Skiing's People Problem: How the Ski Industry is Tackling Overcrowding

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ม.ค. 2025

ความคิดเห็น • 202

  • @leeg8461
    @leeg8461 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +44

    They're already addressing the problem.
    By making skiing so expensive, that only rich people can afford it.

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      This destroys small towns as prices local out. Rich people have money but not brains. They need both these days but entitlement reigns.

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Not really. I got an Epic Local pass (Rockies) last season for $750 and skied 12 days at Epic resorts - which comes out to $63 per day. I think that is what rich people whine about - too many commoners can ski these days so they clog up the slopes and parking lots.

  • @jackjmaheriii
    @jackjmaheriii 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +49

    1. Between all of the US and Canada exactly one ski resort has opened in the last 20 years. The bureaucracy won’t allow it.
    2. This year SRG started adding the name of the run to the videos, and that was a great idea!

    • @TommySkis
      @TommySkis 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

      No research done here but perhaps a reason for this is that mountains near larger population centres are already saturated with ski resorts and don't have enough room to fit in near one due to national park regulations or just the fact that all the best mountains for ski resorts in such areas are already taken. To commit to a ski resort further away from major population centres could be considered quite a leap of faith. Even if the demand is there, necessary housing and amenities likely won't be. I would guess a major factor in resort crowding is people travelling from areas with no snow, so in order for new ski resorts to help fix crowding and be profitable they would likely need to attract visitors from far away which requires a very impressive resort. Vail constantly consolidating on its current resorts also means the benchmark for tourists is only getting higher.

    • @BulletRain100
      @BulletRain100 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      @@TommySkis There is plenty of room. There are three main reasons why the United States has few ski slopes:
      1. The economics of the ski industry is actually pretty bad. Old timers like to talk about how good it was to ski decades ago, but what they forget is that many of the small slopes went out of business because they couldn't make money. Even the larger mountains were struggling with things looking dire in the 90s until Vail made access easier and made resorts successful (even though they're hated for doing so). Those smaller ski slopes would likely be doing fine if they were open now, but there is no reasonable hope for most of those places to ever open again.
      2. The Federal Government owns virtually all the land. Most mountains out West are owned by the Federal Government under around half a dozen different agencies and systems. Building a ski slope requires a great deal of governmental approval and the government hasn't been supportive of such projects for decades now. No one wants to try to build a new ski slope because there is so much red tape to go through and the Federal Government doesn't need a good reason to just torpedo a project.
      2. Environmentalist hold tremendous power in the United States. Legal precedence in the United States allows anyone to have standing for concerns over Federal land. That means any company that tries to open up a ski resort will be inundated with countless lawsuits from different environmental organizations with goal of slowing down and stopping the project. This tactic was used against the planned Disney Ski Resort at Mineral King and established the legal precedence for it. This lawfare has destroyed projects to build extremely useful roads through mountain ranges and any other kind of development. That land is essentially locked away from the vast majority of Americans and the few who can actually enjoy it jealously guard it.

    • @alaska1girls
      @alaska1girls 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@BulletRain100the federal government doesn’t own anything. We do it’s public land as if large corporations have a right to profit off public land. I found a real way to fight overcrowding. Back country

  • @laurak8240
    @laurak8240 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +81

    What we really need is more resorts!

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  17 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

      Fully agreed!

    • @DegenerateCases
      @DegenerateCases 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      NEPA ensures that it’s effectively impossible. Even acts of congress aren’t enough. Mt Hood Meadows and the forest service have a deal mandated by an act of congress and yet has been tied up in the courts for the better part of a decade due to NEPA lawsuits

    • @Puzzoozoo
      @Puzzoozoo 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      @@SRGSkiing There are 4,500 resorts of various sizes here in Europe, just saying.

    • @newagain9964
      @newagain9964 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

      @@Puzzoozooand that’s why it’s far cheaper to ski in Europe.

    • @factchecker6674
      @factchecker6674 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@newagain9964The ski resorts in Europe are publicly subsidized.

  • @JShrimpma
    @JShrimpma 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +30

    You should also make a video about resorts trying to use mass transit to reduce overcrowding of access roads (traffic jams). Implementing a bus or carpool system will improve capacity and stop things like the red snake. Aspen has great bus lanes too, I’m surprise so few people use the buses even when there’s backed up traffic.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  17 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      We'll probably discuss that in the "beating ski traffic" video

    • @rogxxxr
      @rogxxxr 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      It’s a joke how many people wouldn’t be caught dead on a bus despite it being free and convenient. Definitely exaggerated by aspens type of people but still

    • @uchihaitachi989686
      @uchihaitachi989686 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Ive seen some famous old-head skiers on the RFTA! There's definitely a contingent of rich "no public transit" folks - but those RFTA buses fill up to standing room only at the busy times (morning rush up valley and afternoon rush down valley)

    • @spicytango
      @spicytango 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      You think majority of rich people would get on the bus to Aspen?

