No WoodBird park this spring

SlushSeasonSnowbird sent out an email that mentioned that they will not have a Woodward park this spring. This reneges on their promise to bring it back again this year. The woodbird park was a fantastic time last year and the great experience in April and May were what kept me around after dealing with parking, traffic, and crowding all winter.
In addition, this year, they are closing roughly half their terrain on April 14th. Snowbird's biggest selling point has been their long season and great spring skiing. This year, however, they're closing most of the mountain before even Alta does. While Brighton and Solitude have been making improvements to their late season skiing each year, Snowbird is selling out their goodwill, cutting costs and terrain as soon as the ikon tourists stop showing up for the season.

BigPurpleSkiSuitokay it's not half, Little cloud area will still be open, lower gad valley will be closed, as will Gad 2, I think that's pretty normal. Sucks we don't get a park this year, but whatever, Peruvian Mineral and Tram will still run which means all the stuff I really care about will be open. Gonna miss bombing Big Emma but it's not half of bird terrain

BigPurpleSkiSuitwhere is this email?

**This post was edited on Mar 6th 2024 at 6:02:17pm

crimeenthusiastpretty lame, not surprising. snowbird is no longer run by die hard skiers. make powdr corp sell

mikemSnowbird as a corporation is terrible and they should do parking res.

mrk127Why do you all want parking reservations at Bird? Sounds even worse

SlushSeasonI'm holding onto some hope they add parking reservations for next season. If not, goodbye bird, hello Alta

mrk127Why do you all want parking reservations at Bird? Sounds even worse

SlushSeasonIdk why they're canceling woodbird. They said it was coming back this year and it seems like a no-brainer to build a park there after woodward closes.

eheathWhy is it a "no brainer"? They are spending 50-100k building that park, its a marketing move and last year it wasn't "successful" enough to justify the spending.

BigPurpleSkiSuitWell, they had peace park last year, not sure exactly how much money they made off it but everyone loved having a park at Snowbird there.

Also for them to say not enough resources from both ends when POWDR owns both companies and then decide to move Wilbur for the racers and upgrade Mid Gad lodge which no one would care if it burnt down overnight is kind of a kick in the dick

eheathWhy is it a "no brainer"? They are spending 50-100k building that park, its a marketing move and last year it wasn't "successful" enough to justify the spending.

SlushSeasonIt's a no brainer because the terrain is perfect for it, they have all the park crew hired already, and they need something to compete with Solitude and Brighton in May.
Why would they claim it was coming back if it wasn't successful enough? Even if it wasn't very successful, all the Canyon closures last year throw off the data.
Yeah, the big jump line was very expensive to build, but 95% of the skiers hit the small/mid-size lines instead which took probably 1/4th the work. Honestly I wouldn't be upset at all if they downsized the park, as long as they kept it open for a month. Dropping this announcement on is with no explanation is killing snowbird's goodwill with locals. Terrain alone can't carry a resort when all the other local resorts give their passholders a better experience

SlushSeasonTerrain alone can't carry a resort when all the other local resorts give their passholders a better experience

eheathMy only point is that making the park costs money, it doesn't bring in any money, so why is it a "no brainer"?

like i said to BPSS, snowbird doesn't care about locals, maybe you're just figuring this one out.

SlushSeasonIts a really shortsighted move.
Snowbird only attracted tons of tourists in the past 2 years by being the "hardcore secret locals resort" in Lucas Catania and Peak Ranking's videos. Moves like this destroy their reputation. Without that reputation, why would the rich tourists go there instead of DV or Aspen? It's not like the average out of state family actually enjoys dragging their kids down the snowbird terrain.
Additionally if a recession ever actually hits the new yorker's portfolios, Snowbird will have to rely on local customers again and they'll be thoroughly fucked.

eheathSnowbird has been a popular tourist destination for 40 years.

Also, what you just described is exactly what we want, I'd be extremely happy if they rich toursits went to DV or Aspen vs little cottonwood canyon. FFS theyre building a gondola up the canyon, maybe if everyone stops coming to snowbird they'll cancel that shit.

SlushSeasonAnd idk the actual skier numbers, but snowbird didn't have anywhere near this level of name recognition until a few years ago.

eheathI mean you're wrong, snowbird was insanely popular when I moved to utah in 2007. My friends in elementary school went to snowbird in 1998 and had a dope shirt i was jealous of. My dad went on a trip to snowbird in the early 80s. No offense but you sound like you just moved here too.

eheathWithout peace park, my guess is that it's not worth it for the resort, they'd be lucky if they even broke even last year. Im sure it was accepted by many people and even heralded as a great, but that doesn't put money in Powdr corps pocket.

Snowbird acts like they care about locals and passholders but its all bullshit dude, powdr is the same thing as vail/alterra.

BigPurpleSkiSuitPOWDR means bird isn't unlimited on Ikon for now at least, that makes it better than alterra

SlushSeasonYeah, that would be great. But it will take several years, and my point is, it's bad business.
And idk the actual skier numbers, but snowbird didn't have anywhere near this level of name recognition until a few years ago. They're exploiting this current wave with $50 valet parking, $80 fast tracks, and $10 PBR, but it's bad long term business

jblaskiLet me guess, you moved to Utah 2 years ago, and now you're a hardcore LCC local and talk shit about the Icon pass holders and Californians that are blowing up your spot?

Way*MoPOWDR has absolutely eviscerated the Bird into a shadow of what it once was.

Having to evolve is inevitable, but POWDR hasn’t made a single positive change since they took over.

SkiBum.Replacing haul rope and cabins on tram. New HSQ was put in. New restaurant at top. I guess those don't count?

crimeenthusiastthe tram is a snowbird icon (no pun intended) if they didnt keep up with maintenance theyd lose money. New restaurant is on hill food service where they make their money so yah that getting made. He’s talking about things like how snowbird will close with a fat base, or how spring time comes and theyll shutter terrain for no apparent reason (likely lack of patrol but idk).

SkiBum.Yeah, that’s how you run a profitable business.

SkiBum.Replacing haul rope and cabins on tram. New HSQ was put in. New restaurant at top. I guess those don't count?

Way*MoMaintaining your lift infrastructure is basic ski resort operations, obviously new haul ropes are required at the life-span of the equipment. That doesn't count as an upgrade. However, "updating" your tram cars to new boxes that hold less people, are less comfortable for skiers (the sloped front wall is terrible on a full tram) and adding an outside observation deck are all bad, yes.

GayWolf420This is what happens when you hire college kids and J1's to work at your resort. They all bail in March and stick the career-folks with the shit end of the stick.

theabortionatorI mean, mountains are short staffed in many roles every season these days. Wages went up finally which helps but gas stations and fast food joints pay as much or close in many of those places. Housing options can suck, the pay isn't that awesome and its not the ski bum dream that once existed.

Im all about work visas to fill rolls but the ski industry here is too reliant on the J1 because they know they'll get people.

SlushSeasonMan i hate that the standard corporate response to staffing problems is to import labor for it. Instead of paying better and improving conditions to attract American workers, they just fly in thousands of peruvians

GayWolf420You're gonna get downvoted to hell for that but its the truth. Most of them do come from wealthy families and its considered their summer vacation from college or whatever they do in their home countries. And to no surprise like most rich kids, they hate to do their jobs.