Attempts to Preserve Culture of Arapahoe Basin

[Tricia]

In a commitment to preserve the culture of Arapahoe Basin, they will be limiting pass and ticket sales in the 2021-22 season.

2021-22 Season - What To Expect

We have experienced a tumultuous and uproarious few years at Arapahoe Basin. From major expansions to pass partner changes to 4 th of July ...

arapahoebasin.blogspot.com

From Al's Blog:

Moving forward to the 2021-22 season, we are taking more major steps to preserve the culture and vibe. COVID forced us to learn in a few months what probably would have taken us five years to learn otherwise. Next season we are going to continue to restrict our pass and ticket visits. While reservations will not be required for our season pass holders, we are going to limit the number of passes that we sell. In fact, we are going to sell 10% fewer unrestricted passes next season than we did this season. On top of that, we will continue to limit the number of lift tickets sold each day and all tickets must be purchased online and in advance. No lift tickets will be sold on site. We anticipate selling out of weekend lift tickets on a regular basis.

 

[pete]

I haven't skied Arapahoe but friends noted they loved it.

a bit mixed feelings on it but I generally lean towards applauding the decision to improve the skier experience .. or preserve it verses being a zoo.

They can always go back to other models used.

 

[DanoT]

Every business has its optimum size.

Decades ago I was a part owner of a small roller rink and outdoor roller skate rental business (this was before roller blades). I found that when we got real busy our profits did increase but so did a lot of expenses such as more staff, more wear and tear on the skates requiring more maintenance and as well as other expenses. In the end it wasn't as big an increase in the bottom line as one might expect. Something like this might be going on at A-Basin where a smaller operation is just more manageable and less chaotic with almost as much profit vs a larger operation..

 

[fatbob]

No mention directly of how they are going to operate Ikon which is a big part of their "busyness" policy.

 

[Bad Bob]

Can you "preserve" a culture when the culture of your client is continually changing?
Their client of today has a smart phone and shaped skis. The client of 2000 had a flip phone straight skis, not nearly as many boarders. The 70's saw no phones, plastic boots, and a much lower economic commitment to be a skier.
You evolve your operations to your evolving clients culture. What would change if ski areas could have pot bars in the lodges? (I am not advocating this, just a factious example) Do you think this would evolve the client and the culture of the ski area?
There is no going back in culture, or time.

 

[Philpug]

No mention directly of how they are going to operate Ikon which is a big part of their "busyness" policy.

I agree, very easy to say, but how are they going to put it into practice? Sure, you can limit their own pass sales but how can you control Ikon pass users from accessing the mountain? Are they going to control daily ticket sales?

 

[pchewn]

I'm sorry, if you want to "preserve the culture" of A-Basin, you're going to have to:

• Remove the Pali lift, the Beavers lift, the Montezuma lift
• Only allow traffic to get there over Loveland Pass. No cheating through the tunnel
• Charge $4.50 for a day ticket
• Re-install the detachable yellow poma lift
• Only allow narrow 205cm skis with Marker "explodeamat" bindings
• Rear wheel drive only on cars entering the lot

 

[Blue Streak]

That ship has sailed.
I don’t recognize the current “culture” of A-Basin at all.
If they really wanted to restore the “culture,” they could find a role model in Alta.
I’m not saying they need to ban snowboards, just snowboarders.

 

[crgildart]

They should officially change the name to "Aay Bay"..

 

[Tony S]

That ship has sailed.
I don’t recognize the current “culture” of A-Basin at all.
If they really wanted to restore the “culture,” they could find a role model in Alta.
I’m not saying they need to ban snowboards, just snowboarders.

The question as I see it isn't "How do we make it like it was?" The question is "How do we moderate the acceleration of change?" Alpine skiing is my favorite sport by far, but I would settle for hiking, cycling, xc, etc. in a heartbeat if alpine skiing meant crowds and scenes like Disney World. Just totally and absolutely not interested in going near that, no matter how much pow porn you show me. Hundreds of people I can take, spread out nicely. Tens of thousands? No. I'll bet there are a lot like me. After we all croak in a couple decades? Well, I hope that kids still have an outdoors to experience that isn't mediated to death by some terrifying branch of the entertainment industry.

So. You go, Al!

 

[ski otter 2]

For me it's more simple than "preserve" anything. (Besides, from hiking back there in the summer, I experienced that the jewel-like, Sierra Club intricate beauty of the untouched Beavers terrain before the trailmakers got to it was about the only thing where "preserve" something was relevant, and that was gone in one season of logging and trail prep). In lieu of real preservation, I want to preserve my sanity and fun experience, so for me, A Basin just doesn't have the lifts and acreage to spread out the number of people they attract each year, nor in any year going back decades. I go early and late season only, for the most part, because no other area is open; and in that context, appreciate anything they can do to enhance things here and there.

Pali is swell, so are the Beaver runs. ( If I were younger, when I'd ski Pali for hours, happy as a duck, both those trail areas would draw me back more often.) 10% fewer folks would be appreciated also. In this context, thank God for skiing at A Basin!

 

[Green08]

They may be able to limit Ikon by putting them into the same limited bucket as day tickets. Or just make a separate capacity bucket for Ikon. Ikon reservations seem like any easy thing to require since there are no ticket windows.
Ikon gives you 5 days, but it doesn’t guarantee you can use those days whenever you want. And A-Basin, can easily do the math on what they make from an Ikon ticket.

The proposal to make Lewanee as high speed detach is going to change the culture and skier experience. But it gives them 25% bump in capacity, and quicker rides up midweek.

I am expecting the cost of a pass to go up, as they make the experience a little more “exclusive” if not fancy. And I think most loyal skiers will pay for what it means.

I can also see them take a cue from Sugar Bowl (who copied a few other resorts) and advertise the limited amount of available passes. The fear of not getting a pass because quantity is limited will drive sales in the Spring here when they need the cash flow for the summer.

 

[Blue Streak]

To think that Arapahoe Basin is all of a sudden concerned about preserving its “culture” it is laughable. This is the same outfit that charges $150 for a front row parking spot and sells 24 ounce beers in the cafeteria at 7 AM.
If they are selling 10% fewer passes, it is only because they expect to make more money in the long run. I tip my hat to Al for running a good business; however, I do not confuse business decisions for philanthropy.