What makes a resort great? Good v. Bad

Ian_Fitz

Ian_Fitz

Member
What makes a ski resort great? What are some really Good or Bad resorts and what characteristics make them stand out and show how good/bad they are. Is it the staff? The park crew? The vibes? The features? The scenery? Feel free to tell stories of how a ski resort did something great or something annoying /terrible. Looking forward to all responses!! Have a great day!
 
The fucking locals. I'd rather ride a mountain with chill locals that share the stoke of skiing over some rich preppy douche that thinks buying a $750 ski jacket will make him the best skier on the mountain. Examples, Alta is chill. Vail is not. Snowbird is cool, Aspen is not. Getting the drift??
 
For me it is terrain and snowfall. Mammoth/Tahoe in normal snow seasons. I ski Mammoth 2-3 weekends a month and for two week-long trips per year. The only places I have visited during the last few years are Squaw, my home mountain during my ski bum days, and Snowbird for the Gordy Pfeifer camp. For those who don't know, Gordy used to film in AK with both TGR and MSP. He can definitely take your skiing up a notch. His camps are called straightlineadventure.
 
I think having terrain parts that are more hidden so the gapers don't know where it is... A decent park and fast lifts. I guess I just like a mountain that takes a short time to go up and a longer time to get down. I don't like crowds and nice lifties are cool too! That would be the perfect mountain
 
Stowe:

- excellent terrain & scenery. Mt. Mansfield offers some legit "backcountry" skiing for the Northeast when the snowpack is right. The scenery is unbelievable in that area as well.

- Stowe has a big-mountain feel for a relatively small, secluded mountain.

- park is legit, always flowy with some big, technical features as well as your basic flat bars, down rails, DFD, etc.

- the locals that are out at first chair are some of the hardest charging, most technically sound skiers i've ever seen. It really is a sight to behold and it makes getting out there at 7:30 AM really fun.

- summit lodge and base lodge are super chill. base lodge has a cool little bar and "picnic" area with live music. Base lodge is super old so it has a very retro feel and everyone is out having a great time.

- biggest drawback is the ownership and park locals. Ownership is pushing the big, cushy resort feel. park locals are little shit sniffers.

Poweder mountain:

- awesome terrain. speaks for itself.

- drive-up summit lodge is the best lunch spot ever. great tacos.

- locals are some of the most welcoming, generally stoked on skiing people around. I think every patroller was hooting and hollering at us when we were out for first chair.

- just a fun mountain to explore.

- park was super fun. you could hit virtually every feature in a row.

- old singe chairs and no-bar chairs are very rustic and add to the stoke.
 
Really good terrain (steep, long fall line, complex pillow/cliff goodness).

Multiple aspects so the skiing is good regardless of what direction the storm/wind came from.

Lift layout that reflects the above. If I have to traverse or boot pack every run to ski the goods it sucks.
 
13592170:histonskier said:
Chill patrol that doesn't take down jumps around the mountain.

aka: Alta
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Obviously you've never heard of them blowing up chads gap. Or maybe that was just tanners ankles?

Good resort has gotta have:

- big time terrain

- big time snowfall

- a terrible grooming program

- hike-to inbounds cirque's and bowls

- a good jumpline whose entrance is below some really fun terrain

- non clusterfuck for parking

- cheap tickets and no lodge amenities

- an overabundance of avalanche dogs

- water fountains at bottom of every lift for filling water bottles

- a lone, privatley owned on mountain bar and grill.
 
Decent parking that doesn't require a massive walk / can change skis easily mid day without wasting time.

Good terrain / steeps and good snow that isn't gone in 10 minutes

No overcrowding / good mountain layout to keep lines small

Good apre scene.
 
13592447:OregonDead said:
You are not going to find this at any resort unless you bring it up yourself.
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He asked what makes resorts nice, so I said something they should improve on haha
 
I'd also say having a lot of skiable acres and a huge vert. We don't have any resorts here like there are in the alps, true canyon to canyon skiing and resorts stretching for miles long. I like the idea of being able to ski an entire day without returning to base, staying up in elevation and away from the town/village thats at the bottom of the mountain. It would add a more secluded feeling to skiing, something that isn't very common at least for east coaster skiers.
 
Good

-Easy parking, lots of space and close to the hill.

-Well payed employee will put a lot of life into a place.

-Well spaced out tables in the lodge. It doesnt have to be fancy.

-Hidden areas in the mountain are always a hit. I hate it when you can see the entire mountain from any point on the mountain. Marmot Basin is the worst offender

-The freedom to roam the mountain as you wish. Revelstoke gets the 5 stars for that.

-A nice bar

Bad

-No snow removal in parking lot.

-Line ups for everything from lift, bathroom, table, food, run...name it; there is a line up for it.

-Lifts that stop every 2 minutes because a gaper fell off.

-Gapers in snowparks...makes me rage everytime.

-Kindergarden-like rules enforced by a 42 yo loser snob

-The clusterfuck called the weekend!!!!!!
 
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