Targhee adopts two class pass system- tell them NO!

[neckdeep]

Targhee's owner/manager has another brilliant idea to show us how out of touch he is with 99% of his customers and any one else who isn't independently wealthy. If someone is willing to pay three times ($1499) the regular price next season, they get an "Ultimate Pass" which includes 30-45 minutes of "early tracks" EVERY powder day while the rest of us second class customers stand in line like a bunch of old fashioned fools. Now by "out of touch", I meant he must not know or care that the existing "early tracks upgrade" already annoyed the piss out of a core segment of customers, those enthusiastic enough to get up early and get in line for a chair. It wasn't too irritating when an upgrade was only for a single powder day and seldom attracted more than a dozen, mostly out of town skiers. But no local I have talked to is in any way enthusiastic about having a permanent group of privileged first tracker pass holders going out EVERY powder day and tracking up the few long lines that Targhee has to offer.

So my first question to maggots out there is: do any other resorts have an "early tracks" program to drive up the ticket revenue? My second would be: do we really need a system of privilege for the 1% pass holder vs the 99% at a small time, supposedly laid back resort? The resort has an ample cat skiing program to serve wealthy, track-averse guests. Most importantly: would a system like this annoy you because you, the "basic" pass holder or day ticket buyer, feel devalued because you still pay the same but will get less untracked snow and have to stand there in line waiting for the rich folks to have their privileged laps? Unlike the cat skiing, seems to me that this sort of shifts the burden over to everybody else (i.e. a few pay and get more at the expense of everyone else's turns and it costs the resort nothing extra). Yep, the owner promised us a chairlift up Peaked and more terrain for all but this is what he actually implemented instead: extending the privileged powder zone over from Peaked to Fred's from 8 to 9am. Ominous.

My feeling is that if the mountain is safe at 8am for the golden boys then it is safe for all; open the chair to the paying public or not at all. I think I speak for more than just myself when I say that there was something pleasingly democratic and meritorious about the ol' first come, first served way of getting tracks. Sadly, I feel something is being lost here. Simply buying one's way to the front of the line is just one of the things about life in this country that sucks ass. Now its being pushed on to us during what should be moments of pure escapism from that sort of blatant bullshit. Anyhow, if you feel so inclined, you could go over to Targhee's facebook page and comment under the announcement of the Ultimate Pass. See how long your customer response stays on the page.

[peds]

Absolutely disgusting.

[CarveMan]

It's like when Park City included 'Express' lanes at their lifts if you bought a more expensive ticket.

To me that was just an admission they had a problem with lift lines.

[Mike Pow]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Targhee one of the snowiest places in the lower 48 with a relatively low level of patronage?

If that is the case, does the powder get tracked that quickly?

[doughboyshredder]

Sounds like a good idea to me.
I am not one of the 1%, but I think I would pay 1k to have a few extra pow runs every powder day with no tracks.

I have been clamoring for higher pass prices for years. There are way too many people at Alpental. I would like to see less people and would gladly pay a lot more to lower the crowds.
Call me elitist, etc... I don't give a rat.
Supply and demand. There is a limited supply of lift serviced powder, and the demand is getting higher.

I can understand how long time locals would be pissed. Is there a certain amount of jealousy involved though? If you could afford the extra 1k would you pay it?

[BassBone]

[neckdeep]

Fair question, mikepow. Targhee is big at 2000 acres but it is a lot wider than it is tall. There's loads and loads of 500-1000 foot lines to traverse to but only one area off the top that features a long (1800ft) powder run down a decent pitch and minimal traverse. Guess which zone gets totally beat up by 10am. Guess where most of the early tracks are. I don't know how many first trackers there will be but it is clearly a program the resort is trying to promote. If it attracts just 100 people, yeah, they could really work over some of the best the resort has to offer. They are mostly weaker skiers and take big ass giant slalom turns eveywhere they go. Just 8 of them can track up a zone 50 yards wide with each pass. Sure, it's not the end of the day but that kind of misses the whole point about prefering the meritocracy over the plutocracy, tho. Who really wants to see a pristine slope cunted up like that at 8:55 am?

