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Night Park in So. VT... Need your input!

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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Long story short- I landed my dream job last fall and now I am the Director of Operations for Magic Mountain in Southern VT. I won't bore you with the insanity of what that really means, but I'm making this thread to tell you what I'm trying to make happen here as well as get some feedback about our options going forward with the project.

The basic idea: We already run our tubing park until 7ish, pay a patroller to be on staff and also pay staff to run the handle tow. My idea was to use that same lighted area, same staff etc, and put in a small park where our beginner handle tow is located now (for those familiar with the place) and charge just like tubing- day pass or season passes available either standalone or as an add-on for a regular season pass.

Operationally speaking, we'd likely be extending the viable demographic that uses our night services now, as well as creating additional draw into the bar & restaurant without actually spending much additional money since as I said before the staff is already being paid to be there- So I've essentially been given the go ahead to make this happen... Which brings me to the subject of your input. Please try to answer the questions below as best you can, they really will be used to determine what is going to go in, type of features, cost etc.

Basically we have a 500' mellow run to work with that is at maximum 3-4 snowcat lengths wide. It's not really steep enough to do airs, but it's just about right for rails, boxes and the like.

If you were designing a park, what would your most basic concerns be in terms of features? What would be a MUST for you? Full rail jam style flow course or just a few scattered features to play on? Both? Is there a type of box, rail etc. you feel is absolutely a staple? Feel free to get elaborate if you want, this is your opportunity to tell me how to do my job and I am absolutely listening.

How much would you pay for a lighted (lit af of course) handle tow served night park as described here? $10? $20? I would love to hear your realistic maximums. I'm trying to make this on the cheaper side, but it also has to make sense to my GM.

Would you be more likely to by a day pass or a season pass to something like this if the price is reasonable?

How late do you see yourself staying at a night park like this?

Any warnings? Definite things to watch out for, problems you've seen etc?

Any other suggestions that you would like to make if you were designing something like this? Feel free to let it fly, I'm all ears and I want this to be fucking awesome. Magic has never really had a park since Burton ghosted on us way back, but I really want to work our way into it an this is a good step to work from if it works out. I'm really hoping to put something cool together, and I'd love to ring you all into the process as well- after all, you're likely the ones going to be using it!

Thanks for the input, and really I hope to see some NS diecuts on the hill this year, they're pretty rare on this side of the valley!
Aug 4 2017 11:51AM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2872 - Karma: 34,167
Skate style flow park would be best for just rails, little trannies between rails to help gain speed, maybe a pump track style run on the side of the trail. as for rail keep them kind of mellow but toss in a few that make you step your game up like a S rail. For hours later than 7 , most night skiing is until 9 at least. Price 10 - 15 any more is to much for rope tow. Season pass 100 - 125, or an add on to a normal season pass for 25 - 50.
Aug 4 2017 12:27PM
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mikemac
Posts: 1292 - Karma: 3,623
depending on how much space you have it would be awesome to have different lines of varying difficulties so that younger kids could progress, but still have some fun stuff for more experienced jibbers. If I were you and had the space to do it, I would have 3 lines of 3-4 features that don't require too much maintenance.

First line would be for beginners: short flat box, 4 inch wide flat bar (short and low to the ground), a super mellow down feature (like a super short single or double barrel with a really mellow urban takeoff), and then maybe a longer flat box.

Second line would be for intermediates or for advanced skiers looking to progress some new stuff: flat down bar, big snowmaking tube set up flat or slightly down with an urban takeoff, a longer flat bar (something skinny like a single barrel), and a somewhat more challenging box, like a mellow whale-tail or rainbow.

Then for your "expert" line you could get things like a down rail with a donkey dick, a dfd, a c-rail, and a boosty up rail.

The good thing about this setup is that it wouldn't take up that much space, you could probably get these 3 lines in parallel to each other in 2 snowcat widths or less. It would make for a great hike park, and you could attract different demographics by mixing up the difficulty. You can get younger kids just starting out hooked on it by having intro/beginner features for them and get a whole generation of youngsters in your area hooked on coming there every night. You could also get more advanced high schoolers, college kids, and ski bums stoked to come down if you had some features that were slightly more challenging or at least big enough to spin onto and off of etc. Again, I know its mostly resource based what you'll be able to do, and you don't want to pay anyone extra to maintain the park, but rails typically don't require much maintenance except for when it snows. during the coldest part of the winter rail takeoffs don't really change too much over time so you could probably get 9-12 features in there without too much maintenance after install.
Aug 4 2017 1:27PM
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grilled_steeze
Posts: 422 - Karma: 1,447
People like you are why magic is gonna make a comeback. Thanks for working your asses off to bring it back

Ideally you'd probably want to target all abilities. keep some stuff small but don't leave out bigger features or more difficult things.
Aug 4 2017 1:27PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,937
Only til 7pm?

