A Hater's Guide to Northstar

[@res_ipsa-REX]

Most of the annoyances about Northstar are true for every single major ski resort near a large population center or centers. These can be mostly avoided by arriving early. No traffic, get a decent free parking spot, little to no wait for a bus, and chill out near the base lifts to get on one of the first chairs. Then ski through lunch (save money) and leave at 2:30 pm to avoid the afternoon crowds leaving the resort. Apply this same principle (arrive early) to Costco and any other popular destination. Since the terrain is generally lacking for more skiers at Northstar, find a run like Burnout and lap it until the liftline gets too long. Then move over to Martis Camp. The best way to avoid long liftlines is to not ski on weekends or holidays. If you enjoy skiing that much, use your sick and vacation days at work to ski.

[@SRGSkiing]

Those are awesome pointers! Yes, I am aware that there are some methods of getting around all of these complaints. I just like being a little drama queen 😂

[@ytpete2]

The parking and lifts to get up onto the mountain are categorically worse than nearby resorts like Palisades or Alpine though. Even if traffic and peak lift line are comparable.

[@random_stuff_channel]

I've been to Northstar many times, and yes, everything you said is real.

[@SilverSeraph913]

Everything you said in this video is true. Having visited the Vail resorts in Tahoe in Jan '24, Northstar was definitely the worst. I was so surprised be that bus/hike/gondola/Arrow line/Comstock line to get anywhere vaguely interesting...literally hours, just like you said. I thought the criticisms of Northstar were overblown before I got there. But having experienced one day there, we never went back. Just 2 comments: 1) You *can* get a Lake Tahoe view at the top of East Ridge, however, it is so crowded with people taking selfies and group photos that you are lucky to get past them. Luckily, it is so flat at that section that you can only go 1mph there. 2) Not worst line/piste crowding combo in the world. Perisher (another Vail resort) in Australia is one of only 2 major ski resorts in the Snowy Mountains serving a population of more than 6 million people. It is not a small resort, with 50 lifts serving 4 mountain peaks areas. But when you crowd that many people into a short snow season with frequent wind holds on major lifts, you get consistent huge lift queues which spew guests onto super crowded runs. So Northstar worst lines in the Americas? Probably. The world? Maybe not.

[@scottspeer]

From the major population centers of Northern CA, Sugar Bowl and Palisades are closer, and Heavenly and Kirkwood are about the same distance! Why on earth would anyone choose Northstar?!

[@ivwshane]

I’ve never had an issue with Northstar but then again I never go on weekends or holidays. During the week (typically I go Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and the lift lines are almost non existent with vista and comstock being the longest at about a 5 minute wait if there is a wait.

[@MartinBrehovsky]

best part about northstar: the ski resort is 99% jerrys so the off piste stays untracked for days! sadly the resort sits so low that I would never actually want to ski the pow that they have there

[@bigx9963]

Not to mention, paid parking and still get to walk 1/2 a mile from a bus stop.

[@James7995]

It seems Vail is attempting to move all their resorts away from day skiing. They’re really only interested in the 5-7day slope-side vacationers. If they could get away with it, they’d probably close the parking lots all together. I’m sure their Forest Service agreements require public access or else, that’d be it.

[@7sam253]

Northstar is not on forest service land. It's on land owned by a publicly traded REIT

[@SRGSkiing]

Really?!? Learn something new every day, huh.

[@davephillips5495]

Northstar has ski lifts that take you to the top of the hill so you don’t have to hike. Then you just cruise down and do it again! It’s awesome. And they have places to get food.

[@SRGSkiing]

Mm, if only there was a place that offered that exact same thing, but for only a third of the price 🤔

[@ValIsIll]

I live in nevada city I WAS WAITING FOR FUCKING THIS!!!

[@rambultruesdell3412]

'Flat'star is a weekend mountain city park. Dont hate that. Sad on the crowds and liftlines. 1990s Northstar skier.

[@zachmillang2903]

Worst skiing experience I have had in the last two years has been Northstar. Never again....

[@BrentMiletich-wy8rd]

Well, I don’t go at times when it’s crowded and I got a senior pass for under $500 good for Northstar Kirkwood and Heavenly so my complaints could not be anywhere near approaching this guy’s opinion ! It’s like he works for another resort like maybe head of marketing? I have found a $20 paid parking spot this year three times near the village thing and yes, it is a bit inconvenient to get to the gondola. This year does seem to be crowded when I go but all in all it’s a pretty fun place in my age group.

[@SRGSkiing]

Man I wish I was working for a resort 😂

[@bobl6139]

Had a great day here about a decade ago now it sounds like Stowe vt

[@krissp8712]

Holy shit this was hilariously savage, well done

[@joshnorthwoods]

Keep em coming!

[@SRGSkiing]

Every Friday, no plans of stopping

[@AK-bw8xk]

If it's blizzardly then flatstar is ok on a weekday.

[@SRGSkiing]

Cause it's probably your only option 🤷

[@AK-bw8xk]

@SRGSkiing yep

[@dhowe5180]

Northstar is bland by design. It’s designed for beginner and intermediate skiers and families who want a safe, predictable ski experience. Nothing wrong with that. If you’re an expert go elsewhere. What is criminal is how they manage the out of base lifts. Waiting 45 minutes for the gondola while the adjacent village express is closed is inexcusable.

[@eee626ftw5]

Just go to lookout 👀

[@SRGSkiing]

Gets a bit repetitive after 14 years, but good idea!

[@vollzeit2853]

what a banger song

[@yankmyjank]

Northstar lines are nowhere near as bad as Hunter mountain on a weekend.

[@SRGSkiing]

Maybe we'll have to venture out east for a Hunter Hater's Guide then 😂

[@benshappell6339]

Is the guy on the ground at 6:23 good lol

[@SRGSkiing]

🤷‍♂️

[@tomquinn7560]

You might enjoy skiing more if you invested in ski lessons. Northstar looks like it is stretching your limits.

[@SRGSkiing]

Remember the line about "where I learned to ski?" This is old, old footage, from back in the days when I was still progressing.

[@nicksipad7467]

Can’t believe I just listened to someone whine for 8 straight minutes. No wonder all your videos have

[@SRGSkiing]

Don't make me do it man, please don't make me go look at your channel and see how your videos are doing. I mean in all honesty, I'm very impressed that if you're as disgusted as you say, you still watched the whole video...

[@CodyKing]

Wtf? This is over 1k in less than 24 hr right now.

[@nicksipad7467]

@@CodyKingfirst time for everything!

[@SRGSkiing]

Dog I have over 400,000 views cumulative lmao

[@nicksipad7467]

@@SRGSkiing almost as many views as complaints in this video. lol