Support your local / independent ski area. Simple fix.
Making all the CO front range areas only five days on the IKON Base Pass (like A-basin) would be an incremental improvement that could help with crowds. Shrinkflation rather than raising the price.I have what's likely to be a unpopular opinion. IKON and Epic passes need to triple in price. Convince me I'm wrong.
Resort= lots of amenities including lodging.thread on resort vs. ski area (vs. ski hill)
My point was, normally we all think things are cheap in Europe. They don't seem to think so.Due respect, it's not like this is the first "let's complain about the cost of skiing" thread on Ski Talk.
Reminds me of helmet and chairlift safety bar threads!
They have dynamic pricing... was up to $309 for this past Saturday. Screenshot at https://www.skitalk.com/threads/202...-resorts-conditions-meetups.28083/post-824759
You know that weather is variable? My prior knowledge points in that direction. Ski conglomerates are happy to pass that risk off to customers, and there seem to be many other customers who criticise other customers for expecting that if conditions look good a few days out, they shouldn't be fleeced.it is past time that we get rid of the idea that skiing is an exception to forms of entertainment and expect that you can show up last-minute on a busy day without doing prior research and be charged a reasonable rate.
Very well put, so much I agree with here. Your right that skiing is actually a pretty good deal, when compared to other forms of entertainment such as Broadway shows, major sporting events and big Concerts most which only last a couple of hours.@raytseng made this point earlier, but the times are changing and it is past time that we get rid of the idea that skiing is an exception to forms of entertainment and expect that you can show up last-minute on a busy day without doing prior research and be charged a reasonable rate. We don't expect this for showing up at an airport, or a major sports stadium, or a concert venue. Even things like semi-popular restaurants in cities or camping in a popular area are becoming harder to do walk-ups for and increasingly require advance reservations.
Increasing climate variability combined with an increasing number of skiers at many ski areas at certain times such as weekends and powder days (I understand that overall visitation numbers are relatively flat, but certain regions especially out west are seeing increases, and by-day crowding variability has likely increased with the proliferation of more accurate and accessible snow forecasting, easier powder skiing equipment, and multi-resort passes) mean that the old model makes less sense today than it did in the past. The model has changed, and like it or not people need to adapt. The cost of a single-day walk-up ticket gets talked about a lot, but is far from the most relevant metric when it comes to the cost of the sport.
The barriers to information on how to ski affordably have never been lower. Yes, Arizona Snow Bowl charged over $300 to ski on the Saturday of MLK weekend but if you look on their website you can also find weekday tickets next month for just $35! If you are willing to book tickets for March, there are even plenty of $29 tickets. It is still possible to ski affordably, but you can't do it by expecting to put in no effort into researching where to go, when to go, and where the good deals are.
For anyone skiing more than a few days, some of the big multi-resort passes give people great costs per day of skiing. The Ikon Base, Epic Local, Indy, and others are reasonably affordable (and some include college, military, and first responder discounts). For people doing fewer days of skiing, buying lift tickets in advance often leads to great savings, as evidenced by the Arizona Ski Bowl numbers above. There are also plenty of local, independent ski areas that charge less than the big guys. You're going to save money and still have a great time by skiing at Magic over Stratton, or Mount Hood Ski Bowl over Mount Hood Meadows, or Bogus Basin over Sun Valley. For people learning or just starting out in the sport, there are beginner tickets and packages that offer reasonable prices and limit you to the beginner areas. These smaller mountains are also great choices for people learning. Unless you're an expert skier who probably skis many days per season and should have an Ikon Pass, you'll still have a lot of fun at Snow King or Grand Targhee compared with Jackson Hole.
They would all go to Vail mountains. Is that what you had in mind? "Save" Copper and Winter Park from the masses?Making all the CO front range areas only five days on the IKON Base Pass (like A-basin) would be an incremental improvement that could help with crowds.
Pico used to have a program for never evers. At the end of the "usual" 1 day lift/rental/lesson package, you can upgrade it to a 3 day package which, when you complete it, you get a season pass for free!The biggest problem is retention. I taught a couple of seasons back in the late 80's. Even back then the talk was that you can get the new skier to go one time with a lesson but the real trick was/is getting them to return. That percentage is super low.
I spent $213 last April (so good price for early purchasers) for this season's Monday to Friday old fart (>62 I think was the cut off) at AZ Snowbowl, and admittedly the loony $309 pass was at the weekend - but my AZ Snowbowl buddies and I would never dream of going there on the weekend - it is always waaaay too crowded.Out of curiosity-what would be the price for a season pass for those places with 300$ lift ticket?
Absolutely! I'd like to see IKON as a premium product over Epic, and I'm happy to pay for the privilege.They would all go to Vail mountains. Is that what you had in mind? "Save" Copper and Winter Park from the masses?
They would all go to Vail mountains. Is that what you had in mind? "Save" Copper and Winter Park from the masses?
Then, let's retreat and retrench to save Sunday!Too late to save Copper, at least on Sat.
I'm not an industry insider so I have no idea as to the "why".Like Pico, Copper is only a partner but has no restrictions or limitations. Not sure why but if you check other well known Powdr resorts like Snowbird, Mt. Bachelor, or even Killington-Pico they all do.
It depends on how much the season pass vs day ticket works out.Serious question to all. How many days would you likely IF there was NO MULTI RESPORT PASS OPTION AVAILABLE for any resorts within 200 miles of your front door?
Would you buy the local pass for ONE resort?
Or, would you pay day ticket rates at several nearby resorts?
This is my situation..
I would and still do buy a seasons pass to my local mountain. Its the only way for me to get in the amount of days I want on the boardsSerious question to all. How many days would you likely IF there was NO MULTI RESPORT PASS OPTION AVAILABLE for any resorts within 200 miles of your front door?
Would you buy the local pass for ONE resort?
Or, would you pay day ticket rates at several nearby resorts?
This is my situation..