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Big Sky, always a let down.

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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Besides the firing of their park manager, it looks like business as usual for BS this year. Anybody heard anything good Big Sky is planning???
Oct 6 2007 4:16PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
Big Sky is planning to kick you in the balls.  I'm not supposed to tell anyone though ... so you didn't hear it from me.
Oct 6 2007 6:43PM
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bigkicker
Posts: 1270 - Karma: 87
Joe wasn't fired. He needed a change and left big sky on his own.  He's stoked to be at great divide this year. 
Oct 6 2007 9:52PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
I'll be holding my breathe. Big Sky is always planning, never panning.
Oct 7 2007 10:15AM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Thats cool, I am glad to hear, no one should be fired from such a shitty place. 
Oct 7 2007 10:17AM
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drewishish
Posts: 3710 - Karma: 23
ahha who cares? i get to ski gd every weekend anyways ( who now hired bigskys old park guy ) . and moonlight is funner then big sky, and the park there always kicks ass. thte only reason to go to big sky is for regular skiing, if not go to moonlight.
Oct 7 2007 4:03PM
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eheath
Posts: 61604 - Karma: 123,113
So glad I left big sky for park city.
Oct 9 2007 1:15AM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
You're so cool.
Oct 9 2007 4:35AM
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Tmcchesney
Posts: 305 - Karma: 2,548

Sorry to say but joe was probably the worst park manager ever. I heard that they got the guy who did copper's park last year

Oct 10 2007 1:02AM
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mtsteeze406
Posts: 447 - Karma: 11
moonlight is taking over. and on the park crew subkect, they guys who run moonlight are way cooler and more fun thatn big skys team.
Oct 10 2007 1:22PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Second that, my brother told me that, and he lives in Colorado.

It would be a starting point, moving the park would be next. Selling the terrain to Moonlight would be a solid third move.
Oct 10 2007 6:56PM
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tjski
Posts: 5859 - Karma: 44

i dont know when he did showdowns park it was the best in the state..maybe big sky didnt give him enough freedom

Oct 10 2007 10:00PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Big Sky doesn't give anbody anything good.

