Skiing on the Cheap - 2016-17 Edition

[KustyTheKlown]

I decided to do the vt5 instead of the Champlain valley card due to Stowe and sugarbush. I'll end up using it at jay, mad river, and magic or smuggs too. A little sad to give up whiteface and cannon but I think getting the expensive VT spots is worth it

 

[VTKilarney]

Their email list and social media and word of mouth, have made it much more well know. To think the limited audience on AZ had more than a small effect on why it sells out so quick now is crazy.

Quoted for truth. It sounds like everyone who wanted one got one. Tuna did folks a favor and the hysteria was totally unwarranted.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Quoted for truth. It sounds like everyone who wanted one got one. Tuna did folks a favor and the hysteria was totally unwarranted.

I think there's an ebb and flow to it too. Yes, more people do know than in years past, but the product has increased in price as well making it somewhat less of a deal, leading some folks dropping out from buying it. Ebb and flow, some buyers are added to the bucket, and some buyers leak out of the bucket. Still a pretty heavily demanded deal, but perhaps not as much as in year's past as it used to sellout near instantaneously.

 

[Jcb890]

Fuck... all that and I completely forgot to sign on yesterday and get a VT Ski 3 for my wife and I. They are now sold out. Its been quite the past week/week and a half and I just blanked on it... ugh.:angry:

 

[steamboat1]

I think there's an ebb and flow to it too. Yes, more people do know than in years past, but the product has increased in price as well making it somewhat less of a deal, leading some folks dropping out from buying it. Ebb and flow, some buyers are added to the bucket, and some buyers leak out of the bucket. Still a pretty heavily demanded deal, but perhaps not as much as in year's past as it used to sellout near instantaneously.

The price has remained the same for several years now & even then the price only went up $5-$10 for the 3 pack from what it was before. In years past you had to send in a written application for the pass along with a check. I'd often wait several days before I sent in the application/check & during those years I only got shut out once because I had waited to long & they were sold out. Now since they switched to applying online the passes sell out within hours. So I'll have to disagree with you both about the pricing & the demand.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Fuck... all that and I completely forgot to sign on yesterday and get a VT Ski 3 for my wife and I. They are now sold out. Its been quite the past week/week and a half and I just blanked on it... ugh.:angry:

sucks dude... been there, done that

 

[dlague]

I think there's an ebb and flow to it too. Yes, more people do know than in years past, but the product has increased in price as well making it somewhat less of a deal, leading some folks dropping out from buying it. Ebb and flow, some buyers are added to the bucket, and some buyers leak out of the bucket. Still a pretty heavily demanded deal, but perhaps not as much as in year's past as it used to sellout near instantaneously.

The Ski 5 Pass has always and continues to sell out quickly. The Ski 3 Pass as long as I have been buying it been sold out close to 10 am. While the price has moved up ever so slightly the increase has not been that bad as compared to the Fox 44 card did last year.

 

[steamboat1]

The Ski 5 Pass has always and continues to sell out quickly. The Ski 3 Pass as long as I have been buying it been sold out close to 10 am. While the price has moved up ever so slightly the increase has not been that bad as compared to the Fox 44 card did last year.

I think this is the third year they've done the online application so you can see when passes sell out. I remember the first year it was the 3 pass that sold out first, last year & this it's been the 5 pass.

I buy it mostly for my daughter who only ski's a few days a year. I'm going to be hard pressed to use mine since I have the MAX Pass add on that covers 5 days at both Okemo & Stratton. Usually I would use one for Stratton in addition to Stowe & Sugarbush. Going to have to find a different place to use the third pass this year.

 

[dlague]

I think this is the third year they've done the online application so you can see when passes sell out. I remember the first year it was the 3 pass that sold out first, last year & this it's been the 5 pass.

I buy it mostly for my daughter who only ski's a few days a year. I'm going to be hard pressed to use mine since I have the MAX Pass add on that covers 5 days at both Okemo & Stratton. Usually I would use one for Stratton in addition to Stowe & Sugarbush. Going to have to find a different place to use the third pass this year.

Sounds like you have a nice setup!

 

[dlague]

If you have kids that are skiing here is a program that offers some free lift ticket for them at:

Attitash Ski Resort
Black Mountain
Cannon Mountain
Cranmore Mountain Resort
Gunstock Mountain Resort
Loon Mountain Resort
Mount Sunapee Resort
Pats Peak Ski Area
Ragged Mountain Resort
Waterville Valley Resort
Wildcat Mountain
Lost Valley Ski and Banquet Resort

http://www.breathenh.org/funpass-2017attractions-discounts?

 

[steamboat1]

Sounds like you have a nice setup!

Hey I might even come out & visit you since Copper, Steamboat & Winter Park are on the pass. I've never been to any of them except the Vail places. Vail, Beaver, Breck, Keystone & A-Basin. Between the three Max places I could ski fifteen days. For $299 no less.

