MEADOWS BLOG

Hi Dave,
I'm a employee and I made other comittments based on a april 30th closure. This is a drag for us. I think you should move on to the next season. It was windy in the gorge today and the MX trails have great dirt. I don't want to work 6 days a week in the spring. A deals a deal let it go change the channel.

Meadows will be my adoptive momma next weekend. Knowing I can ride will get me through my last two exams. Thanks for giving me hope.

I was one of the 1,658 today. The lot was about 80% full yet the number of guests is less than 2,000. Did we get parked that bad? What time of the day do you count?

Thanks for the second chance on next weekend, with the weather being better we won't let you down! If your willing to bargin with us how about a 3,000 count weekend to keep it going?
Huh, huh, PLEASE?

Yeah, lift lines were non existent today(not complaining however). It seemed like the majority of people came during the late morning hours when the snow really started to soften. Thanks Dave for giving the people another oppurtunity.

Thanks for today's update. I'll be up again tomorrow and planning for next weekend. Thank you for giving us another chance!!!

if we spend the time to go to Meadows, as opposed to Timberline, Please spend a little more time on your terrain park. I was up at Meadows on saturday, and you had 2-3 rails at the most. I was severely disappointed at this, and made me wish i went to Timberline, please set your rails back up, and dont make the landings so steep on your bigger jumps.

thank you sooooooo much for opening next weekend. i had to go to a wedding today so i couldnt make it. i will be there tomorrow rain or shine. but next weekend will be good hopefully and im going to get as many people to go up. thanks dave. talk to you later

Sweet Dave!!!
thanks alot for next weekend. Yes it was awsome up there, and parks were good, and pipes.. I was in a hurry going up to meadows this morning, and i think it was you, who i passed on hwy 35. Yep, after cheking in the morning web cam, i saw it was good, and woke my self up and drove fast, in a hurry to make it up there before gray clouds move in, but they never came, and it made my day..See ya next weekend up there!!!!
sachez

Dave - Thanks for the waiver. We were not going to be able to make it this weekend regardless of the weather so the headcount was a bummer, as there was nothing my household could have done about it! Next weekend, however, game on! We will be up there the rest of the weekends (exception of the w/e 21st & 22nd)due to pre-challenge obligations. Hopefully the rest of those wishing to keep skiing & boarding can fill in the gap my car will be leaving. Hope to see you at least 3 more times this season.

Thanks again for the weather courtesy.

Great news!!! I will be there next weekend. I was there today and the snow was fantastic, it did not get too warm so the snow stayed great all day, it never got sticky. The weather was mostly sunny, just some high clouds at times, and the wind backed off, it was much lighter up at Meadows then down in Hood River. Everyone I talked to had a great time. Good advice about the web cams, I looked at the web cams this morning for Meadows and Timberline and realized that the thick clouds were low marine clouds, Meadows was above those clouds.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya , today was a great day for sure . Even got a little sun-burnt . I was a little suprised to hear attendence was below the target it looked like the lot was at least 3/4 full.
Props on the new pipe , it rocks .
I hope you will consider it may take time to grow a big spring following , i'm sure word will get out thst its much better than the competitions offering . I'm sure Cinco De Mayo hangovers and Mom's day will be a drag on things , but I think you are really onto something here . thx-matt

NICE! I was hoping that there'd be enough for next weekend, cause I gotta work this weekend. I'll be up both days next weekend! Keep up the good work!

I'm glad we got a waiver. I was wondering what would happen if we got a rain delay for a weekend. Thanks Dave, you are mighty swell!

I was sick this weekend so didn't make it but we ARE going this coming weekend for Mother's day!!! KEEP IT OPEN!!!! Thanks for giving it another try. Being open during memorial weekend would be awesome!

What a GREAT day! Round trips from the top of Cascade to Heather Canyon almost all day long - the morning clouds held the snow, and the afternoon sunshine didn't turn it to mush! THANK YOU for giving us Heather Canyon on this day when we skied from 9:00 to 3:15 - and had a great BBQ lunch on the deck!

Sorry about the rain forecast for tomorrow, but we'll be back next weekend!