I only bring this up because PC switched their night skiing from 9pm to 6pm over 4 years because people just didn't go. This turned into night skiing being only til 6pm this year, which is absolutely worthless IMO.

If you truly want to bring more people to the resort, you might want to consider being open til 9 or 10, just a thought. 22-30 year olds are busy until 5pm working so they need some reasonable time to actually make the trip, know what i'm saying? Im sure people will come but if its only open til 7 seems like that will cause alot of people to not come up. Maybe the east coast and west are different in that regard, but just wanted to add my 2 cents. Good luck man
Aug 4 2017 1:35PM
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pjsss
Posts: 38 - Karma: 135
This is a fantastic idea. I have a house at Stratton and I would love to go night skiing often. I only ski at Stratton, so a change in scenery would be great. Also, the entire park crew at Stratton are snowboarders, so there aren't too many ski-friendly features. Being in the area so much I would absolutely buy a season pass and I would love to see it open from 5-8/9.

As for features I think you just need the general basics. Flat rail, down rail, uprail, flat tube, downtube, disaster rail, kink rail, flat-down box, and a couple of beginner boxes for the youngins. (this also depends on the types of skiers you want to attract. beginners or more skilled riders.)
I would be so stoked to see this come to life this season!
Aug 4 2017 4:13PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5234 - Karma: 20,700
First congrats on Operation director, thats definitely a dream job.

I'm not sure what the demographic is, like whether or not there is a good local park scene. I'd day a few basic features like a flat box, a flat tube/rail, then maybe some more complex stuff like a kink box and some single/double kink rails or tubes. Also having some smaller jib features that are easy to move around like barrels and plastic corrugated's. You could also try and fit some rollers in any open space. Maybe try and fit a 5-10 foot jump or a quarterpipe/wallride at the bottom.

To me I think this thing would get the most use out of local kids, so most of your sales will probabaly be season passes. I'd say maybe $50-$80 for the year? $10-18 a night for those who bought a day ticket.

For hours I'd say maybe start off closing at 7-8 the first year, and only operate a few days a week.
Aug 4 2017 4:16PM
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860media*
Posts: 1575 - Karma: 10,519
Damn! I live in southern VT and would be hyped! But, just letting you know I believe the Brattoboro rope tow might get some of Carinthia's old rails this year and plan on doing the same thing for $5 or a Peak Resorts pass. I dig for Carinthia parks and heard it through the grape vine. Could be a rumor tho.

Chris DeJohn

**This post was edited on Aug 5th 2017 at 11:27:10am
Aug 5 2017 11:22AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9267 - Karma: 60,727
snowfinderSkate style flow park would be best for just rails, little trannies between rails to help gain speed, maybe a pump track style run on the side of the trail. as for rail keep them kind of mellow but toss in a few that make you step your game up like a S rail. For hours later than 7 , most night skiing is until 9 at least. Price 10 - 15 any more is to much for rope tow. Season pass 100 - 125, or an add on to a normal season pass for 25 - 50.


I think I agree with all this. For me later hours would be huge

I am HYPED on this idea. I just need to get to magic in general. Big respect to you for this idea!

Keep us updated for sure. One last thing I'll say is make some tough rails if you can. You need more basic ones for tricks and beginners but "tough to clean" rails are my favorite and I'll happily spend hours at a place with them. If that means sticking 3 simpler rails together that's fine! That shit is so fun
Aug 5 2017 11:49AM
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capohl
Posts: 59 - Karma: 67
I ride at perfect north in indiana and we are open till 12 or 1 in the morning and everyone loves it so the later u are open i think the better it will be
Aug 5 2017 12:23PM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,021
My hill started closing at 9pm versus 10-11pm last year and got a lot of backlash from it. Id for sure stay open until 9-11pm for night skiing, even if its just small operations on that small park your looking to add to. A local hill does a friday special from 8pm-3am on fridays for $20-$25
Aug 5 2017 5:30PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5234 - Karma: 20,700
^^I don't think hours like that work well outside the midwest. I don't think theres enough population in Southern vermont to stay open past 8 (in the first year of operation at least). After a few years when theyve built a community then yeah they could start staying open late.

