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Uh oh. Fast Tracks at Powdr resorts is coming

Andy Mink

Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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I'd be pretty upset if I bought a season pass prior to a ski area annoucing they were going to sell folks the ability to cut ahead of me in line. Probably wasn't a reasonable expectation when folks purchased them.

Illegal on the resorts behalf? Probably not. In poor taste? Well...you'll notice they announced this after the majority of pass sales for the season are done with.
I was thinking the same thing. When pay-to-park went into effect a few seasons ago at N* there was a big HUGE backlash. They dropped the paid parking. They made the announcement AFTER everyone bought their season passes and a lawsuit ensued.
 

SkiBam

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Tremblant has this as an add on or it's free to mountain condo owners. The add on wasn't too bad. Last season with Covid they sold a ton of these and it was better to use the regular line. So they really jacked up the price this season and you had to buy before the season ended in April. I ski with 2 mountain owners, so I get the pass to be able to ski with them. But this could be the last year....it basically doubled my Ikon base pass.
And if you're skiing with your cheapo friends and their Tonik passes, the fast lane doesn't help I guess!
 

François Pugh

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This reminds me of the 407 boondoggle in Toronto. To alleviate pressure on the 401 (a multi-lane freeway) across the top of Toronto the government built a toll road (or arranged to have it built). Due to some fancy wheeling and dealing the 407 is privately owned; someone other than the government made and keeps making lots of money collecting tolls. At one time the government would not renew licenses for unpaid tolls, some of which were being charged erroneously to people who had never driven on the 407.

I boycott the 407, but at least when someone uses the 407 instead of the 401, I get through the 401 faster, unlike the fast lane ticket for skiing, which delays me when someone uses it.
 

eok

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I'd be pretty upset if I bought a season pass prior to a ski area annoucing they were going to sell folks the ability to cut ahead of me in line. Probably wasn't a reasonable expectation when folks purchased them.
Oh yes, absolutely. I bought my Bachelor season pass way before their recent announcement of Fast Tracks for this season. Very uncool. I remain pissed about it. When I learned of Fast Tracks I immediately felt as if the value of my pass was diminished unexpectedly. It's the "unexpected" part that stings.
 

newfydog

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Oh yes, absolutely. I bought my Bachelor season pass way before their recent announcement of Fast Tracks for this season. Very uncool. I remain pissed about it. When I learned of Fast Tracks I immediately felt as if the value of my pass was diminished unexpectedly. It's the "unexpected" part that stings.
Similar sentiment in the Bend Bulletin:


"I bought a full season pass this year and I regret that decision now. I may join a class action suit. Had I known of this policy I would not have bought it."


"More greed by Powdrcorp. Just like all the new VIP seating at Les Schwab, the average Joe in Bend is getting the short end of the stick. It seems that money talks in Bend these days. $50 extra when you’ve already paid $1000 for a season pass. "
 

newfydog

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I was on the volunteer patrol when Powdrcorp took over at Bachelor. I remember one of the paid patrollers commenting on a broken door to a toboggan shed. "Normally I'd bring it home to my shop and fix it. Powdr can just pay someone to do maintenance here now. They want to take as much as they can, without putting any back". We were a bit spoiled by a local owner, but the corporate approach has cost them a lot in terms of general good will.

Later I was on a citizen input committee. The guy from Powdr called season pass holders who ran up a lot of days "season pass holder abusers" That told me all I needed to know.

They earned whatever public relations fallout comes from this one.
 

crgildart

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LOL, it's cheesy and elitist at the core.. But, still a FIRST WORLD PROBLEM.
 

Philpug

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Wasatchman: Call me crazy but before this is over I think there is a chance that Powdr renounces the decision on introducing a Fast Pass.

The only chance of any retribution here is that the was announced after passes were sold.
Along the lines of...

"Powdr Corp has added a lift access option after season passes were offered for sale. We understand some people who already purchased passes are unhappy with this option. Powdr will offer a 100% refund on any pass purchased this season prior to being used".

I would say, that there would be less than 10...5 percent of passholders will take anvantage of this.

Had I known of this policy I would not have bought it."
Not to be smart but, how would that be better for you? If you buy a day ticket, you will be in the same spot in line ... maybe back further because you had to also stand in the line to buy that ticket first ... and the person who bought the FastPass will be will still be in front.