 

[dlague]

Hey I might even come out & visit you since Copper, Steamboat & Winter Park are on the pass. I've never been to any of them except the Vail places. Vail, Beaver, Breck, Keystone & A-Basin. Between the three Max places I could ski fifteen days.

Sounds like a plan!

 

[BenedictGomez]

I'll have to disagree with you both about the pricing & the demand.

To me a $3.33/increase per ticket is substantial, but as you know I'm neurotic in terms of lowering $/day. In this case also, I have lots of means to get sub-$40, so it's not critical to me. In terms of demand though, seems to me it's lingering longer. Perhaps I'm wrong but I dont recall having several hours to buy this, as IIRC it sold out in an hour or less one of the years I bought it.

the price has moved up ever so slightly the increase has not been that bad as compared to the Fox 44 card did last year.

That's an understatement, Fox44 was an absolute debacle last season. I wonder if that cost the sponsor a lot of money, or if that deal works for them on an "as sold" basis (meaning they didnt technically "lose" money, but didnt make much last year either due to lack of sales).

 

[steamboat1]

To me a $3.33/increase per ticket is substantial, but as you know I'm neurotic in terms of lowering $/day. In this case also, I have lots of means to get sub-$40, so it's not critical to me. In terms of demand though, seems to me it's lingering longer. Perhaps I'm wrong but I dont recall having several hours to buy this, as IIRC it sold out in an hour or less one of the years I bought it.

Considering how the price of lift tickets have gone up just over the past 4 years & the price of the pass remaining the same (might be longer than 4 years) the deal has gotten better not worse.

I don't recall having an hour or less to buy it either (Except for the past 3 years). Used to be I could sit on the application for a week or more & then send it in & still get passes. It worked on snail mail before the past three years. How could it possibly sell out in an hour or less? You've got some pretty fast mail service.

I have to disagree with you again.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I don't recall having an hour or less to buy it either (Except for the past 3 years). Used to be I could sit on the application for a week or more & then send it in & still get passes. It worked on snail mail before the past three years. How could it possibly sell out in an hour or less? You've got some pretty fast mail service.

I have to disagree with you again.

This is what I'm talking about. I only did mail once order once, and then bought it online (though not this year) since they went online. I know there was at least one year where I wanted a 5-pass, but I bought a 3-pass instead, because it sold out remarkably fast and I got shut out of the 5-pass.

 

[steamboat1]

This is what I'm talking about. I only did mail once order once, and then bought it online (though not this year) since they went online. I know there was at least one year where I wanted a 5-pass, but I bought a 3-pass instead, because it sold out remarkably fast and I got shut out of the 5-pass.

So you learned so much about the ebbs & flows of the VT. Pass in only 4 years....:roll:

 

[dlague]

This is what I'm talking about. I only did mail once order once, and then bought it online (though not this year) since they went online. I know there was at least one year where I wanted a 5-pass, but I bought a 3-pass instead, because it sold out remarkably fast and I got shut out of the 5-pass.

So you learned so much about the ebbs & flows of the VT. Pass in only 4 years....:roll:

I get what BG is saying. I have done the same. Did mail order the first time around then online afterwards. The 5 Pass has always sold out quickly. The 3 Pass sold out generally around mid morning because I let other friends know that they were still available. This year I did not for obvious reasons. I do have to say, the increase has been minimal. It was $120 4 years ago and $130 now. That price change is WAY slower than price changes at the resorts. Still a great IMO. If I was back east still I would have picked up a few.

 

[Smellytele]

Well I decided to not got to the the Warren Miller movie at the Palace in Manchvegas this year (Kristin's gift/chad charity)It went from $40/$20 to $55/$30. Also all tickets are Mon-fri and Gunstock's deal isn't great either.

VIP TICKET	REGULAR TICKET
Pat's Peak Mon-Fri Full Day Pass	---
Sugarbush Mon-Fri Full Day Pass	Sugarbush Mon-Fri Full Day Pass
Gunstock Flex Pass (50% discount all season)	Gunstock half-off ($25) Flex Pass (50% discount all season)
Peak Resorts M-F Full Pass (Mt. Snow, Attitash, Wildcat, Crotched Mtn)	Peak Resorts M-F Two-for-One (Mt. Snow, Attitash, Wildcat, Crotched Mtn.)

Suicide Six Two-for-One Pass

Suicide Six Two-for-One Pass

Burke Mountain Mon-Fri Full Day Pass

Burke Mountain Mon-Fri Full Day Pass

 

[xwhaler]

I got two VIP bags for the show. I will ski 4 days for $55 on my bag so quite happy with that math.

Wife will probably only get 2-3 days for the $55 but she's never been to Wildcat so it will be fun to take her up on a midweek day.

 

[steamboat1]

ski club days.

Belleayre: $38

Dec. 10, 21
Jan. 28
Feb.28
Mar 19,20

Gore: 1 day $42, 2 day &75

Dec. 3-4
Dec. 22-23
Jan. 12
Feb. 9
Mar. 6
Mar. 25-26