Thanks, Dave, for giving it another try. I was bummed when I saw the weather was going to be less than desirable, 'cause I was afraid it would scare people away. There's nothing like spring skiing with the sun shining. Hopefully, it will be great next weekend. We're still planning to come tomorrow though. Also, last time I was up, I asked how you count the number of people. I was told by the number of cars, and that you figure 2.5 people per car. We never come up with less than 4 people, and we often have 8. I think with the price of gas, a lot of people might be filling cars a little fuller. I know I see a lot of families up there. Just wondering.

Thanks Dave,
I'll be up Sunday morning!! I'm so glad to hear you're giving it another shot next weekend even though I won't be able to make it (we're going to Maui for a couple of weeks). I'm really hoping to be able to ski Memorial day weekend after we return. Have a great day!!

Sorry, I missed Sat. Had child care duties. And It didn't look good from the Gorge,wind and clouds. I was very excited about doing Super Bowl today. Would be first since 2003. Will be there next weekend for sure. Thanks Dave for another change.

I'm there rain or shine next weekend and if it's shine the whole family is coming. Thanks for giving us some more time!

Conditions were excellent on Saturday and should be even better today. However - I think the entire plan for weekends in May was poorly conceived and executed - sorry Dave. While I appreciate the effort to add events and activities - the bands the contests etc - doing this kind of thing at the last minute is almost a guarantee of failure. Ask any event planner. So what could make it work?

Here's my 2 cents worth:
For the spring season - offer some great financial incentives for new skiers and riders to get involved in the sport. First - include a super discounted learn to ski or ride package of at least three lessons with the Spring pass. Second - and most important: offer a complete package of: The rest of the spring season, plus three lessons and rentals, AND all of next season (season pass only) for a single low price of the cost of next season's pass. Finally - offer the new riders first dibs on buying their rental skis at closeout prices at the end of the Spring season. This will bring in 500 to 1000 new riders (thus new money) and build your customer base at a time that the mountain is less crowded - the instructional program is less crowded - and the conditions are most inviting to those not currently winter sports fanatics. Oh yes - and make sure to set a suitable budget to promote the package with sport shops - groups - area hotels - and media outlets! Prepare to hit the website and airwaves with a blitz sometime between mid March 2007 and the last week of March.

Dave's reply: Hey, thanks for your thoughts. I thought I'd respond by first describing what we have done in the last few months to promote spring. Meadows offered a $99 spring pass that has turned into more than 2 months of skiing (so far). We are offering a substantially discounted $30 Learn to Ski or Ride package (normally $55). We've been selling though our demo at up to 50% off retail. And, we spent over $10,000 in radio promoting the Second Season in April and May while heavily promoting it through email and website to hundreds of thousands of clicks.

The staff, supervisors, and management team has worked very hard to create a fun experience through interesting and lively events, music, food, color, and new freestyle terrain parks and pipes. All this while most of our employees are moving on to other summer jobs. It would have been far easier, and possibly more fiscally responsible, to pull the plug in the middle of April like Crystal and Stevens Pass did. We're trying real hard to make this partnership work with our loyal guests and hoping this will also generate goodwill next fall when season passes go on sale. We have come to realize that the relationship we have with our local base is critical to the short and long term health of the resort and my staff is very proud of the things we are accomplishing.

I appreciate your input. Please continue to share your thoughts. I like the idea of selling some of our older rental equipment dirt cheap also. We'll look into that. - Dave

I planned on going on Saturday, but my damn friends sucked me into the cinco de mayo celebrations. Instead of hitting the slopes all day, I slept all day.

...damn margaritas

Thanks for the quick respons Dave, but you really did not address most of what I said. I concede that everyone at HRM has done a great job of promoting the belatedly announced spring season and its extension - but the whole point is that it was announced too late - and really did not offer the kind of financial incentives needed to really excite potential NEW riders to the sport. Pleasing your existing customer base is wonderful - and a fundamental aspect of any customer service oriented business - but GROWING that base is the next most important thing - and the spring season and it's promotions did little to accomplish that. The new learning package for spring is a great deal - yes - and I've taught a few dozen new skiers this spring who took advantage of that - but I don't believe it brought in the number of new riders that could be achieved with a complete season pass - lesson and rental package that I suggested. I moved here last summer from Boise- where the Bogus Basin operation set new national records,(and won national awards and was copied by many other operations throughout the country - especially in Colorado and the East) for increasing its rider base by utilizing this type of learn to ski - learn to ride package. There are lots of variations that could be employed to make your marketing of the discounted beginner package more powerful in converting one time lessons into lifetime customers. For starters: Offer them a second lesson within the next 7 days for $10 off if they by it that day. Then offer to apply the entire amount toward a rest of the season and next years combined season pass!

