KillingtonZone.com

skiingsnow wrote:

JerseyGuy wrote:Skiingsnow asked me to post the following reply to this post:

Hey, Everyone:

I don't understand what the problem is. Killington never promised you that they wouldn't be gouging you on product pricing this year, didn't they? Plus, they painted a couple of lifts and they plan on making lots of snow this year, which is great, and it must be true, because they've sorta mentioned it on this website and everything!

So give us -- oops, them -- I meant them -- a break, and let's just wait and see what happens, OK?

Personally, I think he's full of it.

WOW! I gotta say that made me laugh. . . But hey, sorry to tell you, but this is not how I feel about whats going on in this thread! I dont know what they were charging last year for the same thing, or how any of the programs worked, but I do think that everything I have seen for prices, sounds outright crazy, and I cant believe that they plan to sell this... But this is what they planned to do long ago... make more money off from fewer people... this just fits in perfect, but royaly sucks for those who have purchased these things in the past, and need/wanted to continue to in the future.

I believe a season pass for Ministars last year was about $1,500. Ski-n-sail might be able to confirm that. Junior had his kids in First Tracks so he might be able to give that figure. Except for holiday weeks, most of the time there were 5-6 children per 1-2 instructors. So you see, you paid less for the same service. Stop being so naive about the new owners. They are here to milk us dry but I think in the end they will be big losers.

tyrolean_skier wrote:

skiingsnow wrote:

JerseyGuy wrote:Skiingsnow asked me to post the following reply to this post:

Hey, Everyone:

I don't understand what the problem is. Killington never promised you that they wouldn't be gouging you on product pricing this year, didn't they? Plus, they painted a couple of lifts and they plan on making lots of snow this year, which is great, and it must be true, because they've sorta mentioned it on this website and everything!

So give us -- oops, them -- I meant them -- a break, and let's just wait and see what happens, OK?

Personally, I think he's full of it.

WOW! I gotta say that made me laugh. . . But hey, sorry to tell you, but this is not how I feel about whats going on in this thread! I dont know what they were charging last year for the same thing, or how any of the programs worked, but I do think that everything I have seen for prices, sounds outright crazy, and I cant believe that they plan to sell this... But this is what they planned to do long ago... make more money off from fewer people... this just fits in perfect, but royaly sucks for those who have purchased these things in the past, and need/wanted to continue to in the future.

I believe a season pass for Ministars last year was about $1,500. Ski-n-sail might be able to confirm that. Junior had his kids in First Tracks so he might be able to give that figure. Except for holiday weeks, most of the time there were 5-6 children per 1-2 instructors. So you see, you paid less for the same service. Stop being so naive about the new owners. They are here to milk us dry but I think in the end they will be big losers.

I just made negative comments about the new owners, and said that I cant believe they are even trying to sell this crap. . . . this would not be a classic skiingsnow agreeing with everything powdr says and does post...

I'm thinking there's two possible explanations of whats going on at K:

1. These guys are going to price Killington similarly to the other upscale resorts, despite the fact that K isn't at that level yet. Its almost similar to the brilliant idea that the guys who owned Studio 54 came up with, they actually DIDN'T let anyone in the first few nights so the lines outside made it look like the club was more popular then it actually was. Seeing as how the people they want to attract PROBABLY wouldn't have bought a Killington pass this year(Cause they're at Stowe or Stratton), they don't have to worry about alienating their customer base, because they aren't here "YET".

This season we're going to see a major improvement in "quality of life" skiing, making sure that while they might run a shorter season, and operate fewer lifts and lodges, the ones that are open are going to be run to perfection. I could actually see them blowing more snow on fewer trails so that the more popular blue trails stay perfect, and the place is also going to be groomed out to perfection every night.

They're going to crack down on nuisance skiers and riders (fast/obnoxious/out of control), try to cut crowding and line wait times, and bend over backwards to make sure that they get rid of all the "lower end" ski bums and starter jacket wearing folk.

I'm not quite sure how they're going to change the party-animal image given how big the access road culture is, but if they manage to pull it off the word will start getting out that Killington has now turned upscale, and they can have a chance to move in with capital expenditures and the new village.

2. Is the nightmare scenario, these guys are worse then ASC. They've got a short term interest and are going to put Killington's services on an austerity budget while they raise rates to increase their margins. They figure they've got 2-3 years to get the permits they need to start construction on the village, once that happens the markets hopefully are going to right themselves, they filp the land, take their profits and run out of town. Of course if they were doing that they wouldn't bother to replace the snowmaking pipe or paint the lifts.

there's actually a third option which is that these guys don't actually know how to run an east coast day trip area, and they're going to get a rude awakening this year when none of their plans actually work.

The Captian made a call to someone he knows on staff at the ministars yesterday, after I told him what the new pricing structure would be. This is the quote he got:

"The general atmosphere up here is that POWDR is trying to squeeze every last dollar they possibly can out of the place"

Something we pretty much could guess from whats been going on, but interesting to hear anyway.

Killington Koyote wrote:Thank God my boys are out of the program, the Killington Ski Club is a much better deal (if they are older 5+), we used to buy 2 10 packs 1 for mini and 1 for super for when we didn't have race training and didn't want to ski with them, plus my lil guy is heading towards the DARK SIDE and taking boarding lessons on Sunday, as I said I am glad we are not dependent on those programs anymore, back when we were, the season pass for minis was the way to go. I was talking with a friend of mine today who has a daughter still in the age for mini's and he is really bummed, I suggested that he and others find some "babysitters" that would take a few kids for a few hours, get 3 families pay $40 each and some teenager (someone you trust) could make out pretty well. There are dozens of girls in the K.S.C. that might be interested. Something to ponder, the Mtn. may have an issue with it but EFFEM, they're Effin us.

