Dave's Blog

Dave!

Thanks for all those pictures!

I know it been a while since I last posted. I was trying to stay away from the Chair 9 drama even I was on your side. There are some people that just don't understand what it takes to run a ski resort.

Keep the pictures flowing!

Dave's reply: Hi Nate, Glad you like the pictures! Thanks for checking back. I went down to the bottom of Chair 9 this morning at 10:00 am after dropping my daughter off at Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club for "Bumps and Jumps" and nobody was there - literally - no lift line at all! Last Wednesday it was like everyone in the world was there. How funny. Over at Chair 9 the terrain was perfect, grooming was perfect, coverage was perfect, weather was perfect. Telluride is truly amazing..

Dave, You must be incredibly busy, but still find time to do these personal blogs.  I want you to know I feel, and I believe others feel, that it is extremely important to hear this from you this way. WOW! what a fabulous ski day it was today in your pics.  Nicely Done.  We will be there on skis Monday!

Dave's reply: It was a great weekend overall! Travel safe.

Hi Dave,

It looked like patrol was bombing Baldie yesterday afternoon. It looked a little windblown up top, but insanely deep a few turns down. Is it open yet? If not, any word yet on when?

Daves' reply: Hi Patrick, It opened Monday!

Hi Dave,

Please pass along my thanks to your Mountain Ops team for their hard work.  It was a beautiful weekend on the hill...great conditions and weather!  I was trying not to lick my lips looking out onto San Joaquin Bowl when I was on top of Gold Hill.  Could you make this a topic for a future blog?  I'd like to hear where things are in the planning/permitting process and whether or not a lift there is on the horizon.

Thanks!

Doug

Dave's reply: Hi Doug, Yes, I'll bring that up in the future. Thanks.

Only one comment?  Apparently everyone is skiing Telluride (6 days and counting...).  Six days and counting... gorgeous pics and thanks for sharing!

Dave's reply: Travel safe, see you soon!

Hi Dave, we are here and the skiing is fabulous!  My husband, parents and I arrived this past Friday.  We are looking forward to the next week we have here.  I am curios as to when you think Lower Gobbling Goose will be open.  My mom prefers the easier green runs and I think she would enjoy this run when it opens.

Dave's reply: Hi K. Lower Galloping Goose will open soon, we need to make a little more snow near the bottom - there is a drainage that needs to be covered. You can contact me at driley@tellurideskiresort.com if you have any other questions. Thank you.

Hey how's it looking for getting Mounatin Quail open before the snow starts flying again on Wednesday?

Dave's reply: Hi EJ. Not quite sure. I had a conversation about that this morning but it will be up to Patrol in the end. They're working up the ridge. Stay tuned.

Dave,

Great blog and can't wait to come-up to your great town January 4 through 7.  Is lift 10 open or is it opening?

Dave's reply:Hi Mark. Thanks for choosing Telluride - I'm sure you'll have a great time. All chairs are turning!

Hi Dave,  Enjoying your Blog - the pics get the juices flowin.

I've skied many of the Colorado mountains but never Telluride...  this February will be my first.  I'll be traveling with my wife and three teenagers. I'm looking for some advise on "what not to miss" in Telluride - I'll only be there five days.

A couple quick pointers would be awesome.  I'll be staying in the Mountain Village.

Thanks,

Dan Zeiler

dan@zeiler.com

Dave's reply: Hi Dan, Let me do some research on that and I'll post details tomorrow. Thanks for the great question!

Dave's follow up reply: Below is what our Marketing Department came back with today. Thanks!

Hi, Dave.

Your blog and pictures are great. As many others have said, keep 'em coming. From Virginia, your snow conditions look pretty terific.

Whole family, three generations, arriving this weekend for Christmas and New Years, our first in Telluride. The grandparents (that's Sally and me), are staying on till mid-January.

Many thanks for putting a face and personality on Tellski. You've done so with great style and skill.

Cheers. Matt.  

Dave's reply: Hi Matt, Wow - that is going to be a great family vacation. It's great to hear that you've arranged to spend time like that together. Those will be lasting memories for everyone! Enjoy Telluride and the family time together.

Was that a wolf I saw under chair 7 today?  Also are you going to have the Ute terrain park again?  The under-10 kids need a place to learn/practice their rails, boxes and jumps.  Thanks!

Dave's reply: Hi Barbara, I don't believe we have wolf populations this far south but I could be wrong. You probably saw a big healthy coyote.

We're going to be moving the boxes, rails, and jumps around a bit this year. Initially, the beginner features will be located in the flats below Gorrono Ranch on the left side of Misty Maiden. We've got some really nice new boxes and rails - I'm sure you'll like them.

Thank you for your questions!

