Greetings,

Each summer, I take stock of DCSki and think about what enhancements I'd like to make for the future. DCSki's last major re-design was several years ago. Since then, I've made a few attempts to update core aspects of the site, but these efforts weren't completed in time for the ski season.

I've been running DCSki and its precursors for 18 years now. (Hard to believe, I know!) And, honestly, it's not as fun as it used to be. There are a wide variety of reasons for that, but key reasons include the time commitment it takes, the monotony of doing certain kinds of (boring) tasks years after year, and not having time to update the design of the site, which feels increasingly dated and "busy."

Partly because of the time it takes to run DCSki (which is always done in my limited "spare time,") I didn't get a chance to ski at all last winter - my first ski-free winter in over 18 years. I started DCSki because of my passion for skiing, so there's an irony there.

All of this leads to a potential inflection point. These are some options I'm considering:

(1) Discontinue DCSki, and reclaim some personal time in my life.

(2) Continue with the status quo: leave DCSki largely as it is, and continue to update it with news, events, updated resort profiles, bargains, etc.

(3) Re-design DCSki from scratch, focusing on doing a few key features well and dropping time-consuming features that are less utilized.

I'm leaning towards #3, even though, in the short term, that would require a huge time investment. #1 is tempting, but I feel too large of a commitment to the DCSki community, and I do enjoy running DCSki. #2 is doable, but will only lead to a continued erosion of my passion.

So let's assume I go with door number three.

I would begin by throwing everything out the door, taking a fresh look at DCSki, and making some tough decisions.

DCSki has evolved over the years, and that evolution has led to a steady expansion of its feature set.

DCSki began with news articles, expanding to include resort profiles, an event calendar, weather, snow condition reports, bargains, community discussion, and more.

Although readers have generally found the site design to be easy to navigate and use, this expansion of features has resulted in a very "busy" site from my perspective. Some features -- such as Q&A -- never quite took flight, but do have some useful information in them that I've wanted to preserve, so they're claiming site real estate and cluttering menus. Because I've invested a lot of time into each of these features, from an emotional standpoint, it's hard to "throw any away," especially since I know there are some users using each of them.

Other features, such as the Message Forum you're looking at right now, were implemented using a commercial message forum package, and I've always been unhappy with the "feature overload" of that package and the less-than-seamless integration with the rest of DCSki.

As I spend hours each season manually researching and entering hundreds of events for dozens of ski areas, I wonder how many users really ever use the event schedule. Sure, it's nice to objectively integrate that kind of data in one place, but maybe that's time that could be better spent elsewhere.

I can look at usage statistics for various features, but they don't tell the whole story. There may be some features that aren't used as much as others, but that users feel very passionate about.

So, as I move in the direction of a major re-design, I want to open up some discussion about what features you consider core to DCSki; what features are nice, but not necessary; and what features you could do without.

From my perspective, I consider the following to be the core features of DCSki:

- News Stories and Firsthand Reports
- Resort Profiles / Lost Resort Profiles
- Community Discussion

I consider the following to be nice features, but possibly not central to DCSki:

- Event Schedule
- Bargain Tracker
- Ski Clubs
- Weather
- Snow Condition Reports
- Lodging Finder

Integrating all of this data in one place is nice, but there are other sources for this data outside of DCSki. As an example, do users really go to DCSki to look for weather information? Or do they go directly to the National Weather Service, weather.com, Accuweather, etc.?

It's possible some of this data could be incorporated directly into other areas; for example, relevant weather data could be included within a Resort Profile page, instead of taking up space elsewhere in DCSki's user interface. Rather than listing specific bargains for each resort, DCSki could just link to a page on an official resort web site that lists deals for that resort. A change like that could save me a lot of time.

Because running DCSKi is expensive and those costs are offset by advertisers, advertising has to play a role in the discussion too, although that's something I'd like to simplify too. I've sometimes wondered if DCSki could switch to an "ad-free" model (supported by donations from readers), but while I know many readers would be generous with donations (as they have been in the past), I don't think donations alone would cover the costs.

