Colorado Ski Country USA

Press Room

 

Denver, CO, Winter 2009-10 - Reaping the rewards of a Colorado ski vacation include getting the best snow conditions, diversity of terrain, family friendliness, superior guest service and value for the spend. Colorado ski resorts offer all the above for all budgets. Knowing the locals' secrets, it's easy to load up a Colorado ski vacation with extra value.

All of Colorado Ski Country USA's (CSCUSA) 22 member resorts entice locals and tourists alike by offering various programs, packages and passes throughout the season. Budget-friendly secrets that range from discounted lessons, lift tickets, and equipment rentals to early-bird discounts on lodging and season passes are plentiful in Colorado Ski Country. 

Although many discounts and deals are unveiled as the season progresses, here are a few of the affordable options that CSCUSA's 22 member resorts offer, and some advice from locals on those lesser-known ways to maximize the value of a Colorado ski vacation:

Arapahoe Basin
A-Basin season pass holders receive season-long benefits including: one discounted half-day lesson, 10% off on food and beverages (excluding the 6th Alley Bar), 10% off in Arapahoe Sports and Black Mountain Sports shops, five days of skiing at Bear Valley in California, one unguided day of skiing at Silverton Mountain, discounted A-Basin lift tickets for friends and family, and $10 off of performance tunes all season long.

For additional benefits, A-Basin offers a Bonus Pass that entitles visitors to unlimited skiing and riding at A-Basin for the season plus five bonus days that can be used at four other Colorado resorts (restrictions apply). The Bonus Pass also includes all of the A-Basin season pass benefits.

For never-ever beginners looking for a deal, A-Basin has a Guarantee to Succeed program that includes a 2009-10 A-Basin Only season pass, three two-and-a-half hour group lessons and free rentals during lessons. If a skier or rider is not skiing blue terrain by the end of those three lessons, A-Basin will continue to provide lessons until the skier or rider does.

Carpooling to the mountain has its advantages too. A-Basin rewards carpoolers with discounts when four or more people ride together to the resort. Carpooling passengers receive discounted lift tickets, even if some people already have a season pass.

Aspen/Snowmass
Visitors to Aspen/Snowmass have more opportunities than ever before to save on their vacation all season long. The resort kicks off the season with the Thanksgiving Package, which allows guests to ski/ride for $25 per day. In the heart of the winter, visitors can check out the Perfect Winter Package, which gives guests a free day of skiing and a free night of lodging with the purchase of a minimum four-day lodging/lift package. In the spring, guests can take advantage of the Kids Ski Free Package through March, or ski/ride for less than $29 per day in April with the Mini Spring Vacation package (certain terms and conditions apply to each package - additional details available on request).

Skiing and riding in Aspen/Snowmass has many hidden benefits. Free buses run from Aspen to each of the resort's four mountains, all day long. Once on the slopes, guests can find a mountain ambassador stand located on and at the base of each resort. Mountain ambassadors provide guests with needed supplies such as free sunscreen, free Nature Valley granola bars, and free coffee and hot cider. Also, guests are invited to arrange a free ambassador tour to find their way around the mountain. Ambassadors will guide skiers and riders to all the right places depending on their ability.

The locals know to take advantage of the bar menus that nearly every Aspen restaurant offers. Bar menus feature the same items that are on the regular menu, but usually at half the price.

Crested Butte
Crested Butte offers multiple deals to guests who purchase lodging through Crested Butte Vacations (CBV). Visitors who plan an early-season getaway can take advantage of the Free Lifts and Lessons with Lodging package. The offer features free lift tickets and a lesson to guests who purchase lodging. CBV also allows kids 12 and younger to ski for free when lodging is purchased through their services.

During the holiday season, Crested Butte will offer the Grandest Christmas package-a family vacation available to a family of four, which provides four nights and three days at Crested Butte for under a grand.

Another tip: following the December holidays, Crested Butte is offering its 4th Night/4th Day Free deal. As part of this deal, a fourth night of lodging and a fourth day of skiing are free with the purchase of three nights of lodging and three days of lift tickets at Crested Butte.

This season, Crested Butte is also offering airline deals with Friends and Family Fly Free. Guests who purchase two airline tickets get a third ticket free when booking a trip to Crested Butte.

Guests who want the best deals with the most wiggle room can purchase one of CBMR's Mountain Cards. Mountain Cards include 10-Day and 15-Day passes, as well as the X Card, which is good for any six days of skiing, the EZ Pass, which gives guests one day of skiing per week, and the CB Card, which provides a single day of free skiing and discounts on all additional adult day lift tickets.