If you look in other rural areas like Maine for example most places close at 7 or 8. The hill near my school is only open 3-6 most days.
Aug 5 2017 5:57PM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,021
a_burger^^I don't think hours like that work well outside the midwest. I don't think theres enough population in Southern vermont to stay open past 8 (in the first year of operation at least). After a few years when theyve built a community then yeah they could start staying open late.

If you look in other rural areas like Maine for example most places close at 7 or 8. The hill near my school is only open 3-6 most days.


Yah id semi agree here. I strongly stand though that 9pm close would be ideal. Don't feel like going into detail about such a tiny detail and its just my 2 cents
Aug 5 2017 6:02PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8879 - Karma: 35,677
Most guys hit some good points.

Boreal here has a 9pm close, and they charge 15 bucks on Fridays for college Fridays. That's as much as I would ever pay for night skiing only though.

Maybe my view will change once I start skiing less and a big boy job stops letting me ski 5 days a week. But right now I can't see myself paying more than 15 bucks for some rails.
Aug 5 2017 7:48PM
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Murdock
Posts: 77 - Karma: 175
Bittersweet in Michigan is open until 10pm and that doesn't feel late enough to me most days. (Im 24 as well, work till about 4-5 everyday so every hour counts to me.) but I I just moved to Wisconsin and will be riding at tyrol basin this year and their night skiing is only until 9, and that honestly is weird to me. Lol. I think the later the better, and a flow park for what you have to work with is ideal.
Aug 5 2017 9:06PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Thanks for all the input guys, I really think it's going to be a fun venture.

We don't have a set time to run it to yet, I was just using 7pm as a benchmark for what we're running tubing until now. Given that the demographic for the park is much older, we intend to compensate for that.

I also think $10 or so is a reasonable walk up rate and would like to stick around there. That handle tow needs one person to operate whereas tubing takes 3-4 to run.

Right now I'm leaning towards having two lanes of full course flow lines- one easy and one harder- with an area on the end for a very difficult feature that will require space and one or two really easy greaser features. Basically the entire area that was the learning area last year I want to convert into a park for this project.

I'll keep everyone posted as things develop for it, but I really think we are onto something here. Glad to see people are on board! Thanks for the input and keep the thoughts and whatnot rolling!!
Aug 7 2017 1:34PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6884 - Karma: 24,493
Night skiing is awesome. Try to put some easy ski on boxes out there and a nice small jump or snow pyramid that everyone even little kids and old people can have fun on. A quarter pipe or mini 1/2 pipe/stunt ditch will be the best if you have enough snow and time to dig it. Sounds like 7 might be the latest you can go and piggyback on the tube hill but if you can get it to run until 10 you'll have a better chance of getting people after work. If you don't get off till 5 it is be hard to be skiing before 7. Skibowl stays open til 10 or 11 on weekends and it's great for the afterwork crowd. $10 sounds super reasonable. If you can convince your boss give the night skiing as a free perk for regular season pass holders. Night skiing is a perk and selling point for a pass holder that might like to start their day later or ride some nights and it doesn't cost the resort anything extra if the night skiing is happening anyways. Usually any hours a season passholder rides at night are hours they won't ride in the day which is great for everyone to spread out the crowds.
Aug 7 2017 1:50PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Well to be fair it's not full on night skiing, it's just a small 500' or so patch right out in front of the bar. Not a lot but I think it's enough to make something really freakin cool. Magic is all about making fun things happen and with the Blackline Tavern & deck right there, shenanigans are guaranteed.
Aug 7 2017 6:48PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6884 - Karma: 24,493
Skibowl has a pretty fun rope tow park. Usually two or three lanes of jibs in a small area like what you are describing. Past couple of years they have added in a staircase with a handrail too. https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/873133/Mt--Hood-Skibowl-Rope-Tow-2013-14
Aug 7 2017 7:07PM
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,190
imo have tons of smaller but not super easy when i say small features, if possible close the park during the day during normal hours, i say this because i hate heading to my local hill late, and because nothing has been maintained afer 5 o clock the whole park is washed out, and needs reshaped, this also gives people an extra reason to want to pay extra to stay late, if i saw a greasy s rail and had to stair at it all day cause the park was closed, id be down for sure to spend 10-20 bucks more to stay and sesh another park for a few hours
Aug 9 2017 1:02AM
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SeaUrchin123
Posts: 437 - Karma: 1,613
Please make this happen! I ski at Okemo and I'd come with all of my friends on my ski team pretty much every night! I'd assume that there would be a large amount of interest in this project, especially due to the hopes of rejuvenating/reviving Magic's parks.

