summitchallenger
12-29-2010, 08:57 AM
During the past couple weeks of the season, I have been disappointed to see that some of the SB publicity staff have been either ignoring or dismissing Mount Ellen as a part of Sugarbush and focusing almost exclusively on Lincoln Peak. Intentional or not, this sends the wrong message.
Two weeks ago when Mount Ellen opened the snow reporters did a video of "powder" skiing at Lincoln Peak and completely missed the unreal powder conditions at Mount Ellen. It was probably the best skiing I have had at Sugarbush but the reporters did a video of a skier hitting chowder on the side of Birdland that paled in comparison to what was found on Mount Ellen. Anyone who knows skiing should have known that Mount Ellen, which had no tracks at all and was just opening, would be the place to be, especially those who have inside knowledge and work at the resort. That morning there was not one photographer or video person to capture the 50-75 or so people who stood in line for the lift to open.
Kudos to one member of upper management that I did see skiing at Mount Ellen and talking with the skiers and riders, largely locals who were passholders.
And this morning the snow report featured this remark:
Sorry about the 'forced' introduction to Mt. Ellen, yesterday due to Lincoln Peak's gusty conditions...though if you were a first-timer, it's certainly a 'must visit'. That was then, this is now: less cold, less wind, more fulfilling!
Maybe this is nit-picky, but Mount Ellen is not purgatory or a place where a "forced introduction" is a bad thing. It is nothing to apologize for. Mount Ellen offers more vertical, more terrain suited for larger crowds, newer lifts, and great snowmaking infrastructure. It offers a wide variety of terrain with often better snow quality. By framing it as a place to apologize sends a message that it is not as good as its neighbor to the south. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
This board has had some interesting comments during the past few years including some snide remarks by some that Mount Ellen passholders are "second class citizens."
There is one Sugarbush. The management has focused on trying to elevate the reputation of Mount Ellen and boosting its business by offering pass products targeted at locals who often cannot afford the full season pass rate. During the past few seasons I have met families who have given up Bolton Valley, Smuggler’s Notch, or other competing areas to specifically ski Mount Ellen for these deals.
Accordingly, this Mount Ellen Plus Passholder hopes that for the rest of the season the ground soldiers at Sugarbush remember the other part of the resort. It is not too difficult to ask for a video or two a week devoted to Mount Ellen showing the excellent terrain, aspiring young athletes training on Inverness, or the friendly staff who work there. Don’t apologize for a mountain whose imposing slopes have been the image of the Mad River Valley and Sugarbush for many years.
http://gonewengland.about.com/library/graphics/madrivervalleymorning.jpg
Two weeks ago when Mount Ellen opened the snow reporters did a video of "powder" skiing at Lincoln Peak and completely missed the unreal powder conditions at Mount Ellen. It was probably the best skiing I have had at Sugarbush but the reporters did a video of a skier hitting chowder on the side of Birdland that paled in comparison to what was found on Mount Ellen. Anyone who knows skiing should have known that Mount Ellen, which had no tracks at all and was just opening, would be the place to be, especially those who have inside knowledge and work at the resort. That morning there was not one photographer or video person to capture the 50-75 or so people who stood in line for the lift to open.
Kudos to one member of upper management that I did see skiing at Mount Ellen and talking with the skiers and riders, largely locals who were passholders.
And this morning the snow report featured this remark:
Sorry about the 'forced' introduction to Mt. Ellen, yesterday due to Lincoln Peak's gusty conditions...though if you were a first-timer, it's certainly a 'must visit'. That was then, this is now: less cold, less wind, more fulfilling!
Maybe this is nit-picky, but Mount Ellen is not purgatory or a place where a "forced introduction" is a bad thing. It is nothing to apologize for. Mount Ellen offers more vertical, more terrain suited for larger crowds, newer lifts, and great snowmaking infrastructure. It offers a wide variety of terrain with often better snow quality. By framing it as a place to apologize sends a message that it is not as good as its neighbor to the south. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
This board has had some interesting comments during the past few years including some snide remarks by some that Mount Ellen passholders are "second class citizens."
There is one Sugarbush. The management has focused on trying to elevate the reputation of Mount Ellen and boosting its business by offering pass products targeted at locals who often cannot afford the full season pass rate. During the past few seasons I have met families who have given up Bolton Valley, Smuggler’s Notch, or other competing areas to specifically ski Mount Ellen for these deals.
Accordingly, this Mount Ellen Plus Passholder hopes that for the rest of the season the ground soldiers at Sugarbush remember the other part of the resort. It is not too difficult to ask for a video or two a week devoted to Mount Ellen showing the excellent terrain, aspiring young athletes training on Inverness, or the friendly staff who work there. Don’t apologize for a mountain whose imposing slopes have been the image of the Mad River Valley and Sugarbush for many years.
http://gonewengland.about.com/library/graphics/madrivervalleymorning.jpg