    • @uchihaitachi989686
      @uchihaitachi989686 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@spicytango Those people live past the roundabout and do not require peasant transportation. :-)

  • @theread3480
    @theread3480 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +43

    Europe has thousands and thousands of ski resorts. The USA (similar land size) only has 509 in total. We simply just need more places to ski.

    • @Johnny-Utah-91
      @Johnny-Utah-91 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

      Don't even mention the prices in Europe. NA prices are crazy stupid

    • @matthews1256
      @matthews1256 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      No, Europe is horrible and there is absolutely ZERO reason to come here for a ski holiday, please. 😅

    • @ContraVsGigi
      @ContraVsGigi 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@matthews1256Delete the lol, they might think you were serious.

    • @LiberatedMind1
      @LiberatedMind1 7 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@matthews1256 Why?

    • @rcengineer
      @rcengineer 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@LiberatedMind1 Because there's nothing worth visiting in Europe, it's all super overpriced (especially in Switzerland, unironically in this case), and you should look somewhere else for a ski trip. These are not the slopes you're looking for.

  • @atomiccheerio3349
    @atomiccheerio3349 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    That post covid boom was everywhere, not just ski resorts. I'm in Orlando and it was insane how crowded the parks were all year. A lot of free money was sent out, and the fraud was massive. People spent it those 2 years. The crowds will drop.

  • @TheBourneBlogger
    @TheBourneBlogger 12 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Bottom line is that too many people can afford to ski. That means the only effective means of fixing the problem is to raise price. It's Supply & Demand 101.
    They could also implement "locals week only", "out-of-state tourist weeks only".
    And build more lifts at for season pass holders so they can avoid the tourists at the base. Like you said.... "spread it out"...

  • @paulsvids8655
    @paulsvids8655 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    The easy answer is (like many are writing here) is that we need more resorts. Yes, Europe has a much higher density of ski resorts in their mountainous regions, but they also have very little mountainous terrain that is truly wilderness. We had the wisdom to set aside a lot of our public lands as wilderness, something I really appreciate. Do we really want to sacrifice that to add, say, 70 or 80 more resorts, or expand existing resorts into nearby wilderness areas just to improve the "experience" for privileged skiers and snowboarders? Build parking lots for thousands of vehicles, add lodging on pristine land? In my skiing lifetime, spanning about 50 years, I've seen skiing go from a pastime almost anyone willing to learn could do - to an extremely expensive, almost elitist activity that many will never have the opportunity to experience. I remember being able to go to eight or nine different resorts in a season because day passes were affordable. Now, to make skiing affordable, I am locked into a particular season pass that limits me to certain resorts. In my case for example, I can't visit my favorite resort here in California, Mammoth Mountain, because it is not part of my Epic Pass that covers the resorts much closer to me. To ski a day at Mammoth costs me from $200 - $250. Why is it that in Europe you can ski at massive resorts for as little as $70 a day? The answer is pretty simple. Like everything here in the U.S., it is all about profit and catering to the wealthiest among us. It saddens me that a lot of kids from less well-off families will never have the chance I had to learn to ski. I would never have had that chance if I were growing up now because my family wasn't well off.

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Do greedy oligarchs that hate you own European resorts?

    • @ContraVsGigi
      @ContraVsGigi 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@quantumtechcrypto7080Most European resorts are not corporation owned. They could be public municipality owned or company owned by multiple public owners (local town + county level etc.). The idea is not to have the maximum profit, but to find a balance so it works for all.

    • @maxguthmann
      @maxguthmann 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      The answer is because there are 3 times as many lifts in Europe but only 50% more people. You say you don’t want more resorts but that’s the only way to keep prices down other than forcing the resorts to use a lottery for who gets tickets which no one wants.

  • @stoshstew
    @stoshstew 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I was so scared snowboarding in whistler this break lol - there were people within 5 feet of me at all times sometimes. I caught my edge once and thought for sure I was going to be run over but made it. Especially the last hill going into the resort. I've never experienced so many people skiing at once. It was like a video game trying to dodge everyone.

  • @mcleanirish
    @mcleanirish 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    Biggest problem: Children as young as 6 years-old skiing WITHOUT PARENTS! Witnessed a major accident recently involving a child standing in the middle of a narrow tunnel and a man greatly injured himself in order to avoid hitting him. The parents were nowhere to be seen!

    • @robertoliver5765
      @robertoliver5765 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      OMG SO TRUE, I was at alyeska for 9 days in the break and almost killed like 16 ski kids during the process, sometimes i would have to just straight up brake in front of a kid, heel edge spraying snow at them without them even noticing!
      (i'm a 8th grader who is an advanced snowboarder and i was intensely snowboarding on the groomers)

  • @TeKnoVKNG23
    @TeKnoVKNG23 9 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Only way to escape it now it to just take off Tuesday-Thursday, make your trip midweek. I mostly ski the East Coast/Mid-Atlantic now and the crowds on the weekends and even Fridays are just too out of control. The other thing is a lot of the people coming out are beginners who don't know basic skiing etiquette and think a bit too highly of their own ability. Every time I've been out on the weekends the last couple of years, I just see multiple injuries, mountain/ski patrol not really doing anything about the crowds, beginners hanging out in choke points of trails, going up top before they've even mastered the basic green runs, etc. It's just gotten to the point you can't enjoy yourself when it's crowded because your head is on a swivel waiting on some pizza missile to come smashing into you.