As for my insight:
I'd say that a price range from $10-$20 per night (4p-9p) would be realistic/reasonable. However, since you are aiming to widen the demographic, lowering the price point would expand the diversity of your customers and attract more. Personally though, I'd pay $15-$20 to night ski for ~5~ hours without a doubt.
Talking about the park, I would recommend that you make a build that is not too hard to maintain, considering that your GM will not want to drop loads of $ on a first year project. By this I mean don't make the craziest most elaborate snow features to mankind, but if you're going in that direction, go for it. Personally I'd like to ski challenge rails, high speed features, kinked rails etc, but obviously you should make lots of features for the beginner to intermediate riders around. Accommodating everyone's skills with features of their liking would be a good objective to shoot for. As others have responded, building a small, medium, large line would be a great idea. Though you said the grade (steepness) of the slope Isn't that steep, incorporating rails that could be hit fast (10ft gap to down rail, big DFDs, big Flat Downs, Cannon Rails) would be awesome and would get me and my homies psyched.

I wish you best of luck on getting this past and congrats on getting this extraordinary job!

PLS MAKE THIS HAPPEN MAGIC IS ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM OKEMO

**This post was edited on Aug 10th 2017 at 12:04:39am
Aug 10 2017 12:01AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51589 - Karma: 161,717
I only read the OP so far as im headung back out in the park in a second.



One of the biggest things I would sugget is ti stay realistic. That's sort of in general including people replying.

LOCATION: I know of magic but know little about it. Are you close to any larger urban areas, even decent sized towns. Whats the demographic in the hill now? Any skateparks nearby?

Night stuff can be tough, even opening a park can be tough to gt the numbers.

-----------------


Slope stuff: What kind of budget do you have fo building features? How's the snowmaking budget?

You mentioned the slope being pretty mellow. Any idea a rough angle?

---------

If you go through with it I would shoot for starting small. Small means less space used, less $ upfront for features, less to maintain, less overall investment.

Then you can guage where you're at. Does the demand justify building more features? Were you able to maintaun things?

As far as getting features your best bet is to either build them, or speak with other mtns and look to purchase for cheap or get some freebies if youre lucky. Mtns are constantly scrapping older features to build new.

Tube rails are pretty simple and you probably have some larger diameter tubing lying around anyway.

I would try for maybe 2 rails and a box. Even just 2 flat rails, 1 flat, 1 down.

A flat box is essential. Something low to the ground good for learning tricks. I would keep all the features somewhat low. As far as the rails 20' max.

If possible a small jump, even a shitty one can be mice. Everyone wants to catch some air.

As far as maintenance. Would your cat ops be willing to groom around them or will they straight mow them down? Is there somebody working that can maintain the features and rake them out at close?

Parks are sweet but night stuff can be tough to get the draw you want. Most of the successful night parks are near larger urban areas where the parents can drop the kids off after school.

As cool as 10+ features, a couple of jumps, etc would be I think keeping it simple is a good start.

Sorry if.i missed a bunch from not reading other replies yet.
Aug 10 2017 8:06AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51589 - Karma: 161,717
Also the most sessioded features in parks are many times flat box/flat rails and down rails.

An s rail, z tube, etc can be sick, but they dint get hit that often. A smaller place with limited ability level really doesn't need anything that wild. Especially at the start.

A flat rail isnt the most exciting or creatuve feature but tou can learn your first slides on it, lap it with mellow tricks, learn 2 on or off etc. Its versatile.

If you build sick features that just sit there and rarely gethit toure wasting $, space, and alienating the majority if your demographic.

When asked " what rails should be put in" the conversation generally goes to some more advanced features. I the parks, creative stuff is cool ,but even the sickest parks have the basics covered by a ton before building the cooler stuff.

A place might have a c rail to dfd etc. Those features are sweet. But that mtn probably also has 5+ flat rails, flat boxes, and down rails.
Aug 10 2017 8:17AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5234 - Karma: 20,700
^groomings a good point, make sure your cat drivers are down with what your building. A bunch of wavy features snaking through the area is gonna be a real bitch to groom vs a standard double line of rails, plus the take a little bit more to maintain
Aug 10 2017 11:08AM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,021
Heres a classic vid from one of my home little hills.