My main goals for a re-design would be to:

- Dramatically simplify the user interface of DCSki, getting rid of the clutter and modernizing the user interface.

- Focus on doing a smaller number of things, but doing them very well.

- Make DCSki work well on tablets and mobile devices (potentially including a native iPhone/iPad app at some point in the future).

- Reduce the time and burden of running the site.

- Reaching those goals would also require custom implementing a new community discussion capability. (Note that this wouldn't be without some pain for users; preserving past conversations could be a challenge; users would likely need to re-create a user profile; and the new capability wouldn't include all the features of DCSki's current message forum, such as direct messages. But I think the end result would be better in the long run, and if I move away from the confines of UBB Threads (the current software DCSki uses), all kinds of interesting innovations could open up.)

That's some of my current thinking, but I'd like to hear your thoughts. What features couldn't you live without? Which ones would you be willing to let go?

We cannot live without DCSki! You are doing a terrific job! How about letting some of us regulars partner with you? Charles and I can help. We need you! Connie and Charles

I'm likely on the tail end of your bell curve, but from *my* perspective you have those in the wrong order. However, I'm guessing the first item results in the most links and infrequent visitor visits. Hence advertising $. The firsthand reports are put up too late to be useful for current info, and frankly, I know pretty much what is being posted up there. Though some of the writing is pretty good.

Biggest thing DCSki needs is the ability to upload pix (and video.) You are well behind the curve there.

Biggest advice I can give you: delegate wrt content/editing. Look at what Epic Ski is doing. For resort profiles, have a person responsible for updating the content for each area. Delegate moderation of the discussion forum. Edit: you can still be the single technical developer of the infrastructure.

I appreciate giving us this play area the past decade+, but you have to decide what is best for you.

Show up to the Ballston Happy Hour for more discussion.

My take:
1. Take option Number One off the board... :-) DCSki has become an authority for the entire ski community and businesses. I was amazed some time ago that many of the public affairs - and CEOs of the ski areas in the MidAtlantic, DO log on to DCSki. I was astonished just now to realize that I was member No. 4 which means I've been an assiduous reader since its inception. Great changes since, as the old Virginia Slims commercial used to say (and I'm seriously dating myself) You've come a long way...

If you need assistance, many of us would be more than willing to help. I am one of them, as you know, I am fully retired at a wonderfully early age and have lots of time for the things I really feel passionate about, DCSki being one of them. So call.

2. I would encourage a way to, as John says, be able to post reviews in a more prompt manner so we can do it sort of directly, saving you LOTS of time, other than review or editing at your leisure, which is your prerogative as the Editor...

3. I also would welcome a better or easier way to post pictures other than the fairly onerous and outdated way it is done now. Yes, your servers have a limited capacity. But there could be a better way.

4. You may wish to transfer some of the "less central" functions to either your DCSki Facebook page or Google+ and thereby saving yourself the trouble of managing these functions, saving space in your server while at the same time having editorial and content control over the postings.

Looking forward to seeing another 18 years of this wonderful addition to our lives...

I think you're on the right track. I completely agree with what you consider important, and less important.

I don't ever look to DC ski for weather, events, snow conditions, bargains, or lodging. I have separate places I look for all that stuff, and would rather see them posted as forum posts.

I agree with revising the main page, it's way too busy.

I'd start with updating the forum software, and getting rid of the zillion forums with maybe 1 or 2 posts per year.

I've been coming to DC Ski for about a decade now, and it's mainly for the knowledgeable community, and the news articles. The resort profiles I mostly know by now, but are good for someone new to the area. That's pretty much it for me.

