Well this has sort of always been the case, but it’s usually the same people who come. So, plenty of vets not showing up either. Many reasons, unpaid clinics one of them. Going for cert will get attendance. But that can get economic also, in that it’s not worth it.
I know lots of people who are great instructors but only went down that path so they could keep on skiing. When I was 16 I was a volunteer ski patrol as that let me ski for free and get great deals on gear. At some hills we even got free meals and accommodation. I also got my advanced first aid certification, discounted CSIA Level 1 certification and some great volunteer experience all while providing a much needed service. Win win. Ditto for my friends who instructed and some continue to do so today. My local hill asked me to teach, but prior to covid I traveled too much. My wife was disappointed as if I did teach, the kids Freeride would be half price, the entire family would get discount season passes and mine would be free plus I would also get half price food on the hill. If my companies travel freeze continues maybe I will teach this year
I have a Wachusett brochure from 2018-19 that I picked up at the Ski Show that year. Like I mentioned before, the published prices were the cap, you could get them for less by purchasing online ahead of time, and early and late season day of ticket window prices are lower too. Even then, the full day ticket wasn't bell to bell. On weekends and holidays it was until 3:30, on weekdays until 4. They also had half day prices and times that are pretty much the same as the current sessions. For the night skiing, current session 4 (7 pm until close) prices are lower than before. I can't find what the double session prices were this past season, but it wasn't just double the price of a single session. From a quick search online I found that if they had capacity at the end of your session this past season, you could add the next one for as little as $5 putting it in line with the previous "full day" prices. The only issue I see with that is not knowing in advance if they would offer it. The only session that seems worse now is the after school time slot from 4-7. They used to have a full night ticket from 4- close or a late night ticket from 7 - close. They don't have the full night anymore, but the 4-7 ticket costs the same as the full night ticket did. But I'm guessing that adding the late night session was one of the $5 deals, so still really no change.
That may be what the brochure said, but does not reflect what I paid when I skied there BC (Before Covid) on weekdays. I never paid north of $50 for a full weekday ticket, I did always buy at least the night before, so I could go right to the lodge and change (ahhh, the good old days...) then head out onto the, at the time, very empty, hill.
I was in a hotel up in ME a few weeks ago, the sign on the door said the max rate was $899/night...in central ME. We used points to pay, but I think the website rate was ~$110/night.The half day session BC (before covid) was only for the back end of the day, correct? Now, there is no way just to buy a full day ticket. You have to buy Session 1 for $62/$68 then buy Session 2 for $62/$68 (if that is even allowed up front) for a total price of $124/$136 to a guarantee the equivalent of a full day ticket. Either that, or take your chances that Session 2 wasn't sold out when your 3.5 hour slope time ran out. If I was going to spend the time to drive to Wachusett for the day, park, boot up, have time to have a coffee/warm-up break, lunch, and get some skiing in, I want an all day ticket to justify the time. I am not going to pay $136 for 2 sessions, or hang around after Session 1 expires only to find out that Session 2 is booked out. This would just add stress to my day by knowing I paid $136 to ski at this place, or hoping to get lucky that Session 2 wasn't sold out.
I would never go there for those prices. If I lived close by it would be worth it for after work sessions or weekends at home. So yeah I would be pissed if they sold out without notice, but we buy our passes in April so whatever I guess.
I am enjoying it too. Especially since I don't ski there. I plan on ragging on Vail, Ikon, and Boyne soon. Then on to the Indy areas. Hot weather and no snow gets me bored.
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Do you actually think that's the reason people from the Boston area go there - that they are not able to decide for themselves where to go and it's only their stupidity/ignorance?
Yeah, terrible take from the OP. both for the reason you pointed out and for the underlying implication that the only possible reason people choose a ski area is that it’s a “bargain”.
I don’t have any skin in this discussion but the difference with Mad River, Magic, and maybe others is that they announced in advance they would be limiting season pass sales. I personally applaud this approach given all the uncertainties but key is telling your current and potential customers in advance. It sounded like that was not the case with Wachusett.
This is false, they did say that they would limit sales
