Stupid snow reports

[billski]

Well, thanks to forums like this, the days of resorts deceptively modifying their snow reports (or simply omitting them due to "technical problems") are over.

However, they do some things that really annoy me.

From Stowe:
"Last night we groomed 44 trails, including the steep favorites Liftline & Nosedive,"
They have said this for months on daily reports. Really, do you think the vast majority of skiers really care about "steep favorites"?:roll: Most are blue and green skiers; that's where the money is. The steep skiers are often the fringe elements (like AZ regulars). Something to aspire to? What are they thinking? Doh #1.

 

[Nick]

Well I'm happy to see that news as an AZ'er and steep run lover 8)

 

[kcyanks1]

Well, thanks to forums like this, the days of resorts deceptively modifying their snow reports (or simply omitting them due to "technical problems") are over.

However, they do some things that really annoy me.

From Stowe:
"Last night we groomed 44 trails, including the steep favorites Liftline & Nosedive,"
They have said this for months on daily reports. Really, do you think the vast majority of skiers really care about "steep favorites"?:roll: Most are blue and green skiers; that's where the money is. The steep skiers are often the fringe elements (like AZ regulars). Something to aspire to? What are they thinking? Doh #1.

It has kind of bugged me too and I wish I skied those trails 30 (or whatever) years ago before Stowe destroyed them, but I see why they do it. I do in fact think a lot of people care that Liftline and Nosedive are groomed and like skiing steep(er) groomers than the blues. I think it probably also means something to people to ski some famous trails, and even if they don't know the trails are famous going in, Stowe having a report like this helps promote them.

The reason why I don't love it is that it makes it seem like Liftline and Nosedive, aside from historical reasons of sharing the same name as trails that were probably once something special, deserve the label of "favorites." It's like playing off of their reputation when they are no longer what they were. Would anyone include Liftline as part of a famed group of 4 trails in its current boulevard state? Probably not. But I think there is a mass of skiers who like groomed "steep favorites."

 

[thetrailboss]

I wish I had that much free time to spend reading every Stowe Snow Report to pick up on that! :lol:

Snow reporting is an arm of the marketing department. It is what it is.

 

[billski]

I wish I had that much free time to spend reading every Stowe Snow Report to pick up on that! :lol:

You got to get a better job, TB!

I get the email blasts every morning at 6:30am.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I dont even understand why Liftline is considered a double-diamond anymore. Seems to me it's just because they dont want to have one of the "Front Four" be a single diamond.

 

[kcyanks1]

I wish I had that much free time to spend reading every Stowe Snow Report to pick up on that! :lol:

It's been there almost every day

Snow reporting is an arm of the marketing department. It is what it is.

Yup.

 

[kcyanks1]

I dont even understand why Liftline is considered a double-diamond anymore. Seems to me it's just because they dont want to have one of the "Front Four" be a single diamond.

And National, while the first pitch of the main trail is steep, is nothing special either. We can debate difficulty in the other thread, but even if it is difficult, it just isn't anything spectacular. It is a very wide scar with snowmaking. Who cares?

The only special parts of those trails are the often closed upper upper parts. Not to say at all that in the right conditions they can't be fun, just marketing them as being famed seems like it can lead only to a loss of credibility...but as I said above, I get why Stowe does it.

 

[RootDKJ]

I do in fact think a lot of people care that Liftline and Nosedive are groomed and like skiing steep(er) groomers than the blues.

I fit this category.

 

[mediamogul]

My favorite is when K says "We groomed Outer Limits, the longest steepest mogul trail in the east" So a groomed mogul trail? They want to have their cake and eat it too. I have seen that one a number of times.

 

[KevinF]

Well, thanks to forums like this, the days of resorts deceptively modifying their snow reports (or simply omitting them due to "technical problems") are over.

However, they do some things that really annoy me.

