-in-eagle.html?sp=/99/1687/&rh=1

Eagle's Mayor says Gateway will introduce snow sports to a new generation, due to the easy access & affordability. I agree. We bundled up our kids & took them up to Bogus/Sun Valley/Brundage every weekend until they could drive, but only cuz we are ski bums (in our hearts). Even after they could drive, many parents wouldn't let their teens drive up the mountain. We did (cuz...ski bums). Most parents wouldn't even let their kids ride in the car with my kid driving. So all their friends would load into my van & I would drive them up to Bogus if it was a week night & to Sun Valley on weekends. But it would have been awesome if they had a place close by that they could go during the week, on safe roads, for just a few hours & still get homework done & get sleep.

To be honest, the terrain park at Bogus usually wasn't worth the drive. It was often not even open. The Bogus park crew had to build features with shovels cuz they didn't have a cat driver who knew how to build park features. Everyone loves Bogus on pow days & for the stashes in the trees. But young people who want to ski a real terrain park (with well-built & well-maintained jumps & rails) had to find their way to Sun Valley, and that was possible only on weekends. The awesome features at Gateway are forcing Bogus to step up their game. Bogus FINALLY made the terrain park it's own department & hired a guy who knows what he's doing to run it. We are all hopeful that Bogus's park will improve. If it does, that's awesome for everyone & I am STOKED! And I think we have Gateway to thank for that, too!
 
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