It's unbelievable all that has been accomplished in just seven weeks time. Going into this class, I didn't think that we'd get as in depth as we obviously have with these lessons, simply because the online setting was new to me. I thought we'd need more time to get to where we are now. I was wrong.
So what have I accomplished? Let's start off easy. I feel that I've really found my online voice for the most part. Granted, at the beginning I think it would've been easier for some if my voice were more formal or by the book. That's not me though. I'm energetic and enthusiastic about the work I produce and want to express it in that matter.
In this course, from day one I learned that sometimes mistakes can lead to bigger and better things, and the best way to get your idea across and to sell it is to be yourself. You don't want to appear condescending or a know it all. You need to be able to relate to your reader and make them feel equal. That's why I chose the voice I did and never changed it. I never wanted to appear as some other random blogger. I wanted to be me.
The Devil's Advocate exercise was perhaps my favorite one. Granted, in retrospect I probably fell victim to my own personal experience more than I intended. However, the lesson was still there. To be given the opportunity to look at a something from a perspective other than your usual one opens up the mind in ways that helped me to find my true niche for the remainder of this class.
Perhaps the most important thing I learned is that there are no stupid ideas or true mistakes. I didn't know where I would go when I started this class. I thought my original idea was too "out there" and something people wouldn't like at all. Yet I was given the encouragement needed to get it started, and became more confident. I've never written this extensively online before, or had the courage to. Now I do.
I will definitely continue to make use of this blog, not only to expand on my niche in ways I wasn't able to in such a short time given the change of idea, but to get my own work out there as well. This is a communications program, I'm hoping for a job in video editing and production one day (the script exercise helped me realize that as well. I already have another blueprint of sorts of what I want to do for next year's ski video). What better way to promote yourself than to utilize the most popular tools of the era, mainly online social media. The blog is a great first step in that regard.
This was a great class and I'm sorry to see it end. I only hope I'll be able to make further, proper use of these tools in the following years as I continue in the ICM program. One day at a time, right?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Skiing Campaign
This one actually stumped me for a few days. "Pick a current social media campaign and critique it with an eye on your niche goals". What do I pick that can be connected to my niche? At first it seemed too broad. Do I focus on one particular company that manufactures skis? What about a specific resort? None of these options gave off the right feel.
Then I realized, it's not about the product. It's about the sport; about the upcoming season. That's the campaign right there. In order to have the consumer buy your product or come to your resort, you first need to get people "pumped up" for the season. They need to have the desire and want to go skiing. Then, and only then, can you start selling your product.
So, how is this done when it is only the first week in October? We just got out of what seemed like an endless string of days of 80 degree heat, and now it's beautiful outside. You'd never think people would start considering skiing at this moment, right? Wrong.
This is just the time to start thinking about it. We may only be in October, but for those who need new gear or are just starting to learn to ski, this is when the sales are starting. Retailers want to clear their racks of old skis from lat year to make room for new models. Resorts are starting their end of summer sales. "Book now for anytime of the season and save up to 30 %, even on holiday weekends!". How does this word get out you ask? What stirs people to start making use of these sales? Check the weather reports in the West and see what you can find on Facebook.
Remember, I said that the key to the social media campaign of the sport of skiing is not to reel people in with sales, but to first get them in the mood; to show them what they will be skiing in. In the past week alone, I've seen numerous Facebook groups attributed to different companies and mountains (Skiing Magazine, Ski Magazine, Banff National Park, Whistler Blackcomb, even friends located in the West, etc) post pictures of the snow that has been coming down over the past few days.
The season will be starting before anyone knows it. The basis of the campaign is word of mouth, of making use of visuals and using terminology in those visual captions to get people excited. Here's an example from a post by Skiing Magazine about Lake Tahoe: "First Snow of the season and it's a doozy. A foot of snow and snowing! WINTER IS BACK! Oct. 5th, 2011.". I don't know about you, but I'm already looking at how much it would cost to fly out to Tahoe.