If you disagree, then how has Moonlight built a rival park in one season?????????????
Oct 11 2007 12:07PM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
try an easily superior park in one season built by kids fresh out of high school.
Oct 11 2007 2:48PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
The park thing definitely lies more on mountain management than the people building it.  There are plenty of people out there who are capable of making a half-decent set of jumps, but ultimately it's Big Sky's mangement that destroys that possibility (but don't rule out the fact that their park crew is not among those who can build).  Moonlight gave their guys a ton of freedom and actually paid them to do their job, wheras Big Sky is run for families skiing groomers and they treat their employees like crap.  I know if I worked there I wouldn't see much incentive to do more than the minimum.
Oct 11 2007 6:36PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Agreed
Oct 11 2007 11:43PM
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king.tubby
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 122
so true.
Oct 12 2007 12:32AM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
 Most park crews are actually really into it, and are stoners on a mission. But to appreciate a great park you have to ride a great park a lot, that is where I think MT gets jacked. One solid park would shift this shit show to a more prideful style of park building, around the state.
Oct 12 2007 6:43PM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
Ok, well then they shouldn't be advertising their Zaugg pipe cutter in freeskier.  What kind of message does it send when they advertise their park in a magazine read by park rats around the country?  Also, even if the management did restrict the park crew alot, there is still no excuse for the condition of the "parks."  Bombholes took dayyyys to get fixed, and the pipe was cut what, like once a week if that?  I'm sorry but there was no indication of effort at all.  Some of the sick features in the mini park would be up for a week and then I would come back and see them just sitting idly on the side of the park, with a garbage can or giant bumpy tube in it's place. 
Oct 12 2007 11:03PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
word, they should of thought of this stuff before the Zaugg
Oct 14 2007 10:39PM
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king.tubby
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 122
totally. i meant more in general, boyne is not the greatest company to work for, and you don't really feel like putting in 110 %
Oct 15 2007 12:25PM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
I hate to be constantly ragging on Big Sky, because there is def some sick shit up there but when prices go up each year and the quality goes down, people are gonna be pissed.
Oct 15 2007 5:15PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Quality is increasing exponentially for their target market though, so they won't have any problems.  The outspoken locals will be shut up by the rich people with houses and time shares up there.  Not to put down your idea or anything, but I doubt Big Sky will ever cater to average people who live here--that's what Bridger and, to a certain extent, Moonlight do.
Oct 15 2007 6:15PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
I wouldn't go so far as to say Bridger is all about locals.  Season prices keep increasing to pay for new lodges for winter break vacationeers, shitty 100m long lifts for tards, no terrain park, and the the slushman's expansion they've been saying "next year we're putting the lift in" for the last decade.
Oct 18 2007 2:14AM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
They haven't been saying that they were going to put the lift in for years, they just purchased the terrain two years ago.... and they started putting in the lift this summer.  The bunny hill lift is important because kids were learning on a rope tow, and when they would try to get on the real lift, they got fucked and held up everyone else in line. 
Oct 18 2007 10:55AM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
They've had legitimate delays for the Slushaman's lift.  They were going to put it in this summer (this was the only date they actually said they would), but after last year's season they didn't have enough money.  The pads have been poured and it's supposed to be in next year.  I won't be very bummed if it isn't though;  the skiing is awesome over there without it being totally tracked up.  As far as the terrain park goes, is there really enough of a demand for it to justify the cost?  With the size of Bozeman and the number of people here that ski park, having two mountains with ok terrain parks is probably enough.  Personally, I support their decision to expand the mountain and alleviate lift lines instead of "improving" what they already have.
Oct 18 2007 10:56AM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Right On... And the terrain park thing is changing, we are not talking about leaps, but Bridger is trying to get a certified park instructors and is trying to visualize places for one decent park. While I love Bridger and everything about it, I will say two good jumps and two good features would make me smile. A
Oct 19 2007 12:48PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
They really just need to figure out where to put the park, for starters.  I know it may interfere with other people a little, but the best places are really on Pierre's Knob and Alpine.  What they need is a moderate, sustained slope to build on, and what they have on Bridger is just a tiny pad to work with. 
Oct 19 2007 1:17PM
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NWFlow
Posts: 1557 - Karma: 61
Also...I doubt Bridger sees a huge need for a terrain park.  Even when they do build one its mostly empty.  Granted, if it was better more people might use it, but I still don't think enough people are interested to allocate a ton of money and personell that could be used for other things. 
Oct 19 2007 7:17PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Bridger has never really had a park, even when it was between DP and Bridger, it blew ass. And lets not even mention last year, did you know they tried to hold park instuctor certification there??? Is that a joke or what. 
Oct 19 2007 10:13PM
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Jaskittin
Posts: 5606 - Karma: 195
^haha yeah they have been emailing me telling me how they want park instructors and shit.  Like that is really gonna happen.  Half of those guys couldn't slide the the 5 foot boxes last year.
Oct 20 2007 1:11PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
I know, I watched part of that while powder park was stalled. The guy with the PSIA jacket and scratch bcs wins ski chach of the decade in my book, then I saw him at the bar wearing the same jacket, damn sometimes it hurts to be a skier. Just sometimes...
Oct 20 2007 1:31PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Save the money, send your park rat to Breck and have Paul Cotter and Tuff give him a private in the park. Now that is a park lessons. 
Oct 20 2007 1:33PM
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Montana-boy
Posts: 184 - Karma: 12
Yeah, BS is quite a mother, but this is my fourth year with a pass, and I just like riding the pipe, even if it is undercut.  I love riding, the park when it's decent all the time, but you cant forget all the sick sick spots up at big sky (so much space!!) and  the fact is you cant argue with the short lift rides at Big Sky compared to Bridger and Moonlight.  You spend all day on the lift at those places.  I'd rather spend my time skiiing than riding on some lame lift that is barely moving.
Oct 20 2007 4:18PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
I would be stoked with two good tables.  There should be something for the people who can't afford big sky passes, or the time and money to drive there.  Not only would that give us something to do on crappy snow days, but a park is so much safer than "natural terrain features."  I've never been injured in a park, but I've a couple significant injuries and several bang-ups from natural jumps that don't have landings.  Hey it would be awesome if I could stay amused with powder every day, but we don't get it.  I need more than moguls and occasional powder to stay entertained.  I do remember the "hosts" or ski patrol telling me they were planning on expanding slushman's within the next year or two my first year with a bridger pass.  That was 6th grade, I'm in my 5th year of college now. They say they're a local's ski hill, but they're starting to get their tourist on.  And what's up with no discounted pass for MSU student's?  I guees big sky isn't huge competition for them due to the drive so they don't have to have competitive pricing.
Oct 21 2007 12:39AM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Bridger has nooooo lift lines Monday through Friday. And Big Sky has more lifts shut down than running most days, Moonlight has no lines on anything but six shooter, and the line at swifty can be as bad as the bridger lift.  No pun intended but I disagree. 
Oct 21 2007 11:12PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
I agree, Bridger has gone beyond a local hill now, everyone in MT beelines on powdays. But, they are trying to change, I give them that. But the no student thing is totally weak, student pass $420????? That sounds good. They do need to compete with Big Sky, condos are being built in our lifetime up at Bridger, but without changing we will learn how small ski areas die. I loved Berthoud pass with all my heart as a kid, but they refused and refused to budge on stuff, and after being open for like 70 years, they closed. I want Bridger to stay as people free as possible, but I want new lifts, and I want a park.
Oct 21 2007 11:19PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
Yeah powder days.  Do you ever remember people having to park out on the highway, say 5 years ago? Or 10 years ago?  Where did all this come from?  I think last year was the first I noticed just how packed it could get.  I think maybe holding off on that new lodge and snowflake, and putting a quad out on slushman's might have been a wiser way to budget the money though.  Its just so packed on the hill when there is snow, they need to spread people out.  And the ridge is no longer the sanctuary it used to be.  YOu used to be able to have untouched lines all weekend after a snow.  Now you have to be in the line to hike right away or you're getting tracke dout runs. 

