Dave's Blog

I believe that moving the opening and closing back by 60 min. is a very smart move.  Tourists and locals alike will appreciate the chance to ski the soft snow in the afternoon sunlight.  I also believe that this will make the ski area look better by showing that they care on the quality of sking that Telluride has to offer.  

Please delay the opening and closing of the mountain.  

Thanks.  

B

Dave's reply: Thank you for your input B.A.

Yea, Dave is back in the house! As a local, I constantly read about you in the paper. It seems like it's every day your getting whipsawed by competing interests. What a great job you do sailing the rough seas of Telluride politics!

I really missed your blog over the last few weeks. Please, please keep up the posting. We love your blog and appreciate the work you do at our beautiful ski resort!

Also, I'm very much in favor of you moving all the times back by 60 minutes. That would be awesome!

Dave's reply: Hi PJ. Thank you for your kind support, and for your input.

Please dont do that. I like early morning riding, if anything just move closing hrs on certain lifts, Like gold hill and plundge!

Thanks

Dave's reply: Hi Sam, Thanks for the input.

I love sleep as much as I love skiing. 10 AM sounds great.

By the way, I never told you about this but I figured you might want to know that I wrote about your blog:

www.thewysz.com/.../one-of-my-new-favorite-blogs

Dave's reply: Some people make a career of sleeping and skiing! The lucky ones.

Hi Dave

Sounds like things are pretty icy in the AM and stay that way longer up high, so why not make the folks happy by moving the O&C times forward an hour?  I'll vote for that!

I'll also take a run or two down A-Zone tomorrow (3/5) in the 10 inches of new they will have waiting for me and I'll be missing you at you know where!!

Dave's reply: Hey sds. Enjoy!

Hi Dave,

Honestly I like the idea of skiing an hour later... ONLY if it is not at the expense of opening an hour later in the morning. Please please PLEASE don't take away our early morning tracks!!

Dave's reply: Thanks for the input John.

Dave,

While I think it's a great idea and certainly would make the skiing better,how does it affect things like, local business, transportation, airlines, etc. I know you can't think of it all or please everyone, but You get the point.

Dave's reply: Thanks for sharing your thoughts Steve.

Yes Please!!!!  Open the lifts later and keep them open later!  Nothing better than that late afternoon sunshine and soft snow!  If that happens, I'd have to say "You Rock!"

Dave's reply: Thanks for the response.

We're arriving Sunday, with Monday our first day of skiing.  For those of us arriving from the East Coast, a 9am Mountain time opening IS sleeping late!!!  My question is how icy are conditions in the AM?  Looks like this week has had pretty warm (rainy?) afternoons, which probably results in some pretty slick frozen stuff in the AM.  If the later opening gives that time to thaw significantly, the later opening would be good.  If the one hour delay doesn't make that much difference - why bother?

Re later closing hours, my experience out there in Spring conditions(this is our fourth ski trip to Telluride) has been the "slush monster" makes skiing after 2:30 or 3pm a little tougher, especially with lots of tired folks coming down the mountain at that time.  We typically ski non-stop from opening until around 3pm and then camp out at Goranno(sp?) Ranch for a little food and apres ski while we watch the ski patrol bring down the bodies(I know that's morbid, but I'm a probate lawyer - what do you expect?).

Unless the one hour delay in the AM makes a substantial difference in conditions, I'd vote to keep the hours the same.

Can't wait to get out there - please order in some fresh snow and cooler weather.......

Dave's reply: Thanks for the input Steve. We've not been getting rain, bring your suntan lotion!

Hey Dave,

why not just have it open 9-5?

Some people may be on a certain schedule. =p

(I'm in California so I don't really care what you do)

-Jack

Dave's reply: Hi Jack, we eliminated that as as option due to the large cost.

Please move the hours back, its a great idea.

Dave's reply: Thanks for the input Brad.

What a great idea!  10 to 5 sounds great!  The skiers that like bullet-proof snow can still get it at 10 am (9 am sun time).  The snow doesn't care how we set our watches.  It just softens when the sun hits it at a certain angle.  Moving the hours will give all skiers a chance to enjoy that sweet spring snow.  Go for it!

Gary

Dave's reply: Thanks for the input Gary.

I think it would be great! Partly because I never get there as early as I would like, therefore I would now get there at opening. Also, the question about airlines. Most people fly into Montrose, early morning flights or mid-day. This could potentially give the early morning flights a chance to get in at least half if not a full day when they first arrive in town. It could also boost breakfast sales at restaurants because people will have more time in the morning and won't be as rushed for first tracks. People will get done skiing later and might have more of an urge to stick around for dinner too. And I can sleep another hour! Thanks for all your hard work and openess Dave!