  • @nephimcknight5832
    @nephimcknight5832 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I've been snowboarding at Brighton in Utah for 20+ years and the crowding is at an all time high, all the time now. These last few years especially. Something needs to change.

  • @Cucumberflavoredmustard
    @Cucumberflavoredmustard 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Expansions don't mean much when we are all just funneling to the same base area and parking lot. There are numerous closed ski areas that could be re-built, but the red tape makes it too daunting for any entrepreneur to take the risk. They could spend millions to get it going, only for some environmental studies major at the USFS to shoot it all down because it might inconvenience a porcupine or whatever.

  • @iron___
    @iron___ 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I got into ski touring, primarily since it complements mountaineering. A nice side effect is no lift lines and crowds in the backcountry. It is important to note that in order to safely ski in the backcountry, you need to be avalanche safety trained AND be a very good skier (no groomed runs, extremely variable snow conditions).

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Even with beacons the folks are thin and random. Super dangerous so I agree. Needs to be educated for sure.

    • @dvmartel1
      @dvmartel1 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Tragic endings find those who put it on the line. This is a tiny subset of the population that accepts extreme consequences. I get it. It's just not worth it to most. And fall short of skills

    • @NeilRowson
      @NeilRowson 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Ski touring is great which, selfishly, is why we shouldn't be telling everyone about it! Back in the 80's, when I started, it was an activity of climbers who could also ski. Now it is mainly skiers, with limited or zero mountain experience, who do it to escape the crowded pistes. Interestingly Covid caused a big increase in the number of tourers here in Europe - in 2020/21 the stores sold out of touring kit. Many of the popular tours in the Alps (notably La Haute Route) have become really crowded but fortunately there are alternatives - Norway, Iceland, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan ....

    • @iron___
      @iron___ 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@NeilRowson I agree to some extent, but a lot of the casual, weekend warrior types I can tell you have no interest in spending even more money to get touring and avy gear, not to mention the amount of physical effort required to skin up a hill. I'm in North America so it is a different vibe than in Europe as well.

  • @charleswright9898
    @charleswright9898 12 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    use was down last year because the season sucked when it came to weather. not enough cold days to make snow and not enough natural snow.

  • @Johnnybravo30069
    @Johnnybravo30069 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    The traffic and lines at Crested Butte havent been bad.
    I think as people go broke, the traffic will slow.

    • @nickbryant2318
      @nickbryant2318 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      People are giving up with today's lift prices

  • @markrobinson891
    @markrobinson891 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I’m from Utah. A lifetime skier now limited by back trouble. Deer Valley is an amazing mountain. They limit skiers( no boards) to 7500 per day and sell out. Also passes approach $300 depending on days. Staggering.

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Deer valley wasn’t for me. It intermingled with roads and buildings, super expensive and the runs all seemed dumbed down so rich people can think they can ski better than they actually can. A black diamond skier there is a blue everywhere else. The rich folks must be really insecure with their physical skills.

    • @markrobinson891
      @markrobinson891 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @ Everything you say is true. I mention Deer Valley as the topic of the vid was overcrowding. I happened to get a deal on a multi pass book one season and learned to find some wonderful stashes. Some days of laying down big round trenches in fresh corduroy are never to be forgotten. The other resorts in my area are nearly impossible to get to. Advance res for parking, bumper to bumper traffic for miles. I’m out for many reasons.

    • @TWJCole
      @TWJCole 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@quantumtechcrypto7080 why are you attacking "rich" skiiers as if its their problem they caused?

  • @wiblie
    @wiblie 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    The run is Sundance Bowl/Basin at Porters Resort in Canterbury New Zealand (been going there for 16 years). Looks a bit thin when you did it!

    • @krissp8712
      @krissp8712 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I concur with the run, and I think from memory he got the footage in like August, and I think they shut Porters at the start of September this year (super early!) :( his video inspired me to try getting out there but I ended up going to Mt Hutt instead!

    • @wiblie
      @wiblie 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@krissp8712 It was a very dry snow season this year in Canterbury which led to most fields being shut by early September. Lucky for you mt hutt had decent enough snowmaking to stay open.

  • @jamesdarcy3902
    @jamesdarcy3902 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Early Winters Resort near Mazama Wa. never happened. The Enviros kept challenging the permits and erected one obstacle after another for 16 years (1975-1991) until the developer was bankrupt.