Not to steal Professor Kalm's thunder, but I did like his example of Inception in his lecture. That in mind, think of the skiing social media campaign this way. The idea of Inception is the implantation of a foreign idea into someone's mind (the establishment of a starting point). For me, when I see an image of a snow covered mountain, I don't think "wow, it must be cold" or "this is going to another bad winter". I think "let's go skiing". That is the main idea. From their, everything spirals out: "what kind of gear do I need to replace, where can I get the best rates at which mountain". It all adds up, very quickly.
Have I gone off topic here? I feel that energy flowing through me again; the same energy I feel on the slopes, but maybe I've gone a bit too far already. So, let's try to tone it down a bit. Above, you have the media campaign, the main aspect being the presentation of the first snowfall of the season to get people excited. It's a great campaign in my opinion, because I've seen it work time and time again.
Now, how would I go about executing my own voice and niche with the same tools. These companies have used facebook pages and groups to express their voice. Their conversation exists in the form of images and video posts. Personally, I'd probably do the same thing. My own nice is not only the fundamentals of skiing, but the thrill of it as well. Instructional videos are perfect for the basics (how to turn, stop, what the different trail markers mean). Visual posts of images for the thrill aspect and where to ski are fine as well, similar to what Skiing Magazine is doing right now.
Turning the script assignment into an actual video would be the ultimate step in expressing the voice however. Film director Warren Miller is the prime example of why this would work, having produced 50 ski movies since 1950. His work has given people that idea; has made them tell themselves "I want to ski". The most important thing to remember though is that it's not just about having an idea, but rather an idea that is worth presenting and talking about. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. How much is a ski video with the perfect scenes worth?
Then I realized, it's not about the product. It's about the sport; about the upcoming season. That's the campaign right there. In order to have the consumer buy your product or come to your resort, you first need to get people "pumped up" for the season. They need to have the desire and want to go skiing. Then, and only then, can you start selling your product.
So, how is this done when it is only the first week in October? We just got out of what seemed like an endless string of days of 80 degree heat, and now it's beautiful outside. You'd never think people would start considering skiing at this moment, right? Wrong.
This is just the time to start thinking about it. We may only be in October, but for those who need new gear or are just starting to learn to ski, this is when the sales are starting. Retailers want to clear their racks of old skis from lat year to make room for new models. Resorts are starting their end of summer sales. "Book now for anytime of the season and save up to 30 %, even on holiday weekends!". How does this word get out you ask? What stirs people to start making use of these sales? Check the weather reports in the West and see what you can find on Facebook.
Remember, I said that the key to the social media campaign of the sport of skiing is not to reel people in with sales, but to first get them in the mood; to show them what they will be skiing in. In the past week alone, I've seen numerous Facebook groups attributed to different companies and mountains (Skiing Magazine, Ski Magazine, Banff National Park, Whistler Blackcomb, even friends located in the West, etc) post pictures of the snow that has been coming down over the past few days.
The season will be starting before anyone knows it. The basis of the campaign is word of mouth, of making use of visuals and using terminology in those visual captions to get people excited. Here's an example from a post by Skiing Magazine about Lake Tahoe: "First Snow of the season and it's a doozy. A foot of snow and snowing! WINTER IS BACK! Oct. 5th, 2011.". I don't know about you, but I'm already looking at how much it would cost to fly out to Tahoe.
Not to steal Professor Kalm's thunder, but I did like his example of Inception in his lecture. That in mind, think of the skiing social media campaign this way. The idea of Inception is the implantation of a foreign idea into someone's mind (the establishment of a starting point). For me, when I see an image of a snow covered mountain, I don't think "wow, it must be cold" or "this is going to another bad winter". I think "let's go skiing". That is the main idea. From their, everything spirals out: "what kind of gear do I need to replace, where can I get the best rates at which mountain". It all adds up, very quickly.
