Alpine Meadows regulars know something isn’t right. It’s not that we like standing in line. But we endured a lot of money holds during the JMA years, and it’s clear to see that numbers are down at Alpine Meadows this season. While the huge terrain park and awesome grooming quality and 100% open mountain have not attracted crowds…it’s a pretty good bet that cheaper day tickets will make a difference.
Alpine Meadows announced $49 tickets for Super Bowl Sunday this weekend, in honor of the San Francisco 49er’s. There is a catch – you have to buy 2 for $98. That’s a heck of a lot better than one for $99. Again, I don’t like long lines, but I like it less when large parts of the mountain don’t open, or when our season is curtailed with snow still on the ground. It’s a smart move by Alpine Meadows marketing to get people back to Alpine, especially when the perception is out there that all of the snow is gone already.
The skiing should be super fun this weekend as conditions have been just right for corn production…warm days and cold nights for several days in a row. If you like corn, this is the weekend to get it as it looks like there will be some snow next week that will interrupt the current corn cycle…and hopefully get us back to the pow cycle. High Traverse should be great…and if Smoothies opens at Squaw…that may be worth a shuttle voyage.
Super Bowl Sunday tends to be one of my favorite days to ski, because the mountain is empty. With a local team in the game, the Super Bowl effect would likely be huge. So I think this may be more about maintaining normal mountain population tomorrow, rather than increasing it. That, and getting people to watch the game (and eat and drink) in the lodge after they’re done.
It seems like the SuperBowl effect has been far less as the game has shifted later in the day. With a 3:30 start time, there’s plenty of time to ski and ride, then hit the Last Chair. I have yet to ever watch a Super Bowl – would much rather enjoy some powder turns…or corn turns this year.