Day tickets going through the roof in Vermont

[drjeff]

It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, this has on the number of people entering the sport. I know that there are still feeder hills, but those people are not going to want to take the once-a-year trip to Vermont now.

Just to pick on Sugarbush, since it's at the top of the pricing chart, if one scrolls to page 2 of their lessons menu, for first timers, they offer a series of 3 2 hour lessons (sounds like over 3 separate days based on the wording) , with rentals, beginner area lifts and a lesson with 1-6 people of the same level in the group for $750 ($382 for each additonal member of the same family) where upon completion of the program, one then gets an unlimited Sugarbush pass for the remainder of the season.

Is that a cost effective entity? I guess that depends on ones perspective and finanical situation. I also think that in the case if Sugarbush, chances are if a first timer is going there, it's with a group of friends traveling from outside the geographic area, so they may have some degree of disposable income to make it seem like a reasonable entry point into the sport for them

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Just to pick on Sugarbush, since it's at the top of the pricing chart, if one scrolls to page 2 of their lessons menu, for first timers, they offer a series of 3 2 hour lessons (sounds like over 3 separate days based on the wording) , with rentals, beginner area lifts and a lesson with 1-6 people of the same level in the group for $750 ($382 for each additonal member of the same family) where upon completion of the program, one then gets an unlimited Sugarbush pass for the remainder of the season.

Is that a cost effective entity? I guess that depends on ones perspective and finanical situation. I also think that in the case if Sugarbush, chances are if a first timer is going there, it's with a group of friends traveling from outside the geographic area, so they may have some degree of disposable income to make it seem like a reasonable entry point into the sport for them

my ex girlfriend did this at sugarbush and went from zero to competent beginner in a very cost effective way. we broke up years ago but she solidly intermediates at this point and went to banff the season before covid hit. program definitely made a skier, and the type who will want to pay for dumb bougie shit resorts love to sell.

 

[Newpylong]

Good for the small to medium mountains.

I defended day ticket prices for years, having been on the inside, but this is just out of hand. Expenses have not risen to fast/much to warrant the increase.

 

[boston_e]

How many years has it been since any of you walked up to a window and bought an un-discounted day ticket?

Years but that is more of a reaction to what the market is doing.

I've also not skied with certain friends in years because they have a different pass than we do and the price of going for a day to a mountain off of our pass is prohibitive. I'd like to be able to decide to mix it up and go stay with some other friends for a weekend and ski their home mountain but not willing to spend that type of $$$ to do it.

Personally, I'm not much of a fan of the cheap pass / expensive day ticket model that the industry has moved to.

 

[cdskier]

Yea...Sugarbush has done that "First timer to life timer" program for quite a while and it is a really good deal considering you get a season pass out of it as well. $750 may sound like a lot at first, but even many smaller mountains are often going to cost $150+ per day for lift ticket, rentals, and lessons typically. (And you don't get a free season pass at the end of of it).

 

[FBGM]

How many years has it been since any of you walked up to a window and bought an un-discounted day ticket?

2 times last year. Sun Valley which was like $145 somehow. And some other smaller place in Idaho which was $46 I think and rad.

This year I’m sure I’ll do it again here on the east in Spring

 

[boston_e]

Just to pick on Sugarbush, since it's at the top of the pricing chart, if one scrolls to page 2 of their lessons menu, for first timers, they offer a series of 3 2 hour lessons (sounds like over 3 separate days based on the wording) , with rentals, beginner area lifts and a lesson with 1-6 people of the same level in the group for $750 ($382 for each additonal member of the same family) where upon completion of the program, one then gets an unlimited Sugarbush pass for the remainder of the season.

Is that a cost effective entity? I guess that depends on ones perspective and finanical situation. I also think that in the case if Sugarbush, chances are if a first timer is going there, it's with a group of friends traveling from outside the geographic area, so they may have some degree of disposable income to make it seem like a reasonable entry point into the sport for them

I'd say it is cost effective for those who end up loving it and using the pass for the rest of the season.

Not so cost effective who tries it, does not love it and uses just the lessons.

 

[thetrailboss]

Just to pick on Sugarbush, since it's at the top of the pricing chart, if one scrolls to page 2 of their lessons menu, for first timers, they offer a series of 3 2 hour lessons (sounds like over 3 separate days based on the wording) , with rentals, beginner area lifts and a lesson with 1-6 people of the same level in the group for $750 ($382 for each additonal member of the same family) where upon completion of the program, one then gets an unlimited Sugarbush pass for the remainder of the season.