Have I gone off topic here? I feel that energy flowing through me again; the same energy I feel on the slopes, but maybe I've gone a bit too far already. So, let's try to tone it down a bit. Above, you have the media campaign, the main aspect being the presentation of the first snowfall of the season to get people excited. It's a great campaign in my opinion, because I've seen it work time and time again.
Now, how would I go about executing my own voice and niche with the same tools. These companies have used facebook pages and groups to express their voice. Their conversation exists in the form of images and video posts. Personally, I'd probably do the same thing. My own nice is not only the fundamentals of skiing, but the thrill of it as well. Instructional videos are perfect for the basics (how to turn, stop, what the different trail markers mean). Visual posts of images for the thrill aspect and where to ski are fine as well, similar to what Skiing Magazine is doing right now.
Turning the script assignment into an actual video would be the ultimate step in expressing the voice however. Film director Warren Miller is the prime example of why this would work, having produced 50 ski movies since 1950. His work has given people that idea; has made them tell themselves "I want to ski". The most important thing to remember though is that it's not just about having an idea, but rather an idea that is worth presenting and talking about. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. How much is a ski video with the perfect scenes worth?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Multimedia Script - ski season trailer
Taking into account the example posted on writing a short video script, I wanted try and emulate the same format, but the final version does, of course, have my own personal spin on it. It should be noted that while the example is split into separate visual and audio section, I've tried to combine the two. The reason being that, audio wise, there would simply be some type of music playing throughout the piece. No dialogue, no narration. That said, enjoy this script for a ski season trailer which I'll hope make sometime this winter!
Open
Fade in from black to panoramic shot of popular ski resort (Whistler, Lake Louise, etc). Sweep from left to right, duration of 3-5 seconds. Fade out to black. Accompanying audio = one resting heart beat during initial fade in.
Fade in from black to POV shot (from either helmet or ski. same accompanying audio). Video should be subtle action... skiing to the lift or being scooped up by it. Fade out to black. Duration: 3-5 seconds
Body
Black background. All that is present is a quote that gradually gets larger on screen before fading out to black; something that invokes a sense of adventure. (i.e. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all). Duration: 5 seconds.
Immediately cut to video. Opening shot should be fast, preferably sped up. This section should include arriving at the base lodge, buying the tickets, getting geared up, getting on the lift, and getting off at the top of the mountain. This should all be sped up to fit within a 15 second time frame. Accompanying audio - Gimme Love by The Vines from the moment we cut to the sped up video. Duration: 15 seconds
Dissolve to POV Helmet shot. Camera should be inverted so we can see the face of the skier or snowboarder going down the trail. Duration: 15 Seconds
Jump cut to POV ski shot. The viewer should feel like they are directly on the ground Duration: 10 Seconds
Jump cut to secondary camera shot. Should be as if we're behind the skier following him, mimicking his movements. Duration: 10 Seconds
Dissolve to stunts. A mix of Terrain park, jumps, and glade skiing slowed down to half speed with lens glare. The skier should be backlit by the sun if shooting from a downward angle. Fade out to black. Duration: 30 Seconds.
Cut to POV Helmet shot once more. Same as above; camera should be inverted so we can see the face of the skier or snowboarder going down the trail. Duration: 20 Seconds.
Final Shot
Dissolve to downward angle shot. Camera should be placed at base of the trail, tracking the skier as he comes down. Skier should stop right before the camera, spraying it with snow, big smile on his face as he comes back into focus. Music should be ending at the point. As the music fades out, video fades out to black, skier still smiling. Duration: 10 seconds.
Open
Fade in from black to panoramic shot of popular ski resort (Whistler, Lake Louise, etc). Sweep from left to right, duration of 3-5 seconds. Fade out to black. Accompanying audio = one resting heart beat during initial fade in.