What proof is there that you're really answering these questions and taking these pictures? I mean wouldn't it be smarter for "you" to just hire someone to act like you and take these pictures? Just a consideration. Obviously "you" would deny this because you are not that type of CEO, but i don't see how you manage to answer nearly every question posted on this blog in less than five or ten minutes. It just doesn't seem plausible to me that a CEO of Telluride would honestly have time to devote to a blog that probably 95 percent of Telluride ski customers are oblivious to. Further, proving my point that it would be much much more plausible to have a team or group of people constantly monitoring this blog with specified instructions from "you" that sounds like you etc...

Dave's reply: Hi Jonathan,  That's funny, I've never had anyone accuse me of blog fraud :)

I do take all the pictures myself, compose the blogs myself, and reply to every one of the comments myself. If I ever use someone else's photo, I will give proper credit.

If you want proof, walk in my office on the second floor of the Plaza Building at Heritage Plaza in Mountain Village right at the bottom of Chair 4 and ask any employee in the admin building.

It may not seem "plausible" but I think it is "essential" to communicate in this forum. You may think that 95% of our customers are oblivious - but I disagree.

The software I use for this blog tracks usage - those who post comments and those who simply open and read - even though I don't know their identity (unless they choose to post it).

There are thousands of people who read this blog. Far more read than post comments. If I'm able to help any our valued guests with something that is on their mind - it's all worth it. Additionally, we get to learn a great deal by listening to our guest's thoughts and opinions.

- Thanks!

Hi Dave,

I read this blog every day because it helps me visualize how much great fun our trip is going to be in January!  Thanks for doing this for us!

I also check the run status on the site:

Current Conditions

Grooming Report

Lift Status

There is a schematic there which still lists several runs as not open which may be a small error, as you have stated above that all lifts are turning.  May want to have someone correct this.

The mountain looks incredible and we are SO excited!  Keep up the great work you are doing.

Lark

Dave's reply: Hi Lark - Glad you enjoy the website and blog. I'll look into the point you made above. Thanks for the heads up!

Dave, am coming to Telluride on the 26th.  Our third time in the last five years.  What are the forecast conditions looking like for next week?  

Keep up the good work.  RHH

Dave's reply: Hi Robert, It looks like we should get a litte snow tonight (Tuesday) and potentially more on Thursday night into Friday - not giant storms though. The 26th is over a week away and I really don't believe forecasts that far out. Coverage is quite good through so I'm sure you'll enjoy the skiing for your holiday! Thanks for checking in and travel safe.

Dave-

Great blog and you are doing a great job running the mountain.

I saw in a previous post that Telski is working on some new webcams. I have some ideas and access for a web cam location with a great view. Who should I contact and how.

Thanks.

Dave's reply: Hi Craig. We'd love to hear about your idea. Please contact our Ex. Director of Sales and Marketing, Matt Skinner at mskinner@tellurideskiresort.com  Thank you.

As much as I will always remember the delayed opening of lift 9 as being an instance of a trend I do not agree with, I do want to APPLAUD your (or whomever's) decision to open Milk Run to the public prior to snowmaking -- in light of the strong possibility you probably wouldn't be able to mobilize snowmaking equipment for MR for a little while anyhow.  Thank you.

Dave's reply: Hi Eric, Patrol's suggestion! Credit where credit is due!

my family is looking for a seamless ski nvacation around presdient's day weekend.

I have two boys. One a a sophomore skier and the other a senior who snow boards. They're both intermediate/ to single balck diamond; self sufficient nonetheless.

My wife is very much a beginner who prefers group or solo lessons. she only started skiing at age 44 two years ago.

I like slow cruising long runs, green or blue. I prefer groomed corduroy over deep powder.

We rather get something slopeside or very close. I won't say money is no object, but we don't need to stay in some crappy hotel miles and miles away.

Our regular mountain is Mt. Hood Meadows, but we want something a little bit bigger with restaurants and such.

We looked at Telluride and thought it looked pretty nice with lots of easier terrain.

Do you have any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Bill Savoie

English 10/Pre-AP English

Union High School

Dave's reply: I talked with our reservations manager and he suggested you call him directly - - there are so many different options in Mountain Village and Telluride. His name is Bill and you can reach him at 1-800-778-8581. Bill will walk through many different options with you. There are new airline connections through Salt Lake City that will work great coming from the pacific northwest. Thanks!

I was wondering when there would be a full terrain park open? Hopefully soon

Dave's reply: Hi Bob, Good question, I'm looking out my window tonight at the cats dozing lower Misty for a "Holiday Park". We decided to use the snow that was made for the Jeep King of the Mountain event to reconstruct a nice jump line and rail line on Lower Misty Maiden. A beginner park will be constructed in Misty Maiden Meadows just below Gorrono Ranch, which should be nice. We're going to see how the Holiday Park turns out then make some decisions regarding super pipe verses a jump line snowmaking allocations next. We've got several options we're discussing. The exciting part is that we're looking at things with an open mind and consider alternatives that have not been evaluated in the past, including some interesting features and locations. More to come -- stay tuned. Thanks!

