Skiing on the Cheap - 2005-06

[Brettski]

I've never skied Bellearye, but would like to. Seeing as NYS owns Bellearye, WF and Gore, you'd think they would come up with a pass that let's you ski all three. I know ORDA runs WF and Gore and Bellearye is run by DEC, but they should find a way to hook up.

Yup. That could keep ALL of my skiing dollars in NY state, instead of Mass / VT. Gas, tolls, meals, condos, tuneups, beer, ... sales tax / jobs / sales tax / jobs.

All it would take is the proverbial 3 men in the room in Albany.

How do we start a petition thread?

 

[Joshua B]

Are we also talking about ski discount cards with deals on ski areas in the New England region?

 

[loafer89]

Belleayre is probably the second best run ski area in New York State behind Hunter Mountain. The snow surface maintenance is top notch.

The downside to this place is the mid-stations located on EACH summit lift :x .

 

[BrockVond]

The downside to this place is the mid-stations located on EACH summit lift :x .

yup. they should do away with those, for a variety of reasons. I saw a beginner break an ankle right in front of me mid-station on the yahoo triple last season. It's too steep a dropoff for beginners, and they panic. Beginners are much better served by the quad to green/blue terrain.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Belleayre

The downside to this place is the mid-stations located on EACH summit lift :x .

yup. they should do away with those, for a variety of reasons. I saw a beginner break an ankle right in front of me mid-station on the yahoo triple last season. It's too steep a dropoff for beginners, and they panic. Beginners are much better served by the quad to green/blue terrain.

I understand why they set up the lifts this way (due to the trail layout), but whenever beginners "share" a lift with advanced skiers it turns out to be source of problems. For the beginners, it creates danger, and for the advanced skiers it creates aggravation. Some beginners (usually the LEAST proficient) fail to get off when they should and then face the terrifying and dangerous trip down from the top of a black. Advanced skiers find themselves sitting endlessly while loading and unloading fiascos are sorted out by the lifties. The worst thing they ever did at Windham was to cut a "Green" trail from the top of the mountain that previously was served by an "Experts Only" lift for three challenging trails. Now, with novices loading, including large groups of small children and families, this lift (NOT a detachable) must run slowly and stops constantly. It really ruins the access to those three excellent blacks!

 

[Brettski]

Windham is a very boring mountain....

I remember our first time to Stowe....on Spruce Peak...had to buy a new set of Poles for my wife because she held them down and the mid-station snapped them like a twig....

For all the times I've skiied Belleayre, I've never had a problem...maybe on MLK weekend...but nothing that I can recall.

I find that the beginners stay at the bottom base lodge and ski there. And NOBODY (and it took me a long time to figure out to get there) skis the diamonds on the right side of the hill.

 

[dmc]

Windham is a very boring mountain....

Some would say the same about Bellayre...

But people go and enjoy... What's boring to one is exciting to another...

A friend of mine may be a fulltime instructor at Bellayre this winter...
Looking forward to getting over there..

Bands playing a party in Fleischmanns this weekend.. There's going to be a lot of Bellayre people there... Good bunch!

 

[tirolerpeter]

Windham is a very boring mountain....

I remember our first time to Stowe....on Spruce Peak...had to buy a new set of Poles for my wife because she held them down and the mid-station snapped them like a twig....

For all the times I've skiied Belleayre, I've never had a problem...maybe on MLK weekend...but nothing that I can recall.

I find that the beginners stay at the bottom base lodge and ski there. And NOBODY (and it took me a long time to figure out to get there) skis the diamonds on the right side of the hill.

"And NOBODY skis the diamonds on the right side of the hill." I do. Why did you say this? If you mean, the access from the lift at the extreme end of the main parking lot, I can see why you had trouble finding it. You have to "schuss and skate" through some winding trails through the woods to get there and back again.

 

[Greg]

Are we also talking about ski discount cards with deals on ski areas in the New England region?

Sure. Feel free to list anything that saves $.

 

[Joshua B]

Here are two New England-based organizations that offer season-long savings for an upfront fee:

Ride & Ski New England Super Value Card

N.E.V.Ski Association - The original virtual ski club

I'm hoping to hear news from both of them as to what mountains are participating in their programs for 2005/2006. I contacted the person who sold me my Ride & Ski New England Super Value Card last year and there's no word yet (as of a week ago). It's going to be interesting to see if the N.E.V.Ski Association will be back this season.

 

[Talisman]

If you live or work in CT here is a link for the CT Ski Council: http://www.skiclub.com/ and look at CSC 2005-6 Discount Days under Member Benefits. In addition to discount days there are good any day discount lift ticket coupons for sale in early September for many VT ski areas.

 

[Greg]

Has anyone come across any other deals?

 

[awf170]

bump...