Is that a cost effective entity? I guess that depends on ones perspective and finanical situation. I also think that in the case if Sugarbush, chances are if a first timer is going there, it's with a group of friends traveling from outside the geographic area, so they may have some degree of disposable income to make it seem like a reasonable entry point into the sport for them

Considering that the average U.S. and Vermont individual income is about $31,000, then $750.00 up front is a lot of money.

 

[Kingslug20]

Last season I just had to ski SB..so I bought a day ticket...it was so good and was dumping the next few days..I bought a few more..no regrets..worth every penny to get away from the hordes at Stowe..it was empty...and the food was better. Now we bought an Icon to go along with the Epic...cause I like SB more.

 

[thetrailboss]

Last season I just had to ski SB..so I bought a day ticket...it was so good and was dumping the next few days..I bought a few more..no regrets..worth every penny to get away from the hordes at Stowe..it was empty...and the food was better. Now we bought an Icon to go along with the Epic...cause I like SB more.

The fact that you bought an IKON pass just shows that their strategy of setting a high day ticket rate works. That is the strategy with EPIC and IKON--drive people to buy a deeply discounted season pass and commit instead of buying day tickets. Of course you're here so like the rest of us you are not the "average" skier.

 

[Kingslug20]

Totally agree...can't pass up a good deal..and it got me 6 days at Jackson.

 

[drjeff]

The fact that you bought an IKON pass just shows that their strategy of setting a high day ticket rate works. That is the strategy with EPIC and IKON--drive people to buy a deeply discounted season pass and commit instead of buying day tickets. Of course you're here so like the rest of us you are not the "average" skier.

The strategy that the mega passes have sure can work. Not everyone is going to like it. And no there likely will never be an "ideal" pass for everyone that covers their desired resorts at a pricepoint they're happy with that is also a pricepoint that won't lead to lots of people buying those "ideal" passes.

There's probably a bunch of variables that the data that the resorts have about their guests and their spenidn habits while at the resort that drives their pricing decisions, and some of those variables are things that we may not fully grasp here on the boards of AZ and with what our desired usage of ski resorts and their facilities are

 

[boston_e]

Last season I just had to ski SB..so I bought a day ticket...it was so good and was dumping the next few days..I bought a few more..no regrets..worth every penny to get away from the hordes at Stowe..it was empty...and the food was better. Now we bought an Icon to go along with the Epic...cause I like SB more.

Why keep the Epic then if you like SB more and an IKON gets you more days than anyone can use in a season?

 

[cdskier]

Why keep the Epic then if you like SB more and an IKON gets you more days than anyone can use in a season?

Pretty sure he owns a condo near Stowe. So unless he wants to drive to SB every day he wants to ski, having Epic makes sense.

 

[Kingslug20]

yup..and now that I will be retired in December..I will have a bit more time on my hands.

 

[NYDB]

How old are you slug? I would guess mid fifty’s by your posts but dont know for sure. That’s a nice age for retirement.

 

[WWF-VT]

The nearly $200 per day walk up ticket price is only for people dumb enough or rich enough to pay that price.

Just for kicks I looked up single day advance purchase lift ticket prices at Sugarbush with All Mountain tickets at a high of $139 on weekends with plenty of days available at $109 and $119. Mt Ellen only tickets range from $50 to $79.

 

[Hawk]

I know they want us to buy a season pass but really ?

Sugarbush 185.20$
Stowe: 174.64$
Killington: 184.14$

Some Vermont Ski Areas Are Charging Nearly $200 for a Day Ticket This Season

www.compassvermont.com

I think that article is misleading. I just took screen captures now and it is nothing like that at Sugarbush.

 

[thetrailboss]

The nearly $200 per day walk up ticket price is only for people dumb enough or rich enough to pay that price.

Just for kicks I looked up single day advance purchase lift ticket prices at Sugarbush with All Mountain tickets at a high of $139 on weekends with plenty of days available at $109 and $119. Mt Ellen only tickets range from $50 to $79.

I was going to ask about plans for Mount Ellen and pricing/opening dates.

 

[boston_e]

I think that article is misleading. I just took screen captures now and it is nothing like that at Sugarbush.

I think $185.20 is the walk up window rate. The pre-purchase rates are lower.