Pay Me to Ski Here
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Sadly, conditions are far from knee-deep in several top resorts in the West and in Europe, where it’s limited terrain on man-made snow. That includes Cortina, site of 2026 Winter Olympics skiing competitions.
The lack of natural snow is bad enough that the parent company of the Ikon Pass is offering passholders a $20 “mountain credit” for each day the pass is used, through Feb. 25, at areas most affected, according to the ABC News affiliatte TV station in Denver.
But don’t too excited –
The money back offer from Alterra is good for only three days of skiing or riding at specific resorts, for a grand total of $60.
That’s enough for a white tablecloth lunch for two, a day’s rental, a tune and waxing, or $60 off new helmet, goggles, jacket or pants at a retail shop.
So it barely puts a dent in the price of your pass, airline ticket or accommodations.
Also, the up to $60 credit is only at specific Ikon Pass resorts and participating restaurants and retail shops, including Deer Valley, Steamboat, Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth, Stratton and Sugarbush.
So, this brings up an interesting issue:
Resorts charge a premium for accommodations during peak periods, especially the Xmas-New Year’s week, and several limit access for some passholders, whether that’s Ikon, Epic or Mountain Collective season pass – regardless whether conditions are great or pathetic. And some privately-owned areas, such as Powder, limit peak weekends to passholders only, no walk-ups.
So why can’t they give us a discount when conditions suck? Or a free hot chocolate when the weather is suitable only for polar bears. Or add another day or two to the allowable days on a pass, to compensate for two days of skiing the only three open trails, all greens from the base, as I experienced in mid-December at two adjacent resorts – one Ikon, one Epic – which I might identify over an apres beverage somewhere.
Hoping for a lively discussion here, with lots of comments.
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My wife and I skied most of January in Corvara, Dolomiti Ski area and it was excellent
All lifts were running and snow conditions were perfect
True, it was all man-made
And grass covered hills and naked mountains stretched to the horizon.
Still, the skiing was first-class
No worries about going there…and it just snowed.
I was skiing with the 70+ Ski Club in Val Gardena in January. Yes, agree the conditions were mostly excellent – including Corvara – despite being mostly man-made snow.
There’s a ton of snow in the Dolomites right now.
Yes, the season started slowly as it did in many areas but right now conditions are the best we’ve seen for a long time.
I have purchased a pass, Mountain Collective, Ikon or Epic every year since they became available except this year. I switched to snowboarding 26 years ago and turned 71 last year. I tore an MCL a couple years ago and my balance isn’t what it used to be. Well, I just had surgery for two torn tendons and a ligament sustained while cycling, so also considering the weather, it was a good decision. As we get older, purchasing a pass is riskier than it was when younger. I doubt I will be purchasing a pass in the future. I do not live in a ski area so considering the expense of flights, lodging and now daily passes, my riding days may be over.
No, don’t stop skiing or boarding. There are discount passes for those of us 70+, and some places, like Alta, offer free skiing for 80+ – check out our full article on discounts for senior skiers/riders elsewhere on the http://www.seniorsskiing.com website.
Mr Carter, You are eligible for the Senior pass at Loveland CO. $199 this year. We’ve had some of the best conditions in the state in the worst season I’ve experienced in my 65 years here. Check it out.
Bruce Bowlin
PSIA certified instructor
Epic NE passholder where, thanks to a recent storm and snowmaking the trail conditions are moderately good but very cold. My bitch is more about limiting trail access by running fewer lifts which shuts down whole areas of trails. How about a free coffee when this happens?
More than a free coffee. How about if 20% of the mountain is shut down, you should get a 20% discount for the day, etc.
I am in the Dolomites for the season and conditions are fantastic, it was a slow start fresh snow wise, but Dolomiti Superski did a fantastic job with snow making, until the snow came in and boy has the snow arrived.
We are presently in Val Gardena in Dolomites. They have had new snow and slopes are in very good condition. Great food at small family run restaurants. Can use Ikon pass. Day pass for seniors 79 euros for very large terrain.
I love Val Gardena and the Sellaronda, Everyone should put it on their bucket list. I have been there 3 times. That part of Italy is known for its wood carving. There is a certain romance about Italy.
As for the lack of snow in the Western US, many employees left town. Purchasing the EPIC or IKON put a lot of money into the resorts’ pockets, and they aren’t spending it. I feel bad for all the ski shops and restaurants in ski towns. Will the resort give a credit towards next season’s pass. It will be interesting to see. For now, I am pretending I am skiing in Cortina.
Alterra owned Solitude in Utah eliminated free parking, Monday through Thursday last spring. This week they eliminated free parking for Fridays as well.
I don’t know if it is a lack of snow or just greed but the ski industry in the US is killing itself. My daughter lives in Colorado, makes a 6 figure salary and can no longer afford to ski there. My son here in Minnesota, also with a six figure salary went to Colorado skiing last year and swore, “never again” The cost of hotel, lift tickets, and even air fare was just outrageous. It is no longer a family friendly business. Want to teach your kids to ski? Good luck with that!