Doughboy, no I wouldn't pay it if I could afford it for three reasons. First, had I big bucks I would be focused on cat and heliskiing to get away from it all. Second, at the resort, I would still want the same riding friends whom I would not be able to relate to in the same way if I was constantly taking cuts in line right under their nose. This is a small town. Having camraderie with your fellow locs who you live and work around is more important to me. Which brings me to three, I'm already getting awesome tracks based on merit. I get up early, I get in line, no problems. Why should I pay extra for something I already earned?

Jealousy? No, real irritation though. As I said, the feeling expressed by people I have talked to is that we are paying the same price as before but getting less. We are being devalued. I think they could have raised more revenue by raising the season price by $25-50 and everyone would feel like they were getting a fair shake. But I'm sure others will be annoyed AND straight up jealous which is why this new early tracks program is a great but stupid way to raise a limited amount of money and anger many local customers.

[Tye 1on]

You also get tickets to both 3-day music festivals and a pool pass.

Fuck early tracks tho.

[skew]

Snowbird has a "deal" like this called "7 Summits Club". These privileged few get a couple early runs plus cutting lines, and most importantly, cutting the tram line. IT COSTS $15K for the basic pass. So Targhee's proposed deal sounds pretty good! Will Targhee have line-cutting privileges?

I was at Targhee with my kids for a freeski comp last weekend. Pretty much everyday they had the main lift (DC?) down due to "high wind". I rode the lift each morning at 8 AM immediately before they shut it down and it was windy but nothing I would call dangerous to the riders, workers or the lifts. Is this normal at Targhee? A lot of us out of town parents were scratching our heads and some were downright mad because they couldn't get to the venue see their kids compete. In Targhee's defense I think they made an adequate attempt to get the parents to the venue, as long as were ready to go at 8 AM.

[jonesy]

210 skinnies and see how fast it gets tracked,pussies.

[Airsatz]

My feeling is that if the mountain is safe at 8am for the golden boys then it is safe for all; open the chair to the paying public or not at all. I think I speak for more than just myself when I say that there was something pleasingly democratic and meritorious about the ol' first come, first served way of getting tracks. Sadly, I feel something is being lost here. Simply buying one's way to the front of the line is just one of the things about life in this country that sucks ass.

Well said.

Morally regressive, miserly policies like this should inflame people with soul anywhere and inspire community action.

Exploiting class divisions among folks engaging in a shared experience shows outright disrespect for the culture and customers, creates unnecessary social friction, and shows that management has no relationship whatsoever with its clients.

Haven't I also read about similar deals at Squaw and JH? This seems like part of a general trend across all ticket-selling businesses - theme parks led the charge, and even the Feds are on board now with their TSA "Trusted Traveller" pass.

[Ottime]

It is funny to me when the tea party folks start complaining about the wealthy being allowed to buy their way in. Damn capitalism is ruining the ski world. It should be a socialist hill, or no hill at all...

It is a business boys. The resort can charge any way they like. If they think they can make money by selling privilege passes, they will. If you don't like it, ski somewhere else, or buy some skins and forget about the resort. Or write a petition. Or, maybe, just whine about things on TGR and hope the world changes.

OP, to answer your question, these programs are nothing new. Whistler has had an early up program for years (albeit, not on a season pass). Kirkwood has had a Black Pass with line cutting privilege, but no early up on powder days. As DBS suggested, people will buy this pass and be stoked on it. Personally, I'll be bummed the day my local hill adopts a program, but I understand they have the right to run their business as they see fit.

In short, the folks who can afford to spend that kind of money also tend to pay for better parking, eat and drink on the hill, pay for lessons, etc. Us ski bums tend to buy our cheap pass and that is it. It is not just about the $1K more they get for the pass, it is about tiring those folks out early, so they hit lunch at 11AM and sign up for an afternoon lesson.

Bummer for you Targhee folks, tho.

[GPP33]

the feeling expressed by people I have talked to is that we are paying the same but getting less. We are being devalued.

You're not paying the same though right? Didn't you say they are paying 3X?

It's a pretty crappy policy in my opinion but it's a sign of our culture. The ski operations are a business. Just like any other business in life the more you pay the more outlandish things the business will give you. It's capitalism at its finest!

Now doing something where they open early for long time season pass holders, say 7:00 for 10+ years, 7:30 for 5 – 10 years and 8:00 for everyone else could be a good way to reward the loyal but that wouldn’t really help the bottom line so it’ll probably never happen.

[neckdeep]

If they think they can make money by selling privilege passes, they will. If you don't like it, ski somewhere else, or buy some skins and forget about the resort. Or write a petition. Or, maybe, just whine about things on TGR and hope the world changes.

