KCSKI

Anyway, to get back on topic...I just checked their FB and there is not much of a change in new "Likes", so unless they really push it hard everyday and people notice it (should have it on the website as well if they don't already), looks as though people will have to pony up the $$ for opening day.

Hey that stuff is good...have a 5th of it in the fridge.

They are not the scooters they were in the past, trust me...just go to my web store, www.plainsbikeshop.com and take a look.

Right now Scooters are hammering the juvenile bike catagory nationwide (BMX, BMX Racing, Street Bikes, etc) What started out as us here in my shop selling a few plastic core wheel sets has turned into well over 70% of my total sales. Even commercial operated parks that didn't allow scooters in the door have done a complete about face on that..or they were going out of business. I was fortunate...sponsored scooter riders before they started catching on, and when I saw it coming I invested a whole load of $$ into it and now control a 75 mile territory with about 45 different brand names in completes and parts/accessories.

Kinda both.....Spring of 2013 when the new guys took over I was all excited as was everyone for we felt that things would finally turn around, and..they did. My last official job for them was doing a flyover for the Peach Festival doing aireal shots, went crazy..get a plane last minute, drop what I as doing atm and hurry up, shoot pics, land, edit and run up the mountain to get them there so they could be posted.....shot 100 or so....1 made the page. Now if I had control and was able to post like I did in the past...all those pics would have been up, also..I would have spent the entire weekend on the ground shooting and posting like I did the year before. Didn't happen. No fault of theirs...new cheifs, some of us old indians..new ideas and some indecision on stuff, to be expected. As the season approached I just coudn't get an answer as to what I would be doing, the social media, photography, all around good guy with all the answers with the silly cowboy hat on..or what. Around Novemeber I was offered a real neat business opportunity to franchise out and operate a Pro bike/skate/scooter shop at an indoor skate park in Camp Hill, Pa, mainly a weekend gig. I just coudn't pass it up as it in in line with what I do for a living, so..I spent last Winter in a much warmer enviroment, and that will be continuing this year as well. I miss the people most of all, and alltough I'm in my 50's, I miss walking up and down that mountain to the tune of about 10 miles a day. I wish they would send someone out with a camera on the slopes instead of just the lodge/bar area, I feel they are missing a lot there. I think it is one reason regrdless of all the bad stuff that went on the years I was there that kept people coming back..we, or...I'll be selfish a little here, I did my best to be omnipresent and visible, and that meant a lot to everyone that skiied there. "Have a problem....look for the cowboy hat." It worked.

It could be done..when I took over the operation of the fb page it was at 700 likes...pitiful, and when I left it was at 14,000. With Social Media they need to push it hard. One thing that dissapoints me a little is there really wasn't any slope side pics like I used to take, and that brings people to the page...even those silly "Lift Follies" pics I took each weekend, people used to love them. Too many bar scene pics to my liking and not enough of what is happeneing on the mountain, but...it's their gig now and I still root for them.

Same General area viewed from different angles, so..in the Winter and if you have never been to Montage, you'll never know what is under the snow unless someone tells you.

Don't worry about the Lazy River...a few years ago after it was first installed they tried the barrell technique...the weight of the snow and constant driving over the area with the cats crushed a lot of them making an issue as the season wore on...so, it's just best to cover with the guns. When the river is covered you would never know it was under the snow..so, don't worry about it. If I get a chance I'll post a pic of what it looks like under normal Winter operations...unfortunatly the weather this week screwed things up again for them, but...gonna get cold..real cold, so that should take care of this issue.

All the prices are now up on the website...so check them out. Looks pretty reasonable and Channel 16 did a good newscast from there the other day, so check that out as well. http://www.montagemountainresorts.com/?page=115

^ That..and I made a mistake on the lights..they are LED..I was thinking about Mountain Bike night lights...lol. Yeah..as far as the mountain...let's give it a chance ok, and if in the future they do decide to sell it, so what? Didn't CB just get sold....JFBB last year...it's not a big thing anymore as I read about resorts all across the globe changing hands, however the important thing is right now Montage is heading in the right direction. As far as me personally, no I am not working this year for the mountain except for special events and weekday stuff if they need me as I have taken an offer from a firm (not Ski related) to handle weekend management that since it is more in line of what I actually do for a living, I would be a fool to say no to, plus the $$ is good, I won't lie there. However I have agreed to continue helping out and pass along info or questions, such as the one asked about the web site. (hope to have an answer for you shortly). I have fond memories of the place and the only regret I have is the fact that things that I fought for and hoped for are now taking place and I won't be there to be a complete part of it.

Says it all...and I'm sure other resorts did the same, but the guns were on last night as of 11pm and all the new lights, at least the ones that have been completed, were on as well. White HED's...gonna be bright up there this season.