Thus student pass is 520 - $100 gifgt card, I suppose i might end up spending that on food and booze that I would've gotten anyways.  I'm just thinking about how when I was in 6th grade my first pass was $180.  That was awesome. 
Oct 22 2007 5:46PM
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NWFlow
Posts: 1557 - Karma: 61
Yeah the 135 dollar early season pass was so cool.  I really love Bridger, and did buy a pass there this year (my 10th with a pass) but they need a major management overhaul. 

Powder days (especially last year) are absolutely rediculous.  Secondly, they DO need at least some sort of a park.  It'd be kind of cool to make one over by Avalanche Gulch or Sluice Box down on the groomer, but not a lot of room for jumps.  And they seriously need to get there shit together with student pricing.  It feels, at least to me, like they have no interest in having younger people ski at the area, and this will certainly hurt them in the long run. 
Oct 22 2007 7:14PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
I concur with bridger being anti-younger people.  If I was a 45 year old dirtball hippie, they'd love me.  A few years ago I had my pass pulled by MArvin for, "Reckless Skiing in lift lines and vulgar behaviour towards others."  That particular day was an icy february where the hill was empty.  We took one run up bridger, skiied down past the liftline ropes at bridger's bottom through the openings mind you, then over to Pierre's.  We got stopped at the top of Pierre's.  At that point we hadn't seen a single person except lifties and the dreaded Marvin.  My pass was taken for 1 week, despite asking him why it was being taken in a professional manner, he refused to answer.  It was just ridiculous.  He could give us no reason, I'm sure some kids were acting up and he stopped the first younger people he saw.  One time my friend was trying to pull a Spy sticker off the back of a chairlift, and a ski patroller stopped him and was going to pull his pass permanetly for vandalism.  Luckily we were able to penetrate the thick layer of weed resin around her brain and convince her we were trying to take it off so my friend could put it on his ski.  I'm not even going to get into how much resitance they gave us for doing any sort of "freestyle aerial manouevres."
Oct 24 2007 5:49PM
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drewishish
Posts: 3710 - Karma: 23
turns out big skys new park manager is coper mountains old guy. the word on the street atleast!!
Oct 24 2007 7:40PM
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dank420
Posts: 63 - Karma: 11

th epark guy is one of the diggers from last season in the park.  No cat driving experience, only shovel and rake guy.  And the pipe definitely needs to be cut more than once a week, last year it started out good, then turned to crap b/c of a lack of commitment from jake, the pipe cutter.  Wt least no hope for pope is gone, he didn't have a fucking clue about what he was doing.

Oct 25 2007 5:07PM
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406
Posts: 2302 - Karma: 92
bridger would be the sickest mtn ever if it had a park.......pow dayz are fucking nut busting
Oct 25 2007 7:16PM
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