Dave's reply: Hi Tim, thanks for the input.

do it!

Dave's reply: Thanks LL.

Hey Dave:

The shifting of the operating time makes great sense. Otherwise, you're effectively shutting down Gold Hill lift at 2:15, just when it is starting to soften up. No doubt there will be some logistical issues and hassles for the ski company. But the announcement itself will be news across the western slope, Denver markets and ski industry in general. Once again, Telluride will be taking a leadership position, doing what is best to maximize the skiing experience. Finally, I think the Village Core area will benefit from later activity in the afternoon. Go for it, if only as a test case for future seasons!

Dave's reply: Hi Toby. Thanks for the input. It would be unique.

Hi Dave -

THANK YOU for posting this blog.  I wrote you about this in the prior blog on Telluride's softer side, so I don't mean to be repetitive, but I just want to show up here in support of moving the hours to 10-5 once daylight savings time hits.  As someone who tries to ski a ton, I know the mountain is often bulletproof in the early morning, and the best skiing tends to be 10-5 once daylight savings hits.

Thank you for considering this.  I agree that if the mountain were to take this step, hopefully the industry would again recognize the great attention Telluride gives to the skiing experience.

Dave's reply: Hi Joe, thanks for the input.

Yes, opening lifts at 10:00 am is a great idea.  Thanks for the forward thinking.  This reinforces the philosophy that TRide is all about the skiing experience!!!!

Scott

Dave's reply: That we are. Thanks J.

Hi Dave,

Missed your blog the past weeks.  It is a welcome return.  Yes, 10-5 sounds great. The family is arriving Mar 6.

With 6 year olds in ski school will they also start later?  An extra hour to get them dressed and out will be appreciated.

Dave's reply: Hi Fred. Kids Ski School lessons would start at 10:00 a.m. Thanks for your comments and support!

I agree Dave - 10-5 sounds like a great idea! I live about an hour away and never get up there quite when I mean to... but the snow gets so icy in the mornings I'm not very motivated either.  With daylight savings time so early in the year now, I'm all for the 10-5 hours!!

Dave's reply: Thanks Josey.

Yo Dave,

I think it's a great idea to shift open and close by an hour.  The thought of waking up an hour earlier on Sunday makes my head hurt (the booze probably won't help either)

Thanks!

BigCas

Dave's reply: Thanks BC.

Coming from sea level on Saturday and the extra hour of sleep may be beneful.  Sounds great.

Dave's reply: Thanks for the input jstew.

Great idea... make it so.

Dave's reply: Thanks for the input, it's appreciated.

Wow!  Great idea! All in favor of an extra hours sleep and still get to ski the best of spring vegetables - corn and mashed potatoes!!

Cheers,

Stephen

Dave's reply: Humm, I'm getting hungry :)

Generally in favor.  Although maybe 30 minutes is enough and represents a happy medium?  Open at 930?

Dave's reply: Thanks for your input Brad.

I think this is a great idea! I love spring skiing!

Dave's reply: I'm a fan of spring skiing also. What a great time of year.

Hey Dave - By the way, cudos on my two favorite additions you and your staff did this season: Revelation Bowl, Alpino Vino and oh yeah, a third addition, the Howitzer cannons and thir very cool bunker.

Why not lift ops, for just the last 4 weeks of 2008/2009 expanded to a full 8 hours: keep opening at 9:00 AM MDT and expand to 5:00 PM MDT? Just to close out the season. I don't want to miss bustin' pow on Gold Hill I at dawn.

Dave's reply: Hi Neil, I did pretty much take that idea off the table in the blog, but thanks for sharing your input too!

Glad you like the new and improved Telluride!

Totally agree.  Please move the hours to 10-5.  We travel to Telluride each March.  With the time change last year, we found the first hour rather [firm :)].  4 PM came much too early.

Dave's reply: Hi K, thank you for your input.

Outstanding idea! 10a - 5p would be great for many reasons -- much less bulletproof skiing in the a.m., more local families with kids in school would be able to ski after school, should garner huge PR plug in Colorado and Four Corners etc, etc. One of the downsides is if it is a huge powder day, you will have hardcore skiers itching to go. The upside is that patrol gets more time for avi control. No need to worry about the small backlash of people complaining that you should expand hours rather than shift the hours because you are doing it for the guest experience and most business owners will appreciate and understand why it is financially stupid to open at 9am and close at 5pm. If you do it, shout the message loud, clear and often to minimize confusion. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Dave's reply: Hi Shimmy, Thanks for your input. We're getting a pretty clear idea that the vast majority of the skiers want this to happen.

if you open up later you can't get to the gate till later endangering the back country departure time. did you forget about that little tidbit?