Fade in from black to POV shot (from either helmet or ski. same accompanying audio). Video should be subtle action... skiing to the lift or being scooped up by it. Fade out to black. Duration: 3-5 seconds
Body
Black background. All that is present is a quote that gradually gets larger on screen before fading out to black; something that invokes a sense of adventure. (i.e. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all). Duration: 5 seconds.
Immediately cut to video. Opening shot should be fast, preferably sped up. This section should include arriving at the base lodge, buying the tickets, getting geared up, getting on the lift, and getting off at the top of the mountain. This should all be sped up to fit within a 15 second time frame. Accompanying audio - Gimme Love by The Vines from the moment we cut to the sped up video. Duration: 15 seconds
Dissolve to POV Helmet shot. Camera should be inverted so we can see the face of the skier or snowboarder going down the trail. Duration: 15 Seconds
Jump cut to POV ski shot. The viewer should feel like they are directly on the ground Duration: 10 Seconds
Jump cut to secondary camera shot. Should be as if we're behind the skier following him, mimicking his movements. Duration: 10 Seconds
Dissolve to stunts. A mix of Terrain park, jumps, and glade skiing slowed down to half speed with lens glare. The skier should be backlit by the sun if shooting from a downward angle. Fade out to black. Duration: 30 Seconds.
Cut to POV Helmet shot once more. Same as above; camera should be inverted so we can see the face of the skier or snowboarder going down the trail. Duration: 20 Seconds.
Final Shot
Dissolve to downward angle shot. Camera should be placed at base of the trail, tracking the skier as he comes down. Skier should stop right before the camera, spraying it with snow, big smile on his face as he comes back into focus. Music should be ending at the point. As the music fades out, video fades out to black, skier still smiling. Duration: 10 seconds.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Executive Summary Presentation
For those of you who ski or snowboard, I want you to sit back and ask yourself one question. On any given day during the season, how much time do you actually waste waiting in line at the chairlift? You’ve paid a great deal of money for your lift ticket ($100 if you’re skiing at Stowe), and are expecting a full day of excitement, but do you always get it?
The ability to check on wait times is already in effect at border crossings on the Canadian Border. There are many websites that can produce the information. For instance, if you were to make a crossing into Canada by way of Niagara Falls, you can get up to date information on what the wait would be at LQ, Rainbow, and Peace bridges by going to www.peacebridge.com
In my own experience, if I were to plan on skiing for about six hours, taking time out for lunch and the occasional warm up by the fireplace in the lodge, I’d lose about ninety minutes to two hours of that plan thanks to wait lines at the lift. It may not seem like much to some, but I’ve paid for a full day’s lift ticket and I want to make the most out of it. Wouldn’t it be easier if we had the ability to know what the wait time would be in advance?
It’s a feeling and want we all have, and not just with skiing. Be it at the airport, train station, border crossing, or even an amusement park, we have a universal feeling of wanting to avoid the lines at all cost. Thankfully, we live in the age of technology, where such a need can already be fulfilled in some areas.The ability to check on wait times is already in effect at border crossings on the Canadian Border. There are many websites that can produce the information. For instance, if you were to make a crossing into Canada by way of Niagara Falls, you can get up to date information on what the wait would be at LQ, Rainbow, and Peace bridges by going to www.peacebridge.com
At airports, especially international terminals, the same technology exists on computer monitors all over the concourse. One monitor might say the wait time at a certain security checkpoint is 75 minutes, while the other might read a 30 minute wait, which comes in quite handy for those making a connection and are worried they might miss it.
So, given that the technology exists, why can’t we apply it to ski resorts as well? Sure, some people are just fine waiting around in a crowd of people, barely able to hear their own thoughts, putting up with those around them smoking when they really shouldn’t be. Others aren’t however. They came to the mountain to ski and snowboard; to feel that rush of adrenaline as they shoot down the slope. For me, it’s a need, a desire to be on the edge and push my limits. That can’t be accomplished waiting on line for an extended period of time. Again, ask yourself. Would you rather be doing this? (image of lift lines). Or this? (video of POV skiing).
