Ticket prices: Whither the Midweek Discount, Increases & Bonehead Award

[snoseek]

BINGO!

Someone did their homework in yield management. Cannon's mid-week philosophy parallels Killington's new season long philosophy. Their gambling that cutting services / spending will increase their bottom line as those with deep pockets who really see no difference in paying $42 or $60 will still show up to fill the till.

Let's face it, skiing has, is and always will be an exclusive sport. As someone else mentioned, the american ski passes will go down as the good old days.

The problem with the philosophy is how short sighted it is. Such business models do NOTHING to promote the sport to first timers. One could argue that that's where the mom and pop ski areas come in, but so many have died off over the years......hmmm, another thread topic.

Yeah but this is cannon we are talking about....other than some local old money, it's pretty much pbr drinking ski bums (and not just cause pbr is the new hip beer). I suppose it's now a passholders mountain m,w,f.

also-cannon usually runs all the necessary lifts midweek (they usually shut the eagle cliff), so rally what they need is more snowmaking for resurfacing, and an earlier tram opening.

 

[Mr MRG]

$35 Midweek at Mad River Glen

Sorry for the overt marketing but....

FYI, Mad River Glen offers midweek lift tickets for a mere $35 except during holiday periods.
$54 on weekends is pretty good too.
$56 during holiday periods ain't exactly gouging!

Plus knowing you are supporting a good cause.... Priceless!

or

ski any day for only $39 a day with a Mad Card (must be purchased by Dec. 15th)
Visit www.madriverglen.com

 

[riverc0il]

so rally what they need is more snowmaking for resurfacing, and an earlier tram opening.

Win.

 

[spooner]

Thanks for the info on midweek prices...I tend to get several mi-week days in each month. I'm kinda shocked to see the increases at some areas...interesting to see if the increases stick through next season. Looks like a pass at one mountain in particular may be the way to go in the future.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I stay and ski at Stowe about 3 times a year, but stay with friends and brown bag it. If you read the marketing material it's pretty clear that by 2008 they want you to pull your wheels into the parking garage, use the ski concierge and valet and massage service. I'm not making this stuff up, read their material, it's there.

While you would be glad to pay $80 and don't consider it much money, there is a large contingency of us who do find it to be a lot of money. I'm not ready to do that for my family of five, no longer considered "youth." While you would gladly pay $30, I have to pony up $150 per day extra for the same. I maintain the vast majority of skiers won't be "sucking it up" and don't have unlimited budgets. More and more people now vote with their feet, and as we do, when skiing as a family, go the other way, to Bolton. I can easily get vouchers for a family of five for a whopping $100 high season or $50 per day late season, versus $395 per day at Stowe. That is the difference between whether my kids can go to summer camp or not. Not everyone needs or wants all the steeps that the quad offers.

I've organized dozens of group trips, but now with a family, with a very constrained schedule, it's impossible to pick the dates with the best rates or to find a "group" of families who would be interested. April is an impossible travel month when you have three kids in school and grades matter.

Wow..I'm not going to get myself fixed just yet but I would have trouble giving up skiing at Stowe, Jackson Hole, and travelling during off-peak times. Mad Props to you for spreading your love of skiing to your kids. I hear so much from my peers along with random people of all the responsibilities of having kids..I like just being responsible for myself. Anyway..my views on ski pricing are way different than others...and 5 days in Stowe for just myself including lift tickets, lodging, gas, and food can run close to a grand..so I can imagine how expensive it could be to take a wife and a couple kids along..When I see families vacationing in Jackson Hole, I know they're most likely earning several hundred G's a year..which for me to make..would mean hardly any ski time..

 

[billski]

growing up...

Wow..I'm not going to get myself fixed just yet but I would have trouble giving up skiing at Stowe, Jackson Hole, and travelling during off-peak times. Mad Props to you for spreading your love of skiing to your kids. I hear so much from my peers along with random people of all the responsibilities of having kids..I like just being responsible for myself. Anyway..my views on ski pricing are way different than others...and 5 days in Stowe for just myself including lift tickets, lodging, gas, and food can run close to a grand..so I can imagine how expensive it could be to take a wife and a couple kids along..When I see families vacationing in Jackson Hole, I know they're most likely earning several hundred G's a year..which for me to make..would mean hardly any ski time..

You don't need to get "fixed", but you do need a support group. In my 35+ years of skiing I have watched a lot of ski buds come and go. Usually they start to disappear when their kids hit Middle school. Expensive (money and time) kid activity years really start to eat into your budget fast. Let's talk about hockey tournaments, equipment, transportation, soccer, drama, summer camp, and I haven't even started on the educational expenses.

I know lots of excellent skiers who have bailed and not returned to skiing. Take a look around at this group - do a poll - I'm pretty confident that you won't find many skiers with older families on this list. Priorities change, whether you want them to or not.

For me, it was part of the deal when we married and I make it a priority to get out in the winter. However, as the kids grow, compromise is the name of the game. I hear lots of good talk about getting out with the kids young and often. While an admirable goal, it doesn't happen all that much. You hear mostly about the very few who make it an overwhelming priority. Reality is that there is more to life than skiing (much as I would like to refute it) and many things compete for your time and money.

I do some family trips, but even now, the kids are drifting into other activities. I have a few "big boys" trips during the week, so I can be home on weekends for the kids activities. They really grow way too fast, you will someday believe the cliche' too.

so trolling for deals is a priority for me. Many families compromise on one ski trip a year, and, that's all they do, the whole winter. I couldn't do that, but then again, my family doesn't want to go out every week. Again, about compromise.

Plan it now so it doesn't get away from you later in life.

 

[hammer]

I have a 15YO and a 10YO...both do soccer in the fall and spring. The older one says he wants skiing to be his physical activity during the winter...who am I to complain.

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

yeah this thread makes me really appreciate the "mom and pops " that still are able to keep going and offer great fun at reasonable prices . I t may require slowere rides but hey the skiing is fine

SUPPORT your Local Hill guys !!

I was just thinking the same...Funny how it seems like you hear people blast Stratton and Vail for their one day ticket prices but no one really says anything about Stowe's $84 lift ticket (Which happens to be $5 more than the next closest...Kmart). IDK but this thread makes me want to support places like Whiteface, MRG and Magic as opposed to the big guys.

 

[billski]

I have a 15YO and a 10YO...both do soccer in the fall and spring. The older one says he wants skiing to be his physical activity during the winter...who am I to complain.

You have died and gone to heavuuuuuunnnnnnnnn:-D

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I was just thinking the same...Funny how it seems like you hear people blast Stratton and Vail for their one day ticket prices but no one really says anything about Stowe's $84 lift ticket (Which happens to be $5 more than the next closest...Kmart). IDK but this thread makes me want to support places like Whiteface, MRG and Magic as opposed to the big guys.

As long as you don't mind spending your time riding lists as opposed to skiing..lol..Whiteface does have a high speed Gangola..