That is correct, again...it was used the past few seasons just to get people to come to the mountain. Maybe a little devious but considering it never failed that right before the season opened the media would do all it could to paint a bleak picture of what was going on we had to show we were there and open. Brings back a little chuckle actually....pre season last year after the BK was announced and of course the naysayers were lined up I had one guy on the mountain fb berate the hell out of me..called me out as being a liar and that the place would never spin a lift again. Well, the first night the snow guns and lights came on I messaged him and asked him to come on up and enjoy the view. He unfriended me. Only good thing from the consumer standpoint was as far as the discount pricing was that we forced all the other resorts to follow suit...so, everyone benefited I guess with the lower regional pricing.

Just talked to Dom, who is in charge of the Terrain Park again this season....they have been working now the past 2 weeks getting stuff started and already all the rails are done and have been moved from the shop up to the slopes and tarped over waiting to be set, so that in itself is a vast improvement...working on the wall rides yesterday and tmr..and the small Zog half pipe cutter is being re-worked and readied. Lights..yes, there is a swarm of electricians up there getting at least that issue taken care of...my hope is that when it comes to lights on/off...it can be done from one master control panel instead of wasting time travelling up and down slopes throwing switches. Lol..loading restrictions...yeah, character maybe but a pain in the ass.

According to what I have heard and have seen on the mountains facebook and replies to the question of $10 Tuesday, that is not in the price options this season. Like someone had mentioned above the mountain needs to make money, and the main reason the $10 Tuesday was offered was to at least keep people coming and keep the lights on the past 2 seasons. It worked, that is a given, but it was what us old moto cross riders used to call "Moto fill" by keeping people coming and although not a lot of money, enough to keep heads above water. Montage Mountain Resort needs to move beyond that now and has to develop a solid financial plan and price structure to sustain itself and to keep bringing the badly needed improvements they need to once again make the place a place that people want to go to besides super low pricing. Alot has been going on...the lodge was gutted, a new rental/retail building is under construction where the old trailer for rental was..the parking lot is being fitted with a new bus drop off place...all the lifts..yes ALL THE LIFTS went thru and passed inspection and at least all the eletrical issues with Long haul have been taken care of. There are new light towers being installed and the park scene has been expanded to include 3 parks with new features...so..yes...big changes are being done and being made ready for this upcoming season.

Oh for Christs Sake...LOL!

^^ Passed this along..and will have an answer shortly on the bar/lounge question. As far as the Moose outfit? Been put out to pasture.

Ohh...I'm here..usually check the board a few times a week. As far as renovations...yes. Most of you won't recognize the lodge when you see it for the first time since this season. A ton of loot was spent..let's face it, it needed it a long time ago. Besides the lodge, other projects are underway as well at this time. Now, I'm not too sure on details as I haven't been up there too much this Summer, This will change now as September rolls around I'll start getting phone calls to basically get my shit together as far as Terrain Park Plans/Photography stuff...Dom will be back as he has already had the pow-wow with the new owners...looks like he's getting his game plan all set for the park. As things develop I'll let you know.

This is all I have at the moment gentlemen. If I hear of a change or an addition, I'll let you know.

Forgot to mention this kicks off today July 25th, at 10am.

Just got this...works kinda simple, this is for all ages UNLIMITED Season Passes: First in line..first 500 get them for $350 501- 1000....................................$450 1001 to 1400...............................$550 1401 & up...................................$650. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151767847761138&set=a.337281111137.199266.288781601137&type=1&theater That's all I know at the moment....remember I'm not Summer staff so I'm out of the loop just a bit here. These can be bought online or at the lodge. http://www.montageisback.com/

Check it out..starts at 11am today...I'll be there takin' pics all day...looks like a huge crowd for the weekend ! Oops...forgot the dates..May 18/19, 2013. Go to Montageisback.com/events for all pricing & schedule info.

Hmm..maybe too simplistic a solution, but if closing the gate caused all this to begin with, and yes..I know people with lots of money like to throw that around and mix it with a lot of ego, but woudn't it have been a helluva lot easier just to come to an agreement to leave the gate open, esp in this type of circumstance where it could affect your ability to operate? Scratching my head on this one.

Construction in the lodge, events... a lot of old junk being removed........ https://www.facebook.com/MontageMtn?fref=ts

Hahahaha...who knows, to quote a line from Indian Jones and the Lost Ark..."worth maybe $10 in any store...but..bury it in the sand..(In this case snow) for 1,000 years and it becomes priceless!

We are under no illusion that this is going to be an easy task...one good sign is since the new web site went online we've sold a tremendous amount of water park passes...and we're getting bombarded with ski pass information already.