View Full Version : Mr Grumpy's Thredbo report Thursday 23rd July
skijacski
23-07-2009, 02:13 PM
Hmmm,
Glad I did not go out today, sounds like I would have been cranky too.
http://www.ciau.com.au/snow/rrr.asp
graemlins/snowflake.gif graemlins/snowflake.gif graemlins/snowflake.gif
Podlettte
23-07-2009, 02:21 PM
yeha wow, he sure is grumpy! honestly though de icing is a major issue it can cause other problems hence the t bar may have started out a de icing issue and become something else.
he got out and got to ski, annoys me when people grump about that on a weekday while most of us are sitting in offices!
Sorry Jax, but Richard needs to take an ungrumpy pill and fast!
skijacski
23-07-2009, 02:28 PM
Yes, but KT have been really bad this season, they know they have problems and are not opening on time hardly any days.
They keep saying de-icing, but we have been told otherwise. Lack of staff, or staff not paid to start earlier like they used to on snow days to de-ice.
The staff are really getting frustrated with the management and this year is showing some problems with KT up higher. Cut too many costs ie staff and or time start, and you end up with very, very unhappy staff.
It was rare last year for late starts, but this year is a shocker.
A lot of people in town like to do the first run and second run on these mornings, but it is not possible due to the lifts being delayed on a regular basis. They try to squeeze in a ski on these days, and those are the people who rarely get to ski in the snow season, they are too busy running businesses. It is like you going before work to have a quick breakfast or coffee at your favourite place, but they don't open until too late!
true, it is getting a bit tiresome, but i see his point. KT need to run lifts in school holidays. If i was management i would be getting grumpy about the bad press, as i am starting to think about where i would ski and this is not helpful to KT.
I agree with Richard, the lift has an opening time and it should be open. They certainly aren't handing out discounts for reduced services.
Originally posted by skijacski:
Yes, but KT have been really bad this season yes, i have been bad..... graemlins/outtahere.gif
Polaris
23-07-2009, 03:47 PM
I've had to work all day!!! Who really should be taking a grumpy pill? :rolleyes:
OK so things didn't go exactly as Richard hoped but I dare say he had a better day than 90% of us here
deep breathes, deep breathes..............
Podlettte
23-07-2009, 03:49 PM
Richard was complaining that a lift wasn't open by 8.15 in his report though, lifts are advertised to open at 8.30.
I agree that if maintenance is not up to what it should be then sure grumpiness is warranted.
It's still better than sitting in an office in Sydney!
BlueHue
23-07-2009, 04:05 PM
Chained to desk in Sydney - Rejected.
Waiting in lift queues for freshies - Yes Please.
Nice report despite the grump tongue.gif
skijacski
23-07-2009, 05:18 PM
If they know there is going to be a problem with the de-icing on Kozi chair they should have it running at the slowest speed all night long with the chairs off! This is what they do in other countries with Dopel....
The staff are now turning up after 8am, and deciding at 8.15am that they have to de-ice. Richi is not saying that it is to start taking people at 8.15am it is that they then decide that there is going to be a problem - when they KNEW the day before that ice was going to be a problem.
Gee Plane Sydney to LA - oh wait we need to warm up the plane, you will be leaving 1 hour later.
Service is carp this year.
Podlettte
23-07-2009, 05:42 PM
The lifties don't de ice, the maintenance crew does. In Aus no lifty is allowed up a tower, which is what de icing is about. The maintenance crews are usually up and at it at 6am, well they are at Perisher, so not sure why things are so slack at Thredbo!
skijacski
23-07-2009, 07:17 PM
That is true, but we have been seeing the maintenance crew drive the interschools people around on the skidos this week. They don't get paid to start at 6am at Thredbo, it is 8am.
I use the term lifty for lifty and maintenance boys. STaff is broader term.
Spaz and I were just discussing how bad it is this season. Thredbo the company are just cutting costs so to make more dollars for AHL, but they are quickly losing customers to Perisher.
Its a pity, Thredbo will be threadbare and run down soon.
Top Rock
23-07-2009, 07:30 PM
Got to say I agree with grumpy this morning....
Not only were they very slack with getting Kosci open today, but on EVERY powder day!
Needless to say no staff around to explain whats happening
They didn't get the T bars open till 9:45.... sure there is going to be some de-icing problems, but...
-why not arrange for maintenance to start early when snow is forecast (stupid question as they are so unionised that even management are afraid of them!).....
(Pssst a hint there going to be fresh snow in a few days)
Hey! why not try a bit, just a wee bit of customer service by having one, only one of the 7 or 8 staff (including 3 managers) that are standing around at Antons T-Bar for 45 mins this morning walk down to the 50-80 customers and explain whats happening...... one customer asked them after 20 mins and was barked at by the lift supervisor..... then they all went back to ignoring everyone......
This year the situation of outright rude staff and bad service is the worst I have ever seen in Thredbo. I highly advise all whom want a fun, stress free day to go to Perisher!
Polaris
23-07-2009, 07:46 PM
Originally posted by Top Rock:
-why not arrange for maintenance to start early when snow is forecast (stupid question as they are so unionised that even management are afraid of them!).....Thats just garbage
Originally posted by Top Rock:
Hey! why not try a bit, just a wee bit of customer service by having one, only one of the 7 or 8 staff (including 3 managers) that are standing around at Antons T-Bar for 45 mins this morning walk down to the 50-80 customers and explain whats happening...... one customer asked them after 20 mins and was barked at by the lift supervisor..... then they all went back to ignoring everyone......
