Trend in discounts for age

[Bill Miles]

Dated from 2 winters ago.

	seniors ski for free 2020
State	Resort	Age Require ment
Arizona	Arizona Snow Bowl	70+
Arizona	Mount Lemmon	70+
California	Mountain High	80+
California	Snow Valley	80+
California	Bear Mt.	80+
California	June Mt.	80+
California	Mammoth	80+
California	Snow Summit	80+
California	Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows	80+
California	Dodge Ridge	82+
California	Alta Sierra	90+
Colorado	Cranor	62+
Colorado	Monarch	69+
Colorado	Ski Hesperus	70+
Colorado	Cooper	80+
Colorado	Purgatory	80+
Colorado	Sunlight	80+
Colorado	Wolf Creek	80+
Colorado	Telluride	80+
Idaho	Bald Mt.	70+
Idaho	Schweitzer	80+
New Mexico	Cloudcroft	70+
New Mexico	Red River	70+
New Mexico	Ski Apache.	70+
New Mexico	Sandia Peak	72+
New Mexico	Santa Fe	72+
New Mexico	Pajarito	75+
New Mexico	Angel Fire	75+
New Mexico	Sipapu	75+
New Mexico	Taos	80+
Oregon	Anthony Lakes	70+
Oregon	Cooper Spur	70+
Oregon	Mt. Ashland	70+
Oregon	Mt. Hood Ski Bowl	71+
Oregon	Summit Ski Timberline	71+
Oregon	Mt. Hood Meadows	75+
Utah	Nordic Valley	75+
Utah	Powder Mt.	75+
Utah	Alta	80+
Washington	Bluewood	70+
Washington	White Pass	73+
Washington	Crystal Mt.	80+
Washington	Mt. Spokane	80+
Washington	49 Degrees N	80+
Washington	Stevens Pass	90+
Wyoming	Hogadon	70+
Wyoming	Jackson Hole	70+
Wyoming	Snowy Range	70+

Jackson Hole free for 70+ is not true now (there is a modest discount for 65+) and I doubt it was two years ago.

 

[Sibhusky]

Not related to this discussion, but I've always rolled my eyes at the line of seniors being on "fixed incomes". In reality, the vast majority of people are on fixed incomes.

Relatively few people in today's world can decide to work extra at their jobs for more money.

Generally, you can work extra shifts, pick up second jobs, change to new jobs, get promoted, get a raise, etc. as long as you are in the active labor force. The average SS check in Montana is $17,379.96. (Now I'm sure that those guys aren't skiing. So maybe they also have a small pension which is worth less every year.)

In mountain towns, it's extremely common to have three to four jobs to support your habit. Most of those jobs don't come with 401(k) or a pension.

 

[newboots]

I am well off compared to a whole lot of seniors, but I still squint hard at the passes I buy. I get a $259 midweek at a local hill, an Epic Northeast, mid-week, senior pass for $279, and this year I bought an Ikon pass that I'll probably defer because of health-related cancellation of trips out West.

Without the senior (and mid-week [read: retired] discount, I certainly wouldn't have three passes! I am working weekends at a ski shop for a little extra money and something fun to do. I truly feel for the folks squeaking by on Social Security and a little savings.

 

[DanoT]

Aspen has a deep discounted pass for 70+ at $549 purchased in the spring. Last season if purchased at the start or during the season it was $849. For 2012-22, the Super Senior Pass is $599 if purchased mid season.

In B.C deep discounts start at some resorts at age 75. Red Mtn.=$25CAD, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Pass is $95CAD and includes Kicking Horse, Fernie, Kimberly, Nakiska. Whitewater=free.

 

[Lorenzzo]

A friend of mine recently wrote to Deer Valley for relief because while he turns 65 before the season starts it's after the low price deadline. He received a response politely denying his request with a nicely worded explanation and a complement on one of his new rides he'd posted on FB at a recent European exotic car show.

 

[weatherman]

The idea that skiing seniors are "wealthy" isn't true. Maybe in some cases, but for us "working class" seniors we are on fixed and limited incomes. A low senior pass price keeps us on the slopes, especially at today's high day pass price.

I can't believe anyone would describe today's pass prices as high. Has it ever been cheaper (scaled for inflation) to be a regular skier?

I don't have much sympathy for local seniors. Poor people are on a "fixed income". They have the option to go get a job to increase that income. That is not a luxury that we all have. And I do consider the vast majority of them to be wealthy. Some quick Google-fu suggests 79.3% of seniors own their homes. I live in a county where the median value for all homes is $916k and single family are $1.39M . And two thirds of these have no mortgage. I'm supposed to feel badly for these people?

 

[geepers]

A friend of mine recently wrote to Deer Valley for relief because while he turns 65 before the season starts it's after the low price deadline. He received a response politely denying his request with a nicely worded explanation and a complement on one of his new rides he'd posted on FB at a recent European exotic car show.

That turning 65 in the wrong month happened to me as well.

Turned out it didn't matter as covid meant no northern winter for us last year. Which is way worse than paying a bit more for the pass.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

Maybe in some cases, but for us "working class" seniors we are on fixed and limited incomes

Hint: almost all of us are on fixed incomes.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

Generally, you can work extra shifts, pick up second jobs, change to new jobs, get promoted, get a raise, etc. as long as you are in the active labor force. The average SS check in Montana is $17,379.96. (Now I'm sure that those guys aren't skiing. So maybe they also have a small pension which is worth less every year.)