  • @livelikeitslegal
    @livelikeitslegal 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    I had almost 50 days between the last 2 seasons, although not enough to see all the variables and conditions only 2 of those days were on the weekend. Frankly overcrowding is a weekend warrior problem and weekdays are rare to see any crowds even after a powder dump.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      Unfortunately, a lot of the population is unable to ski during the week--the exact situation I was in before this season.

    • @audreywineland1426
      @audreywineland1426 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Yes, but. It is those that work during the week and pay peak prices that keep the resort’s lights on.

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      This is not the case in Utah. Powder hounds hunt all days. :)

    • @maxguthmann
      @maxguthmann 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@quantumtechcrypto7080I had a solid 5 midweek powder days at Alta last year where I didn’t wait in line once all day. When it dumped in May I was at solitude for some of the best turns of the year and again zero lines at all.

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Well I reckon I was wrong there are no crowds in Utah at all. Golly gee willickers the lines I seem to stand in must be from all the mushrooms I ate in the forest.

  • @google_was_my_idea_first
    @google_was_my_idea_first 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    crowds?!! How about $300 day lift tickets?! I don't have the time to ski enough over a season to justify a epic or ikon pass.

  • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
    @JasonTaylor-po5xc 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    I'd love a local hill (Colorado Springs) to ski after work and on weekends I'm not able to make it out to the big resorts. We had a small ski resort but it closed down decades ago. I'm glad I'm not the only one defending Vail and other large resorts - to be fair, they do a lot of harm too but they get an unfair amount of hate. Mega resorts _are_ investing into the ski resorts - that's actually one of the primary benefits to going to a mega resort. Small resorts simply can't afford to upgrade their equipment or expand their resorts - a few can, but most can't. With that, I still love those smaller resorts, as they can provide excellent skiing on busy days at mega resorts - or just an alterative to mega-corporate run resorts.
    Growth does need to be managed well. Many big resorts are doing this now, but then other problems emerge - like crazy long commutes from major population centers and unaffordable lodging during the core season. I think we need a few places in Colorado that allow car camping. I'd be all for driving up the night before and sleeping in a lot near a ski resort. Summit County does not allow for this - even on public land. I think part of that is so hotels can charge crazy rates - just my theory.
    I also think Epic needs a weekday-only pass.

    • @moriscondo5511
      @moriscondo5511 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Ski Broadmoor you speak of. imagine trying torun that area today with how little snow there is. Snowmaking alone could not keep it open/profitable. I have skied there many years ago when it existed.

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Colorado was weird. Long drives to a resort and all off camber so calf or shin burners. I used to ski by Boulder so not terrible but the bigger resorts expensive and a pita to get there. That tunnel was cool and a choke point.

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@quantumtechcrypto7080 I suppose I should consider myself lucky having the back way to ski resorts (avoid I-70 for the most part).

    • @phantomwizard
      @phantomwizard 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      epic is the problem. its a goddamn cancer.

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @ I can understand that mega passes have made the slopes more crowded - at least at big name resorts. However, I could not afford to ski without a pass product. I realize I would settle for a season pass, but then I'm locked into one resort. I've already skied at 3 resorts this season - Keystone early season, Vail for a day, and most times at Breckenridge. We still have smaller/local hills, but just not any near me - so I might as well go to Monarch or Breck.

  • @swisstopia
    @swisstopia 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I lived on Beaver Creek ski mountain for 10 years, and saw the negative impact that the Epic Pass had on crowd size. Now I live in Zermatt, Switzerland, and have sadly been experiencing the growing crowds via the Ikon pass.

    • @rickden8362
      @rickden8362 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I seriously doubt the increase in skier days at Zermatt is soley due to the Epic Pass.

  • @ngc35ster
    @ngc35ster 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Vail: What are talking about? All we care about is to sell more seasonal passes and cut the salaries for our employees

  • @joesalemi2414
    @joesalemi2414 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    To me, the biggest problem is crowded slopes, with crowded parking, long lines, crowded cafeterias are all secondary concerns. Crowded slopes are horrifically dangerous. This needs to be urgently addressed but not mentioned here.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      Terrain expansions is pretty much the only thing they can do. That and reducing total numbers on the mountain

    • @newagain9964
      @newagain9964 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@SRGSkiingbingo. And There is a 3rd option: the fast pass. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time….

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Disney, here we come 😭

    • @flycrg
      @flycrg 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@newagain9964Fast pass is already here at some mountains like Copper.

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@SRGSkiing Sorta. The original Disney Fast Pass was free. A few years ago, they changed the Fast Pass system significantly - requiring advanced attraction selection and allowing for paid options for certain attractions. I think a better analogy would be the paid "skip the line" style passes at Universal and other theme parks.
      BTW - you can already do this at most ski resorts. It's called getting a ski lesson. Ski schoolers go in a special queue that basically skips the line. Of course, for maximum flexibility, you would need to get private lessons.

