Skiing has always been an expensive sport to pursue. Inflationary pressures on the economy, increased demand for the sport, and other factors have greatly hurt skiing’s affordability. As lift ticket prices soar, skiers must find ways to save money in order to have the maximum amount of days on the mountain each season. Thankfully, there are ways for an astute consumer to find the best value for their dollar. 

Shop Clearance Gear and During Sale Days

A wary consumer will always keep their eye out for a good deal. These deals can be found in the form of product being marked down in order to be cleared out, or during sale days like Black Friday and Boxing Day. Used gear is always an option as well, which makes the Ski Swap a worthy time to shop for gear for the upcoming season. 

Lift Tickets

Lift tickets have become increasingly more expensive each year as resorts spend more on upgrades to improve guest experience. This has resulted in many mountain resorts charging upwards of $160, and some going as high as $299 for a single day. The best way to save on lift passes depends on how often you will be hitting the slopes, and how many different resorts you wish to visit in a given year. 

1-7 Days at 1-3 Different Resorts

The Sunshine Super Card and the Lake Louise Plus Card are great for a more casual skier. Both cards offer a free first, fourth, and seventh day, with discounted rates on the days in between. These cards typically cost around $130, but can be found for $99 during sale times such as Black Friday and Boxing Day. This means that even if the pass is only used once, it is still saving the user money compared to buying tickets directly at the hill. The Sunshine Super card is redeemable at Sunshine Village in Banff, Marmot Basin in Jasper, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort in BC. The Lake Louise Plus card is redeemable at Lake Louise, Panorama Resort in Invermere BC, and Castle Mountain. This gives a nice variety as well. 

7+ Days at 4+ Resorts

The Mountain Collective pass is perfect for the travelling skier. This pass costs around $900, but can be bought for cheaper if purchased in the summer prior to the season. 25 resorts across the world are now in the Mountain Collective, with the vast majority being in North America. The Mountain Collective pass offers 2 free days at each resort, and 50% off passes afterwards. Therefore, the more resorts you visit and more you ski, the less you will pay per day of skiing. 

30+ Days at 1 Resort

If you are an avid skier that will ski 30 or more days in a given season, your best bet is to purchase a season pass at your local resort. With a season pass you can ski an unlimited number of days in a season. This is by far the best bang for your buck. Ski Big 3 also offers a season pass for Sunshine, Louise, and Norquay. This gives unlimited access to three resorts instead of just one which is offers more variety than just a regular season pass. 

Remember that skiing is a sport that can be afforded by most. It may take a bit of time and research, but finding deals on gear and lift tickets is easier than you may think. The less you spend on lift tickets per day, the more time you can spend out on the slopes enjoying the sport that we all love.