In mountain towns, it's extremely common to have three to four jobs to support your habit. Most of those jobs don't come with 401(k) or a pension.

Retired seniors have way more extra time to work than non-seniors. If you're healthy enough to ski, you're clearly healthy enough to work.

 

[Sibhusky]

Retired seniors have way more extra time to work than non-seniors. If you're healthy enough to ski, you're clearly healthy enough to work.

Nice sound bite. But if you're skiing you can go home when you're tired or not go at all if the alarm goes off and you're feeling your age. Unless you're self-employed, your boss wants you to show up and put in a day's work. There used to be a couple in their 80's hobbling into the lockerroom using canes. Apparently for them skiing was easier than walking. They stuck to the green runs and only stayed for an hour or two. Personally, my annual vertical has been plummeting every year and every year the first day is tougher. Next season I'll qualify as a Super Senior, but if the pass weren't getting cheaper I would hang up my skis. I barely got my breakeven last year and shelling out for a daily ticket is a non-starter. If they sold hourly blocks, like in Europe, I'd be all about that.

 

[johnnyvw]

Retired seniors have way more extra time to work than non-seniors. If you're healthy enough to ski, you're clearly healthy enough to work.

Let's see how badly you want to work when you finally get to retirement age.

 

[johnnyvw]

I can't believe anyone would describe today's pass prices as high. Has it ever been cheaper (scaled for inflation) to be a regular skier?

I don't have much sympathy for local seniors. Poor people are on a "fixed income". They have the option to go get a job to increase that income. That is not a luxury that we all have. And I do consider the vast majority of them to be wealthy. Some quick Google-fu suggests 79.3% of seniors own their homes. I live in a county where the median value for all homes is $916k and single family are $1.39M . And two thirds of these have no mortgage. I'm supposed to feel badly for these people?

Yeah, if you're lucky enough that an IKON pass makes sense for you, it's dirt cheap. I was just checking lift ticket prices for next year around the Poconos...a daily Shawnee Mtn weekend ticket is $80 next year...for what, 500+ vertical? Must be nice to live out in the Rockies in an area of relative wealth. So what?? Not everyone is in the position you describe. According to you, I guess I'm poor...

 

[johnnyvw]

Since the Blue Mtn/Camelback situation most closely affected me, here's my take: it used to be seniors over 65 got a very cheap mid-week pass. The lodges were pretty much empty there until about 2-3 pm when the school buses rolled up. So the seniors skied in the morning and had there little "coffee klatches" as they got to know one another over time. Spent a little time skiing, but probably just as much time over coffee and a danish (or whatever). This past year, Camelback was never NOT busy during the week, I sometimes saw liftlines nearly as bad as a typical weekend. I bet management saw this, and decided they no longer needed to offer an incentive for seniors as they could sell regular season passes at a higher price, and the lodges were busy selling food. Sour grapes? You bet. Sucks when you look forward to something and it's taken away.

Doesn't matter all that much anyway...this will be my last season in the Poconos.

 

[newboots]

Retired seniors have way more extra time to work than non-seniors. If you're healthy enough to ski, you're clearly healthy enough to work.

Have you tried to get a job in your field after the age of 50? 60? For most of us, it's a non-starter. If your field involved manual labor, your body is likely worn out by the time you retire. If you really need the money, you'll have to work a lot of hours to pad meager SS payments.

I am lucky enough not to need the money to survive. I work Friday-Sunday at the ski shop, for fun and a few extra dollars. Once I took on a Thursday. We were working very hard, fitting rental boots and adjusting bindings all day. (Lifting up skis, turning the screws, pushing boots into bindings is hard physical work for me.) After four days, I slept most of Monday, and still felt tired on Tuesday. My arthritic hands were sore and I couldn't open a new bottle of medicine.

Your comment is short-sighted.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

Let's see how badly you want to work when you finally get to retirement age.

Agreed, but it's no easier than a guy on salary working his butt off on and off regular hours, hustling to get his kids to sports or other activities.

We're all on fixed incomes.

 

[johnnyvw]

Agreed, but it's no easier than a guy on salary working his butt off on and off regular hours, hustling to get his kids to sports or other activities.

We're all on fixed incomes.

Been there, done that. When my kids were young, I had the money to take them on ski vacations. Nowadays I'm lucky if I can pay for a solo trip. When I was working for a living, I had less concern about conserving money than I do now. Now I have to worry about making my money last for the next, what...maybe 20 years? My brother is 84, and my uncle lived to 100. Social Security doesn't hand out raises very often. You keep saying we're all on fixed incomes, but it's definitely different knowing that what you have has to last. And yes, I plan to probably work a little for my "fun" money. But not unless I have to. Unless you manage to retire with your house paid off (I didn't) and a ton of money in the bank (I didn't), you'll have a different view of the situation when you get there.

 

[Philpug]

It is said that if they did, they would go broke.

Considering that Sinclair Oil owns Sun Valley, I don't think thats the case. From what I understand, profit has never been the motivation for the resorts.

 

[Bad Bob]

Where is that "You kids stay off of my snow" meme when you really need it?

 

[johnnyvw]

 

[Bill Miles]

Considering that Sinclair Oil owns Sun Valley, I don't think thats the case. From what I understand, profit has never been the motivation for the resorts.

I was referring more to the age of the skiers (a lot of older folks, including me), than to the company financials.