  • @greggoldman893
    @greggoldman893 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Also, think Eldora and impact fees for busiest days. Parking fees for single occupancy vehicles on weekends, snow days, and highest crowd days.

    • @seanp2k617
      @seanp2k617 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      They’re already doing this in Tahoe with parking fees / HOV-only parking. IMO it’s a good idea, especially if there are busses to and from off-site lots or garages. A ton of Bay Area folks are absolutely trash at driving in snow, so we’d really benefit from some real public transit. Heavenly is great with the gondola that takes off from the hotel / downtown area. More like that, please. It’s amazing to walk from a number of area hotels right to the gondola in the morning, like the rest of the developed world does with actual ski villages.

  • @user-yg5hk1yb3n
    @user-yg5hk1yb3n 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I usually find Mammoth is pretty empty on weekdays. Quite often I don’t even have to share a lift during the week.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That's every mountain, for the most part.

  • @CMbassin
    @CMbassin 15 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    I find staying off the trails and in the woods keeps me from having to dodge newbies, kids, and Jerrys. The trees are way more predictable.

  • @Daz5Daz
    @Daz5Daz 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    One issue caused crowding is the passes like Icon/Epic. Some resorts might be limiting numbers but in general these sorts of passes allow too many people to chase down the best conditions on any given day and therefore cause overcrowding at resorts when they have great conditions compared to others.
    In previous times people stuck to a small number of resorts closest to them or even just their local hill.
    As for spreading out skiing days and getting more people on the mountain mid-week - it would help if more Americans had access to decent amounts of paid leave. If you only have 10 paid days per year your options for skiing mid-week are drastically reduced. Of course the paid leave situation in the US is far bigger than just skiing!

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  17 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      Yep, that last part especially is definitely a part of the difference you see when skiing in Europe

    • @seanmiller8151
      @seanmiller8151 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      This happens at Snowbird with the Ikon. Everyone saves their 5 snowbird days for the best conditions, then they go to Brighton and Solitude as their daily drivers

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Mega passes are what allowed us commoners to afford skiing. Before, skiing was an elitist sport reserved for the wealthy.

  • @ContraVsGigi
    @ContraVsGigi 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    "Reserve parking" - meanwhile in Europe you can come by bus or even train in some places.

  • @amazingman63
    @amazingman63 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Hundreds of dollars just for ski passes is just not realistic for many people. The hotels are also hundreds depending on the time of year.

  • @rickden8362
    @rickden8362 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You totally missed the fact that more lifts and increased lift capacity reduces skiers on the runs because they are riding the lift.

  • @AK-bw8xk
    @AK-bw8xk 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I am a misanthrope. If people would just stay home on powder days I would be fine.😂😂

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I mean, you're not wrong 😂

  • @mrnoodle3777
    @mrnoodle3777 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Maybe Montana just doesn’t have that many people visiting to go skiing/snowboarding. Everyone I go I get to the lift and hop on all within a minute. I’ve never waited 5+ minutes.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Yeah, when I visited Big Sky it was just like that, but I heard chatter from the locals that it gets a bit worse. Still not CO/UT/Tahoe level crowded, though

  • @tommoore2012
    @tommoore2012 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This potentially might help a little, Alpine-X is building two indoor ski resorts in Texas. One in Dallas and the other in Austin. The former I think is supposed to open this year and the latter I believe is supposed to open in 2026. Since the Lone Star state doesn't typically have much natural room for winter sports having two places in door where they can be done at any point of the year might help lower the traffic in ski resorts in Colorado.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      I bet we'll see a big difference in traffic in New Mexico then, but potentially an INCREASE if people use those more accessible slopes to get into the sport and then advance to the real deal.

    • @gairnmclennan5876
      @gairnmclennan5876 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I'd say more city based indoor ski slopes drive up the skier numbers in real resorts. As the indoor ones are so accessible a percentage of these beginners get hooked.

    • @moriscondo5511
      @moriscondo5511 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      agree with the other 2 responses: this will make crowds worse, not better. peeps in those citys would start the sport there, but eventually want to go to real ski areas. No one would be satisfied with this indoor option: it's only a way to get more people into it in the first place. More people need to take up video games.

    • @tommoore2012
      @tommoore2012 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@moriscondo5511 I'm not sure I agree, the total cost just for skiing one day is ridiculous. The cost of using the lifts alone is mind boggling (especially considering there is one in Texas for a mountain bike park that cost $15/day). According to the Alpine-X website, out of all states in the country Texas has the second most skiers and the third most snowboarders so the demand for an indoor resort is definitely there. Having two would allow many Texans to engage in winter sports at a much cheaper price than total cost of travel and rental. Would it inspire more to first timers at the resorts to try it on the slopes? Definitely. Would they be constantly going to Colorado every week/month or even move out of state to be closer to the slopes? Not unless that Texan has money to burn.