Dave-

I will be visiting your resort from December 24 to the 28th and I was wondering what the best runs on the mountain are.

I'm an intermediate/advanced skier and have been skiing all my life

Thanks and see you soon!

Bradley

Dave's reply: Hi Bradley, First - thanks for choosing Telluride for your vacation! I'm sure you'll be more than satisfied - Telluride is a wonderful, "unmatched" alpine resort - truly.

See Forever from the top of Chair 14 all the way down is a very famous intermediate run with an incredible fall line, view, and feel. Over at Chair 5, Polar Queen is another really nice intermediate run that must be carved! Additionally, there are many really nice intermediate runs on Chair 12 that will really turn you on. Those are my most favorite wide-open intermediate runs. Remember, the early bird gets the groomed corduroy!

As for advanced runs,,, wow,,, let me count the ways... Telluride is also famous for it's advanced skiing. All the runs off Chair 9 have been written up in magazines and talked about apres' ski for literally decades. You will be blown away with this terrain. Chair 14 - Gold Hill - while not as old and famous, will also impress with very steep and consistent vertical pitches - unlike most all resorts.

For steep winch-cat groomed terrain, look for the Plunge and bring your camera =)

Dave.

Re: Jonathan's comment.

There is nothing in business(including the business of running a ski resort) that serves everyone better then relentness communication. The good, the bad and the indifferent. And if, per chance, you need a staffer or someone else to take a few pictures or write a blog response, so be it. The overall impact is huge and positive and not diminished a wit.

Matt.

PS Don't mean to re-start a Lift 9 opening type debate, but I checked your counterparts at a couple of other Colorado resorts and didn't find communications parity. Keep it up! M.

Dave's reply: Hi Matt, Relentless communication - I've never called it that but can't agree more. In the community, at work, and even at home!  :)   You get it.

Dave,

We are arriving on Saturday.  We like all the runs on Lift 10.  I notice some are not yet open.  Will they all be open this weekend?

Dave's reply: Hi Pat, All runs on Chair 10 should be open by Thursday. Thank you!

Pat

Will you have halfpipe by Christmas?  If not can you please explain.  It seems like all the other major resorts already have one.

Great Blog and thank you for listening.

Dave's reply: Hi PR, our superpipe is not in-ground and therefore takes much more snow. Also, we allocated our snowmaking resources to making priority pod connections first and to the Jeep King of the Mountain course on Misty Maiden (which is now being converted to a Holiday Park). Thank you.

Yo Dave!  I give out mad props to Chris for the sweet step up jump today!!!  It was soooo sick.  It's about time we get a bigger jump, and I hope it stays big!  I noticed a big new box on the side of the step up.  I have an suggestion, instead of putting it as an up box it would be way more sick as a down box.  Down rails and boxes are pretty popular at most resorts.  

I also noticed on a post up above that your excuse for not having the pipe up sooner was because it isn't dug.  Well, I must say Copper Mountain had their pipe up first in America, and their's isn't dug into the ground.  It would be quite nice to get the big park and pipe up soon, and why not at the same time?  You should at least start blowing snow for the pipe and park.  Seems like there is plenty of snow else where on the mountain, and it's time for snow in the park.  An answer when it's going to be up would be nice! Later Dude!  

Dave's reply: As I mentioned earlier, we need to use our snowmaking capacity to make the critical connections to open the terrain pods. Clearly, we need to get that done first. Patience - you'll like what the TSG staff will construct this year :)

Thank you so much for your wonderful pictures of the mountain.

I have never been to Telluride, this season will be my first time.  Just seeing your pictures has made my excitement grow.  It is an amazing thing to see pictures, I can only imagine that the real thing is going to be unbelievable.

I will be there in about a month.  

Excruciating Pain to Wait!

Thanks again.

Dave's reply: Hi Carlo. Thanks for choosing to come to Telluride. I was out today on the mountain with 9 inches of fresh, no wind, blue sky, short lines, and the best terrain anywhere. You'll be blown away with this place. See you soon!

I've lived in Telluride for quite a while and over the past few years I've been much more impressed by the way your team prepares the mountain and staggers the opening of chairs and trails to maintain the snow quality than in many other Telco corporate decisions. Some may say it's not tough to do this on such a banner snow year, but regardless of the snow, your knowledgeable staff have done a great job opening the mountain, this year and in the past.

Nothing can create experience, it only comes with time. And time has given you a great group of Ski Patrol, lifters, snowmakers, groomers, managers, etc. Thanks so much for keeping them on and listening to your experts. Jeff Proteau manages a great bunch of people and they do a great job in making and keeping the mountain skiable.

Thanks to the whole team! Keep up the great work and the great snow!

Dave's reply: Thanks for giving the team credit - they deserve and appreciate it!