Skiing in May: Would you pay a premium for it?

[Greg]

Lots of talk about the overall shortened seasons. Not a whole lot ski areas can do about October or early November lift serviced skiing. If it's not cold enough, it's just not cold enough. However, with some abundant snowmaking during the cold months, ski areas could certainly prep at least one run with enough snow to take them into May, barring any really bizarre warm-ups of course.

Given that, would you be willing to pay a premium for skiing in May? Say season passes expire on 4/30, would you be willing to purchase a lift ticket for May turns? What would you pay for a lift ticket to ski say something like Superstar, or Upper FIS, or even Hellgate-Upper/Lower Crossover at Hunter (run F-lift). $50? $60? $75? :-o I wonder if there could be a price point determined that would make this worthwhile for a ski area to attempt.

 

[Vortex]

I bought tickets to ski at wildcat in May. I think they were like 30 bucks. So I spent $60 to ski in May.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Lots of talk about the overall shortened seasons. Not a whole lot ski areas can do about October or early November lift serviced skiing. If it's not cold enough, it's just not cold enough. However, with some abundant snowmaking during the cold months, ski areas could certainly prep at least one run with enough snow to take them into May, barring any really bizarre warm-ups of course.

Given that, would you be willing to pay a premium for skiing in May? Say season passes expire on 4/30, would you be willing to purchase a lift ticket for May turns? What would you pay for a lift ticket to ski say something like Superstar, or Upper FIS, or even Hellgate-Upper/Lower Crossover at Hunter (run F-lift). $50? $60? $75? :-o I wonder if there could be a price point determined that would make this worthwhile for a ski area to attempt.

Paying a premium for late spring skiing is tough for me to swallow because I've always been used to heavily discounted late season tickets..Killington always used to be about $35 in May and some places like Sugarbush used to give free skiing on May 1st. No lift served skiing in May is a reality..as long as they don't take away April..I'm satisfied flying to Utah, British Columbia, or Colorado for May lift turns or earning turns in VT.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I’m not usually one for fantasy threads, but that is an intriguing idea. Instead of cutting prices to get people to the mountain, raise them or create a separate season pass to make snow that won’t last and would otherwise not be cost effective.

I would pay more.

 

[campgottagopee]

Would say no for me. By May it's time for other activites to start. That's why I really like living where we have a true 4 seasons.

 

[billski]

hmmm. I thought I was already paying a premium...

 

[Greg]

I’m not usually one for fantasy threads, but that is an intriguing idea. Instead of cutting prices to get people to the mountain, raise them or create a separate season pass to make snow that won’t last and would otherwise not be cost effective.

I would pay more.

Right. Kind of a supply-demand thing. There's been a ton of Killington bashing, and the biggest complaint is the shortened season so I have to imagine there's demand for it. If you're the only game in town, then a $50 or $60 lift ticket seems reasonable to me.

Wanna play? Gotta pay.

 

[snoseek]

How about passes that expire on maybe apr 15 then 50 per day after. Also a steep discount for passholders to that area, maybe 1/2 price. That could keep everyone happy imo.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I'll happily earn, but not pay.

 

[millerm277]

I'd be willing to pay the standard lift ticket rate to ski in May or at least fairly close to it, even with there likely only being a trail or two open.

 

[Treeskier]

When Sugarbush closed in the past I did pay to continue to ski at Kmart. At least one ticket a weekend till they closed. As late as June 1st!

 

[riverc0il]

Too busy earning turns on Mount Washington by that time of year to be concerned about lapping one top to bottom bump run a la Superstar or whatever else might be offered. After shelling out for a season pass and additional lift tickets, come May I am skiing for free. Would consider skiing lift serviced in May if the price was right, but definitely would not even consider paying a premium.

 

[WWF-VT]

... Say season passes expire on 4/30, would you be willing to purchase a lift ticket for May turns? What would you pay for a lift ticket to ski say something like Superstar, or Upper FIS, or even Hellgate-Upper/Lower Crossover at Hunter (run F-lift). $50? $60? $75? :-o I wonder if there could be a price point determined that would make this worthwhile for a ski area to attempt.