  • @BotWatts
    @BotWatts 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    the only ways to reduce crowding:
    more resorts
    no mega passes
    higher season pass costs

  • @wilmoore5259
    @wilmoore5259 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Social Media and TH-cam is to blame big time, as well. No offense.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      None taken 😂

    • @quantumtechcrypto7080
      @quantumtechcrypto7080 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      No it isn’t. Big bear, mammoth and Mtn High were absurdly crowded even before the internet. They sold passes even when idiots like me walked a mile to the ticket booth and got two runs in in a day. True story. The worst skiing is in big bear the crowds were beyond over the top. They never stopped selling tickets.

  • @carlosolivas7280
    @carlosolivas7280 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Why you only find me on the steepest tree lines…everyone avoids so great for me. :-)

  • @Tim_the_Enchanter
    @Tim_the_Enchanter 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Standing in line keeps getting more expensive.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      😭

  • @jlalonde1000
    @jlalonde1000 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Go to smaller hills that are less busy they are always cheap less busy don't a go on on the quiet run st anne in qc is a big hill but most only use gondola 30 min wait go to the cold windy side with normal chair lifts there was no line

  • @AGoatedTaco
    @AGoatedTaco 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Go to New England the ice is bad but it gets rid of everyone else because its so bad

  • @nickbryant2318
    @nickbryant2318 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Less passes allowed per day, more resorts in a single area

  • @nateb7403
    @nateb7403 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Multi mountain passes (which are released and the cheapest to purchase right at tax return season conveniently), low cost hard and soft goods companies (temu brands essentially) are all lowering the cost barrier to entry. More people work remote so the physical barrier is also reduced, assisting in the crowding.

  • @LukeMorphett
    @LukeMorphett 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    That line at Remarkables reminds me why i dont like it. Ha
    I can't name the run, but it looks familiar, a club feild in NZ?

    • @scollyutube
      @scollyutube 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Remarks lines wouldn't even be 5 mins in his video. Curvey was okay, and nobody at Shadow.
      Apart from the school holidays in July, we got 20 plus runs in before 1pm everyday last year at Remarks.
      Cardrona is way worse......

    • @LukeMorphett
      @LukeMorphett 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @scollyutube I only did 1 day at remarkables this season, it wasn't too bad, but it was mid week. I know Cardrona is worse, that's why I dont go there either!
      Mt Hutt for the win!

    • @krissp8712
      @krissp8712 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      2:45 -Turquoise is on Alta Chair near the beginner carpets I think? But most people do Sugar or Curvey so the chair/pod area is probably not one of the popular ones-

    • @krissp8712
      @krissp8712 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Oh you're probably talking about the secret trail at 9:50? I do get Porters vibes out of it. (Edit:) I'd probably pick Sundance Basin given the trail map, although sadly I didnt manage to get out and try Porter's in the 2024 season!

    • @krissp8712
      @krissp8712 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@LukeMorphettit was good to see the Hutt clips at 8:04 and 11:00 aye! And for sure the Northwest never has queues, it's very convenient. That being said there were definitely moderate queues for the Summit Six when I went to the Hutt in September!

  • @benbreazeale9698
    @benbreazeale9698 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    are you guys gonna make a steamboat video?

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Yep! Long time in the making, but finally coming in February!

  • @jaska145
    @jaska145 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I have a good solution for overcrowded slopes. I don't ski on slopes. I take the lift to the top and then go to off piste

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Where possible, of course. A lot of east coast, NZ/Australia fields don't offer that option

    • @jaska145
      @jaska145 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@SRGSkiing Yes. I have lived and skied Europe, Japan and California/Utah. All these have good off pistes. BTW. Thanks for all these great videos. Especially those haters vides. They are so hilarious!!!

    • @Cucumberflavoredmustard
      @Cucumberflavoredmustard 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Sometimes you just need to feel the wind in your face. Skiing the trees can't do this.

  • @benbreazeale9698
    @benbreazeale9698 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    the run may be petes treat

  • @iMiike69
    @iMiike69 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Between this and the new peak rankings video - is Utah doomed?

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Imo that PeakRankings vid was more pessimistic than usual--I prefer to take the optimistic approach and look at all these things resorts are trying to do. No, I don't think it's doomed, but to each his own.

    • @res_ipsa-REX
      @res_ipsa-REX 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Utah cutting bus service in recent years is crazy. And installing a gondola up LCC that takes 40 minutes or longer to ride is crazy. Very few will want to trapped in a crowded capsule with no bathroom for that long. Plus the cost per person will distract a lot of people. More buses is the answer in the early mornings and late afternoons.

    • @profdrlt
      @profdrlt 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@res_ipsa-REXand where do you pee on the bus? Have you tried similar gondola systems in Europe? This is by far the best solution.