The fear of loss is a powerful motivator. And time sensitive promotions fuel that motivation - so combined with a "I must act today or I lose it" and "if I don't upgrade to the full monty after my two lessons - I lose the money I've spent that could have applied to the season pass with really up the conversion rate of new learners to pass holders and then lifetime customers.

Thanks for staying open Dave. I agree that last minute decisions to stay open in May make it hard for people to come up, as many have already made prior plans. Yesterday will be my last day unless you are open in June, as I am going to Europe for three weeks. I had a great season and yesterday was a sweet day. I enjoyed riding in the smaller park off Cascade (the other jumps are too big!) I ended the day with one last ride down upper Heather. It has been an incredible season, and the solitude of Heather Canyon was an awesome place to reflect on all the wonderful memories. Thanks again, and if I don't see you in June, I'll see you in six months :)

Dave,

You have done a great job to stop the complaints. Every time I sat on a chair at the beginning of the year I knew I was going to hear how Meadows screws up everything it touches in search of more profits. As the year progressed it was clear something had changed. The badmouthing stopped and pass holders have fallen back in love with your hill. Thanks for all your work. It has not gone unnoticed.

There is one thing that will help this spring. Could you look in to grooming more steeps? Two or Four Bowl, the Face, Memorial or Silver Bowl, Gun Barrel?

And, the guys that do the grooming could use a tune-up on their skills. It is lumpy out there and that is supposed to be the best part of spring skiing, smooth corduroy.

Besides, it is dangerous to ski fast with no outs in the morning. No more park for me, so I have to go fast. The slow signs make great Super G gates, but I don't think that is the point.


Thanks,
Pete

Dave's reply: Thanks for your kind comments. We'll get the Sherpa on the steeps. I agree. - Dave

Thank you so much!
I appreciate you keeping the hill open next weekend despite the low numbers this weekend. I am for sure coming both Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend, even bringing a friend with me to learn to snowboard.

Dave's reply: Cool. It really is a great time to learn to snowboard. Thanks for turning your friend on to the sport. By the way, the freezing level dropped and its snowing like crazy up here this afternoon... - Dave

Dave, thanks so much for lining it up for next weekend. I unfortunatly had prior plans this weekend so I will def. be out next weekend. Thanks again! BTW mt hood meadows rocks my socks, I have been only to A-basin in colorado otherwise and meadows is definatly more my style...thanks again.

Thanks Dave. Couldn't get up this weekend but will be there next Sunday. I think the weather does have a lot to do with the lower turnout this weekend.

Thanks for keeping Meadows open this late in the season. The parks are amazing. Really liking the Vista Park

Thanks for the second chance. I work in a restaurant and now Sunday is the only day I can come to the mountain. I didn't come up today because I really wanted some sunny weather and the forecast was a deterrent. I have been bringing lots of people the last few months and been enjoying that spring pass. I'm hoping to get up for some spring slush before you close for the season and I promise I will bring more people, I just hope the sun doesn't take the weekend off again next week.

Alas, I was yet another casualty to the Cinco de Mayo hangover yesterday, but my husband and I were up there today! We'll be back next weekend! Thanks for all your hard work in keeping the mountain open!

Dave's reply: Thanks for your comment. Hey, this isn't hard work, its a ski resort! Sounds like I missed out on a great party in Portland :) See you next weekend. Thanks for your support.

Riding was amazing on saturday. Thanks for keeping the mountain alive a little longer. See you next weekend.

Thanks for giving us another awesome weekend, we were there Saturday and had a great time. We all have racoon eyes! I sat up ontop of Cascade with a smile on my face and thought of what a great season this has been. We don't count how many days we've been on the mountain, but we now count how many months we've been coming up this season.

Just an idea, If everyone in the front rows move there cars to the back rows we can make it look like the lot is full. What do ya' think Dave?
Thanks, The Gowey's

I had a great time on saturday, however, it was REAL FRUSTRATING that the super park had been change and closed. I can't understand why you all would do that . And I doubt it will help get more people to come up to the mountain.But props for giving it another try this weekend.