Thats exactly what The Captain was thinking when I was speaking to him yesterday

SkiDork wrote:

Killington Koyote wrote:Thank God my boys are out of the program, the Killington Ski Club is a much better deal (if they are older 5+), we used to buy 2 10 packs 1 for mini and 1 for super for when we didn't have race training and didn't want to ski with them, plus my lil guy is heading towards the DARK SIDE and taking boarding lessons on Sunday, as I said I am glad we are not dependent on those programs anymore, back when we were, the season pass for minis was the way to go. I was talking with a friend of mine today who has a daughter still in the age for mini's and he is really bummed, I suggested that he and others find some "babysitters" that would take a few kids for a few hours, get 3 families pay $40 each and some teenager (someone you trust) could make out pretty well. There are dozens of girls in the K.S.C. that might be interested. Something to ponder, the Mtn. may have an issue with it but EFFEM, they're Effin us.

Thats exactly what The Captain was thinking when I was speaking to him yesterday

Speaking of babysitters ... does K allow non-K ski instructors on the mountain? I'd guess they do as it would be hard to stop them ... sounds like there's a market for it ...

SkiDork wrote:

Killington Koyote wrote:Thank God my boys are out of the program, the Killington Ski Club is a much better deal (if they are older 5+), we used to buy 2 10 packs 1 for mini and 1 for super for when we didn't have race training and didn't want to ski with them, plus my lil guy is heading towards the DARK SIDE and taking boarding lessons on Sunday, as I said I am glad we are not dependent on those programs anymore, back when we were, the season pass for minis was the way to go. I was talking with a friend of mine today who has a daughter still in the age for mini's and he is really bummed, I suggested that he and others find some "babysitters" that would take a few kids for a few hours, get 3 families pay $40 each and some teenager (someone you trust) could make out pretty well. There are dozens of girls in the K.S.C. that might be interested. Something to ponder, the Mtn. may have an issue with it but EFFEM, they're Effin us.

Thats exactly what The Captain was thinking when I was speaking to him yesterday

I talked with him right after you told him the news.

Im In!

I would rather give my $$$ to a young aspiring K.S.C. racer .
It's too bad my son really loved the Pico Ski School.

What about the Killington Ski Club?
How are the programs for Kid's?
I cant make it up evey weekend is that a problem?

This could be another option?

Chaz

Chaz wrote:Im In!

I would rather give my $$$ to a young aspiring K.S.C. racer .
It's too bad my son really loved the Pico Ski School.

What about the Killington Ski Club?
How are the programs for Kid's?
I cant make it up evey weekend is that a problem?

This could be another option?

Chaz

How many weekends do you make it up for? 2 a month? 3 a month?

How old is your son?

Chaz wrote:Im In!

I would rather give my $$$ to a young aspiring K.S.C. racer .
It's too bad my son really loved the Pico Ski School.

What about the Killington Ski Club?
How are the programs for Kid's?
I cant make it up evey weekend is that a problem?

This could be another option?

Chaz

We love it, The kids have to be pretty independent and able to keep up with the other kids, they split them up according to ability. They take off at 8 or 8:30 depending on age, and ski w/ coaches until 11. We all have lunch 11-12 and off they go until 2:30. It is a collection of a great bunch of people who all LOVE to ski. We have made some really great friends there and if you haven't noticed there is usually a keg/BBQ going on. The fact that you can get a locker and cubby makes lugging equipment much easier. There are about 5 microwaves and a hot water tank for those instant soups. The coaches are really great w/ the kids, they believe in mileage.

Club membership for Family is $205, and $425 per child for programs

http://www.teamkillington.com/signup.html

check it out.

One other thing to add to what KK said - the hopefuls program is only Saturdays, no Sundays. This would be your younger racers and freestyle kids.

I enjoy skiing with all the maggots on Sunday, we often split up and take turns skiing w/ the lil ones while we can do steeps and trees.

SkiDork, etc...

I get up to K aobut 1-2 times per month + Chrismas and February vacation ( 16-20 days per year).

Is that enough?
My son is 7 2nd grade

Cris can make Parrell turns and stops.
Made it down 49er Last winter.
It would be fun to ski with some other folks with kids

My son sometimes get's whiney with just me , but in a group he's a hoot!
Chaz

Chaz wrote:SkiDork, etc...

I get up to K aobut 1-2 times per month + Chrismas and February vacation ( 16-20 days per year).

Is that enough?
My son is 7 2nd grade

Cris can make Parrell turns and stops.
Made it down 49er Last winter.
It would be fun to ski with some other folks with kids

My son sometimes get's whiney with just me , but in a group he's a hoot!
Chaz

That is enough especially if you are doing the vacation ski weeks when they will have some lessons during the week as well. Usually during a vacation week lessons are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. The other days you will be skiing with them.

I'm soooooo glad we didn't buy any season passes. This is outrageous.

Compare Killington's prices to Okemo, Sugarbush and Vail:

http://www.okemo.com/okemowinter/learni ... aycare.asp
http://www.sugarbush.com/skiandride/cm. ... 142&nid=71
http://vail.snow.com/winter/ss.kids.groups.asp

For $130, Vail offers a full day lesson, lunch and lift ticket.
Okemo offers daycare for $78 compared to $130 for Killington
Also with Okemo, you can add a 1.5 hour lesson to daycare for $45 ($123 total). Compare that to Killington's First Tracks program for $180.

How do they expect a parent of a 2-year old child to pay $180 per day to get their kid out on skis for the first time? It's not even that I can't afford it, it's just that I refuse to pay such a ridiculous sum for daycare (with a couple of trips on the magic carpet thrown in).

See ya. I'm heading up/down 100 and West this season. Anywhere but K-mart.

K-mart Sucks