From Stowe:
"Last night we groomed 44 trails, including the steep favorites Liftline & Nosedive,"
They have said this for months on daily reports. Really, do you think the vast majority of skiers really care about "steep favorites"?:roll: Most are blue and green skiers; that's where the money is. The steep skiers are often the fringe elements (like AZ regulars). Something to aspire to? What are they thinking? Doh #1.

How often do you ski Stowe? Liftline is skied off by the hoards within an hour or two of opening, at least on the weekends. The turns on Nosedive see a fair amount of traffic. A lot of people take Cliff Trail --> Nosedive... Admittedly they're cutting in pretty far down, but I imagine they like seeing on the grooming report that "Nosedive has been groomed".

 

[riverc0il]

I dont even understand why Liftline is considered a double-diamond anymore. Seems to me it's just because they dont want to have one of the "Front Four" be a single diamond.

This! Easiest double diamond rated trail in New England? Certainly in the running for sure. Even some of Okemo's double diamond rated trails are harder than Liftline at Stowe.

:dunce:

 

[kcyanks1]

This! Easiest double diamond rated trail in New England? Certainly in the running for sure. Even some of Okemo's double diamond rated trails are harder than Liftline at Stowe.

:dunce:

Not sure I'd go that far! That is Okemo you are talking about. I've only skied Stratton once, but it probably has some candidates. And places in CT and Massachusetts? Never skied in either, but figure they'd probably beat Liftline.

 

[riverc0il]

Not sure I'd go that far! That is Okemo you are talking about. I've only skied Stratton once, but it probably has some candidates. And places in CT and Massachusetts? Never skied in either, but figure they'd probably beat Liftline.

For real on Okemo, Double Diamond and that other glade are definitely more challenging and interesting than Liftline at Stowe. As for CT and MA, I pretty much just pretend those areas don't exist. :lol: :razz:

:-o:dunce::argue:

 

[buellski]

Easiest double diamond rated trail in New England?

That would be Goose Bumps at Sunapee.

 

[kcyanks1]

For real on Okemo, Double Diamond and that other glade are definitely more challenging and interesting than Liftline at Stowe. As for CT and MA, I pretty much just pretend those areas don't exist. :lol: :razz:

:-o:dunce::argue:

Been years since I skied Okemo. Outrage is the trail next to Double Diamond. I don't think Double Diamond is really much of a glade from what I remember, maybe scattered trees at most. Then there is Forrest Bump, which is a real glade. Maybe they've added more since I've been there. I don't know that any of those trails are as steep as the top (not very top; top from panic alley) of Liftline, but they aren't groomed as regularly. They could be tougher, at least Outrage and Forrest Bump, but by your own rule, not fair to compare glades to non-glades!

 

[riverc0il]

They could be tougher, at least Outrage and Forrest Bump, but by your own rule, not fair to compare glades to non-glades!

That rule only applies to making lists. This is comparing Double Diamond ratings at two different ski areas. Yea, Double Diamond at Okemo is kinda mellow. Outrage was really cool though, I enjoyed that. All I am suggesting is that Liftline at Stowe is flat, boring, and completely without any type of difficult for anyone that has attained a basic parallel turn.

 

[kcyanks1]

Been years since I skied Okemo. Outrage is the trail next to Double Diamond. I don't think Double Diamond is really much of a glade from what I remember, maybe scattered trees at most. Then there is Forrest Bump, which is a real glade. Maybe they've added more since I've been there. I don't know that any of those trails are as steep as the top (not very top; top from panic alley) of Liftline, but they aren't groomed as regularly. They could be tougher, at least Outrage and Forrest Bump, but by your own rule, not fair to compare glades to non-glades!

That rule only applies to making lists. This is comparing Double Diamond ratings at two different ski areas. Yea, Double Diamond at Okemo is kinda mellow. Outrage was really cool though, I enjoyed that. All I am suggesting is that Liftline at Stowe is flat, boring, and completely without any type of difficult for anyone that has attained a basic parallel turn.

No disagreement from me on Liftline. I also enjoyed Outrage..been a long time though.