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Walsh: Are local resorts up to par so far?
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With more than half of the snow sports season completed, how successful have local and regional resorts been with the operation of their on- and off-mountain facilities?
How is their snowmaking, especially after the all-too-frequent periods of warm and wet weather?
Has the grooming been seamless or has it had more edge-catching ridges than the Laurel Highlands?
Have lift attendants been attentive or have they let the seats hit you in the back of the knees? Have they at least tried to use a broom to sweep the snow off the chairlift seats during snowstorms? Have they been quick on the button to stop the lift if a guest wasn't seated properly?
Is there enough signage so beginners and novices haven't found themselves on terrain they can't handle?
Has ski and snowboard rental equipment been properly maintained?
Have the edges been sharp and bottoms gouge-free?
Have the boots been properly fitted and the bindings properly adjusted?
How long have you had to wait for rental equipment?
How successful have ski/snowboard group lessons been? And what constitutes a group -- 6, 8, 10 persons?
Have the instructors been professionally certified, personable and helpful in improving your skiing/snowboarding?
Have employees been customer friendly or have they treated you as a stranger in a strange land?
If you needed the services of the ski patrol, how well did its members do their job, especially if they had to place you in a sled to get you off the hill?
What about the quality, quantity and cost of food and beverages for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Are hot foods available before the lifts start running in the morning or have you had to make do with vending machine fare?
Were the restrooms clean and well maintained?
If you stayed overnight, especially with a package, did you receive everything that was promised? If necessary, did the resort respond immediately to loud neighbors on either side, in the hallway or heavy-footed humans on the floor above?
If you have a season pass, how many times have you used it? Do you plan to buy one for next season? Why? Why not?
Were attendants available to help you park your car when you arrived? Were the lots cleared of snow? How long was the wait for a shuttle bus to take you to the lodge?
Would you recommend the resort to friends? Why? Why not?
Please email your comments to lwalsh@post-gazette.com and include your name and your day, evening and/or cell phone number(s).
Winterfest
Seven Springs and WTAE-TV's 26th annual Winterfest began Friday night and continues through Feb. 24 with a variety of on- and off-snow activities, including ski, snowboard, snowtubing and snowshoe events; live entertainment; movies; and discounts on lodging, appetizers, drinks, spa treatments and sporting clays.
WTAE will broadcast live from the Bavarian Deck from 5 a.m.-10 a.m. today, tomorrow and Feb. 23. The Arbor Face-Off Amateur Open and Rail Jam will be all day today and Sunday in the terrain parks.
On Feb. 22-24, stop by the Tiny Tots counter in the Skier Services Building and pick up a ski and snowboard helmet-fitting guide and information about what to do if your child has sustained a head injury, courtesy of the Children's Institute of Pittsburgh.
Visitors will have an opportunity to meet "a new furry friend" from the Animal Rescue League from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today and every day through Feb. 24 in the ski lodge.
The usual weekday food and drink specials -- Munchie Mondays, Dewsday and Tube-A-Palooza Tuesdays, Diet Pepsi Four-Pack Wednesdays -- also will be available.
First Published February 16, 2013 12:00 am
