Owners Weekend Presentation

[Bubba]

Chris Nyberg did a good job in his "where we've come from/where we're going" presentation at the homeowners' meeting this morning. Pretty much acknowledged they'd made a whole lot of mistakes but they've learned from them. Stated very clearly that "first to open/last to close" is part of customer expectations, that early season skiing is important to mid-season momentum in this market, reduced base lodge services in their first year was a mistake, that lower kids prices, ski council and group discounts are key parts of success in a very competitive marketplace, and that The Beast is back. He also said that the next lift replacement is at Snowdon although details were sketchy. The Fiddle chair is done - it's for sale - but they recognize the need for snowmaking on Devil's Fiddle. That will be done unless, and this is an important caveat, the weather continues uncooperative and they need to prioritize other areas to get and keep them open. He did say that that POWDR has changed its approach to capital allocation and that big CAPEX decisions will be made in Utah, in effect saying that "we eat what we kill" is dead. (I'm not sure it was ever truly alive.) They've been talking some to Pres Smith and even mentioned that they'd met with him in Florida earlier this past week, making me think that they've been spending time learning "what made Killington Killington". He even mentioned "attitude" as being a big part of their culture going forward. In answer to a question about early season skiing and the need for a return lift to the peak, he said they've been looking at options and, if they'd had some way to get people back to the peak, they could've been open since mid-October.

All this makes me think they've finally "gotten it" and understand what they need to do for success in the future. Now if they'll only bring back the Mogul Challenge party........

[rogman]

I thought he did a good job as well. He said that a surface lift to the peak, perhaps a rope tow/poma/or t-bar was a very high priority. It sounded like he was leaning toward the T. One snowboarder objected, but Chris indicated (and another rider backed him up), that boarders should have no trouble with a T. I think that is fantastic, stop the presses, news. One telling remark was an aside, while showing a slide of the web page with the temperature of 31 degrees, he said "I wish it were 31 degrees, we would be blowing snow". He indicated that he didn't expect to be relocated to Copper, the management team their would be kept in place, and he would be staying here. There was some pretty good applause, almost cheering for that remark. There were some hostile questions, some incredibly inane, regarding rentals and/or housekeeping. They acknowledged that they'd not done as well as they'd like in that area. There were also questions about where'd the money go for Cap-Ex, about 2 million this year, 15 over the last 3 summers. This year he said it was mostly snowmaking improvements and cited a few (200K at Pico alone). He forgot to mention the new towers guns on Skyelark and Lower East Fall, but did mention the Fan gun and the work they did on the Bear Quad. I've walked the mountain, I know they spent and did a lot, so it was not a big deal for me. I'm satisfied. Snowdon would get the next lift, sounded like they planned to do to the Snowdon Quad what they did to Skye Peak Quad, but perhaps some of the equipment would end up being relocated somewhere else. Didn't sound like anything was cast in stone. The interconnect is still 4 or 5 years away, (in my mind village=interconnect), but it is still part of the plan. They discussed it with Preston Smith, and thought it could be done with one lift, not two as I believe the original approved ASC design showed.

Bottom line, they were far more open about their thinking going forward than they had been in the past, and I came out of the meeting with a very positive view regarding the direction that Killington is headed.

[shortski]

Very very uplifting now as long as it's not just lip service maybe, just maybe the BEAST "is" back, I sure hope so.

[chewbacca]

Sounds like they recognize and are willing to learn from their past mistakes at Killington and that is a positive thing. Saying and doing are two different things but it seems they are making progress in the right direction.

[Mister Moose]

Did he say if he has started reading K-Zone?

[Dr. NO]

he couldn't SAY, but do they plan on running the bond holders dry to avoid providing passes for them? At some point this has to be a losing situation, and a media fiasco.

[ozzy]

he couldn't SAY, but do they plan on running the bond holders dry to avoid providing passes for them? At some point this has to be a losing situation, and a media fiasco.

How long have you been a bond holder and approximately what was the cost of it when you bought into it?

[Bubba]

he couldn't SAY, but do they plan on running the bond holders dry to avoid providing passes for them? At some point this has to be a losing situation, and a media fiasco.

Never came up in the discussion and I doubt he'd have answered if it did.

As always, good party thrown by Killington tonight for the owners. Good food and good drink, with a good DJ playing the tunes. Caught MamaW out on the dance floor doing a "turtle" to Shout!

[newpylong]

Wow, those are all good things to hear...

[nopowdr]

If all this good news keeps coming in I'll have to change my user ID

[KingsFourMan]

Sounds like the BEAST MASTER had some really good things to say.

OK, I want credit for giving Nyberg the BEAST MASTER name and if JG starts using it he needs to include me in his bibliogrophy.

[tt431]

Sounds like the BEAST MASTER had some really good things to say.

OK, I want credit for giving Nyberg the BEAST MASTER name and if JG starts using it he needs to include me in his bibliogrophy.

[BoozeTan]

that all sounds awesome...they have learned what they are and what they did wrong....sounds Killington is heading back to being Killington...although I do not miss the Saturday circus from years past...no need to sell $350 passes. keep the pass structure just how it is...maybe bring back the spring pass and use that to fund late season/memorial day riding and skiing

[RedRider]

Thanks Bubba, Roger, that was a great read, and very good news.
SS- I EXPECT to see you on the hill this year!!

[Eski]

sounds like at some point they tasted the humble pie ... good to hear they are making an effort to get back on track