This is a tough one for me to answer. Initally, I used DCski as a information source. I was an advid skier but by searching every nook and cranny of the site my horizons were greatly expanded. However, being a big fan of DCSki I go here mainly for the interaction and up to the minute info posted on the forums. I enjoy interacting with folks and have participated in many enlightening discussions. I do not go here for weather, but do use the site for the links to resorts, web cams, etc... The lost ski area feature is probably one of the few resources on that topic and has been used by many as a way to investigate th past.
Scott, it's your site. It's your labor of love and you need to do what you must. We will support your efforts. Just let us know how.

Radical surgery option. I am throwing this out because I know first hand how difficult it can be to maintain a site. Just discussing....

* Create two new forums on an established site like epicski, alpinezone, etc...

- DCSKI news. Post reports from Connie, Jim K., local ski club announcments, etc.... These normally go in as articles but would fit the forum format just fine, including the comments. Only Scott can create a new thread in this forum. If the editing/reviewing process is too time consuming, many of us would be willing to help out.

- DCSKI open. This is for everyone to post messages like we have always done. We don't really need all the different forums and things like classifieds would benefit from being posted in the larger forums.

* Create a dcski 'home page' on the chosen site. Redirect the dcski domain to this home page.

Scott - I'd say that I really use the discussion board and read the trip reports and news items in the home page center content mostly.

Just a little use of the Club section.

I really don't use the calendar of events, and use the resort profiles sometimes as a portal to the various ski areas.

Hmmm ... there are a lot of new people that fine the resort info probably quite interesting etc.

You can probably streamline a lot as JohnL suggests - delegate the Resort into to the resorts, etc.

I wonder if a good WordPress responsive design is in order - that would take care of your mobile and tablet targets at the same time. Seems like WordPress would give you enough to run a simplified site and the admin back-end is good for delegating content management tasks. And the price is right.

Thanks for cluing us in on your situation Scott. I generally agree with the comments in this thread especially about how much I've enjoyed the site over the years. Here are some additional thoughts.
1. make it easy for you
2. prioritize features and drop the less popular ones that drain on your time/resources
3. delegate if possible
4. I always appreciate the nice presentation and layout work you do with my trip reports/articles, but I would be glad to switch to 100% posting them myself to ease your burden, especially if there was an easy way to include photos with the posts. This would also aid in posting closer to real time, particularly the short, sweet reports. Don't know if this entails a switch to a more user friendly forum format, but it might also have the benefit of drawing more varied reports from others.
Best regards,
JimK

Agree with narrowing focus and the 3 you've targeted are the core. I would make resort profiles and lost ski area wikis and maybe exercise some editorial control to insure factual information and presentation. That responsibility can be delegated, maybe even self regulated by users. Keep personal editorial control over articles and news reports. Identify content from the forums to archive then streamline the forums. Weather, lodging, etc. can be delegated to volunteers to integrate into resort profiles. Somehow integrate comments on articles, resort profiles, lost ski area into the community forums. I read many comments there by folks who don't post in the forum. Maybe bringing the comments sections and the forums together will help keep new folks become more active in the community.

Take advantage of those of us who have offered to help out. I'll help with what I can.

Seek investors or advertisers that will enable you to hire staff.

You can grace us with your attendance at the functions that we've organized through the space you've provided. We all love to buy you an adult beverage of your choice.

That's a great idea. We could discuss it at Rock Bottom next Fri. I agree with the suggestions made thus far. Keep it simple. Keep it alive. Thanks for what you've done.

Scott,
here's my 2 cents worth. I am a relatively new member < 5yrs who Occasionally post on the forum section. Never use the weather or events sections,scan the News and Ski resorts sections onec in a while. I mostly read/follow the Forum and FirstHand trail reports. Good luck on whatever you decide, but I hope your choice is to ski more and work less. As JohnL says, delegate, delegate, delegate.

Scott,

A few more thoughts. The home page is def busy, but a lot of that is from your sponsors. So I don't know how much you could clean it up.

Consolidate the discussion forums to ~3 forums. I'd suggest 1) Discussions 2) Trip Reports and 3) Meet and Greet/Social. I personally access the forums via the home page, so I don't know if the number of posts justifies the number of forums.

