See as religion... = protected class... snowboarding, desipte what those that participate in it might think, its not a religion (though even if it were it wouldnt be any worse/better than any other religion).
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And exactly how does that happen if Alta never lacks for visitor days and actually limits the number of skiers some days?
And how are these leases heavily subidized? Are there other competing uses for the land that will bring in more money? Are the leases way below rates for similar private leases? Like for instance what Powdr was paying UPCM for the upper part of PCMR, before they forgot to renew?
And curious, how will allowing snowboarders increase government revenues? Does Alta's lease give USFS a percentage of their gross revenues? Any idea of the rate?
My bad mistake whole lotta live for convenience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiLKT5rPHBA
USFS forfeits millions per year because their purpose is to promote recreation with economic subsidies. Below explains how.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...rding-ban.htmlQuote:
Based on a congressionally mandated formula, Alta paid the Forest Service between $305,000 and $474,000 each of the past five years.
Alta has something like 400k skier visits per year. That has a market value of about $20-30M/yr in visitor revenue if managed properly. Alta pays the USFS ~0.5M/yr for use of the mountain. Across the ridge Vail pays Talisker $25M/yr to operate Canyons/PC land.
It's not my contention that any change in snowboard policy will have an impact on revenue. 2nd question, yes roughly 2% of revenue. $570k or so last year documented in the article.Quote:
And curious, how will allowing snowboarders increase government revenues? Does Alta's lease give USFS a percentage of their gross revenues? Any idea of the rate?
Being wrong is one thing, but being stonewalled by horseshit and being backed by the government is irritating.
Quote:
Under a 40-year permit issued to Alta by the Forest Service in 2002, the ski area is allowed to restrict any type of skiing device that creates an unnecessary risk to other skiers.
The Forest Service said it agrees with Alta that the way snowboarders slide down the slopes is a legitimate safety concern for skiers. In a filing last week, Alta attorneys explained that skiers find the slopes at Alta more peaceful, safe and enjoyable because they don't have to worry about being hit by snowboarders whose sideways stance leaves them with a blind spot that can make their wide, sweeping turns a danger to others on the slopes.
"These differences create safety concerns that can be avoided or minimized by not allowing snowboarders," Forest Service lawyers wrote in the new filing.
same article as above
Meanwhile, nobody has empirical data to support this, but there is data to suggest that skiers are more likely (x per 1k skiers) to get in a collision.
So, this has nothing to do with snowboarders at Alta. You're mad that the USFS hands out cheap leases to ski area operators and they could be making more money thus reducing our tax burden.
No, thats not really the point at all. I acknowledge the public benefit of these arrangements. Its a big reason why Brighton can return enough margin on a relatively classic ski area experience. The problem I see with the handling of the subsidies is that the USFS is obseqious to the resorts on bargaining. They have the ace of spaids with the lease/permit granting authority. But they are total pushovers in development negotiations.
There's a big fuckin difference between the nature of the leased assets at The Canyons (dirt, lifts, utilities, buildings and other improvements) and the bare dirt at Alta. And I'm pretty sure you know that...
To toss out another comparable that is equally stupid, Powdr was paying UPCM $12K per year to lease the dirt at PCMR - before they forgot to renew
For Apples-Apples, Powdr pays USFS $500-600K per year to lease the Mt Bachelor site - 3500 acres compared to 2K for Alta, and 400-500K skier days for the Bach. I'm too lazy to research all the other USFS leases with ski resorts, but my guess is they are all gonna fall within the same range of rates.
So again, how will the allowance of snowboarders at Alta bring in MILLIONS more for USFS? Oh wait, you already backed off that bold statement. So exactly what is your contention here about snowboarding at Alta and US fiscal policy? Or are you trying to say that because Alta is leasing the land from the USFS, snowboarders should automatically be allowed to ride Alta's lifts? What about sledders? Saucer boys?
Backed off what bold statement? They leave millions on the table at Bachelor too, it is USFS policy to not charge market rates as a means of incentivizing business and recreation. Quote the claim or drop it, its a red herring.
Re: Canyons, we both know it is 50x the Alta lease. Fifty. Commercial rares are higher. With public money come public service demands.
Powdr was an outlier due to the original agreements age.
How the fuck do you figure USFS is leaving millions on the table? Are there bazillions of people begging USFS to let them have the land leased by Alta, et al for gaxillions more so they can then install all the infrastructure on their nickle? Where are you coming up with "market rates"? The Canyons is hardly a comparable rate
breakaway society already on mars
Opportunity Cost is real. Every paying Mormon I forcibly eject and RO off my NF lease represents current and future revenue lost, but it's aesthetically worthwhile.
However, the NFS shouldn't be leaving $$ on the table. They should raise the lease rates at Alta to fair market value, or answer why in court.
I want to avoid any Mormon blood atonement rituals while I'm at it, so it's important that the side country be treed thickly enough to stop stray bullets that may trespass my lease and create torts.
Thanks for the input, BroM! It's good to flesh this out this way, as now I'll be able to negotiate a Mormon Exclusionary Easement in the absence of a vegetative buffer zone, thereby enhancing the value of my offerings to the Nonmormon public.