Dave's reply: The ski area is not responsible for what happens in the backcountry. It is your responsiblity for making the decision to leave the ski area through a USFS backcountry access gate. Thank you.

Dave,

Sounds like this is getting pretty close to a done deal (as mentioned before, I'm all in favor)... When do you expect official decision/announcement to be made?

-BigCas

Dave's reply: Just posted a new blog. It is a done-deal.

How does this work with employees that have to go to work at 5 at the mandatory second job that is required to live in the valley?

Dave's reply: we discussed this before the decision was made and understand the change will cause conflict for a few people as you have described. I suggest you talk with both your bosses to see how that can worked out. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Previous spring skiing I’ve noticed that with the time change that most of the west facing slopes off Gold Hill lift did not soften up till 11:30 AM which with the time change is now 12:30 PM.  With the gate to Gold Hill Chutes closing at 1:30PM and the 30 minute hike it is not much of window. With the upper lifts closing earlier 3:30 same problem with spring conditions and time change. These lifts are fast so if you catch last ride seven minutes later your on top or 15 minutes later you are at the base with later lift closing time but may be sloppy. I know north facing Plunge side normally is great in spring but slow lift (new footrest appreciated) and I like the big mountain feel of the bowls.

An added advantage is if you are driving in on the first day more skiing. I’m sure the day skiers will appreciate this.      

Dave's reply: I'm having trouble following that today ;) I think you're saying you like the change.

would have been nice to have discussed with employees, seems not much thought has been put into what your employees think

what they do when they are off normally at 4, kids/daycare/seconds jobs to be able to live here and work for telski almost requires a second wage......

Unhappy employees?? would be nice to be in on the business decisions,

Dave's reply: Again, we did consider this, put a lot of discussion into it, realized that it would not fit with everyone's personal situation, and did it on behalf of our guests. We talked about this at length. As I've mentioned in prior blog replies, I suggest you talk with your director to see if she/he can do anything to address your personal situation. Most employees are quite happy with this change but I recognize that "most" is not 100% and it is an inconvenience for some. I'm sorry for that but feel that we did the right thing. Thank you for your comments. 

Hi Dave, Just wanted to add my two cents on the change—Awesome, it’s great that you implemented it. Those of us who follow your blog remember the discussion last year and now its implemented this year.  Without the forum it would be just “same ole”…  An example of the effectiveness of your blog came when I visited for the first time in late January.  I witnessed a problem with lift operation and I shot you a quick email.  I got a call personally from the lift operations manager, I think her name was Elizabeth, she wanted to thank me for my imput and that it was helpful to get a complete picture of what transpired.  I wouldn’t have known whom to speak to otherwise and probably wouldn’t have acted.

 Telluride, what an incredible mountain!  I have been all over Summit Co. Aspen, Utah, Banff, Whistler, Big White and you have a World Class Mountain.  Everything in your blog is true—no lift-lines, great snow, etc.  I can see your vision through your postings.  The airport upgrade will be a huge impact.  I fly Frontier (miles) so being able to land the Bombardier there will open up lots of opportunities.  Sometime you will have to upgrade 9 though, it’s the best part of the mountain if you want my opinion(forever bumps).  Maybe a combined lift 8-9 with a midway offpoint.  The grooming on Revalation seems to be in the best bump line—perhaps you can move it more to the skiers left. I even hiked up Palmyra—you could use a lift there too, kind of like Whistler peak chair but you would have to make some room. Telluride in now in my mandatory rotation—depression be damned.

Anyway, I am going to be snowmobiling at a friends ranch near Gunnison next week and I hope to convince them to come to T-ride for a day but they seem to be set on Powderhorn.  Wish me luck

Mike

Ps Bill Noyes was very helpful in accommodating my travel planning.  Great Job!

Dave's reply: Hi Mike, Thanks for your kind blog comments, and input! Hope you can make it back to Telluride when your in the area.

Powderhorn is a fun place. Great tree skiing in the Aspens. I used to ski there quite a bit when I was going to college at Mesa State years ago - I need to get back there again. Say hi to Steve Bailey if you see him. He's the owner and a fine gentleman.

We patrollers up here in Winter Park have been saying for years that, in the spring, open later and close later would be the best for everyone that likes to ski in the spring season...good luck trying to change that with the resort management machine...everything is tied to the projected budget opening and closing times...it's too bad that the so called management doesn't ski at all times of the day like we do1!.\; peace-out...Funman WP

Dave's reply: Hi Alan, Actually, it wasn't terribly difficult to make the change - just needed to involve all the departments. Of course some people don't like it but overall most people have been very happy and want us to do it again. I know your President, Gary, is aware of what we did because we were talking about it at a Colorado Ski Country board meeting last month.