Now, the personal benefits of having a way to check wait times at a chairlift, be it in the form of an app or extension the mountain’s already existing website are clear. What are the benefits for the resort though? For starters, it would help with their yearly income. Imagine it this way. A family is on vacation, they want to ski, but instead they are met with long lift lines. This doesn’t leave the best first impression, especially if it’s their first time at the mountain. What do you think the chances are that they’ll return again the following year? If there are no lift lines, those chances will probably increase, which means more money for the mountain. This not only funds the technology needed to supply the lift line updates, but other maintenance requirements on the mountain as well.
A few years down the line, new lifts and trails may be installed. Slower lifts may be upgraded to high speed ones. The possibilities are almost limitless. As a resort, the object is to give your patrons what they want and retain their business. What better way to do that than make them as happy as possible, starting with a true promise of little to no wait time at the lifts? The system is far from perfect as it stands now. True, it’s one thing to report on a border crossing wait time as compared to a lift line wait time, but the general idea is still there. Within a year or two of initial installment, I don’t see why the average wait time shouldn’t be shortened tenfold. To make it work, all you need is the right software, funding, and, as with everything in the world of business, an insurmountable amount of dedication to your customers.
Executive Summary
Proposal: A app or online website extension for all phones with an Internet connection that can inform a skier or snowboarder on wait times at chairlifts.
It is no surprise that despite the financial standing of the country in past years, people still find ways to go on vacation and enjoy themselves. Such enjoyment included packing the family up for a few days and taking them to a ski resort if they are the type of people that enjoy the cold weather. This trend seems to be increasing as the years pass. As a result, mountains which once advertised no wait times at their chairlifts are now having to go back on their word, as they are simply ill prepared for the increasing mass of people that make use of their facilities every season.
I propose an app be made for iphones and smartphones that will allow people to check on the status of a lift from anywhere on the mountain, allowing them to plan out their day more accordingly, and not waste half of their time and money standing on line.
Research:
To achieve this, the proper information must be obtained first. To do this, certain mountains and resorts will need to be scouted throughout the country. Smugglers Notch and Stowe in Vermont, Deer Valley in Utah, Aspen in Colorado, and Mammoth Mountain in California all see high attendance numbers during the season, making them prime research candidates. Buying a weekend pass at these mountains during peak time (New Years, school breaks, holiday weekends) should show what kinds of population numbers these resorts are dealing with, and as such show standard wait times as well at the lifts.
Once an average wait time throughout the day is calculated and compared to the average time one spends on the slopes actually skiing and snowboarding, the next phase is execution. How does one record such a wait time and continuously update it for the patrons? Luckily, the technology is already there. Airport security checkpoints have it. Border crossings have it. All that is needed is to duplicate the information and create the application or extension of the mountains main website to allow visitors access to the up to date information.
Financing:
As with all apps, it may not cost much for an individual person to buy it, but it costs the developer a great deal of money to make it work. Logistically, a lone app may not be the best course of action. Which is why a secondary approach can be considered as well. All ski resorts already have websites that list snow and trail conditions. Why not extend this to include the wait time as well? Being that the technological platform is there, the presentation aspect shouldn't take much time to develop. In the end, between the data collection, processing of such data, and presentation to the patron, the developers are simply building on existing technology, cutting down on the financial needs exponentially.
Application and Benefits:
People choose to go to a mountain resort to ski or snowboard, not wait in line. They end up thinking they've wasted their money, and as a result may choose not to return the following year. The development of this app and/or web extension will negate the wait times. Furthermore, it will instill in people the feeling that they've lived the trip to it's fullest and haven't missed out on anything, prompting them to return, and give more money to the mountain, increasing it's income throughout the years.
