Mammoth Mountain needed to replace the sign at their 11,053 foot summit so they’re auctioning the old sign off to help raise money for the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation.
Now is your chance to own a part of Mammoth history! As you may have seen, our iconic summit sign is being replaced due to significant wear and tear over the last 21 years. In spring 2019, the sign was cut down about 5’ in order to remove damage, and the time has come to officially replace it. The original summit sign was installed over 20 years ago and has served as a photo opportunity for scenic gondola riders, hikers, families and shredders alike.
The current bid is $25,000. We can’t think of a good reason to raise that bid, if you can, then click the link and make an offer.
In his October letter to what’s left of the Snowsports Industries of America, President Nick Sargent announced that the SIA is now opening membership to “include retailers, reps and resorts,” because, well, what else can the organization do to increase revenue?
With our mission to “help the industry thrive, “ we believe that it is imperative to truly speak to the entire industry so that together, we can find common areas of alignment within our key initiatives: climate advocacy, participation, research, education, and B-to-B events to drive the entire industry forward. We are excited about this new, more collaborative direction for SIA.
Hopefully, there are still winter sports retailers and reps left who will ante up. What do they get exactly for this membership? You’ll have to read the rest of the letter to figure that out ’cause we have no idea.
Former Salomon/Bonfire and Patagonia marketer Tyler LaMotte is the new chief brand officer at Jackson Hole Resort, according to a story in the Jackson Hole News and Guide.
“It’s great to come back and be able to experience this place and get so close and be able to do all the things that we love to do,” he said. “One of the main draws and attributes was the fact that, you know, there’s only one Jackson Hole.”
For the rest of the story and a pretty detailed dive into where he’s been and how Tyler ended up in Jackson, Wyoming, click the link.
Today we’re highlighting an amazingly bland new product you don’t need, from a company we don’t like because, well, we got a press release from said company and putting up a press release is far easier than creating original content especially when all we’re interested in doing is fooling Google Ads into thinking we’re still posting content on this site so our rankings will continue to soar.
This banal new product is of course made in China and features several prominently placed logos from the company— both on the front, the back, the top, and the sides. In fact, this product features nine logos (if you count the one on the label). By moving this product around in the physical world you are acting as a sign spinner for this private equity funded zombie brand. You’re adding your youth, energy, and all around sexiness to their brand by being associated with it. Only difference is the sign spinner is getting paid $25 a hour and you’re getting nothing, aside from the pride you feel from sporting a logo that says you paid way more than you should have for this Bangladesh made product. Wait, did we say China before… sorry, same difference.
We’d highlight several of the features that set this product apart from all the other products available to you in this category and encourage you to purchase it, however, there’s nothing about this product that makes it standout from a similar product that can be purchased much more economically at one of the big box retailers.
That said, this product is being promoted as part of a “limited edition” collection which means you’ll be forced to visit one of the brand’s mall-based “flagship stores” or order it online directly from the brand because they don’t want to drop this product in the same massive chain stores where they dump the rest of their product because they’re charging more for this and that means they want you to have to work even harder to find it. As a value add this means you’ll have a product that your lazier, more thrifty friends won’t. And that makes you a big winner.
For more information on this product please visit the brand’s website where you can get the “product narrative” directly from their poorly paid marketing wizards. We’re guessing they’ll offer free shipping and returns so what have you got to lose? Shop, buy, consume. Repeat.
It’s barely March, and already the resort industrial complex is inundating us with marketing for their super-mega season passes for the winter of 2023-2024. Really? Already? Why are they doing this, and what does it all mean? We’re glad you asked.
Before we dive in let’s make one thing clear — obviously if you ride 20 days a year or more at the same few resorts owned by the same corporation then buying a super-mega pass is a no-brainer. Spend the $1,159 and get on it. If, however, you enjoy controlling your own money, waiting for good snow, and riding different resorts all season long, here are a few things you might want to consider before shelling out hard-earned cash on an Epic or Ikon pass.
The corporations that run ski resorts in North America (Alterra Mountain Company and Vail Resorts) have very sound business reasons for selling super-mega season passes, and they have nothing to do with giving you a good deal. They’re not interested in saving you a boatload of money. And it’s not because they’re putting their guest’s needs first. It all comes down to three main goals:
They want your money now. Not next year. Now!
They want ALL your money. Resorts don’t want you to spend a dime with their competitors (or competitor as the case may be in North America).
They want to offload all their weather, pandemic, acts of God-related business risks to you so they won’t have to worry as much when chaos strikes.
Once you understand this, the whole mega-pass gambit makes more sense — for the resorts. Look at the way they promote their mega-pass sales. It’s like they’re setting up a con. First, they manufacture scarcity to increase perceived value: “This special deal is available for a limited time only.” We’ve all see the emails, “You have one more week to lock in savings.” “Hurry, this deal won’t last forever.” Why won’t it last? Good question. It could last all season. Nothing is stopping the resorts from selling super-mega passes all season long. It wouldn’t even be that bad a deal for them. People who bought passes later in the year would have fewer chances to use them. You’d think resorts would do that. But selling passes further into the season doesn’t get your money a year in advance and lock you into their resort for the entire season, and it certainly doesn’t protect resort owners from the specter of a bad snow year or global chaos.
