Could skiing go the way of Hee-Haw? - The Park Record

Michael Berry is succumbing to wishful thinking when he states that "Even Europeans prefer American resorts to those in France." In fact, he's probably never skied there, or at the very least never had a chance to sample the superior experience interconnected ski areas offer.

There are 30 interconnects in the French Alps, including over 100 ski resorts, that are highly addictive and provide visitors tons of fun and adventure. This explains why European skiers only come here once or twice and never return; instead, the most fortunate go heli-skiing in Western Canada. Mr. Berry has his head stuck in the snow...

totally agree with you

The resorts here are much more affordable. For the price of a week there you can spend a month here. Including airfare. I'm not sure what baggage fees have done to that equation.

The terrain and access are better in Europe. Though the lines are longer and not organized like here. It's just a big pushing match. I'm a guy and big enough and don't care about the tops of my skis, so I do ok. Ladies and kids can have a problem. A lot like it is here wrt getting hit by snowboarders.

i snowboard. i've been hit by skiers and snowboarders alike.

so you know, it's not just one group of people. it's anyone who doesn't know how to control themselves. a skier behind me yelled watch out and careened right into me.

This article seems kind of dumb to me.

The article completely missed the 500 lb gorilla that just finished eating your lunch and is now licking his chops and looking at you.
The middle class is being destroyed. Fewer and fewer people have 'discretionary income'.
1% of the population of the U.S. controls 90% of the wealth and that trend is accelerating.(Think billion dollar bonuses for crooked bankers who blew up the economy of the world.)

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property
until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

-Thomas Jefferson

Tom wrote:

The article completely missed the 500 lb gorilla that just finished eating your lunch and is now licking his chops and looking at you.
The middle class is being destroyed. Fewer and fewer people have 'discretionary income'.
1% of the population of the U.S. controls 90% of the wealth and that trend is accelerating.(Think billion dollar bonuses for crooked bankers who blew up the economy of the world.)
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property
until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
-Thomas Jefferson

Tom are you quoting yourself? haha just playing. I agree though.

The information in this article comes as no surprise. Skiing has flat-lined as a sport. There are several reasons. The number one reason, I think, is the increasing cost of the sport. It has become rdidiculously expensive. Most destination ski/snowboard resorts cater to the well-heeled....they don't even bother with the average guy/gal on the street. There are so many other activities that individuals and families can participate in nowadays. Many of these activities are more affordable than skiing & snowboarding and way easier to learn. Remember, learning to ski or snowboard is difficult. You must be really dedicated and commited to learn these sports. Before you get to the point where you can actually enjoy the sport, you've suffered through many falls, cold weather and a lot of ego-bruising. I personally think that we americans have gotten too soft and lazy and don't want to try anything challenging, but that's a topic for another letter!

stompthelanding wrote:

<quoted text>
Tom are you quoting yourself? haha just playing. I agree though.

Dude, you totally stomped that landing!

The Park Record really sucks except as a cheerleader for the Chamber of Commerce.

Krissy Best wrote:

... Most destination ski/snowboard resorts cater to the well-heeled....they don't even bother with the average guy/gal on the street...

Air fare deals have been pretty abundant in recent years although not so much now. Good deals on lodging if you look, especially now. Lift ticket prices though have just gone higher and higher without any regard to affordabilty. A day on the hill can easily set a family back $500. The resorts will figure it out at some point if they find themselves looking an empty parking lot. Could take a really bad year though for them to get the message, and even then they'll assume it's all about the economy, not that they had priced themselves out of the market.

I expect rather than resorts cutting prices on line deals like liftopia or coupons from the resorts web site will become the norm. We're pretty much there already. The guy who doesn't plan ahead and just shows up at the ticket window with a credit card gets raped.

Tom wrote:

The article completely missed the 500 lb gorilla that just finished eating your lunch and is now licking his chops and looking at you.
The middle class is being destroyed. Fewer and fewer people have 'discretionary income'.
1% of the population of the U.S. controls 90% of the wealth and that trend is accelerating.(Think billion dollar bonuses for crooked bankers who blew up the economy of the world.)
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property
until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
-Thomas Jefferson

It isn't the rich sucking the middle class dry. It's that huge and ever growing number of people that feel they are entitled to sit on their collective butts their entire lives and do nothing. They don't ski and never will - they're too busy clogging up every emergency room in the country getting primary care. Furthermore, the bankers didn't create the laws that caused the banking crisis. Ted Kennedy and his friends did that.

I agree with some of the comments pertaining to cost. It is extremely expensive and limits my family. When I invite friends to ski, the first question is "how much does it cost?" An almost immediate reaction is a grimmace. They don't even have to calculate the cost of one week of skiing because it is obviously too much.

Instead they go elswhere to vacation and the local economy continues to decline.

Resorts must reduce the price of lift tickets, rentals, and lessons!