How about lowering the demo price....

OMG! it was a little slushy early , but several inches of fresh later in the day made it seem like february . What an awesome sunday suprise ! The snow just keeps fighting spring back this year . See you saturday ! -matt

Dave,

Thanks so much for giving everyone a second chance. I had a last-minute change of plans and had to come Sunday instead of Saturday - you are right, it was snowing like mad up there. The conditions got better as the day went on. I was amazed to be boarding on freshies on a May afternoon. I will be back next weekend - and I hope we can keep on going all month. I promise I will not bring a sack lunch! It would be nice to see a little variation in the beer menu, though. Thanks for a fantastic season!

Yeah. I dont think that its going to work cause the head count is not so great anymore. Plus the the mx trails have too much dirt. I will look forward to next season. I think this season is coming to a close after a wonderful 2005-06 season.

Dave, serious thanks for staying open another weekend even though the counts from last weekend did not meet the target. We have a college kid coming home from school on Thursday and he will be super stoked to have another weekend to ride. There have been things over the past few years that have made me question how 'customer friendly' MHM really is but you are wiping out those concerns this spring. Thanks for everything you are doing.

Dave,

Selfishly I'm begging you to stay open for at least a few more weekends so my son (when he returns home from college on 5/16) & I can enjoy our passion of snowboarding together. He's been monitoring the conditons and dreaming of visiting his "mistress" Heather ever since you announced the extended season...please make his dream become a reality!!

please don't pay attention to matt who requested more rails and flatter landings on your jumps. kids today are insane! i get the appeal of rails but when you start calling for flat landings you lose all your cred. "please dave, let me blow my knees out". Hey Matt, if you wax your board/skis and make it all the way to the landing the steep landing reduces impact. if you can't make it to the landing, stick to the kiddie park

I just wanted to echo some of the comments; there has been a real change in the general feeling that skiers/riders have towards Meadows this year: you guys have repeatedly stepped up and been really good to us from Day 1 this season. I too have heard many many positive comments from people sharing the chair with me, and I know that even amongst us Hood River locals, we definitely feel that we've been very well treated this year.

I sincerely hope it translates well for you and that you are rewarded for your efforts: more season pass sales next season for example.

Great work and keep it up!

I only have one suggestion for next season, but I consider it a big one, as do many of your loyal Hood River/Parkdale skiers/riders: please let us get on the lift before 9am! I am sure sure sure that if you offer a "fresh tracks" season pass that lets us crazies on the lift earlier than standard opening time, you'll get lots of takers. You don't even need to open early on days with no freshies. And we'll >pay extra< up front to help offset the cost of opening 30 or 60 mins early. The problem is not so much that we want to get in before everyone else, it's that most of us will take half-days when the snow falls, but a half-day that starts at 9am is almost not worth driving up for (most people need to be back at work by 12). I know that for you guys, it's not worth at present because you're not getting any more money from us season pass holders whether we show up at 8 or 9... which is why I think you could offer this pass as a way to make up that shortfall.

Oh ok, TWO suggestions: how about installing one of those RFID/Magnetic pass reader systems like they have in Europe and other places in the states? I know, it's expensive, but surely it would pay for itself pretty quickly?

Cheers

kyle

Suck it up susie! I wanna ride!

I think the decision to stay open into May and
(unlikely) June is just a great idea, we had no idea you would do it and so have made other plans for weekends during this time period. However, if you are going to do this next year, let us know -- that is, if there is snow like this year. I really have enjoyed some of the groomed runs into Heather in springs past, a good idea. You might think of grooming rat bowl (is this a real name? It is opposite O-ring, that is to say it feeds into North Canyon or Lion's head if you go through the woods. Is Lion's head still a run? I ask because there is no more South Canyon.)

about my earlier comment, regarding the addition of rails, and the grade of the jumps, the jumps you made that weekend where mediocre at best. especially the zoo, or red park whatever it is called. the first jump was almost a step down, but no where to step down too. i completely over shot it the first time, and the second and third were barely groomed. as far as the cascade park went most of the hits were alright, except when you hit the 3rd one in, and the run up was was too steep, flung you in the air like a ragdoll, then came down on the flat. your ratios to the amount of air to the distance you have to cover is inadequate. and like i said in my previous comment add more rails, and be sure to bring in the green step up-down rail from HRM. - matt