  • @RawRides4U
    @RawRides4U 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    In my opinion we got to see at some point, someone directing traffic at the top. Like a traffic light at the entrance to a freeway in big cities. Many times the problem is a lot of people start a run at the same time. I see it from the lift a lot. I see stretches when no one is on the slope, and suddenly a big group of people are passing at the same time. So mitigating the start is a big deal imo. Also limiting the amount of people that can be on the run needs to happen on popular runs. There are more and more people on the planet so there will be more people on the slopes. Resorts will have to build parking structures to accommodate all vehicles. Or have buses carrying people from remote lots like they do now in certain resorts. Build more restaurants etc. Like a city growing, so will a ski resort need to grow. But they do need to see a consistent flow. They won't invest millions of dollars in new lifts, restaurants and parking lots for a couple of busy years. They need to see it over a few years, and in the mean time it'll just be crowded. It also takes time to plan, get permits and build. If they'll strat limit the amount of people that can get in the resort they'll turn people away, and most won't come back. Hurting their business. So the solution is expansion in all areas and mitigating traffic. Not limiting it.
    One last thing we have to remember is that 1 of the major reasons we see more people in the popular resorts like Colorado or Utah is that snow in the east cost, Europe, and other parts of the world just wasn't good and scarce in the last few years. Causing avid skiers and snowboarders to go to where the good snow is. If the snow returns to all those places, we'll see less crowds.

    • @newagain9964
      @newagain9964 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Bruh. I stopped reading as soon as u suggested a traffic light. Not only is that bad idea, worse once u realize what comes with: ski cops and/or auto cameras and sensors that ticket u. 👎👎👎🤦

  • @phil7218
    @phil7218 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Problems are more in US ski resorts.
    Usual US greed.

  • @paulblichmann2791
    @paulblichmann2791 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You should need QUALIFICATION to ski a black diamond or higher. Like, x ranking in NASTAR. Doesn't need to be very high just ANYTHING.

  • @daveg5857
    @daveg5857 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Raising prices. It won't be a thing for the masses for anyone's grandchildren. Winters are getting shorter. More people.

  • @LAXtimmons
    @LAXtimmons 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    PARKING!! Worse than the overcrowding on the trails imo. Resorts (like ABasin)..... when you start or continue increasing parking fees, offer Monday-Thursday season parking passes at a comparatively lower price. Or..... a combo lift/park pass for Monday-Thursday. BUT!!!!, I'm not sure the mega-corporations WANT locals.

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Well, Summit County has the free shuttle which goes to several ski resorts. Mega-corps want everyone - because many people, including locals, spend money at the resort while skiing. Remember, not all destination skiers stay on mountain.

  • @Salt-in-Wound
    @Salt-in-Wound 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Back Country is the answer.

  • @alaska1girls
    @alaska1girls 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    We need more resorts like we need more golf courses. The whole model is built on exploitation. Low wages and workers who can’t afford to live anywhere near where they work. All the while charging absurd lift ticket prices that only a few can afford. Corporations gobbling up their competitors making it even less economical for the consumer. Finally gobbling up public lands so they can sell it back to you at $150 for six hours of skiing. It’s funny when I ski on public lands i pay zero and nerve bump into others. Try that

  • @JoshuaHatch-s4o
    @JoshuaHatch-s4o 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Honestly, slow down lifts. Get past the initial thought of the downside and then think of what the hill would look like once you get off...

  • @iamantizzle
    @iamantizzle 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    The problem is skiing. We need less skiers and more snowboarders lol

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      No comment 😂

  • @greggoldman893
    @greggoldman893 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Bla, bla, bla, bla….more lifts=more problems. Biggest issues are transportation, parking, and time of day. That is everyone likes to ski at the same time on the same trails. Think new snow and blue trails. Everyone thinks they are black diamond, but in reality love the blue and green groomers. Nearly all areas exist at the end of a funnel, ie I70, cottonwood canyon, dinner pas, then the internet says new snow and great conditions, and skiers converge.

  • @barbaravanerp4598
    @barbaravanerp4598 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    You should try more pressure on your downhill ski.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  17 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      If you're referring to the atrocity that was the opening clip, that was literally my first attempt at carving ever 😂

    • @barbaravanerp4598
      @barbaravanerp4598 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @ your doing great! But overall I see you need more pressure on the downhill ski. It will come around easier.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Fair enough, will keep that in mind!

  • @shawnlarock9159
    @shawnlarock9159 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Optimal Hochzillertal

    • @krissp8712
      @krissp8712 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Europe skiing seems awesome. I gotta get out there in like 2026 or something.

  • @tonycroft6353
    @tonycroft6353 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Just become boarders

  • @jons7e
    @jons7e 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Not the answer people want to hear, but it's called supply and demand... and when you have that high of a demand you need to charge more. Raise all the prices and less people will be on the slopes. People can talk about all the logistics strategies, lifts, etc. it still boils down to a need for less people. Also, people complaining about crowds when they go at the busiest possible times at the busiest resorts is a little entitled

    • @michaelrandall9034
      @michaelrandall9034 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Charge more? GFY!
      Greed is what kills skiing.