This year the situation of outright rude staff and bad service is the worst I have ever seen in Thredbo. hmmmmmmmmmmm Thredbo staff with attitude :eek: who would have guessed!!! ;)
chunky
23-07-2009, 07:46 PM
It sounds like a management issue. If it is continual then someone is not being allowed to make the decisions to get it done in a timely manner.
Barcoo
23-07-2009, 08:03 PM
I spoke to the head lift supervisor today and he told me, with the very wet snow, not much wind, then very cold conditions later meant a lot of ice was able to settle. The only way to get it off was to do it by hand (using a hammer). They started at 0630, it takes a while as they have to do it right or they will end up breaking something more serious.
Still, no excuse for bad customer service.
Maintenance guys start at 6am. Their start time hasn't changed. They do have a few new guys on the crew though which may explain the problems.
Maybe need more new guys.
Top Rock
23-07-2009, 08:27 PM
Originally posted by Polaris:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Top Rock:
[qb]
-why not arrange for maintenance to start early when snow is forecast (stupid question as they are so unionised that even management are afraid of them!).....Thats just garbageTrue maybe the wrong word "unionised" how about inflexible work practices. The dilemma is that this was not a one off situation today (which did, as was pointed out have an tough icing issue), it happens EVERY powderday.
If they start everyday at 6, then why not 5 on snowday (or call in another person or 2).
Its a tough job (bloody tough!) climbing towers deicing in a blizzard etc and no offence or recriminations are meant to the maintenance staff themselves, just the system that organises them
The main gripe is the lack of customer service and rudeness... Not one staff member/manager ever comes out and talks to the customers and tells them whats happening!!
Thredbo have chalk boards & white marker boards for notices, not even a message on them.
smokinharry
23-07-2009, 08:41 PM
Originally posted by spaz:
Maybe need more new guys. so we can complain about them as well. ;)
Polaris
23-07-2009, 08:46 PM
Originally posted by spaz:
Thredbo have chalk boards & white marker boards for notices, not even a message on them. that should be addressed no doubt about it. People hate no knowing. Even if they don't like what they are told, at least in some way getting told what is going on is better than nothing
There was a white board top of Kosci saying t-bars would be late opening.
Podlettte
23-07-2009, 09:04 PM
Using the term lifty for all mountain ops crew is just misleading, there are lifties, and maintenance crew made up of sparkys welders, plumbers etc etc all have different roles in the department and like any business they can't staff for the less frequent days when they need to de ice, dig out lifts etc etc whatever the issue is.
That's like a restaurant keeping 1 or 2 extra staff on just in case it gets busy, it's not economical.
If it is chronic, perhaps thredbo should look at how Perisher manage their teams, there have been some days where lifts were a bit slow to pen, but not many really (that I am aware of. It's not so critical at Perisher to have EVERY lift open by 8.30/9am though, it's more important for Thredbo with 2 main lifts servicing the base area (plus the other lower capacity + slower lifts).
It was a powder day, and I was stuck in an office trying to organise someone who has more experience than I do in their role (totally different to mine) and I was advising them on how to do things. Sorry but I win! Skiing on late opening lifts and standing in a lift line is far far FAR preferable!
Having said all that I LOVE reading richards reports, they let me/us know what real conditions are like, not what the resorts are saying they are like, so keep posting them richard! :D
[ 23. July 2009, 08:05 PM: Message edited by: Podlettte ]
NissTrust
23-07-2009, 09:05 PM
boy i am glad i am not going to thredbo this season, or for that matter any future season at all, thanks to this thread.
Let it be a warning to thredbo management if they ever stumble upon the internet/forums that people make decisions using it as a medium.
Think i will keep to my vic resorts, much better customer service... smile.gif
Legolas
23-07-2009, 10:16 PM
Considering how many days things do go wrong, it's interesting to see that they don't start a minute before due on the days things are right
Last week snowbrat and I stood with the crowd for first lift up ginbarell while the lifties stood with their Arms defiantly folded, just chatting and watching the clock. We could patctically have done a countdown! They moseyed over and got the ball rolling BANG on time. Why not just have let everyone up if it's all set? Make up for the many late starts!
Before you say it's about patrol, up the top Antins was already well tracked and patrol long gone but again lifty stood there in the cold until 8.45 before letting us up the t
Legolas
23-07-2009, 10:17 PM
U can tell um on an iPhone...sorry fot typos
Some people on here make me laugh at times.
I could not care less if they have trained wombats in tutu's to de-ice, wipe seats, rev engines, whatever.
Whilst we are on the subject they de-snow and wipe my seat in the USA,they wait until the second hand hits the open time as well, however I digress...
My day ticket is expensive. I wish to get my money's worth, preferably early. I expect the lift's to be running if they should be, wind hold I get.
A bad days skiing is better than the best day working. Um, well, yeah obviously. What on earth does that have to do with anything????
hope they sort out the problems before the slide, i am looking forward to skiing thredders cause i don't know the mountain as well.
Mazza
24-07-2009, 03:18 PM
You dont get a discounted lift ticket though do you. They take your $99.00 at 8.30 am and oh BTW there will be a 1.5 Hr delay due to Icing.. BS, I agree with Richard. We pay good money they should be prepared, this is their business.. Its not as if they dont know its going to snow in the next day, or two.
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