.

Or we could go with my suggestion, comment on the facebook page under the announcement for the new pass. Nothing inappropriate please, just give them legit customer feedback. Maybe the employee who is deleting the negative customer responses will kick the feedback up the foodchain. It's not just me. I was asked by another early in line local to post a facebook comment and a lot of us plan to be voicing our opinions on this in person over the next month. So if a few hundred more customers complain in a constructive manner, it can't hurt. But, having pissed in your face before on some Kirkwood threads I accept your sarcasm returned back to me.

[snomaster]

It's about time to start a TarGay crybabies thread.

[neckdeep]

Gotta pity a guy who really NEEDS you to know how much he doesn't care. Shouldn't you be out GoProing your exploits cuz this thread, the ghee and most of us are really all too beneath your awesomeness.... which you always manage to find time to tell us....

[systemoverblow'd]

1st world problems indeed.

They should be allowed to enable any policy they want. You know I can't afford to fly on a private jet but I'm not pissed about those who can. Just because you and other locals can't afford it don't hate on those that.

[schwerty]

The pool and festival passes added to the Pass would make it worth it to me if I lived in TV ID. I certainly could be wrong here but I'm going to guess they don't sell enough of these passes to really make a dent on Powder days, especially on weekdays.

If the Ghee wants to go down this road, I could see a day ticket with an early lift clause and possibly the ability for REG season pass holders to add an early lift when they'd like to for a very small price. Not a real big fan of what they are doing here though.

[Moeghoul]

If you support that trend, then would you support 10 billionaires plunking down the equivalent of a ski mountains total cost of operation with a reasonable profit to boot and close off the mountain to the rest of the public? They could downsize bigtime by getting rid of a lot of staff, reducing operating costs and make it even more profitable.

Think Cartmannn.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clip...musing-himself

[systemoverblow'd]

It's not like target where if you piss customers off they will go to Walmart. Some people have no other option than skiing the ghee. Some people don't want to drive over the pass (or can't) to get to an early lift at Jackson. Targhee I see can do almost whatever the hell they wantt and won't be significantly damaged by loss of customers.

[akokskis]

Wow, this is DISGUSTING! The ski industry is trying to turn itself into a high class country club style of resort, and it sucks. I understand that this is their prerogative (a la good ol style capitalism), but it's still disgusting. Even if I had the $, I wouldn't consider such a pass just based on the principle (and hope that most others wouldn't consider it as well).

Sure hope many other skis areas don't start going down this road, but frankly it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[doughboyshredder]

Doughboy, no I wouldn't pay it if I could afford it for three reasons. First, had I big bucks I would be focused on cat and heliskiing to get away from it all. Second, at the resort, I would still want the same riding friends whom I would not be able to relate to in the same way if I was constantly taking cuts in line right under their nose. This is a small town. Having camraderie with your fellow locs who you live and work around is more important to me. Which brings me to three, I'm already getting awesome tracks based on merit. I get up early, I get in line, no problems. Why should I pay extra for something I already earned?

Jealousy? No, real irritation though. As I said, the feeling expressed by people I have talked to is that we are paying the same price as before but getting less. We are being devalued. I think they could have raised more revenue by raising the season price by $25-50 and everyone would feel like they were getting a fair shake. But I'm sure others will be annoyed AND straight up jealous which is why this new early tracks program is a great but stupid way to raise a limited amount of money and anger many local customers.

That's a fair and rational response that I can agree with.

[doughboyshredder]

The ski industry is trying to turn itself into a high class country club style of resort, and it sucks.

LOL, skiing already is a rich white person sport.

The ski bum, that is truly poor, is by far the minority.
Average people can not afford to do what we do. The only way if you're not wealthy is too put all of your energy towards earning money to go skiing (unless you live in a ski town, buy a cheap season pass, and bum rides to the mountain, so you can ski on your 2 year old skis that you bought on gear swap). An average inner city kid has little to no chance of ever getting up on the mountain.

[183GotamasA/T]

Agreed, skiing has become a rich person's sport.
I am not rich, I am a ski bum.
I will be reselling my soul to buy this Ultimate Pass.
I encourage most of you to do the same.

[schwerty]

Despite not thinking this is a wise decision by mgmt I would buy one too! Let's wet a line one of these days.