Whiteface killing the game

hikemoward

hikemoward

Member
So I've started to notice that a lot of places out west (keyston, PC, etc) are closing this week, and too my understanding they had a really solid winter this year. While on the east coast as you all probably know we had an aweful winter but whiteface is still somehow open. They haven't been open during the week these last two weeks but they have still been open on the weekends and the park has been pretty killer. Whiteface is open this coming weekend too (probably their last weekend) but I'm just wondering why are places out west closing already? Is there not much snow or do they still close even with a lot of snow because no one is thinking about skiing when it gets warmer out? Anyone experienced closing day out west and in the east that could add some input?
 
Places out west close because they don't make any money during april and don't care about their pass holders, which I don't blame them its business. PC last year was open til april 18th and they could've been open til april 17th this year for sure, but that's just how vail and other large corps do business. Places like snowbird, alta, brighton etc are all open this week and snowbird will be open into may, because that's how they do business.
 
It's been a long time since Santa was on TV hyping the snow. Deep snow and sunny skies make for super fun conditions this time of year. Too bad day trippers don't get the message. The average person could have way more fun skiing on a sunny morning in April than they ever do floundering around in a snow storm during winter break.
 
As said above, out west its based more on business volume then snow levels. A lot of places are also on National Forest land and have closing date agreements with the forest service.
 
I wish ski hills near me had owners that would be down to just run one lift until all the snow is actually gone. No chalet operations, no ski patrol, just 2 lifties and one run. Charge like $20 a ticket and dedicated riders would flock.
 
holy fuck I wish I would have known about this a while ago, I would have made the drive out to whiteface several times
 
Keystone and Vail both are right in the path of major migration routes for elk. Also, like said, these places see most of their income from pass holders, who, at this point have gotten enough days, and don't really wanna battle the slush/poor conditions.
 
13673138:hikemoward said:
Does anyone know the average closing dates for resorts in Tahoe like squaw valley or northstar
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Mid to late April. Squaw is usually open a week later then Northstar and will sometimes extend the season if its still good.
 
Really its pretty simple. Its a business decision. If a resort (or any business) can't stay profitable during a certain time of the year than they will shut down. Also I think a lot of resorts have to shut down due to federal land lease laws / animal laws also
 
13672799:john18061806 said:
I wish ski hills near me had owners that would be down to just run one lift until all the snow is actually gone. No chalet operations, no ski patrol, just 2 lifties and one run. Charge like $20 a ticket and dedicated riders would flock.
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this is pretty much how big boulder does it during march when they can, pretty much most of the dedicated riders from pa/nj make it out. sweet to see mountains that care about their riders a lot and aren't only in it for the money
 
13673248:ttelrab said:
this is pretty much how big boulder does it during march when they can,
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March skiing is pretty standard no matter where you are... At least 1-2 weeks of it. I'm talking about getting all the snow pushed into 1 or 2 runs for late April into May.
 
13673407:hikemoward said:
Damn these responses have given me a lot more respect for whiteface. Ski the east!
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Don't get me wrong Whitey is so much fun to lap and their parks are so fun, but it's not like they're holdin it down in terms of late season closing in the east. They're not even open for weekday skiing and they're closing this weekend. Sunday River and Sugarloaf are still open 7 days a week, skiing on like 20 trails. Killington and Jay Peak are likely the same. I skied Whiteface closing day last year it was this weekend last year too. I then skied Jay Peak for literally 3 more weeks into May. Killington and Sugarloaf also go into May. Whitey is the shit, but you're making it sound like they have the latest closing date on the east.
 
13673454:207 said:
Don't get me wrong Whitey is so much fun to lap and their parks are so fun, but it's not like they're holdin it down in terms of late season closing in the east. They're not even open for weekday skiing and they're closing this weekend. Sunday River and Sugarloaf are still open 7 days a week, skiing on like 20 trails. Killington and Jay Peak are likely the same. I skied Whiteface closing day last year it was this weekend last year too. I then skied Jay Peak for literally 3 more weeks into May. Killington and Sugarloaf also go into May. Whitey is the shit, but you're making it sound like they have the latest closing date on the east.
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Word you're right I guess I'm just so stoked because they still have their park up even after killington closed their park and carinthia is closed, but you're right sugarloaf killington and sunday river run the east coast game
 
13672735:eheath said:
Places out west close because they don't make any money during april and don't care about their pass holders, which I don't blame them its business. PC last year was open til april 18th and they could've been open til april 17th this year for sure, but that's just how vail and other large corps do business. Places like snowbird, alta, brighton etc are all open this week and snowbird will be open into may, because that's how they do business.
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don't a few places out there have to close by a certain date because they're on state park land or something?
 
13673466:Peter. said:
don't a few places out there have to close by a certain date because they're on state park land or something?
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Yeah thats how most resorts operate, leasing land from the forest service. Places like alta stay open until their land lease is up, park city/vail/talisker owns all of the land, so they could be open as long as they want, similar to how snowbird operates late into the season.
 
I can tell you Ice Face is not making money by still being open. No east coast resort is, except maybe killington on beer sales on sunny days.

East places stsy open because east marketing is all about snowmaking and open first close last. Dumb business.

West don't care. Vail don't care. Why? Vail smart. Make money peak times. Keep overhead low. Close when money not there.

This is also is called simple business.
 
13673294:john18061806 said:
March skiing is pretty standard no matter where you are... At least 1-2 weeks of it. I'm talking about getting all the snow pushed into 1 or 2 runs for late April into May.
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well, let me rephrase. march this year, maybe 2 weeks into april last season
 
13673481:SkiBum. said:
East places stsy open because east marketing is all about snowmaking and open first close last. Dumb business.
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Whiteface is still open because it's state run, they're not trying to be the last to close.
 
Whiteface is open because there is enough snow to get down to the bottom. there is a pretty fun spring park right now with like a 25 jump/ hip option. come enjoy this totally beautiful, also feel free to buy your park rangers a beer!
 
13673768:Uncle_Remus said:
Whiteface is open because there is enough snow to get down to the bottom. there is a pretty fun spring park right now with like a 25 jump/ hip option. come enjoy this totally beautiful, also feel free to buy your park rangers a beer!
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Best answer yet hahaha this weekend is gonna be sick!
 
whiteface is still open because they have the state budget to do so and will spend every dollar they were given. it is run by the Olympic Regional Development Authority and given funding by NYS.
 
13673856:freeskibum82 said:
whiteface is still open because they have the state budget to do so and will spend every dollar they were given. it is run by the Olympic Regional Development Authority and given funding by NYS.
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Bud, I think I know cuts my paychecks. and although I could go into budgets and who gets to stay open and why. i will tell you this, I was there yesterday its a skelton crew on a skeleton mountain, coverage above the quad is good and the snow is nice below is swampy, enjoy the weekend.
 
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