Having this happen after passes were sold is very similar to Vail announcing that some of the parking lots at Northstar would be pay only. I think there was a suit there too and Vail reversed in ...for covid reason.
But the numbers are was there were only two cases for 3 passes ; the first pair only got their passes refunded and didn't "win" anything extra, just unwinding the deal and putting parties back before the deal. The second also got nothing; but was also a little wacky and suing for 200k.
I think the reality shows that people may griped a bit and amplified on comments sections; but where the rubber meets the road in real life, the guests still sucked it up and have reupped their passes and will pay the extra parking fees

I am sure the the torches that the Bachelor locals are waving will be long out of fuel by the time the lifts start turning and the first powder day.
 

RJS

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Like many here, I am not a fan of Fast Tracks.

I do want to respond to Senator Wyden's letter to POWDR asking them to suspend Fast Tracks at Mt Bachelor. Again, while I don't like the idea of Fast Tracks, framing the issue around "equitable access" to U.S. Forest Service lands feels a little bit absurd. Aren't Mt Bachelor's $159 weekend lift tickets or $999 season pass (if bought before June) prices way more of an equity issue than a line that gives people preferential line treatment but still lets everyone who has a ticket ski? What about the disposable income it takes to get all of the equipment to go skiing, or the money and time required to become a good skier, or realistically speaking having a car and gas to get to the slopes? It feels like the equity issues around a Fast Tracks line pale in comparison to the myriad forms of inequity that would prevent a person from even being in a position to be upset at there being a Fast Tracks line.

It seems like a lot of people here, myself included if I am being honest, would rather the ski areas potentially make up for the revenue that Fast Tracks would generate by instead raising day ticket/season pass prices accordingly and treating all customers equally with an exception for ski school. Great, but aren't those slightly higher ticket or pass prices now causing an equity issue by pricing some people out of the sport?

I would argue that a far more important metric for measuring equitable access to U.S. Forest Service lands would be to look at uphill policies for ski areas and whether they allow for free or cheap (having a nominal fee to help cover plowing, grooming, avy control, patrol, is fine with me) uphill access. That way, people can still ski and enjoy their public lands without having to shell over $159/day or $999/season. There is no Fast Tracks equivalent for the skin track, although I don't want to give POWDR any ideas!

I know this is my third time saying it, but I don't like the idea of Fast Tracks. I do feel like it degrades the wonderful feeling on the slopes of it not mattering if the person next to you in the chair is a CEO or ski bum, and I will 100% be less likely to ski at a place where Fast Tracks seriously affects lift lines on crowded days. But at the same time, let's acknowledge the truth that every one of us who stands in that lift line is privileged in some form or another to be standing there. Without bringing politics into this, I hope we can also acknowledge that there are serious equity issues in our society that deserve more attention, which is why I am surprised that my senator is wading into an issue like Fast Tracks at a ski area when there are much bigger fish to fry (realistically speaking, an intern on his staff wrote the letter and he just gave it the stamp of approval, but still).
 

mulva28

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let's acknowledge the truth that every one of us who stands in that lift line is privileged in some form or another to be standing there. Without bringing politics into this
Really guy? Calling people privileged and then saying this statement isn't political?
 

DanoT

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One time when driving from Mt Bachelor to the coast, I drove by Hoodo Ski Resort and they had a sign that said: "Steeper, Deeper". I guess they can now add "Cheaper".
 

newfydog

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newfydog said:
Had I known of this policy I would not have bought it."
Not to be smart but, how would that be better for you? If you buy a day ticket, you will be in the same spot in line ... maybe back further because you had to also stand in the line to buy that ticket first ... and the person who bought the FastPass will be will still be in front.
Actually Phil, I did not say that, a Bend local said that in the paper. Not to be smart, but that is what those little " " are for ;). I just don't ski when there are lift lines, I'll go XC, backcountry, head for a brew pub etc.
 

Philpug

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Actually Phil, I did not say that, a Bend local said that in the paper. Not to be smart, but that is what those little " " are for ;). I just don't ski when there are lift lines, I'll go XC, backcountry, head for a brew pub etc.
I will usually italics or say From the article: But thats just me. ;) I still go back to the sentiment whether you said it or it was from the article. By not getting a pass doesn't do that person's situation any better.
 

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