I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I think tubing has a ton of potential for our industry that we haven’t yet explored. We think of it as something different. Something that doesn’t translate. But it starts at the same place (sliding down hill on snow) and addresses some of the challenges we love to point to (safe, requires no skill, no expensive equipment).

So, yeah, I wish we’d talk about it more.

I wish we’d talk more about how it doesn’t involve a stop at the rental counter or hauling a pile of gear from the parking lot or falling on your face in front of everyone or awkward turns next to the lodge at the bottom of the mountain.

About That…
Speaking of where we typically put tubing hills, I want you to think about your favorite parts of your favorite mountain.

More likely than not, the view may be one of them. Stuff like:

A beautiful sunrise this morning from the top of the mountain. #ABasin #TheLegend pic.twitter.com/6VDJcKCUQQ

— Arapahoe Basin (@Arapahoe_Basin) November 16, 2018

It's Sunrise Sunday! Here's one of our favorite shots from the week. pic.twitter.com/XyW27VxE0Y

— Monarch Mountain (@MonarchMountain) May 8, 2016

The 96 Hour Sale is here! Book your cozy ski retreat by midnight this Friday, 8/23, for savings up to 40% off. There’s nowhere else you’ll rather be. #stowemt

Book now at https://t.co/84TiOz6LJa pic.twitter.com/KSDr1jRg0c

— Stowe Mt Resort (@StoweMtResort) August 20, 2019

But a tuber, no matter how much fun they have on the lower slopes, will typically miss that one piece of the experience you hold so dear.

*I say typically because Vail Resorts has done a fabulous job of putting these higher up on the mountain.

One More Thing
And guess what else folks like, lift rides!

They’ll pay $15, $25, $40+ a person to ride a lift in summer when the only purpose is to look around and enjoy the view.

Summer lift ride views ☀️ pic.twitter.com/5GvWAfc7P0

— Sunday River (@sundayriver) July 20, 2019

So how does this all come together? Hmm, guess I shouldn’t have put the spoiler in the title after all.

Top-to-Bottom Tubing
Surprise, that’s the idea I want to toss out there today. That instead of building one more massive jump in your park, you should ask a cat driver to carve out a lift-served tubing lane (or two).

• Something that gets them up high enough to see the view.
• Something that gets them on a lift ride long enough to enjoy it.
• Something that takes tubing from a quick, fun thing to something more.
• Something that gives them a chance to look over and see skiers in their element, having an awesome time.

In other words, something that gives non-skiers more of the skiing experience we love.

About Gregg & SlopeFillers
I've had more first-time visitors lately, so adding a quick "about" section. I started SlopeFillers in 2010 with the simple goal of sharing great resort marketing strategies. Today I run marketing for resort ecommerce and CRM provider Inntopia, my home mountain is the lovely Nordic Valley, and my favorite marketing campaign remains the Ski Utah TV show that sold me on skiing as a kid in the 90s.