The articles need separate sections. I'd suggest: 1) News 2) Trip Reports/Destination Articles 3) Ski Topics - i.e. some of the classic Johnfmh stuff.

I think trip reports and resort page wikis could be the spine of the site. And possibly a few more wikis on local transportation options, ski shops, newbie 101 guide to first day on the slopes, packing for ski trips, etc.

I said delegate (esp wrt to specific resort content), but for some of the general wikis, crowd source may be a better model.

Or maybe go with an Angie's List sort of model for the areas. That would likely be a drastic change in your advertising model.

Some sort of mobile presence is obviously needed, but successful mobile models require concentrating on core functions. I am biased towards a Web 2.0 model (discussions, trip reports, pix, resort profiles, ratings) for how I use/would like to use this site. But I am just one snowflake in the blizzard.

I think the sweet spot for mobile (vs tablet) would be more of an information aggregator / taylored function site: current weather/snow conditions, road conditions, ticket purchases, ski area ratings, etc.

Some sort of read-only archive of past posts would be greatly appreciate. There is some good history there. And some value to DCSki, the brand.

I think the direct messages are very useful, and are a very common feature in most discussion forums. At some point, you need a means to take discussions off-line to exchange personal contact info, etc. If not direct messaging, you need a separation of public vs private content/discussions.

You can lose the Shout Box feature.

Scott, I've been in your situation with websites and business stuff before and being the one and only point man to handle so much, leaves you at a point of thinking it's easier to walk away and put DCSki.com to rest. I can't speak for you and your personal life, but running something techie or online wise takes a toll.

One suggestion that others have already brought up, is delegating many aspects of managing, running, and evening coding this site.

I know you have mentioned in the past you do like to code it from the ground up, but maybe it's time to invest in using pre-coded web-apps like Joomla, WordPress, etc to handle the actual engine of the site, then focus skills on the graphic design? By using these web-apps as I'm sure you know of, they allow you to have designated individuals within limitations, add content, change content, etc.

You can also use other 3rd party forum software to link in with the CMS portion of the site and focus more on quickly uploaded content etc.

When it comes to redesigning the site I can't say what would be best or worst, for me it's the forums and trip reports that I read most.

Just a thought to help alleviate the modern day tech burden!

Just some quick thoughts.

There should be some emphasis on saving the FORUM, NEWS ARTICLES, and FIRSTHAND REPORTS in their current form. NEWS and FIRSTHAND REPORTS should be edited, and have a nice layout. The DCSki imprimatur means something to its readers and Scott's editing and layout are a big part of that imprimatur. Combining the FIRSTHAND REPORTS and FORUM is not the answer because some editorial control over content is needed, if only to guarantee that the FIRSTHAND reports will be readable and lively.

I also agree that a mobile app is something desperately needed.

One of my favorite web sites besides this one is Arlington Now:

http://www.arlnow.com/

As anyone who reads Arlington Now will note: the web site draws a line between news content/features and forum comments. DCSki should stick with that approach so as to allow the reader to differentiate between site content and forum content.

Here's an update on where things stand with DCSki:

I'm knee deep in a major re-design and am really happy with how it's progressing so far. I'm working frantically to finish it in time for the ski season. In the meantime, I've had to put on hold posting new articles, etc.

The new site will have a much simpler and focused design, with news and conversation serving as the anchor of the site. I think you'll all like it quite a bit. It's actually been refreshing to start with a fresh perspective and re-imagine DCSki.

The old forum system will be retired and replaced with a custom messaging system I'm developing, but I am working to preserve all prior posts, moving them over to the new system. I will need all users to complete a new registration, but am trying to work out a way to make that as simple as possible. When the new site launches, you'll need to activate your updated account and assign a new password. Make sure your e-mail address in the current forum system is accurate:

http://www.dcski.com/ubbthreads33/ubbthreads.php?ubb=editbasic

When the new site launches later this fall, you will be sent an e-mail at the address you have listed there with instructions on porting your account over.

