Vail buys Whistler

I don't get the big deal, it's not like WB has done anything but think about improving the share holder experience for the last couple decades.

complaining about crowds at a world class resort next to a major Canadian city is weird. WB does a great job of handling crowds. between most tourist not making past mid mountain and most locals chosing to wait in line for lifts that are not turning, there is always a way to get turns. there are a few tricks but you only have to be a little bit creative.

I had an interesting convo. a few years back with a Vancouver based relation.

He had issues about corporate WB pricing out the locals (which he defined to include lower mainlanders). He felt that locals should have some - right isn't the proper term here so I'll go with expectation - about being able to enjoy WB due to their local status. He was upset about a corporation being allowed to control what happens in nature.

I had a very long laugh. Welcome to the rest of the province sir. WB to me is just like any industrial development from an open pit gold mine to a resource road. Just another way for foreign based corporations to suck money from foreigners by using provincial resources. Any benefit accruing the the locals is secondary, any inconvenience felt by the locals is the price we pay for having a resource based economy.

The more crowded the better. More foreign tourists the better. Should have a casino.

I too think it was a great day when Rogers bought Mobilicity.

Furthermore, I can only imagine the benefits to be reaped when Rogers buys Bell.

He felt that locals should have some - right isn't the proper term here so I'll go with expectation - about being able to enjoy WB due to their local status.

Locals do get at least one break/benefit. It's called an edge card, only accessible if you have a BC or WA address.

Locals do get at least one break/benefit. It's called an edge card, only accessible if you have a BC or WA address.

Minor correction. 35 million plus are eligable.

Exclusive to Canadian, Washington State and Oregon State residents

Vail's corporate culture is very different than WB. If I were a WB employee I wouldn't be stoked. Expect the resort experience to become more homogenized and geared toward high end guests. WB passes will probably be accepted across the west now if you are into that.

In both Colorado and California, Vail's entry into the market lowered season pass prices. Then again, lots more competition in those markets. I came here to avoid the Death Star… looks like it won't leave me alone.

When do you guys go? Admittedly I have not been up there much in the last few years but aside from peak times there are no giant lines, and even then you can usually avoid them with a little strategy.

I'm a weekend warrior, managed 22 days last ski season @ WB, mostly pow days too as it seemed to snow every weekend. Our usual program is to be walking up to Creekside gondi by 7:50-8am, ski mid-mountain till 10ish then wait on Peak/Harmony on Whistler (or do Crystal then Glacier on Blackcomb if we are over there). I would say the Creekside upload line has been getting longer and filling earlier over the past few years on weekends. Harmony being a 6-pack helps chew up the line but Peak also seems to be getting worse. We get our turns in for sure.

Would be interesting to see skier visit numbers for powder days the last 5 years to see if I am just being grumpy and imagining things.

Also curious to see if the corporate culture changes or if Vail lets the WB management team continue to run everything as they see fit.

it's busy in the winter, but I still get my fill of pow and more than most. If you're off the back you'll probably have less of a good time, no lollygagging or straggling though

Whistler lineups can be retarded weekend powdays. Sometimes I wonder why I still live here.. lineups everywhere in the lower mainland, camping, traffic, even the shore trails now are crazy!

it's busy in the winter, but I still get my fill of pow and more than most. If you're off the back you'll probably have less of a good time, no lollygagging or straggling though

Being early, like really early in the line makes a whole different experience.

On Blackcomb being near the front of the Wizard line can net you two Solar Coaster laps before the line clogs up, by then you're off to Jersey before it gets silly, then you make your choice of 7th, Glacier, or Crystal. Go Crystal if you think it's going to be a slow alpine opening.

Or show up laterish and just head straight to the Glacier or 7th line and be at the front of those when the alpine cracks.

Or on the really bad gong shows days do a couple inbounds laps then go skinning in the honey holes.

There is no easy ride for pow in Whistler, gotta work for it.

Two very different AC programs.

I hope Vail keeps the edge card program, but will they?

So to recap:

Anyone who holds a negative view of this transaction is a moron because they don't posses the scary powers of linear regression that shows that because there was little change when a hedge fund purchased WB during the great recession means that a direct competitor purchasing will end with the same result.

That and they think the oligopoly of cell phone companies in Canada is the pinnacle of capitalism.

If Helmet Harper didn't bet the farm on oil, our dollar wouldn't be where it was today and Vail wouldn't be able to do what they're doing now.

Whatever the case, if Vail Co. knows what's best for them they'd let Brownlie and co. take over the reigns.

Theyre going to cut season pass prices by 50%. Hard to imagine them keeping the Edge card around.