Married 40 years to French Alps guy. He taught me to ski when I was 30. Still skiing. Up until last year, we did weekend or daily trips to Stratton. They worked with REI for discounts on Wed/Thurs for upcoming weekends. no more of that either. Daughter, now 31, was with us until she went to college. We no longer can afford even a Sunday 1 day pass, nor the weekends. Now we go to Les Sybelles, Family oriented resort in French Alps for long xmas holiday, stay in family home. SwissAir lets you bring 1 luggage, 1 pr skis, 1 boot bag gratis, skiing can be iffy at xmas, but Jan/Feb always great snow. 5 village resort, cheap food, sunny daily, 2 hrs from Geneva.Lifts are $45.00 for the 5 villages daily. week pass and Senior discount at 65.
May bring small nieces and nephews to local hills, but even those are more now too.
Just spent a week in Vermont at Killington, Stratton & Okemo, Great skiing, sorry for you folks going out west
You are right, Ikpn & Epic could do a lot more for us that “support” them during the BAD & good times!
Just got back from Bormio where the men’s alpine events will get underway today. They got two storms last week that dropped a total of 8”. Conditions were good and the town was buzzing in anticipation of the Olympics. A day lift ticket amounted to about $78. Food prices were surprisingly inexpensive for good quality meals.
My gut and failing memory (I’m on the wrong side of 80) says ski areas have never given discounts for piss-poor conditions or no snow. It extends to the hotels and the areas. Bad or no snow affects everyone in the resort – restaurants, ski school, all the shops, hotels. It’s a biz calculation because probably 70 – 80% of their revenue comes between Xmas and Easter. Keeping a skier’s money is a most likely a business decision in which the calculus is staying in business or going bankrupt. Not a fun choice. Also, part of the decision process is that it’s not like there are 10 competitors down the street.
Unfortunately, running a ski resort or a biz in a ski resort is a capital intensive business. This suggests that you can’t live on cash flow and must have a rainy day fund to sustain the ups and downs caused by Mother Nature.
BTW, I just came back from skiing Palisades and Northstar where the conditions were very spring like, but decent on the beginner and intermediate trails and many of the expert ones. Problem was the temperature – upper 30s at the tops of the mountains. What snow they have, they are losing due to temperature.
Approaching 92 birthday ski all over mass vt me nh free just raced wed wachusett gold medal 76 years skiing article in 70plus industry has lost its focus
Keep on truckin dude! My moms cousin Kaelin Tomlin skied your area into his 90s and was written up as well. Enjoy the great northeast season.
Just not close enough to a resort for a season pass to help me out. My son and I just skied whitetail Friday on a Helly Hanson jacket purchase offering BOGO lift tics at what appeared to be Vail resorts. Of course he got the free ticket and I got the jacket, which by the way was no warmer than my 35 year old Columbia still in my closet. My fav run, Far Side was closed and it looked to be all season purposefully. No insight into why. Had a great day with really good snow conditions but sure wish i could get a $5 draft. Brought our own wawa hoagies but should have stopped for a six pack. Happy my 66 yr old legs were moving better at the end of the day than they were during the morning runs. Think Snow! Ron
I’m 79 pushing 80 this year and I’m skiing now at Palisades Tahoe. How do I get the $60 refund from Alterra? We just got 6 feet of light dry Utah like powder and the skiing is amazing. Unfortunately, I can’t totally enjoy it because I’ve had five knee surgeries- three from ski accidents and two total knee replacements. The last knee replacement was eight months ago and the knee is still healing.
Either way the skiing is incredible right now!
The refund is from Vail, for specific Epic Pass resorts, not from Ikon or Alterra. Glad you are getting snow and enjoying it. Would love to receive an article from you about your injuries and replacement parts and that you still keep skiing. email me evelyn@seniorsskiingmedia.com.
I live in NW PA and Holiday Valley ranked by Ski Magazine #4 in the East, (Ellicotville, NY) is my home ski area. We have had over 150” of snow so far this season and the conditions, although frigid at times, have been terrific. As a senior and a 5 year continuous pass holder, my season’s pass is half price. Skiing has never been cheaper for me. I also have held the Ikon Pass for 6 years and use it for rebates when I travel with local ski clubs at Ikon ski resorts as
well as independent trips.
Folks I meet on the Holiday Valley lifts state that they come to HV with their families and grand kids because it is so affordable compared to VT or Western ski areas. They say the kids don’t care that the hill is small they are just happy to be skiing together. Lodging is plentiful and affordable (but books up during holidays).
Although this doesn’t address the reimbursement or discount for poor slope conditions, it does provide a basic value proposition for skiing at a first class highly rated resort for far less money than VT or western mega resorts.
The Village of Ellicotville is also a fun family center apres ski scene as well. I’m headed there tonight for dinner with some friends!!