Things id watch out for is grooming around in a small compact area, an active park crew fixing stuff because things will deteriorate much quicker (midwest problems), and gapers getting hit in-between features. Ropes make all the difference in getting laps in, its counterproductive to make a rope that goes slow

Elm Creek is a hot spot in the winter (video below) with two ropes one on each side. Super fun place, i recommend making something kinda similar. Making small rollers to set rails on makes all the difference, that way you actually have landings making rail setups much more versatile. I skied here 15 days or so last season and its one of my favorite spots.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/873377/Lapin-Elm-Creek---Steve-Janisch
Aug 10 2017 7:43PM
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bedin
Posts: 482 - Karma: 1,972
Skier of Okemo here...

Is it still a plan to make this happen? I see Magic's opening date is this weekend, and the conditions report says 11 features will be in by the 22nd! Are these going to be night-ski-able features? I know myself and a group of friends would definitely be there on most nights if we could ski a park for $10.
Dec 13 2017 1:22PM
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BagOTricks
Posts: 815 - Karma: 3,351
Tubes, tubes everywhere.
Dec 13 2017 2:45PM
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WoFIowz
Posts: 9788 - Karma: 72,404
Consider this.... Mad River Mountain (in Ohio, not to be confused with MRG) has a $20 lift ticket on Fridays for college students that lasts from 4pm-2am. Any other days during the week, they have adult $25 tickets from 4-9:30pm. Rentals were also $15.

I'm not sure how busy they are the rest of the week, but Fridays are PACKED. The closest university is 45-60min away, and me and my buddies used to drive 1.5hrs. Did I mention this place sucks for skiing? Like it's a glorified sledding hill on 95% man-made snow with unkept park features. It's still a blast though and we didn't even get drunk. Your problem is that you're a bit further from universities, so perhaps extending the same pricing to people of all ages would help. Put up lights for more than just the park. Include a few trails. You'll need more than 1 ski patrol- that's a given. I would say at least 2 patrol, if not 3. I can't even imagine dealing with a bad trauma or an arrest as a lone ski patroller. Do you guys have a bar at the mountain? If not, get one. There will be lots of drunk folks on the slopes, but it will also increase your resort traffic and revenue.

If you have night skiing, it WILL set you apart in Vermont. You will get lots of publicity. That was my biggest disappointment when visiting Vermont is that all places close at 4 or 4:30.

Good luck. Hope it happens.
Dec 13 2017 4:53PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
bedinSkier of Okemo here...

Is it still a plan to make this happen? I see Magic's opening date is this weekend, and the conditions report says 11 features will be in by the 22nd! Are these going to be night-ski-able features? I know myself and a group of friends would definitely be there on most nights if we could ski a park for $10.


Yes, absolutely! We have been working our asses off to get all our old features refurbished and man do they look nice.




All the ones out front that match will be used. We’ve got some shorter boxes and rails, as well as a few really long ones. The big rainbow in the back right is a double rainbow box (my fave) and there are a few more since the pic. All new skatelite, all new paint, lots of metalwork and grinding. They are pretty damn dialed! Disregard the death traps out by the dumpster haha

I don’t know if all 11 will be in by the 22nd but we will do our best, we have a small crew that is stretched super thin right now. I also have no idea how much it will cost because I’ve pretty much either been laying in muddy holes welding snowmaking pipe or doing gun runs for weeks but I will find out.

Stoked this is coming together. I really hope any NSers in the area come by, I’d love to hear what you all think! Management is definitely committed to making the parks/night park the best they can be both this season and in the future.
Dec 13 2017 7:19PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
IsitWinterYet17Consider this.... Mad River Mountain (in Ohio, not to be confused with MRG) has a $20 lift ticket on Fridays for college students that lasts from 4pm-2am. Any other days during the week, they have adult $25 tickets from 4-9:30pm. Rentals were also $15.

I'm not sure how busy they are the rest of the week, but Fridays are PACKED. The closest university is 45-60min away, and me and my buddies used to drive 1.5hrs. Did I mention this place sucks for skiing? Like it's a glorified sledding hill on 95% man-made snow with unkept park features. It's still a blast though and we didn't even get drunk. Your problem is that you're a bit further from universities, so perhaps extending the same pricing to people of all ages would help. Put up lights for more than just the park. Include a few trails. You'll need more than 1 ski patrol- that's a given. I would say at least 2 patrol, if not 3. I can't even imagine dealing with a bad trauma or an arrest as a lone ski patroller. Do you guys have a bar at the mountain? If not, get one. There will be lots of drunk folks on the slopes, but it will also increase your resort traffic and revenue.