    • @jons7e
      @jons7e 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @michaelrandall9034 told you it’s not what people want to hear… it’s basic business. Make tickets $1k… you’ll have the slopes to yourself. Otherwise people need to stop complaining and accept that it will be crowded when they go on a weekend… stop thinking the world owes them something

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@michaelrandall9034 I disagree. Greed motivates ski resorts into getting as many people spending money at their resort as possible. All the resorts are competing for your ski dollars, so they put in the investments needed to attract you there instead of elsewhere. Without that incentive, there would be no interest in expanding terrain, providing nearby lodging, or high speed lifts. No one is going to do that because it's a nice thing to do - that's not how the real world works.

    • @michaelrandall9034
      @michaelrandall9034 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@JasonTaylor-po5xc Thanks for proving my point. Greed is ruining skiing. Overselling the resorts capacity is the problem. Plus, most people suck, so stay home and stare at your phone.
      The cost of my pass doubled in the last three years. It’s expensive enough.
      Hell, 70% of you can’t even ski all day. Maybe exercise before the season starts…
      The “real world” ruined television too. Let me know if I need to explain that.
      Too many people. More birth control and less Musk, a lot less.
      Pricing folks out is dirty pool.

    • @JasonTaylor-po5xc
      @JasonTaylor-po5xc 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@michaelrandall9034 I paid $750 for my Epic pass last year and got in 12 days at Epic resorts - that works out to about $63 a day. The resorts I ski at typically have free or low cost parking options available but if you want a nicer spot, you can pay for that. Nice that you're the governor of who gets to ski. Do I always ski a full day - no, sometimes the weather turns and I'd rather make it over the pass before some idiot with 2WD messes it up. I'm just now getting to the point I can ski a full day - lower level skiers tire out faster because doing a pizza down the mountain is a real leg burner. If you don't like beginners, just go to an advanced-focused mountain instead.

  • @dvmartel1
    @dvmartel1 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I can afford it but I won't do it. Found other activities that don't heve these issues

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  13 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Fair enough

  • @nsff2001able
    @nsff2001able 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Go backcountry skiing and there are no people

  • @deemo5245
    @deemo5245 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Nothing wrong with recreational skiing at all,
    It’s just completely superfluous

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I don't find it so, but to each his own

  • @polycrase
    @polycrase 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Alpine skiing is crowded, Nordic skiing is not!

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Been meaning to try nordic for a while now. Outside of the lesser crowding, is it worth it?

    • @polycrase
      @polycrase 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@SRGSkiing I love Alpine skiing, but nordic is my passion. It's meditation.

  • @evsta100
    @evsta100 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    How much are your ski tickets now and 2 years ago and do you have to pay for parking now? Come on be honest here. Canada and Europe here we go.....Ef Vail group.All the xpansions are not needed. Shhesh make it better, it;s alreaedy great not neeed for expansion which costs money to the user.

  • @williamdaniel2519
    @williamdaniel2519 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Please do the climate change video, climate change is ruining skiing in some places, for example in France there’s a mountain with a glacier on it that a lot of people go to ski but it is very dangerous, the glacier is melting and in the coming years it may not allow people to even ski there.

  • @cxsey8587
    @cxsey8587 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    whoa, 1 hour ago

  • @HD46409
    @HD46409 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Sssshhh! Don't tell people about BC....

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      😉😂

  • @nettewilson5926
    @nettewilson5926 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Just raise the rates. Then the peasants won’t be able to ski.

    • @TeKnoVKNG23
      @TeKnoVKNG23 9 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      We are pretty much at that point already, lol.

    • @nettewilson5926
      @nettewilson5926 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @ true. I got in with my dads military pass though so this peasant can still ski

  • @johnsonderegger8627
    @johnsonderegger8627 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Get climbing skins. Problem solved.

  • @slongholio
    @slongholio 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Nice, almost a minute and a half of bullshit, before the actual bullshit starts. lol

  • @myaschaefer6597
    @myaschaefer6597 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Solution: Go somewhere else to ski! Tons of ski areas out there!

  • @anthonysears871
    @anthonysears871 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Reservations! Not rocket science!

    • @milhertime
      @milhertime 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Reservations make a lot of sense. I skied Vail today1/5/25 on a powder day, took the bus from 29 miles away, skied alone/solo, and didn’t eat on the mountain. When I went for a beer, my favorite place was overrun and crowded, so I went somewhere else. There is always a solution for a problem/challenge, but guests do not want to be told no. When it’s busy, just charge the shit out of people, they aren’t gonna buy a touring ski, and climb up after me…

  • @perro0076
    @perro0076 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Would you mind saying where this was filmed? Those chairs are most definitely stone age. I would like to avoid where this was filmed.

    • @SRGSkiing
      @SRGSkiing  15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      The location of each individual clip is written in the bottom left corner of the screen!

    • @perro0076
      @perro0076 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@SRGSkiing Ah, yes. Thank you. I got used to ignoring stuff like that. Got it now. Thanks again.