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Ski Industry Ideas

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Sharknuts.
Posts: 339 - Karma: 953
Hey NGS,


I'm in an entrepreneurship class at Northeastern University and we are working on a project to come up with a shit ton of business ideas. I grew up in Vail and love the ski industry. I definitely want to stay in it for the rest of my life.

I'm coming to NS to see if you guys know any ways that your lives as skiers could be improved. It doesn't have to be a new idea, but just an area of snow sports/ski community that could be improved.

I would really appreciate your guy's help.

K+ for solid answers and on the chance I do run with an idea I will give the original idea owner capital in the business haha.

You guys know the ski industry best. Thank you NS.



-Sharknuts.
Sep 18 2013 4:56PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
improved RFID gates and media/integration with smartphones
Sep 18 2013 5:24PM
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~Gotama~
Posts: 821 - Karma: 3,160
improve liftlines
Sep 18 2013 5:25PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,167
Cure shinbang
Sep 18 2013 7:48PM
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-AM-
Posts: 162 - Karma: 116
Theres a definite movement towards backcountry skiing (and park) so I'd say resorts should definitely start cutting more glades and leaving more of the terrain ungroomed to provide that experience. Other than that, I'd say CHEAPER LIFT TICKETS! Have more affordable options for students (I know theres a college pass at most places but its still pretty expensive). One of my local hills does like $10 lift ticket days once a month and the place is always jam packed.
Sep 18 2013 7:53PM
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GIF
Posts: 468 - Karma: 1,279
I would like to see a move away from the massive commercialized ski resorts. They get overcrowded and everything there is way over priced. No idea how you could change that though...
Sep 18 2013 8:21PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
You clearly have no idea how the ski industry works, let alone how they get rights to the land they lease from the USFS works.


My ideas is and has been for a while, to make a more functional version of the Apex ski boot. I.E. one that doesn't need that stupid fucking exoskeleton. The thing doesn't have much control, they're impossible to walk in, and if you use the "walking soles" you're walkin around lookin like a goof with the exoskeleton in your hands. Great idea, but it needs to get improved on and they haven't even put any copyrights or patents ont he product (to my knowledge).
http://apexskiboots.com/
Click for larger image



*Idea claimed by ThaLorax and you must include me in your company if you move forward with idea even thought his post probably has no legal bearing*
Sep 18 2013 8:22PM
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Phil-X-
Posts: 7205 - Karma: 14,399
Skis that I can smoke weed out of
Sep 18 2013 8:54PM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
Fucking Christ after working in a ticketing office for 3 seasons I'm all for this.
Sep 18 2013 8:56PM
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MASkier
Posts: 657 - Karma: 704
Use social engineering to improve traffic flow or some shit like that
Sep 19 2013 1:32AM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
figure out a way to integrate cell phones + ski lifts = millionaire. that simple.
Sep 19 2013 1:33AM
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Sharknuts.
Posts: 339 - Karma: 953
great answers guys! Thank you so much for your help!
Sep 19 2013 1:40PM
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TheQuailman
Posts: 7381 - Karma: 144
Ski resorts struggle to make money year round. I'm surprised dry terrain park slopes like liberty snowflex haven't caught on at resorts. I feel like a set up equivalent to liberty snowflex at like Killington or Vail that was built onto the mountain wouldn't be too expensive and would generate a ton of revenue. I think any cannibalization of winter profits would be more than offset by the increase of people who get into skiing because it can be done in warm weather.

Also I'm surprised there's are no summer skis that have been able to catch on, like a long rollerblades that can grind and do tricks that are equivalent to skiing. If you can develop a good product, and get Tom Wallisch or E-dollo to drop a sick edit using them I think everyone would buy them. You could probably sell it to a major ski manufacturer for a lot of money.

Sep 19 2013 2:36PM
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Phil-X-
Posts: 7205 - Karma: 14,399
Weighted helmets so after-bang is guaranteed
Sep 19 2013 4:40PM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
fewer lifts with longer rides, the mountain acreage would have to increase to cut down on lines, but I think a ground up, skier oriented design would make a world of difference as opposed to a business oriented design
Sep 19 2013 4:53PM
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Calb3rt
Posts: 6005 - Karma: 2,202
chocolate filled marshmallows so smores dont get so messy.


it would be nice if more resorts were able to run more on alternative energy.  i know whistler does but i am not aware of many others?


Sep 19 2013 5:31PM
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Spiri7o
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 1,100
there's always one
Sep 19 2013 10:25PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
the vast majority of skiers don't like skiing enough to ski all year round
Sep 20 2013 1:21PM
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pat_in_the_hat
Posts: 3019 - Karma: 2,695
-extremely efficient lifts

-i did my junior thesis on heated ski poles with a nichrome wire in the grip and 2 AA batteries in the handle. Super simple and effective. I actually built it too but in my short attention span, couldnt find rubber for the grip that held up to the heat of the wire to encase it on the grip.
Sep 20 2013 1:31PM
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Top_Gun
Posts: 258 - Karma: 469
Skis with treads so they can hike themselves, and then absolutely no work would be required to lap a feature
Sep 20 2013 1:42PM
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1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
killington's gondola runs on cow shit

true story.
Sep 20 2013 1:50PM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,548
the pole bowl
Sep 20 2013 2:13PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
I'm already working on getting ski resorts into that ;)
Sep 20 2013 2:16PM
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