Season Pass = for the entire length of the season. No area would be able to have a fixed date for season ending of 4/30 and charge for "extra days". Sugarbush closed on May 5th this year and I would guess that a high percentage of May 5th skiers were season pass holders. There is minimal marginal money for ski areas to be open in May to cover operating costs

 

[Vortex]

At wildcat I would say there were more ticket buyers than pass holders on the May closing. I had a ASC pass and still chose to pay to ski Wildcat as did snowmonster,Jerry G and Snoseek. The marketing dept stated that it was a very successful weekend. The ability to open with a limited staff and weekend only service made a difference. Breeze could probably comment more. Money can be made,ballance between the die hards and the financial people can work.

 

[snoseek]

At wildcat I would say there were more ticket buyers than pass holders on the May closing. I had a ASC pass and still chose to pay to ski Wildcat as did snowmonster,Jerry G and Snoseek. The marketing dept stated that it was a very successful weekend. The ability to open with a limited staff and weekend only service made a difference. Breeze could probably comment more. Money can be made,ballance between the die hards and the financial people can work.

there was a small line to buy tickets. lots of people eating cafeteria food, drinking beer, ect. Hell , i had two season passes and still bought maybe 5 tickets at the cat last spring.

 

[deadheadskier]

I think Killington had the best concept for late skiing revenue. I'm not certain the last time they did, but I can recall in High School that they offered a past for like $199 from the middle of March on I believe it was. I used to get it most years as after my local Hill closed (Okemo), Killington would be open for at least another month.

They were pretty savy about selling it to. I recall going up to the lift ticket counter to purchase a four day ticket one season when Easter was quite early. I think the four day ticket was about $130-$140. They simply asked if I would like to upgrade for a pass good through the end of the season.

I would do something like this again in a heart beat, but I wouldn't pay a premium. If I thought I'd be able to spend 8 more days on the hill for $199, then I'd do it.

 

[Greg]

I think Killington had the best concept for late skiing revenue. I'm not certain the last time they did, but I can recall in High School that they offered a past for like $199 from the middle of March on I believe it was. I used to get it most years as after my local Hill closed (Okemo), Killington would be open for at least another month.

They were pretty savy about selling it to. I recall going up to the lift ticket counter to purchase a four day ticket one season when Easter was quite early. I think the four day ticket was about $130-$140. They simply asked if I would like to upgrade for a pass good through the end of the season.

I would do something like this again in a heart beat, but I wouldn't pay a premium. If I thought I'd be able to spend 8 more days on the hill for $199, then I'd do it.

Another idea might be to open the May terrain to folks that buy their pass for the following season early, as well as anyone willing to buy a day lift ticket, but not current pass holders. I see no problem with having current season passes expire on 4/30.

 

[Vortex]

I think Killington had the best concept for late skiing revenue. I'm not certain the last time they did, but I can recall in High School that they offered a past for like $199 from the middle of March on I believe it was. I used to get it most years as after my local Hill closed (Okemo), Killington would be open for at least another month.

They were pretty savy about selling it to. I recall going up to the lift ticket counter to purchase a four day ticket one season when Easter was quite early. I think the four day ticket was about $130-$140. They simply asked if I would like to upgrade for a pass good through the end of the season.

I would do something like this again in a heart beat, but I wouldn't pay a premium. If I thought I'd be able to spend 8 more days on the hill for $199, then I'd do it.

The Spring into March pass that let you ski all the Asc east resorts after March 1st.
. Then came the combo attitash and sunday river pass the next sesaon, followed by the Asc full pass to all the eastern resorts. I bought the spring into march pass two diffferent years.(gladly) Bronze two years. all extra passes backing up my threedom.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I won't pay a premium for May skiing...I'd rather earn my turns then and head to Tucks, ski something different and more challenging than you'd get at any eastern area in May. However, I also wouldn't buy a pass for a place that wasn't going to be open well into April.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Depends solely on conditions > If not great conditions NOPE-- too many other interests at that time of year