Dedicated skiers can unearth multiple deals to soothe wallet
Skiing and snowboarding are promoted as “family-friendly” activities. But the bill for a day on the slopes can be downright unfriendly to the family budget. It’s a good thing plenty of deals can be found to take out the sting. The money saved can also enhance variety for a family’s ski season.
David and Linda Freeman of Spokane, and their kids Brianna, 13, and David, 11, buy their season passes at 49 Degrees North in the spring, when ski areas offer the next season’s pass at up to 40 percent off.
“We don’t ski nearly enough, in my opinion, but the money we save on season passes makes up for the cost and then some,” Linda Freeman said. “I would like to get around to other ski areas, but it’s kind of cost prohibitive.”
A little digging can unearth a lot of savings that can expand their options.
Mt. Spokane’s Family Fun Pack is 20 fully transferable lift tickets anybody can use. At $499, it pencils out to $24.99 each – 40 percent off the regular price for an adult ticket ($42). Papa John’s pizza joints offer Two-for Tuesday vouchers for 49 Degrees North (weekday adult $42). On Boomer Fridays at Lookout Pass, people 40 and older ski for $20. Plus, season-pass holders at any Ski the Northwest Rockies resort get $5 off at all the others.
Here are more area-wide deals:
The Ski the Northwest Rockies multimountain lift ticket program offers a 32 percent discount off last winter’s lead ticket price. This deal is good at Mt. Spokane, 49 Degrees North, Silver Mountain, Schweitzer and Lookout Pass. Families can team up for a hefty discount adding up to several hundred dollars.
A minimum purchase of 50 lift tickets – 10 from each Ski the Northwest Rockies resort – is required. Anyone can use the tickets at their respective mountains. Using the average ticket price of $46.66 at each resort, 50 lift tickets will cost $2,330. The corporate pass discount: $1,584. That’s $746 in savings – enough dough for about 250 gallons of gas. Contact info@skinwrockies.com to learn more.
Speaking of gas, buying 10 gallons or more at participating Shell stations earns a 2-for-1 voucher good at different hills on different days of the week. From Jan. 4 through April 16, this deal is good Mondays at 49 Degrees North, Tuesdays at Schweitzer and Thursdays at Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass.
Toyota drivers can ski free on one designated Friday during the ski season at each local hill. Find out when at skifreedeals.com. These partnerships among Ski the Northwest Rockies, Shell and Toyota save skiers and riders about $100,000 a year.
The Fifth-Grade Passport Program offers three days free for fifth-graders at any local hill they choose. The program also includes free or discounted lessons and rentals. Some areas offer siblings discounted lessons as well. About 2,500 kids a year participate. See skinwrockies.com under “Kid Zone.”
The Freemans can expand their horizons by taking advantage of several deals. Let’s say they want a change of scenery at Mt. Spokane. By fueling up at Shell and playing hooky on a Thursday, the 2-for-1 deal saves Linda’s adult weekday ticket: $36. David and Brianna’s season passes save another $10. Their 11-year-old fifth-grader Eric skis free under the Passport Program for a savings of $29. Total possible savings: $75.
That’s a tank of gas right there, plus lunch, for the next mountain.