Money-saving tips for skiers and snowboarders

Tips for cutting ski day costs

A skier enjoys the sunshine while riding the lift at Eldora Mountain near Boulder. Smaller ski areas offer less-expensive alternatives to major resorts. Helen H. Richardson, Denver Post file

By R. Scott Rappold Special to The Denver Post

You hear it all the time from non-skiers, ex-skiers and would-be skiers: “Skiing is too expensive.” ¶ It’s true, skiing can be expensive. If you take a flight into Aspen, book a slopeside condo, rent skis, pay for a lesson and buy the family lunch at the on-mountain restaurant you can drop thousands of dollars before you’ve even mastered parallel turns.

But skiing also can be surprisingly affordable. Just ask the ski bums of the world who ride every daybutonlyearnminimumwagewashingdishes by night — if they have a job at all.

As the aspens drop their final leaves and the nighttime air has a marked chill to it, it’s time to planfortheseason.Froma skibumwho regularly hits 100 days on the slopes but hasn’t had a fulltime job in years, here are some tips to having a great season without taking out a second mortgage. You’ll sacrifice convenience to save a few bucks, but powder days are so worth it.

Tip 1: Buy a season pass – now!

If you’re planning to ski more than a few days this winter, you’ll want a season pass. If you’ve waitedthislong,you’ve missedearly-seasonprices, but if you wait until the season begins to buy oneyou’reinstorefor quitea stickershock.Daily lift tickets at major resorts can run $200 or more for an adult, so a pass pays for itself quickly.

Yes,it’sa gamble:Willmyhillgetthebestsnow this year?

Fortunately, conglomerate offers like the Ikon and Epic passes come with bonus days at many other resortsacrossthestate,countryandworld, so you can follow the best snow. Or if you prefer smaller, more locals-focused ski areas, you can geta passatLovelandfor$439 orMonarchMountain for $479, with bonus days at each other as well as Copper Mountain, Purgatory, Powderhorn, Sunlight and many other smaller ski areas across the country.

Tip 2: Buy a midweek pass, four-pack or Gems Card.

Maybe you’re not planning a 100-day season because, unlike this correspondent, you have a day job or higher priorities than sliding on snow all the time. Many ski areas offer four-day passes that let you ski for half the daily ticket price. Or you can buy a Gems Card from Colorado Ski CountryUSA($35),whichgives you2-for-1 deals or 30% discounted lift tickets at 11 smaller ski areas across Colorado. Keep in mind Gems Card use is blacked out Dec. 19 to Jan. 2.

Anotheroption many resortsofferisa more affordable weekday pass. Sure, you’ll hate yourself when it snows a foot on a Saturday, but let’s face it, it’s a trade-off to not have to fight I-70 traffic and weekendliftlines.Also,checkthewebsiteof eachresortfor“locals”daysthatfeatureliftticket discounts.

Tip 3: Get free skiing for your kids.

Theskiindustryknowsthat childrenarethe future,soresorts arekeentogetthemhookedearly whilestilllettingmomanddadskiwithoutbreaking the bank. Colorado Ski Country USA offers the5thGradePassport,whichincludesthreedays at21skiareasfor just $40,aswellasthe 6thGrade Passport, with four days at each for $99. New for the 2020-21 winter season, however, both passes are good for weekdays only.

Ifyou’dratherskiatthefiveVailResortsmountains — Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, KeystoneandCrestedButte, whicharen’tpartofColoradoSkiCountry— youcanregister fortheEpic Schoolkids Pass, which offers four free days at each resort for kids from kindergarten to fifth grade.Registerforthesepassesnow,sincethey’re only offered for a limited time.

Tip 4: Buy a college, senior or military pass.

Many resorts offer discounts for college students, senior citizens and veterans. For example, Monarch Mountain’s $479 pass is $389 for veterans, $289 for college students, $199 for retired military and just $20 for “super seniors,” those older than 68 whose knees still hold up on the slopes.

Tip 5: Buy used gear.

Ski townsarefulloftrustfunders,professional riders and gear snobs who get new skis or snowboards every year. Their old gear, perfectly usable unless mangled by rocks, can be found in gear shops and ski swaps for a fraction of what new gear would cost. Look for gently used boots andclothingtoo.Also,check outdoorshops(REI, Wilderness Exchange, Mountain Equipment Recyclers, Gearonimo) along the Front Range for salesoflastyear’s rentalgear that maybeinespecially good condition because of the shortened 2019-20 season.

Tip 6: Get season-long rentals for the kids. Kids grow so fast they can outgrow their skis and boots in one season, so many parents opt to rentgearfortheentireseason ratherthanbuying. Reserve your rentals early as shops usually run

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outbeforethechairliftsarerunning.

Tip 7: Didn’t buy a pass? Ski with someone who did. Most ski passes offer discounted buddy tickets. So make friends with a passholder.

Tip 8: Don’t rent gear on the mountain. You’ll find cheaper rates renting skis the day before your trip, plus youwon’t have to standinlineinthe morning, sweating in all your gear and missing the untracked powder.

Tip 9: Don’t book a room at the resort. Lodging is much, much cheaper the farther you sleep from the mountain. A 20-minute drive in the morning can save you hundreds of dollars in a weekend. So if you’re The Welch family, visiting from North Platte, Neb., takes to the slopes of Copper Mountain as a group on March 13. Families can save money on their ski trip, whether it’s a day or a week, by taking advantage of passes, packing their own food and booking lodging a

few miles from the resort. Andy Cross, Denver Post file skiing Copper Mountain or Breckenridge, stay in Frisco. Skiing Aspen? Stay in Carbondale. Skiing Vail? Stay in Avon. You get the idea.

Tip 10: Never, ever buy lunch on the mountain. Yes,it’stemptingtoeatonthe hill. Who wants to take the time to go backtothecarifyou’reata mega-resortwhereyouparkedatthefreelot and rode a bus to ride a gondola to ride a lift? But if you thought food and drinks were expensive at Broncos games, the on-mountain lodge prices will blow your mind. At smaller ski areas you can go back to your car and have a picnic lunch. If it’s nice out you’ll often see people grilling in the parking lots at ski areas like Arapahoe Basin and Wolf Creek,whereyoucanparkand walk to the lifts (though maybe not this year).Atthemega-resortsit’sa good idea to load up on snacks that can easilyfitintoyourpocketsora small backpack. Or you can rent a locker and store lunch (check ahead of time to see if they’re available!), which will still cost only a small fraction of lunch on the hill.

Tip 11: If all else fails, get a job on the mountain. If you must work during winter, a jobattheresortoftenincludesa free ski pass. Yeah, having a job is not ideal for the dedicated ski bum, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.