It is no surprise that despite the financial standing of the country in past years, people still find ways to go on vacation and enjoy themselves. Such enjoyment included packing the family up for a few days and taking them to a ski resort if they are the type of people that enjoy the cold weather. This trend seems to be increasing as the years pass. As a result, mountains which once advertised no wait times at their chairlifts are now having to go back on their word, as they are simply ill prepared for the increasing mass of people that make use of their facilities every season.
I propose an app be made for iphones and smartphones that will allow people to check on the status of a lift from anywhere on the mountain, allowing them to plan out their day more accordingly, and not waste half of their time and money standing on line.
Research:
To achieve this, the proper information must be obtained first. To do this, certain mountains and resorts will need to be scouted throughout the country. Smugglers Notch and Stowe in Vermont, Deer Valley in Utah, Aspen in Colorado, and Mammoth Mountain in California all see high attendance numbers during the season, making them prime research candidates. Buying a weekend pass at these mountains during peak time (New Years, school breaks, holiday weekends) should show what kinds of population numbers these resorts are dealing with, and as such show standard wait times as well at the lifts.
Once an average wait time throughout the day is calculated and compared to the average time one spends on the slopes actually skiing and snowboarding, the next phase is execution. How does one record such a wait time and continuously update it for the patrons? Luckily, the technology is already there. Airport security checkpoints have it. Border crossings have it. All that is needed is to duplicate the information and create the application or extension of the mountains main website to allow visitors access to the up to date information.
Financing:
As with all apps, it may not cost much for an individual person to buy it, but it costs the developer a great deal of money to make it work. Logistically, a lone app may not be the best course of action. Which is why a secondary approach can be considered as well. All ski resorts already have websites that list snow and trail conditions. Why not extend this to include the wait time as well? Being that the technological platform is there, the presentation aspect shouldn't take much time to develop. In the end, between the data collection, processing of such data, and presentation to the patron, the developers are simply building on existing technology, cutting down on the financial needs exponentially.
Application and Benefits:
People choose to go to a mountain resort to ski or snowboard, not wait in line. They end up thinking they've wasted their money, and as a result may choose not to return the following year. The development of this app and/or web extension will negate the wait times. Furthermore, it will instill in people the feeling that they've lived the trip to it's fullest and haven't missed out on anything, prompting them to return, and give more money to the mountain, increasing it's income throughout the years.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Halfway through and the adventure is only beginning
When I first started blogging for this class, I can honestly say that I wasn't sure how much I'd actually learn. For someone that's never blogged before, I just didn't see the difference between this and other forms of writing I've done in the past. I was wrong.
In these past four weeks alone, I've learned that voice and presentation is everything. Is your style formal or informal? Does the reader feel like you are speaking directly to them? How relatable or interesting is your topic? Is there too much unnecessary information burying the main points of said topic?
When I took my writing courses in college, these were key points that for the most part were only touched upon, especially the voice aspect. If it was a formal paper you were to have a formal voice. Plain and simple. Yet with the blog, I have free reign with my voice which has led me to see even further aspects of my writing that can use improvement. Word arrangement, simplicity, clarity; all things that I thought I had a grasp on but now see it can use a bit more work here and there to really drive the point home.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with what I've done so far on this blog. I've learned things about my niche I never even dreamed of (i.e. the FDNY application process). That said though, I've also learned you can only go so far before it's time to reinvent yourself. A previous blog entry of mine indicated I am changing my niche to skiing. Being that I've actually taken part in this sport for the past seventeen years, I feel that not only am I more qualified to blog about it, but it is also closer to my natural voice, both spoken and written. ad0meliora - you once spoke of how my writing "conveys the same bursts of energy that you must have life to carry off your personal adventures". I think you'll really see that energy with this new niche.
My persona; my pseudonym, my online presence... I want them all to convey that energy and sense of adventure. My pseudonym has already accomplished that. I learned to ski in VT, and being that I fly down the trails like a bat out of hell most people say I must be "mad" :)
I quote Ferris Bueller. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it". For me, the things I don't want to miss are the adventures in life. I want anyone searching for me or reading this blog to know that. Step one: change the blog title. Step two: blog about certain ski trips I've taken that have pushed the limits. Step three... well, we'll see how it goes. Like I said, life is an adventure. The best adventures always include the unknown.