 

[eatskisleep]

Yes, Black Mountain of NH has some great deals!
Ticket Prices:

Weekends and Vacation Periods-------------------Full Day----After12:30
Adults (18 - 64)------------------------------------$32.00-----$23.00
Juniors (6 - 17)------------------------------------ $20.00---- $16.00
Children (5 and under)---------------------------- Ski FREE--- Ski FREE
Seniors (65 and older)---------------------------- $20.00---- $16.00
College Students & Military (ID required)-------- $25.00---- N/A


Weekdays --------------------------------------- Full Day-----No Half-Day Tickets On Weekdays
Adults (18 - 64)--------------------------------- $20.00
Juniors (6 - 17)--------------------------------- $15.00
Children (5 and under)------------------------- Ski FREE
Seniors (65 and older)------------------------- $15.00

Two Adults and Two Kids under 18 for only $89 on a weekend

 

[tirolerpeter]

Deals

JIMINY PEAK "Value Card" The card costs $33. With the card you get $15 off any ticket..8 hour weekday = $44 less $15, weekend $55 less $15, or $15 off the 4 hour ticket. You are also still eligible for the $15 off on "State Days" (NY is Tues I think) where residents get an additional $5 off. That drops a Tuesday ticket to $24. And there are additional discounts on "Ladies Nights" and "Men's Nights." That's a "no brainer." AND if you buy it before Nov 1st, you get a voucher for a FREE lift ticket with the card. Duhhh!

Here is the HUNTER deal:

The 2005-2006 Big Lift Card



WHAT: The Big Lift Card features giant season-long savings! You'll get $10 off weekend/holiday lift ticket purchases (reg. $54), $14 off midweek tickets (reg. $46), $23 lift tickets on Tuesdays, and FREE skiing & riding in April! Purchase your before November 1st and we'll include a Free Lift Ticket (see below for restrictions)!

WHO: Skiers and riders looking for BIG savings without the season pass commitment.

HOW MUCH?

$29.95 (price increases to $49.00 on November 1st)

 

[Skifastsailfast]

Re: several good deals

Sunday River has Santa Sunday usualy its fairly early December Wear a Santa Suit donate $10 show up for the Photo shoot and you end up with and all day pass and 2 more comp tickets good for the next weekend.

Shawnee Peak has Monday Night Madness! $10 lift tickets from 4p-9p every Monday Night! Starts December 19, 2005. EVERY Monday - including Holidays!

Mt Abrahms has a cheep night sking rate for Friday & Saturday nights $15 bu if you have a season pass its
$5 Night Ticket - present a valid day ticket or season pass from another area and ski that night for 5 bucks!

Bretton Woods has a Sunday afternoon ticket thats pretty cheep for those who live in a near by county.
its not on thier web site but if you call and ask they can give you the cost and which counties are included. I think it was around $12 for a ticket that was good from 12:30 till close on Sunday Afternoons. Only good on non holiday weeekends.

Wild cat Sunday Afternoon Cruise
Ski & ride from Noon - Close. Purrrfect! $20

Big Squaw Mountain. All day lift tickets any day of the week $19 what a bargain..

Saddle back Maine Days* $25
First Sunday of the month!
December 18, January 1, February 5,
March 5 and April 2 proof of residency is required

I still think the All For One ASC pass is one of the best deals out there, provided you plan to get a lot of days in. Bought mine for $349 last spring; the bronze pass is now $369 (silver and gold, with fewer blackout days, are a little higher). I got around 25-30 days in at ASC places last year, so it was well worth it.

Big Squaw? Are you actually expecting Big Squaw Mountain to open? Dude, at best you'll get around 300 vertical if all they run is the triple. The chairs for the double were still stacked at the bottom the last time I drove up there. Local scuttlebutt is that the jury's still out whether the place will open at all.

If you have heard otherwise, do tell!

 

[freeheelwilly]

Whiteface $299. There is black-out periods and you had to buy before May 1 (I think) but keep it in mind for next year. You're losin' money every second you don't have that pass! Less than $300 for a pass at WF? C'mon!

 

[hiroto]

Wachusett 3 Peat Card

Wachusett has been offering this 3 Peat Card
($99 for 3 days of skiing any time) toward the
end of the season recently, but this year
they are offering the card from the beginning
of the season. This is better deal than
$8 off with Gold Pass (free with AAA card)
for weekend/holiday skiing.

 

[ts01]

Plattekill - best in the Catskills - has a killer deal for college students. I'm a couple decades too late (as usual) but the bottom line is $99 season passes if 4 students sign up together:

The Student "Buddy Pass" IS BACK!
SAVE $100 OFF our $199 student pass rate when you gather together a total of 4 friends and purchase your passes together!
THAT'S A SEASON PASS FOR ONLY $99 EACH!!!!!
All 4 must purchase their season passes at the same time and must be between the ages of 18-21 with proof of full-time college i.d. This offering is available all season.

http://www.plattekill.com/winter/season rates.htm

Regular pass rates aren't bad either.

 

[bill9009]

I dont know if anyone else is active duty military. But here is a good deal I am going to take advantage of at Okemo!

Military Discount - Active Duty only

Okemo Mountain offers a Military Discount for United States Military Personnel who are on active duty. Simply show your active duty ID at the Mountain Services Center to receive the following discount:

*50% off full-day lift tickets, Monday thru Friday, non-holiday
*$10 off full-day lift tickets, weekends & holidays
*BONUS - for the month of January (excluding 1/14-1/15/06) receive 50% off the daily lift ticket rate 7 days a week!