If you have night skiing, it WILL set you apart in Vermont. You will get lots of publicity. That was my biggest disappointment when visiting Vermont is that all places close at 4 or 4:30.

Good luck. Hope it happens.


Thanks! We are stuck in this area for the night park and thankfully we are grandfathered in for the lights already there (because of tubing) or we wouldn’t be able to do it at all- which is likely the reason nobody else around here does it. We also have the best bar around by far, and the largest permitted show venue in Southern VT.

Patrol cover is a must. Non-negotiable.

Tubing runs right alongside it and both are directly visible from the bar it so we already have our black belt in drunk asshats. It also makes it great for parents because the kids can be out there and fully visible from any seat at the bar.

I’m sure it will take a while to get dialed, and we may run into problems but the idea is live, it is happening and it will only get better from here!
Dec 13 2017 7:31PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51589 - Karma: 161,717
Huck_NorrisYes, absolutely! We have been working our asses off to get all our old features refurbished and man do they look nice.




All the ones out front that match will be used. We’ve got some shorter boxes and rails, as well as a few really long ones. The big rainbow in the back right is a double rainbow box (my fave) and there are a few more since the pic. All new skatelite, all new paint, lots of metalwork and grinding. They are pretty damn dialed! Disregard the death traps out by the dumpster haha

I don’t know if all 11 will be in by the 22nd but we will do our best, we have a small crew that is stretched super thin right now. I also have no idea how much it will cost because I’ve pretty much either been laying in muddy holes welding snowmaking pipe or doing gun runs for weeks but I will find out.

Stoked this is coming together. I really hope any NSers in the area come by, I’d love to hear what you all think! Management is definitely committed to making the parks/night park the best they can be both this season and in the future.



Sick dude! Good luck this season
Dec 13 2017 7:32PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9267 - Karma: 60,727
Huck_NorrisThanks! We are stuck in this area for the night park and thankfully we are grandfathered in for the lights already there (because of tubing) or we wouldn’t be able to do it at all- which is likely the reason nobody else around here does it. We also have the best bar around by far, and the largest permitted show venue in Southern VT.

Patrol cover is a must. Non-negotiable.

Tubing runs right alongside it and both are directly visible from the bar it so we already have our black belt in drunk asshats. It also makes it great for parents because the kids can be out there and fully visible from any seat at the bar.

I’m sure it will take a while to get dialed, and we may run into problems but the idea is live, it is happening and it will only get better from here!


You had me at "[park] directly visible from the bar." No but really this sounds sick, please keep this thread updated if you don't mind
Dec 13 2017 8:01PM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3119 - Karma: 31,479
For real for real, 21+ NS sponsored meetup? Bar that overlooks a park are what dreams are made of
Dec 13 2017 9:13PM
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telemon
Posts: 122 - Karma: 272
Got a pass to Magic this year, can't wait to see the park.
Dec 13 2017 10:01PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
GrandThingsFor real for real, 21+ NS sponsored meetup? Bar that overlooks a park are what dreams are made of


I triple dog dare you to do it.
Dec 14 2017 7:56AM
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Crust_Station
Posts: 522 - Karma: 1,851
Huck_NorrisYes, absolutely! We have been working our asses off to get all our old features refurbished and man do they look nice.




All the ones out front that match will be used. We’ve got some shorter boxes and rails, as well as a few really long ones. The big rainbow in the back right is a double rainbow box (my fave) and there are a few more since the pic. All new skatelite, all new paint, lots of metalwork and grinding. They are pretty damn dialed! Disregard the death traps out by the dumpster haha

I don’t know if all 11 will be in by the 22nd but we will do our best, we have a small crew that is stretched super thin right now. I also have no idea how much it will cost because I’ve pretty much either been laying in muddy holes welding snowmaking pipe or doing gun runs for weeks but I will find out.

Stoked this is coming together. I really hope any NSers in the area come by, I’d love to hear what you all think! Management is definitely committed to making the parks/night park the best they can be both this season and in the future.


