Before I had kids, I thought you had to have a high speed quad to be a
worthy ski resort. Upon review, and after raising two skiing kids, I now
recognize that you need a mascot to be the real deal.
Mascots really do make a difference. It took the ski industry a while to
recognize what Walt Disney knew from the start. That is, resort employees
come and go, mascots stay, make the kids want to play, and give the resort a
happy identity.
Fuzzy friends breathe life and loyalty into otherwise basic base lodges and
standard ski schools. Kids adore characters (expect for the occasional timid
toddler that finds a 6-foot mouse terrifying).
Mascots make people smile with their warm fur and big paw waves. My kids
loved Sugarloaf’s Amos the Moose when they were 5 and 6, we even skied to
Amos’ cabin on the mountain along Moose Alley. Our kids just couldn’t get
enough of Amos and Blueberry the Bear – so they insisted on going back to
ski school the next day, no hesitation – no bribery needed.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort has a cast of cuddly characters, including the big
cheese Mogul Mouse (perhaps Mickey’s cousin to the North). Smugglers’ band
of bear and oversized mice make a child’s experience playful and positive in
an otherwise unfamiliar, even unnerving, environment. Smuggs’ furry friends
have helped earn the Vermont resort a reputation as “the best ski resort for
families.”
One weekend at Ascutney, our kids insisted upon going to kids’ happy hour
since Cheddar the Mouse had invited them. So my husband and I “had” to go to
grown up après ski in the lounge without them and enjoy a cocktail without
crayons or crying about the entertainment.
As a parent, I also appreciate that a mountain mascot can use his (or her –
equal opportunity amongst the four legged) magical power to pass along
safety messages. Who would you rather listen to: a white Bengal tiger on a
snowboard, or a scary ski patrol with an ice pick and an icy beard?
My advice to ski resorts: if you don’t have a mascot – create one, or adopt
the National Ski Area Association’s Snow Monsters. Of course, having a
6-foot furry costume in a ski school locker is not sufficient. Characters
need to be out and about, pressing their furry flesh, welcoming families on
arrival, waving to kids at daycare and ski camp, appearing at resort events.
Pat’s Peak is hosting a Mascot Day Feb. 1, inviting costumed characters like
Oakie the Acorn of Oakhurst Dairy. Walley the Red Sox helped christen Sunday
River’s Chondola at their grand opening. What a brilliant cross promotion
for the resort and the brand, but most importantly – it’s fun for kids.
My advice to parents, take your kids online to
SnowMonsters.com. This is one
of the few indoor surfing sites I condone. Snowboard Beavers and Powder Pigs
reinforce the skiers’ responsibility code. They tell tales of bad things
that can happen when you ski closed trails, ski too fast, or without a
buddy.
When it comes time to plan your family getaway, seek out ski areas with
silly mascots like Gunstock’s Gunny the Bear and C-more the Penguin at
Cranmore. Don’t under estimate the power of a powder pig or a penguin.
Mascots can make a ski vacation a little more magical.