How do ski resorts get more rideable terrain when most of their mountains are covered in trees? They can’t go in and clear cut it just yet, but with a little help from a tree killer known as the Spruce Beetle they can open up new runs no problem.
For example, at Monarch Mountain in Colorado they’ve just removed “thousands of trees” from their mountain that have been killed by the beetles according to a story in the Pueblo Chieftain and they couldn’t be happier about it. Who needs trees?
“It is kind of cool because as we’ve gotten into it and removed the dead trees we have opened up a lot more terrain, and that’s an opportunity for people to ski terrain they could not get to before. I think our guests will be pleasantly surprised,” said Randy Stroud, Monarch’s general manager.
Many of the trees are still good enough to be used for lumber, so that’s a plus, too. For the rest of the story, including the part about how clearing the trees is helping to eradicate the spruce beetle problem, and how school kids a learning about ecology through the tree clearing, follow the jump.
The Vail Resorts borg is apparently not satiated just yet as it “entered into a purchase agreement” with Triple Peaks, LLC the owners of Okemo Mountain, in Ludlow, Vt., Mount Sunapee, in Newbury, N.H., and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.
The sale includes the three ski resort operations, as well as Okemo Valley Golf Club in Ludlow, Vt., and Tater Hill Golf Club in Windham, Vt. As part of the transaction, Vail Resorts will also own the leasehold assets presently owned by Och-Ziff Real Estate. . . “Diane and I are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished at the three resorts for the last 36 years,” remarked Tim Mueller, co-owner and president of Triple Peaks, LLC. “We have had the great privilege of working with a lot of smart, hardworking, dedicated team members, as well as many other people in the local communities and the states where the resorts are located.”
Yes, young slider, soon you’ll only need one pass to ride them all. For the official word from Triple Peaks, please follow the jump.
Don’t write the 2017-18 snow season off just yet Mt. Hood Meadows is still in the think of it with an expected three feet of the fresh stuff by Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Vice President of Marketing Dave Tragethon says it is definitely still winter on the mountain, saying, “It’s awesome to have this kind of powder skiing when so many other ski areas across the country have already closed for the season.” Meadows continues daily operations through April 22, and then operates Fridays – Sundays for the next two weekends (April 27, 28, 29 and May 4, 5, 6). A season ending party is scheduled Saturday, May 12, the resort’s last day of winter operations.
There’s a lot coming up including reVegetate, 11th annual Sno-Kona Pond Skim, and much more. So get up and take one last bite before you shift into summer mode. For the official word, follow the jump.
Resort professionals certainly have all kinds of great reasons why this could never happen at your favorite resort, yet today (March 16, 2018) it happened at “Gudauri, a resort on the Greater Caucasus mountain range in Georgia,” according to a story in the Washington Post. Eight people were reportedly injured, but no one died, thankfully. Guess the big lesson from this clip is to jump off before you get to the bullwheel.
In what would seem to be good news for fans of Mammoth Mountain, former CEO and partial owner Rusty Gregory has been named chief executive officer of Alterra Mountain Company, the parent company of most of the resorts formerly known as Mammoth, Intrawest, and Aspen Skiing Company.
Mr. Gregory will focus on establishing the newly-formed Alterra Mountain Company’s culture and developing the growth, operating and guest service strategies for its platform of mountain destinations across North America, while leading its more than 20,000 employees. . . “I’m thrilled to be leading the Alterra Mountain Company team in its formative years at such a pivotal time in the mountain destination industry. This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with so many highly respected industry leaders and some of the most iconic mountain destinations in North America,” said Rusty Gregory, Chief Executive Officer of Alterra Mountain Company. “Together we will create a high performing enterprise by focusing on what’s important – our guests, our employees, and our mountain communities. We will build our business by enhancing and enriching the lives and experiences of each.”
At least Aspen and the Colorado crew aren’t taking things over just yet. Viva California. For the official word from Alterra, please follow the jump.
In his October letter to what’s left of the 
Former Salomon/Bonfire and Patagonia marketer Tyler LaMotte is the new chief brand officer at Jackson Hole Resort, according to a story in the 
The Vail Resorts borg is apparently not satiated just yet as it “entered into a purchase agreement” with Triple Peaks, LLC the owners of Okemo Mountain, in Ludlow, Vt., Mount Sunapee, in Newbury, N.H., and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.
In what would seem to be good news for fans of Mammoth Mountain, former CEO and partial owner Rusty Gregory has been named chief executive officer of Alterra Mountain Company, the parent company of most of the resorts formerly known as Mammoth, Intrawest, and Aspen Skiing Company.
