This is the podcast ski industry nerds like me are going to listen to more than once... I am SO grateful for Joe giving so many details. I always scream for the numbers and background that so few guests are allowed to share but Joe can. He obviously loves the podcast for the same reason and gave the interview that I bet he wishes he could hear from other players in the ski industry.
Fantastic podcast! What a great story, Joe sounds like the next revolutionary figure for the snowsports industry. I have utmost confidence the Big Snow concept will continue to be a huge success, especially when it gets taken to states without skiing.
The fact that modest price point includes tickets, rentals, jackets, and lessons is an incredible way to get people into skiing/snowboarding and to continue learning and trying it. That's the biggest struggle with skiing and snowboarding... Not retaining those who have already learned and fallen in love with it, but purely getting through those first few days with as little misery and wallet destruction as possible. That's my dilemma now, as I am actively trying to get two close friends of mine into the sport of skiing. It ain't cheap for them, or easy for me to be an instructor!
My jaw dropped at first when I saw the runtime, but upon listening to it in a couple different sittings, this goes down as one of my favorite episodes, right up there with Nordic Mountain, Little Switzerland, & The Rock Snowpark Co-Owner Rick Schmitz. Couldn't dream of a better person to be spearheading indoor skiing in this country. Some of the points he made really hit home.
Although only one small aspect, I like how you emphasized the things they do differently. Kind of reminds me of Wachusett, where they have an amazing system that works really well and you never see them chasing the latest ski industry fads that would conflict with their system because it just doesn't make any sense for their market.
Otherwise, I can't wait until you hopefully interview him again in a few years!
I wish more Gm's shared his passion and drive. He sounds like the next generation of skiing visionary's , dare i say the spirit of the 10th mountain division lives on within him.
The best podcast yet. Joe is devoted to getting more people to ski and ride and for this activity to be a positive force in their lives. What an inspiration.
Vernon Valley was fantastic! I was an overworked medical student in Manhattan after 4 years in Montreal and season passes at St. Sauveur and Mt. Tremblant as part of the McGill ski team. Manhattan is not know for its great alpine opportunities. Then I discovered Vernon Valley, an hour and a thousand vert away. It’s a real hill - a World Cup slalom has about 600 vert and a GS minimum is just over a grand so Vernon Valley could host a WC slalom. It was live at first slide and it was reciprocal. The coach of their ski team had died the previous year in a freak skiing accident and I became their man- at least for weekends which was the limit I could commit. I enjoyed my time at VV immensely, and the group I worked with developed a serious case of snow fever. I introduced two of them to GMVS where they enrolled the following year for the second season of what is now a foundation of ski racing in the US. New York City is incredibly fortunate to a significant - arguably major ski area so accessible.
This is the podcast ski industry nerds like me are going to listen to more than once... I am SO grateful for Joe giving so many details. I always scream for the numbers and background that so few guests are allowed to share but Joe can. He obviously loves the podcast for the same reason and gave the interview that I bet he wishes he could hear from other players in the ski industry.
Fantastic podcast! What a great story, Joe sounds like the next revolutionary figure for the snowsports industry. I have utmost confidence the Big Snow concept will continue to be a huge success, especially when it gets taken to states without skiing.
The fact that modest price point includes tickets, rentals, jackets, and lessons is an incredible way to get people into skiing/snowboarding and to continue learning and trying it. That's the biggest struggle with skiing and snowboarding... Not retaining those who have already learned and fallen in love with it, but purely getting through those first few days with as little misery and wallet destruction as possible. That's my dilemma now, as I am actively trying to get two close friends of mine into the sport of skiing. It ain't cheap for them, or easy for me to be an instructor!
My jaw dropped at first when I saw the runtime, but upon listening to it in a couple different sittings, this goes down as one of my favorite episodes, right up there with Nordic Mountain, Little Switzerland, & The Rock Snowpark Co-Owner Rick Schmitz. Couldn't dream of a better person to be spearheading indoor skiing in this country. Some of the points he made really hit home.
Although only one small aspect, I like how you emphasized the things they do differently. Kind of reminds me of Wachusett, where they have an amazing system that works really well and you never see them chasing the latest ski industry fads that would conflict with their system because it just doesn't make any sense for their market.
Otherwise, I can't wait until you hopefully interview him again in a few years!
I wish more Gm's shared his passion and drive. He sounds like the next generation of skiing visionary's , dare i say the spirit of the 10th mountain division lives on within him.
The best podcast yet. Joe is devoted to getting more people to ski and ride and for this activity to be a positive force in their lives. What an inspiration.
Vernon Valley was fantastic! I was an overworked medical student in Manhattan after 4 years in Montreal and season passes at St. Sauveur and Mt. Tremblant as part of the McGill ski team. Manhattan is not know for its great alpine opportunities. Then I discovered Vernon Valley, an hour and a thousand vert away. It’s a real hill - a World Cup slalom has about 600 vert and a GS minimum is just over a grand so Vernon Valley could host a WC slalom. It was live at first slide and it was reciprocal. The coach of their ski team had died the previous year in a freak skiing accident and I became their man- at least for weekends which was the limit I could commit. I enjoyed my time at VV immensely, and the group I worked with developed a serious case of snow fever. I introduced two of them to GMVS where they enrolled the following year for the second season of what is now a foundation of ski racing in the US. New York City is incredibly fortunate to a significant - arguably major ski area so accessible.
Hooyah! This one podcast is worth the $50yr subscription to The Storm. Thank you for the continued outstanding value, Stuart.
Thanks Rick!