One thing I'm uncertain on right now is whether to have a private messaging system built into the new site. The current forum software allows private messages to be sent within the system itself. I know this is used by some of you; is this a feature you would consider important in the new site? If I implement something like this, it's possible any private messages you have in the old system would be lost during the upgrade. If that's undesirable, let me know.

Thanks for your hard work, Scott. I'm eager to see your work. I would favor continuing private messaging. I'll back up info from my old PMs.

Scott, thanks from me too for your efforts. I like the PM feature even if it means wiping out the old PMs.

Definitely use the PM feature a good bit. Would love to see it stay.

Scott,
Delighted to see DCSki remains alive and well! Would be happy to assist you in any way you deem useful.
As for PM feature, I have found it an extremely important ingredient when setting up DCSki get-togethers and exchanging personal data.
Thanks again for all you do for Mid-Atlantic skiers and resorts.
Morgan B. aka "The Colonel"

I'll echo that that PM feature is useful, but I wouldn't hold up releasing the new site just because of it.

Completely expected that old PM's would not transfer. It would be useful to have a couple of advance notices of the specific date that the PM's would be deleted. Procrastinators like myself often need repeated prodding (need to check to see if any important contact/ski trip info is buried in the old PM's.)

Thanks again for keeping up DCSki.

The PM feature is important for me on any online forum. But I have no need for the old messages.

Thanks for keeping DCSki going!

Just to provide a quick update.. I didn't complete a re-design of DCSki in time for last ski season (and a hard drive crash on the old server certainly didn't help things), but that's given me extra months to focus on producing a site that will be better in every way. I'm having a lot of fun with the re-design. Every aspect of DCSki is being re-written from scratch and modernized -- and I do mean everything. I can't wait to show it off later this summer. I've also purchased two brand new servers to host the site, and they should provide ample capacity for years to come. Still a lot of work to do but the pieces are finally coming into place. Stay tuned!

Scott,
I am sure I speak for all DCSkiers when I say a heartfelt "Thank You" for providing DCSki. Through it I have met many skiing friends, and because of it I have enjoyed skiing more than ever! Would really like to meet you someday and say "THANKS" in person! Is there anything we DCSkiers can do to make your DCSki efforts any easier?
The Colonel

BIG THUMBS UP!
Thanks for all you do Scott. Just let us know if you ever want to be celebrity roasted.

That's the most important thing, thanks we look forward to the results.

Thanks for the comments!

Another question for you all related to private messages on the new site. DCSki's current forum software enables multiple people to participate in a private conversation. Out of 3,431 private conversations that have occurred, 72 (about 2%) have included more than two participants (the most included was 10 -- a definite outlier.)

How important is it to you all to be able to have a private message with more than two participants? Supporting this on the new site is doable, but adds complexity.

For me, I only PM one person at a time. When more than one is involved, usually fine to discuss in a public thread. Thanks for asking.

I would guess that a fair subset of the 72 group messages have been discussions involving the house rental for the DCSki GTG or Timberline Luau events. If it is not too much trouble, a group private message system is helpful.

It has been useful in organizing details about meet ups that shouldn't be made public like exchange of cell #, cost of shared lodging etc.

I would say nearly 100 percent of my PM's are group messages. Generally for trip/event planning. Either a trip in early stages or not really appropriate for general discussion. Nothing worse than a thread cluttered up with the private plans of a few members.

That said, I have the email of pretty much anyone I'd be planning an event with. So, I could easily live without the feature.

Hey GGNagy and Jimmy and David and Charlie, check your PM.

Oops, better send that msg before the change
Does two participants mean the send and two others, or the sender and one other? I like the group msg format, but could live without the feature of multiple recipients in the spirit of keeping the site low maintenance.

I use it when I need specific info from a specific person. don't want to clutter up the forums with person/issue specific chatter. I want to thank you, though, for the service DC Ski provides. I need to throw another "support" at you for your efforts.