In these past four weeks alone, I've learned that voice and presentation is everything. Is your style formal or informal? Does the reader feel like you are speaking directly to them? How relatable or interesting is your topic? Is there too much unnecessary information burying the main points of said topic?
When I took my writing courses in college, these were key points that for the most part were only touched upon, especially the voice aspect. If it was a formal paper you were to have a formal voice. Plain and simple. Yet with the blog, I have free reign with my voice which has led me to see even further aspects of my writing that can use improvement. Word arrangement, simplicity, clarity; all things that I thought I had a grasp on but now see it can use a bit more work here and there to really drive the point home.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with what I've done so far on this blog. I've learned things about my niche I never even dreamed of (i.e. the FDNY application process). That said though, I've also learned you can only go so far before it's time to reinvent yourself. A previous blog entry of mine indicated I am changing my niche to skiing. Being that I've actually taken part in this sport for the past seventeen years, I feel that not only am I more qualified to blog about it, but it is also closer to my natural voice, both spoken and written. ad0meliora - you once spoke of how my writing "conveys the same bursts of energy that you must have life to carry off your personal adventures". I think you'll really see that energy with this new niche.
My persona; my pseudonym, my online presence... I want them all to convey that energy and sense of adventure. My pseudonym has already accomplished that. I learned to ski in VT, and being that I fly down the trails like a bat out of hell most people say I must be "mad" :)
I quote Ferris Bueller. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it". For me, the things I don't want to miss are the adventures in life. I want anyone searching for me or reading this blog to know that. Step one: change the blog title. Step two: blog about certain ski trips I've taken that have pushed the limits. Step three... well, we'll see how it goes. Like I said, life is an adventure. The best adventures always include the unknown.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Elevator Pitch #2
Apps already exist that let us check what ski trails are open and what their conditions are. But a trail that isn't groomed is only one part of what could make for a day bad at the slopes. The other is long lift lines that can take half of your day away.
Today, if one were to cross from the USA into Canada, they can usually go online and see what the wait times will be at the border crossings themselves. Why can't we do the same with chairlifts at ski resorts? If we were able to simply whip out our smart phones and see what the wait time was at the base lift, mid mountain lift, or other lifts on the far side of the mountain were, we could plan our day out and make the most of it, instead of waiting in long lift lines, getting pissed off, and having an attitude for the rest of the day.
Skiers sometimes get very agitated, thinking that they're paying upwards of $100 a day (that's right, $100 was the price of an adult day pass at Stowe Mountain in VT last year), and are waiting in line for half of the time. Such an app would alleviate such agitation and make people want to come back to the mountain, which in turn would raise revenue for the resort. After all, who wants to feel like they're waiting at an airport of all places? It's all about having fun and pushing yourself to your limit on skis. With no wait lines, you can accomplish this and so much more in no time.
Today, if one were to cross from the USA into Canada, they can usually go online and see what the wait times will be at the border crossings themselves. Why can't we do the same with chairlifts at ski resorts? If we were able to simply whip out our smart phones and see what the wait time was at the base lift, mid mountain lift, or other lifts on the far side of the mountain were, we could plan our day out and make the most of it, instead of waiting in long lift lines, getting pissed off, and having an attitude for the rest of the day.
Skiers sometimes get very agitated, thinking that they're paying upwards of $100 a day (that's right, $100 was the price of an adult day pass at Stowe Mountain in VT last year), and are waiting in line for half of the time. Such an app would alleviate such agitation and make people want to come back to the mountain, which in turn would raise revenue for the resort. After all, who wants to feel like they're waiting at an airport of all places? It's all about having fun and pushing yourself to your limit on skis. With no wait lines, you can accomplish this and so much more in no time.
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