Snert wrote:

<quoted text>
It isn't the rich sucking the middle class dry. It's that huge and ever growing number of people that feel they are entitled to sit on their collective butts their entire lives and do nothing. They don't ski and never will - they're too busy clogging up every emergency room in the country getting primary care. Furthermore, the bankers didn't create the laws that caused the banking crisis. Ted Kennedy and his friends did that.

Exactly. And of course it's just possible that the free market will sort all this out. If lift tickets pass the $100 mark and the chairs are going up the hill empty, some Wharton genius will figure it out. On the other hand if the they're still attracting big crowds and raking it in, should they really be concerned that 90, 95, or 99% of folks can't afford it? Hey that's how the world works. Nine times out of ten you'll see an alternative spring up you can afford. Profit isn't a four letter word, it's the engine that creates economic growth and opportunity.

Eric wrote:

I agree with some of the comments pertaining to cost. It is extremely expensive and limits my family. When I invite friends to ski, the first question is "how much does it cost?" An almost immediate reaction is a grimmace. They don't even have to calculate the cost of one week of skiing because it is obviously too much.
Instead they go elswhere to vacation and the local economy continues to decline.
Resorts must reduce the price of lift tickets, rentals, and lessons!

actually just need tort reform. you reduce the insurance costs on resorts and they would be able to reduce the lift ticket prices substantially.

this is a tough one. i have to agree that the cost to participate in either snowboarding or skiing is much more expensive then some sports.

cost aside, i think that snowboarding, especially has huge potential. have you guys noticed a pickup after huge sporting events, like the x games or something?

Skiing is expensive.
The economy sucks.
The wealthy are not being hurt nearly as bad as the middle class.
The resorts cater to the wealthy.
To a middle income skiier,$75 is expensive, and $100 is expensive. To a wealthy skiier, neither is a problem.
If the resorts drop their prices 10% or 25%, will they see an increase in skiiers large enough to make up the difference? This is what they are asking themselves, and historically, the answer is no. To make more money, charge more. Those who can't afford it will do something else.
When the ski resorts go bust, someone with money will snap them up.
If the economy recovers, and the middle class starts growing again, then expensive hobbies will gain more adherents.
Tort reform- Ha !
Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
You think if the resorts had lower expenses, they would reduce prices, and just reject an opportunity for increased profits? I don't. You think they would pay as much attention to safety, if they knew they could not be held liable? I don't.
A little tort reform just relieves the pressures of accountability, and reduces the need for institutional safety programs. If the resort can't be sued, why should they care if the mountain is safe?
Now maybe if we had a Single Payer system for ski resort liability claims, we would see costs come down. Haha to me.

OH MY wrote:

Skiing is expensive.
The economy sucks.
The wealthy are not being hurt nearly as bad as the middle class.
The resorts cater to the wealthy.
To a middle income skiier,$75 is expensive, and $100 is expensive. To a wealthy skiier, neither is a problem.
If the resorts drop their prices 10% or 25%, will they see an increase in skiiers large enough to make up the difference? This is what they are asking themselves, and historically, the answer is no. To make more money, charge more. Those who can't afford it will do something else.
When the ski resorts go bust, someone with money will snap them up.
If the economy recovers, and the middle class starts growing again, then expensive hobbies will gain more adherents.
Tort reform- Ha !
Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
You think if the resorts had lower expenses, they would reduce prices, and just reject an opportunity for increased profits? I don't. You think they would pay as much attention to safety, if they knew they could not be held liable? I don't.
A little tort reform just relieves the pressures of accountability, and reduces the need for institutional safety programs. If the resort can't be sued, why should they care if the mountain is safe?
Now maybe if we had a Single Payer system for ski resort liability claims, we would see costs come down. Haha to me.

I think skiing was losing interest before the economy went in the crapper. I just don't think the sport has all that much interest any more.

Krissy Best wrote:

The information in this article comes as no surprise. Skiing has flat-lined as a sport. There are several reasons. The number one reason, I think, is the increasing cost of the sport. It has become rdidiculously expensive. Most destination ski/snowboard resorts cater to the well-heeled....they don't even bother with the average guy/gal on the street. There are so many other activities that individuals and families can participate in nowadays. Many of these activities are more affordable than skiing & snowboarding and way easier to learn. Remember, learning to ski or snowboard is difficult. You must be really dedicated and commited to learn these sports. Before you get to the point where you can actually enjoy the sport, you've suffered through many falls, cold weather and a lot of ego-bruising. I personally think that we americans have gotten too soft and lazy and don't want to try anything challenging, but that's a topic for another letter!

You're right on. So many Americans do what comes easily, rather than pushing - I think it's the fast-paced mindset. If you can't get it immediately, it's a waste of time and time is money. And money pays for ski trips.

And I also agree with the $ point. Growing up I always thought it was reserved for the "rich kids"...and I'm only 23. I think that association will take a long time to wear off.

As far as the decline, I guess if the upper class is shrinking, there could be a correlation.

But who knows? I'm not rich...and I still decided to board.