The investment needed to ski or snowboard may inhibit participation for those who can't stomach the rising costs. However, all hope is not lost for those ballin' on a budget who want a little winter sporting in their lives...
I've researched a number of tips and strategies to help mitigate the costs of enjoying time out on the slopes. If you stay clever, pay attention or get a little more proactive, you can drastically reduce the cost of skiing and maximize your time on snow. Here are eight tips to reduce skiing and snowboarding costs in Utah.
Creatures of the Night
When the masses go low, go high!
That's the strategy to savor your turns at a fraction of the price. Night skiing tickets cost far less than full-day or even half-day tickets. Some resorts also see scant night skiing traffic, especially during weekdays, so you can enjoy uncrowded slopes while paying less for lift rides.
The catch is dressing warm and preparing for the colder temps! Nordic Valley, in particular, offers incredibly inexpensive night skiing, and the further you purchase your tickets online in advance, the cheaper the price will be. Cherry Peak's night skiing tickets begin at just $28, night skiing at Woodward Park City starts at $20 and Powder Mountain offers tickets for $19 and up, pre-purchase required.
For our complete Utah Night Skiing Guide, Click Here.
Commit Early
Season pass sales begin to hit in March and April of each calendar year. For those who know what they want or where they want to be, you can commit early and lock in the absolute lowest price for a season pass. Many resorts will even allow you to ski through March and April on your next season's pass. Sign up for your preferred resort's emails or follow their social media accounts to keep tabs on when these sales drop. Some season pass options will even allow a payment plan, permitting you to pay the balance due in several smaller chunks.
In April, May and beyond, the prices of season passes will all begin to climb. This is also true for multi-resort passes like Ikon, Epic, Mountain Collective and Indy Passes. The closer you purchase your pass to the winter season (i.e. in the fall) the more money you can expect to pay for the same pass product. If you can swing it, commit early and enjoy spring turns!
Kids Ski Free!
Take some time to peruse your options at Utah's resorts as far as lift ticket pricing for kiddos go. Some resorts offer entirely free skiing for kids. Ages will vary. Others will offer free skiing with an adult who has a day ticket or a season pass. Knowing the age restrictions, policies, and limits per number of kids can save you a ton of money in the long run. For a roundup on pricing and ages for kiddos, check Annie's guide here.
Don't Go Big—Go Small!
Yes, you read that right. The smaller the better, in most cases, if you're considering affordability. Utah's smaller resorts often offer additional benefits besides far cheaper ticket prices: fewer tracks, shorter lines, cheaper food, less expensive lessons and night skiing. Many of the resorts off the beaten path are independently owned and, as a result, offer a friendly vibe, a ton of personality and a welcoming atmosphere. You can ski or shred for far less money at Eagle Point, Cherry Peak, Nordic Valley, Brian Head Ski Resort and Beaver Mountain.
To get the feel for some of these more locally-oriented mountains, check our Fixed Grip Chronicles piece on Beaver Mountain.
Gear Hacks
Used gear is widely available, you just have to time things right. Local ski teams and businesses will often host ski swaps to buy, sell, or trade used gear at discounted prices. These often happen each fall, so check with local shops and look out for announcements in September, October and November.
Late March or early April are also fantastic times to score gear at cheaper prices. Rental shops will give all their gear one final tune and often dump their entire fleets of demo or rental skis or boards on sale. Shops might be looking to offload extra inventory at the end of the season to make way for their summer gear.
Pay attention to the season. Was it a particularly stacked snow year? Chances are shops had a harder time moving skinny, carving skis and it could be a great time to snag a pair of zippy groomer skis. Keep your eyes peeled and be strategic about when and where you shop. Ski Utah's favorite local shops for used gear are places like Lone Pine Gear Exchange and the Gear Room.
The Ski Utah Passport for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders
One of the best deals to be found in Utah for families is the Ski Utah Passport Program. This program aims to turn kids into lifelong skiers and snowboarders through 4th, 5th and 6th grade. These are the absolute best ages to teach children the art of skiing or snowboarding in a successful way and instill a lifelong passion for snow sports.
Ski Utah offers an $69 ski pass to any kid within this age range that is valid for an unbelievable 45 days of skiing. That's THREE days at each of Utah's 15 ski areas. Any child in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade is welcome to participate in the program, they do not have to be a Utah resident. Note: the price of the Passport does increase to $89 after December 1.
Click here for more information and registartion.
Mid-week Passes
Some Utah resorts offer mid-week season passes at vastly discounted rates. This allows you to ski or snowboard on weekdays when crowds are scarce at a far cheaper price. While this won't work for everyone's schedules, it is a worthwhile research project to see which resorts offer mid-week passes and if the allotted days jive with your routine. Begin checking season pass packages and pricing options in March and April. Once again, the earlier you purchase and commit to a season pass, the cheaper the overall price will be. Purchase early to lock in the lowest possible price.
Just a couple of examples...
- Solitude Mountain Resort offers a mid-week Mon-Thurs pass starting at $450 with upgrades available
- With the Nordic Valley or Brian Head Weekday Pass, choose 1 to 5 weekdays starting at $99
- A weekday season pass for Beaver Mountain is less than $400
- A midweek pass at Snowbasin Resort for all ages starts at $499
Group Lessons & Package Deals
If you are just learning how to ski or snowboard, the cost of lessons, rentals, and lift tickets can be overwhelming. I've got a few tips to get it right:
- Look for package deals and discounts for locals either early in the season or late in the season as closing day approaches.
- Book group lessons, these will always be cheaper than private lessons. If possible, you can attempt to book a group lesson midweek when there are generally fewer people visiting the resorts. There is a good chance your group size could be smaller.
- Avoid peak holiday weekends and the range around spring break. Lessons will most likely be more expensive and class sizes will be larger.
- Do your research! Some resorts offer deals for beginners (Snowbasin Resort's Learn & Earn program is PHENOMENAL); others will bundle rentals and lift tickets with your lesson package. Use your savvy to shop around as pricing can drastically differ between resorts.
- Choose smaller resorts! Ski areas like Cherry Peak, Beaver Mountain, Nordic Valley, or Eagle Point offer the most affordable lesson pricing around. Don't be afraid to call up and ask for any discounts, package deals, or specials for locals.
- Some resorts offer short, night skiing lessons. These will generally be cheaper as there is less demand for lessons in the evening hours.
