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Mountain Riders Alliance (MRA)

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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Kind of surprised there is not already a thread on the MRA on here.

I've been watching them for the past year or so, and it sounds like they have some interesting ideas and objectives. They plan to build minimalist ski areas with only essential infrastructure such as minimal buildings, surface lifts, and renewable local energy. They partnered with Mt Abram this past summer and plan to redevelop a ski area in Alaska. Their pilot project is Manitoba Mountain on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. The final project would include several surface lifts offering pretty gnarly skiing out the gate and closer access to some incredible backcountry.

Here is a picture of the proposed lift layout:
Click for larger image


Here is the MRA website:
http://www.mountainridersalliance.com/
And Manitoba Mountain site:
http://www.skimanitobamountain.com



Personally I would be stoked for ski areas like this, it is becoming very expensive to ski, and it can be very frustrating to see the ways some ski areas spend on projects that don't enhance your ski experience. I haven't really seen much discussion on the MRA, and not much controversy on it either.

Thoughts?
Aug 30 2012 3:57AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
interesting idea. would really like to see where this is going to go.

not sure about the surface lift idea though. pretty sure you would initially need a grooming machine of some sort to pack a track down and you'd have issues when you get a big snowfall. a chair would be the best option
Aug 30 2012 12:20PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
MRA feels a bit like a ponzi scheme to me. I love me some classic ski areas and the no frills approach, but the model seems very suspect. They provide very little in the way of details other than a "trust us" vision while looking to receive financial support from the community while sitting as a for-profit LLC with high-powered venture capitalists sitting on their board.

I hope I eat crow, but color me skeptical right now.
Aug 30 2012 2:34PM
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Errl
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 451
very interesting indeed.
Aug 30 2012 2:45PM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3739 - Karma: 7,737
threads.. looks interesting
Aug 30 2012 3:03PM
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DJAK
Posts: 346 - Karma: 242
Found on the inter webs:

Aug 30 2012 3:35PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5235 - Karma: 20,715
I seriously question the idea of going with ropetows that long unless they are nutcracker ones like in NZ.
Snowfall will also be an issue.
Aug 30 2012 3:36PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5235 - Karma: 20,715
I support what they are going for. If I was to open a ski area (which I hope to do) this sounds quite similar to the business plan I would chose.
Aug 30 2012 3:44PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
"surface lifts" not ropetows. Nut cracker lifts are currently illegal in the US. The MRA is trying to change that.
Aug 30 2012 5:06PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
This is where I am a little concerned too. I am very supportive and appreciative of their ski area management plans, and integration with the local community and ordinary skier. Their plan to allow people to buy shares in a ski area, and get a pass to that mountain, and get voting power seems pretty awesome.

Aug 30 2012 5:23PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
I am pretty sure the Manitoba project would require grooming machines. Most of the "inbounds" lift accessable terrain will be beginner and intermediate level, especially in the first phase. Stuff like grooming equipment is pretty essential for any ski area to have.

The cost difference between installing a surface lift and a chair lift is pretty high. A surface lift is cheaper to purchase, requires less engineering, and the towers dont need to be as strong or big.
Aug 30 2012 5:27PM
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