Michigan Ski Resorts: Who’s Doing it Wrong?

It kills me to be a local at one of the southeast Michigan resorts. I go back for one real reason, its the only economical solution for me to ride. I simply cant go anywhere else to ride 5 days a week. And for those dedicated to riding, that is the problem.

The other part that breaks my heart is to see, from a consumers perspective, such potential and how truly simple it would be for some major improvements to be made. I ride almost exclusively park. There is no reason for me to have to go home every night and ice my knees because the landing are flatter than a desktop. I have worked on the parks and I do understand how difficult it really is to properly build one, but take that initiative and your jumping your competitors by leaps and bounds! The people are willing to make that extra 15 minute drive for it, I promise.

Last season I spent at least two days a week (Saturday and Sunday) taking 30-45 minutes of my own riding time to dye the lips. I used my own dye, and for the most part my own sprayer or jugs. I bought 4 little, maybe 1.5 ounce bottles of food coloring for 1.29. One bottle did the whole park (lips and landings) once. You can get a 1 gallon jug for 9.99 (I just looked it up) and you’ve got dye for 85 days if my math serves correct. Pick up an old used chemical/fertilizer sprayer at a garage sale for 5 bucks tops and for less than the price of one of your (inflated) lift tickets your not only making your parks more enjoyable and fun, but SAFER!!!!!

Another note on parks, there is absolutely no reason I should be hitting the grass in a thigh deep hole after one of your boxes. Trust me, I’ve been there, it DOES get that rutted out. With a park rake/shovel and two people to trade off so one doesn’t get too tired ( I really am trying my best to make it as easy as possible), it takes 25 minutes to fill, pack, rake, and hand shape that lip/landing. Yet another thing, from a riders perspective, that makes your parks more fun, enjoyable, and again, SAFER.

Just a couple of very very simple (CHEAP!) ideas a local rider would like to see.

Its obvious that in these rough times there are still enough people willing to spend their hard earned cash on a wintertime luxury activity to stay in business. However, why just exist when you could flourish? Implementing such simple ideas as these ( and this is only a park riders prospective, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CONSUMERS for other fantastic ideas, they after all are the ones using your facilities and can tell you what they’d like to see) will not only draw more return customers, but more first timers as well. My whole point being, its the little things the metro-area resorts can begin doing to improve business and their resort’s reputation.

To Agnarchy’s point of :
“[W]hat are you doing to show that we should come to your hill? I don’t see you at local events. I don’t see you promoting your parks. I don’t see you doing anything other than propping up on a trash hill and blowing 4 months worth of ice out of the year.”

I completely agree. Don Thomas hosts a rail jam in conjunction with Otsego. In a few weekends I plan to attend The Chicago Ski and Snowboard Expo. Its sponsors include the likes of Shanty Creek Resorts, and Boyne. Now, something that large of scale is not a necessity, but hold a contest on a random Friday night, sponsor a Pre-season jam, etc.

I see some of these things being done, but not on a scale that they need to be in order to reach the masses that need to be targeted. GET ON FACEBOOK with a legitimately operated page. It has over 500 million users, there are people there looking to connect with everything happening in the skiing/snowboarding world. As Jason ^ pointed out, and I second, become more in touch with your consumer base and they will be more willing to hand over their cash.

And finally, just some numbers, take them for whatever you want, or nothing at all.

Mt. Holly/Pine Knob dual season pass = $705.00 (if bought in December)
Vail conglomerate season pass* = $629.00

Mt Holly/Pine Knob skiable acres = 185 acres
Vail Mountain alone = 5289 acres

629/5289=.118
705/185=3.810

That means that (for Vail only) your paying 12 cents a skiable acre
It also means that for MTH/PK your paying $3.81 a skiable acre

*Valid, WITHOUT ANY BLACKOUT DATES at Vail, Beaver Creek, A-Basin, Keystone, and Breckenridge resorts in Summit County, Colorado and at Heavenly Resorts in the Lake Tahoe California region.

Interpet those as you will, or ignore them completely as I am aware that it could be unfair to compare the mecca or North American skiing, Summit County Colorado, and the Midwest, but there might be something in there of value as well.

-Just one’s thoughts,
Tyler