'14/'15 Magic Shitshow aka Everybody's an Expert thread

[FussyDutchman]

I love it... Magic is back in black!

Sip of Sunshine or HT? SOS is probably more appropriate, no pun intended, lol.

SOS is easily the call here...come north, much easier to get up this way over HT and I would be happy to help you procure a few cases.

Just stop by MMP'S on the way up and snag some of his stash of Julius and Be Hoppy for me!

[MarcusBrody]

I love it... Magic is back in black!

Sip of Sunshine or HT? SOS is probably more appropriate, no pun intended, lol.

Conveniently a friend showed up on my porch with both tonight. I loved Sip of Sunshine. It was the first time I'd had it.

[buttahflake]

This is going to be a shitstorm of epic proportions. Can't wait for the melts

[BigDaddy]

This is going to be a shitstorm of epic proportions. Can't wait for the melts

The voice of wiz-doom has spoken.

[BigDaddy]

SOS is easily the call here...come north, much easier to get up this way over HT and I would be happy to help you procure a few cases.

Just stop by MMP'S on the way up and snag some of his stash of Julius and Be Hoppy for me!

He's stockpiling for something... Ullrfest?!

I just picked up cases of both VT brews, trading a pair of loos and compost tank for them. Made me feel like a fur trader from the days, as well as very happy!

[buttahflake]

It's all fluffy white clouds and kittens, must be nice living in that world big daddy.

[Timberridge]

A lot of people know who the buyers are. Just been told to keep it quiet. As was noted, they are Magic people - I'm not one of them.

Ok, fair enough. I hope their idea of progress is quite a bit more aggressive than the last few ownership groups and they have the bank account to back it up. Magic needs some owners with more than $500,000 and a dream.

[BigDaddy]

It's all fluffy white clouds and kittens, must be nice living in that world big daddy.

Ha ha... yeah, that's me. Wife totaled her car last night, speeder plowed into her side, but she's fine. Over a dozen projects going with all the requisite headaches, etc. two days vacation this summer, truck AC is shot, but business is good so no complaints. I'll just leave those to you...

[Timberridge]

Ha ha... yeah, that's me. Wife totaled her car last night, speeder plowed into her side, but she's fine. Over a dozen projects going with all the requisite headaches, etc. two days vacation this summer, but business is good so no complaints. I'll just leave those to you...

Jeez, glad she's ok.

[FussyDutchman]

^

No doubt, sounds like she was very lucky BD glad she is fine.

Trading a shitter and a composter for suds, the crew at This is VT would love to hear about this one.

[BigDaddy]

Thanks guys, yes I am very glad, too.


And congrats to all Magic backers and lovers... I'm very glad to hear it is looking good for the season, too. Contrary to another poster here, I think it sounds like a much more solid ownership and plan. Given the struggles in this biz, it's amazing someone has stepped up to tackle the issues. But as many have already noted, it's a special place and has a great core of followers. It's 95 degrees today, but I'm looking forward to some great powder days already....WTF s wrong with me?!

[DoWork]

Pass sales are frozen. They will be offered at the Springtime rate for a couple of weeks in October after the sale is final. Break even days are 7+ (assuming you pay the retail price which nobody does) if you get a pass for $489.

Now I have no idea if they'll go for it or not, but I've also proposed a 10% off discount for season passes for each official volunteer day you show up for. It's not a lot, but getting something besides TEH SHREDZ back for sweat equity paid in would be pretty cool. Time will tell.


BD, glad to hear the wife is ok. Nobody has any fkn respect these days. Zero chill seems to be the baseline driving attitude as of late, as if that 2 minutes you may save heading somewhere at mach schnell actually matters.

[DoWork]

And congrats to all Magic backers and lovers... I'm very glad to hear it is looking good for the season, too. Contrary to another poster here, I think it sounds like a much more solid ownership and plan. Given the struggles in this biz, it's amazing someone has stepped up to tackle the issues. But as many have already noted, it's a special place and has a great core of followers. It's 95 degrees today, but I'm looking forward to some great powder days already!

Yeah it definitely seems to be very well organized and planning is looking very promising. It beats the hell out of Tom just stepping in and "doing his best" and obviously the guy was in way over his head and the mountain suffered for that in a lot of areas. I'm the most optimistic I've been since I started coming here. With the mountain's foggy debt situation now handled, staffing seems to be getting a shakeup for the better, the current state of the hill in physical terms and the attitudes of all parties involved from here on out it's looking very good for this season IMO.

Even if only half their plans come to fruition for this season it will run infinitely smoother.

[Timberridge]

Contrary to another poster here, I think it sounds like a much more solid ownership and plan. Given the struggles in this biz, it's amazing someone has stepped up to tackle the issues

If that poster is me, I'd like clarify some things. First, I do hope much needed improvements come to Magic. I'd like to head over there more often than for the occasional ski novelty.

Second, if you look at the publicly traded ski resorts (MTN, SKIS) and dissect their 10K's you'll find:

1. Skier visits in VT and other places are not going up as a whole so its really about stealing customers from your neighbors: Bromley, Stratton, and Okemo, etc.

