Is it changing?

I know the winter has been with us for a while and I have been meaning to update my blog. I have skied at many small areas this winter; Song Mountain, Holimont, Bristol, Holiday Valley, Labrador and a few bigger ones; Gore, Hunter and Whiteface. I have reported on many of these areas in the past and not too much has changed other than the year. The industry in New York seems to be changing. I have not seen big crowds this winter. To be fair, I was at Hunter during the week and it was really cold. Hunter is not often crowded during the week. The skiing was great, they were making snow as hard they were able. I have never been there when the conditions were better. They moved the old high speed quad to the back. It now takes under 4 minutes to get back up when you ski the west side...talk about getting some vertical in fast!


Night ski

Bristol and Whiteface had good crowds. I was at both of these areas on weekends when there were ski races which usually adds lots of racers plus an entourage of coaches, race volunteers and parents. Holimont is private but allows public on weekdays and I assume they are fine. There are many very wealthy members and I think, a waiting list to get in for the US member list (it is close to Canada so there is a Canadian list as well). When I was at Holiday Valley, there seemed to be the smallest weekend crowd I have seen there.. and the skiing was great. I have skied at Labrador many days, and nights. There has not been a really good crowd yet. The night business seems really off too. Is it economy, weird winters, marketing..what? I am concerned because in my lifetime we have lost tons of small ski areas. Three in central NY and six if you go way back to the rope tows set up on hills inside the city of Syracuse. For that matter we have lost tons of small dairy farms, small grocery stores, hardware stores, amusement parks, and on and on. Maybe the industry should copy the buy local that is driving good food. One problem is that many people see longer and steeper as the key to determining good. Small ski areas have this humble, friendly, familiar thing that gets the sport to many more people with less travel and cost. This country and probably the world is full of great skiers that trace their beginning ski days to small ski areas. The first time I was at Brantling many years ago, I immediately understood how the tiny hill produced a world and Olympic champion; Diane was on the short lift or in the course and nowhere else. Small areas are a great part of our sport. I will keep watching to see if it really is changing ..and skiing!


Happy small mountain skiers (on one ski)