I just moved to magic circle like 2 weeks ago and this is maybe the best news Ive ever heard, cant wait for lots of night park laps after a day of work +k if that was still a real thing
Dec 14 2017 9:01AM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
GrandThingsFor real for real, 21+ NS sponsored meetup? Bar that overlooks a park are what dreams are made of


let's do it
Dec 14 2017 9:46AM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
Huck_Norris


imo, this is all you really need to a fun, rail garden-style park. a bunch of flat and down rails of varying heights/shapes gives you tons of options in terms of flow & degree of difficulty. tubes like the the middle rail on the left are also super fun!

one of my favorite rails at my local hill growing up with a very mellow DFD that could also double as a flat-up-flat bar. It was maybe 20/25ft long, but it was a great introduction to kinks and such. Just a thought!
Dec 14 2017 9:49AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Crust_StationI just moved to magic circle like 2 weeks ago and this is maybe the best news Ive ever heard, cant wait for lots of night park laps after a day of work +k if that was still a real thing


Welcome to the neighborhood!


Ayo! Paaaaaaarty at Crust’s houuuuuuse!
Dec 14 2017 11:30AM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
Crust_StationI just moved to magic circle like 2 weeks ago and this is maybe the best news Ive ever heard, cant wait for lots of night park laps after a day of work +k if that was still a real thing


That’s awesome - the circle is a magical place! So many great people live there.

So psyched for the Magic season to start.
Dec 14 2017 2:45PM
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Crust_Station
Posts: 522 - Karma: 1,851
Does magic have a park open at all rn?
Dec 27 2017 11:47AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Crust_StationDoes magic have a park open at all rn?


Yes I will snap a few pics when I get back down there on the sled. I believe there are 5 features at the moment, and they are all full sized “snow cat built” and not ghetto hand-shoveled in etc.
Dec 31 2017 8:25AM
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TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,314
Yeah I'd love to get an update on this, I'm in Southern VT for another week and it would be cool to check the park out. How much does access cost, and is it only night still?
Dec 31 2017 9:33AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51589 - Karma: 161,717
Huck_NorrisYes I will snap a few pics when I get back down there on the sled. I believe there are 5 features at the moment, and they are all full sized “snow cat built” and not ghetto hand-shoveled in etc.


Do it, I wanna know
Dec 31 2017 11:07AM
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Crust_Station
Posts: 522 - Karma: 1,851
Huck_NorrisYes I will snap a few pics when I get back down there on the sled. I believe there are 5 features at the moment, and they are all full sized “snow cat built” and not ghetto hand-shoveled in etc.


Awesome to hear! I know magic has a chill uphill policy, is hiking the park okay or nah?
Dec 31 2017 9:54PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Crust_StationAwesome to hear! I know magic has a chill uphill policy, is hiking the park okay or nah?


We do have an open uphill policy and so I would advise just doing it until some clarification pops up saying otherwise.

Snapped a few pics today but can’t get them to upload rn. I’ll try again later
Jan 1 2018 3:10PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9267 - Karma: 60,727
Huck_NorrisWe do have an open uphill policy and so I would advise just doing it until some clarification pops up saying otherwise.

Snapped a few pics today but can’t get them to upload rn. I’ll try again later


Noice
Jan 1 2018 4:12PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
Fuck yeah, Huck, really stoked that this is coming together and jealous that I'm not there to hit it.
Jan 1 2018 5:25PM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
Glad to see this worked out, out here in Illinois we have something similar but slightly bigger called Raging Buffalo

they're basically on the verge of shutting down right now but mostly because of competition from some hills in Southern Wisco who have better parks, and a lift ticket to get dragged up the hill via rope tow costs $50, the same as the Wisconsin hills. and until like 7-8 years ago they were board only (lol)
Jan 1 2018 9:47PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
My apologies for forgetting to update this thread. We are already on version 2.0 for the park on the handle tow and have 6 features in 4 levels right now. I will try to upload the quick drone edit they did the other day to elaborate.

Park crew is coming in this week to do some cat work and add more features higher up, so it will be exciting to see what they come up with. Their remaining features are some longer rails and loooong flat box rails.

Night lighting is not up to par yet so we just run until dusk currently. Plans are in place to remedy though, so I will update as that changes. I hope some NSers have had the chance to lap the shit out of it, handle tow traffic has been pretty steady so far.
Jan 28 2018 7:48PM
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Jah-Beef
Posts: 69 - Karma: 88
Is the 30 something dollars on your website the actual price?
Jan 28 2018 9:41PM
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