2. A mountain can't operate in the black on lift ticket revenue alone, they need to rent equipment, sell stuff in gift shops, sell food and ski lessons. Lift ticket revenue is ~45% of total revenue for SKIS and MTN.

Magic has limited ability to raise ticket prices. You guys are already bitching.

As far as attracting the customers of those other hills; another tree trail, new snow making gun, and two new sandwiches in the BLT are not going to do it. So hopefully the new owners have grander plans and the financial firepower to execute them.

If its true, I'm actually pretty surprised that past managements have been able to run the mountain breakeven or with minimal loss as was suggested in some previous posts. But that's not sustainable, because the mountain needs significant money spent on capital improvements.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Ha ha... yeah, that's me. Wife totaled her car last night, speeder plowed into her side, but she's fine. Over a dozen projects going with all the requisite headaches, etc. two days vacation this summer, truck AC is shot, but business is good so no complaints. I'll just leave those to you...

Glad to hear your wife is ok.

Let me help you out with that AC...

[Jonathan S.]

I added some links here for nearby lodging:
http://nerandorace.blogspot.com/2013...out-magic.html
Are all four of these places reasonably okay?

[RustyGroomer]

If that poster is me, I'd like clarify some things. First, I do hope much needed improvements come to Magic. I'd like to head over there more often than for the occasional ski novelty.

Second, if you look at the publicly traded ski resorts (MTN, SKIS) and dissect their 10K's you'll find:

1. Skier visits in VT and other places are not going up as a whole so its really about stealing customers from your neighbors: Bromley, Stratton, and Okemo, etc.

2. A mountain can't operate in the black on lift ticket revenue alone, they need to rent equipment, sell stuff in gift shops, sell food and ski lessons. Lift ticket revenue is ~45% of total revenue for SKIS and MTN.

Magic has limited ability to raise ticket prices.

As far as attracting the customers of those other hills; another tree trail, new snow making gun, and two new sandwiches in the BLT are not going to do it. So hopefully the new owners have grander plans and the financial firepower to execute them.

I agree 100%

You guys are already bitching..

If that "you guys" has me included. STFUYFM.

[DoWork]

2. A mountain can't operate in the black on lift ticket revenue alone, they need to rent equipment, sell stuff in gift shops, sell food and ski lessons. Lift ticket revenue is ~45% of total revenue for SKIS and MTN.

Magic has limited ability to raise ticket prices. You guys are already bitching.

As far as attracting the customers of those other hills; another tree trail, new snow making gun, and two new sandwiches in the BLT are not going to do it. So hopefully the new owners have grander plans and the financial firepower to execute them.

If its true, I'm actually pretty surprised that past managements have been able to run the mountain breakeven or with minimal loss as was suggested in some previous posts. But that's not sustainable, because the mountain needs significant money spent on capital improvements.

It's as if you were listening in on every single meeting had so far haha... They know all these things fwiw. The biggest change IMO would come by way of a proposed learning area improvement (the Rabbit Run area *fingers crossed*), better rentals and a vastly improved Ski School. The lifts are a given since it simply needs to happen, but those other revenue-generators have been severely lacking- embarrassingly so. They saw big swings in the store too- half the stuff sold out immediately and the other half sat all year. That's getting dialed as well.


All these things should really add up to an all-around better, more multi-faceted Magic that serves a far wider demographic than just us treetards. I just hope there are enough hours in the day and dollars in the pocket to get it all done in time to make the biggest impact possible. The main benefit of Magic's structure is that they have the ability to keep operating costs very low, and thus they don't need to make a ton to break even or profit- but it needs to operate cleanly and in a well-organized fashion for sure. Waste is not an option.

So trust me, they are all over all those things and have some great people involved. I have literally never been more optimistic.

[MarcusBrody]

I added some links here for nearby lodging:
http://nerandorace.blogspot.com/2013...out-magic.html
Are all four of these places reasonably okay?

I've stayed at the Upper Pass Lodge and the Magic View Motel. Both were fine. The Magic View isn't anything fancy, but it has always served me as a good crash pad. The UPL is nicer.

[DoWork]

I added some links here for nearby lodging:
http://nerandorace.blogspot.com/2013...out-magic.html
Are all four of these places reasonably okay?

All those places are great options!

[Binky]

i am going to continue just getting as baked as possible while all of this gets worked out

[Timberridge]

STFUYFM.

I feel I got off easy here.

DW, over by the potted plant in the corner there's a little wire...
Glad things are looking up and the passion is there. Contrary to Benny's opinion, its a great place.

[Peruvian]

Sorry guys, but my contribution to ullrfest might be a little light this year.

[buttahflake]

Sorry guys, but my contribution to ullrfest might be a little light this year.

Kwesi is a wicked popular name in southern Vermont, do you think they got profiled?

[krp8128]

Sorry guys, but my contribution to ullrfest might be a little light this year.

Half expected one of them to be someone from where I work. We've had several busts in town correspond with the sudden firing of an employee or 3....


When is DW going to start the Ullrfest thread?






BTW, I bought magic. Figured it was a smart money laundering scheme.