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An unidentified skier takes a break in the middle of Vail Mountain's Gandy Dancer last spring. The mountain was ranked No. 2 in the much-anticipated SKI magazine ranking.
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ENLARGE
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Vail fell behind the much smaller Deer Valley in Utah in a reader’s survey published with a ski resort guide in October’s SKI magazine
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VAIL — Buzz Schleper got a good laugh when he heard that Deer Valley had supplanted Vail as the No. 1 ski resort in North America in the vaunted SKI magazine poll.
“You can’t even put Deer Valley on the same page as Vail,” said Schleper, owner of Buzz’s Ski Shop in Vail. “Not even the same chapter.”
Vail fell to No. 2 in the yearly poll of the magazine’s readers. More often than not — 14 times of 20 years, including last year — Vail has claimed the top spot.
Beaver Creek stayed at No. 8 in this year’s poll.
“You can’t even put Deer Valley on the same page as Vail,” said Schleper, owner of Buzz’s Ski Shop in Vail. “Not even the same chapter.”
Vail fell to No. 2 in the yearly poll of the magazine’s readers. More often than not — 14 times of 20 years, including last year — Vail has claimed the top spot.
Beaver Creek stayed at No. 8 in this year’s poll.
For Vail, falling to No. 2 isn’t exactly falling off a cliff, said Greg Ditrinco, executive editor of SKI magazine.
“It’s a nudge down,” he said.
The widespread construction in Vail might have had something to do with its slip, Ditrinco said.
Deer Valley was able to capture the No. 1 spot because its service is so good, Ditrinco said. The Utah resort also limits the number of lift tickets they sell each day to limit crowds. It also bans snowboarders.
“Deer Valley serves their niche, which is narrower than Vail’s, extremely well,” Ditrinco said.
The differences between the top few resorts are really close, Ditrinco said.
“Statistically, (the difference between No. 1 and No. 2 is) probably relatively insignificant,” Ditrinco said. “But I’m sure folks in corner offices wouldn’t agree with that.”
Spokeswoman Jen Brown said Vail Resorts isn’t disappointed in the drop.
“Our No. 2 ranking this year is a reinforcement of the very competitive environment we’re in among the top resorts in North America,” she said.
But with recent upgrades on and off mountain, Vail is gunning for the top spot next year, she said.
The No. 1 rank figures prominently in Vail’s marketing schemes, from its Web site to its advertisements in skiing magazines, and locals said Vail is still No. 1 is their eyes.
“It’s a nudge down,” he said.
The widespread construction in Vail might have had something to do with its slip, Ditrinco said.
Deer Valley was able to capture the No. 1 spot because its service is so good, Ditrinco said. The Utah resort also limits the number of lift tickets they sell each day to limit crowds. It also bans snowboarders.
“Deer Valley serves their niche, which is narrower than Vail’s, extremely well,” Ditrinco said.
The differences between the top few resorts are really close, Ditrinco said.
“Statistically, (the difference between No. 1 and No. 2 is) probably relatively insignificant,” Ditrinco said. “But I’m sure folks in corner offices wouldn’t agree with that.”
Spokeswoman Jen Brown said Vail Resorts isn’t disappointed in the drop.
“Our No. 2 ranking this year is a reinforcement of the very competitive environment we’re in among the top resorts in North America,” she said.
But with recent upgrades on and off mountain, Vail is gunning for the top spot next year, she said.
The No. 1 rank figures prominently in Vail’s marketing schemes, from its Web site to its advertisements in skiing magazines, and locals said Vail is still No. 1 is their eyes.
Vail vs. Deer Valley
• Skiable acres
Vail: 5,289 Deer Valley: 2,026 • Average annual snowfall Vail: 348 inches Deer Valley: 300 inches • Vertical rise Vail: 3,450 feet Deer Valley: 3,000 feet • Lifts Vail: 32 Deer Valley: 22 |
“I don’t think anyone who’s skied Vail needs a reader’s poll to tell them that Vail’s No. 1,” Schleper said.
Vail Mountain is bigger, and the town has more amenities than Utah resorts, said Steve Kaufman, owner of the Tap Room on Bridge Street.
“I think Vail is recognized as No. 1 whether SKI magazine ranks it that way or not,” Kaufman said.
Kaye Ferry, executive director of the Vail Chamber and Business Association, said it’s unfortunate that Vail has fallen from No. 1.
“It’s an important marketing tool,” she said.
SKI released comments about Vail from people who took the poll. Most were positive.
“Vail just makes you keep coming back year after year,” said one.
“How can’t you love Vail?” said another.
“Not enough steeps. Too many traverses to negotiate mountains. Mountain very vanilla,” said another.
Resorts were ranked in 18 categories. Vail scored well in “terrain/variety” (second), “overall satisfaction” (fourth) and lifts (fifth).
Beaver Creek scored well in service (second) and on-mountain food (fifth).
Whistler/Blackcomb was third in the poll, followed by Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Park City and Breckenridge.
Rounding out the top 10 after Beaver Creek at No. 8 were Steamboat and Sun Valley.
Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.
Vail Mountain is bigger, and the town has more amenities than Utah resorts, said Steve Kaufman, owner of the Tap Room on Bridge Street.
“I think Vail is recognized as No. 1 whether SKI magazine ranks it that way or not,” Kaufman said.
Kaye Ferry, executive director of the Vail Chamber and Business Association, said it’s unfortunate that Vail has fallen from No. 1.
“It’s an important marketing tool,” she said.
SKI released comments about Vail from people who took the poll. Most were positive.
“Vail just makes you keep coming back year after year,” said one.
“How can’t you love Vail?” said another.
“Not enough steeps. Too many traverses to negotiate mountains. Mountain very vanilla,” said another.
Resorts were ranked in 18 categories. Vail scored well in “terrain/variety” (second), “overall satisfaction” (fourth) and lifts (fifth).
Beaver Creek scored well in service (second) and on-mountain food (fifth).
Whistler/Blackcomb was third in the poll, followed by Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Park City and Breckenridge.
Rounding out the top 10 after Beaver Creek at No. 8 were Steamboat and Sun Valley.
Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.