The resort also encourages guests to check out its children's group lesson package deals, including lesson and lunch, as well as lift, lesson and lunch for one all-inclusive price.

Loveland
This resort keeps things simple: save gas, ski Loveland. Loveland's proximity to Denver makes it an affordable choice for many day-trippers and vacationers who are looking for a quality ski experience at an affordable price. Transportation costs are minimal as the drive is short and the close-in parking is free. To further avoid thinning the wallet, Loveland offers affordable lesson packages, day care and food that won't break the budget. Guests can also bring their own food to grill at one of Loveland's three on-mountain cabins equipped with gas grills.

Guests can save on lift tickets with the Loveland 4-Paks consisting of four discounted lift tickets that guests can use any day of the season. Four-Paks can be used on four different days or for four different people on the same day. Loveland 4-Paks are available Labor Day through mid-November. 

Those just learning to ski can take advantage of the 3 Class Pass Program. This program gives first-time skiers and riders who complete three lesson packages (starting with a first-timer lesson) a free season pass upon completion of the third lesson package. This opportunity is available for kids or adults.

Monarch Mountain
This year, Monarch throws in ski days at 10 other mountains with its season pass. The 2009-10 Monarch Pass costs $319 for adults, with significant discounts for military, children, and seniors.

The season pass not only gets riders ski days at a growing list of partner resorts, but it also can get a friend in to ski at Monarch at a reduced price. The mountain offers pass holders the chance to bring a friend along for the discounted rate of $41, one reduced-cost lift ticket per day. No blackout days apply to the buddy deal or the season pass. 

Powderhorn
To help its guests keep skiing in the 2009-10 season despite the economy, Powderhorn will freeze lift ticket and season pass prices at last season's levels.

In another effort to make lift tickets more affordable this winter, Powderhorn also offers a Buy One, Get One Free deal through a partnership with Suncor. When guests purchase $10 of gas or more at any Phillips 66 station, they can receive buy one, get one free lift tickets.

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort
Purgatory makes skiing affordable for the whole family with the Family Fun Pack, which includes lift tickets and rentals for a family of four on select weekends.

Also this season, Purgatory offers a Buy 3 Get 4 / Buy 2 Get 3 deal. These packages offer a third or fourth day/night free with the purchase of two or three nights. This package includes lodging, lift tickets, group lessons, and rentals.

For locals, Purgatory will host the Friday Afternoon Club, which packages an afternoon half-day lift ticket, lunch and equipment rentals for a discounted rate.

Silverton Mountain
Silverton is the only ski town in Colorado where winter is the off season. This means that lodging and food is discounted or offered at unbeatable, off-season rates during the ski season.

Additionally, this season Silverton offers two nights of lodging and two days of unguided skiing starting at $180. For the unique experience of skiing at this expert-only all-natural resort, the price can't be beat.

SolVista Basin
SolVista specializes in ski instruction, and ensures that lessons are affordable for any budget. For the 2009-10 season, SolVista offers the Guaranteed Start to Ski/Ride package that provides an all-day lift ticket, equipment rental, and a full day of instruction for never-ever beginners for $99.

Also for never-ever beginners, the Get on the Snow Learning Program is a special program that includes two days of lift tickets, equipment rentals, and two all-day lessons for $149. To sweeten the package even further, the resort gives participants a SolVista Basin season pass after they complete the two days of instruction, and a $20 credit to use at the SolVista mountain shop.

Steamboat
The earlier guests book their winter vacation at Steamboat, the more they save. This year, the resort offers an Early Rewards Package, which saves guests 25% on any package when they visit between December 18 and March 31, if guests book by October 8. This package is also available during the holidays with a 10% discount. Additionally, guests can purchase lift tickets at last year's rates in advance through Steamboat Central Reservations® (restrictions/details apply).

For early and late season vacations, Steamboat offers the Ski Free Package, allowing guests to ski free in Steamboat when they purchase three nights of lodging through Steamboat Central Reservations for vacations before December 18, 2009 and after April 1, 2010.

Perhaps Steamboat's greatest deals come with the purchase of a 2009-10 season pass. In conjunction with the two other Intrawest resorts in Colorado (Copper and Winter Park), the Rocky Mountain Ultimate Pass provides unlimited skiing/riding on 433 trails, 8,510 acres and over 9,300 combined vertical feet of terrain at Steamboat, Winter Park, and Copper.
For 2009-10 Steamboat Only season pass holders, the resort offers an "ultimizing" opportunity in which season pass holders can add unlimited days at Winter Park and Copper to their already-unlimited Steamboat pass (price dependent on sale date).

Steamboat makes bringing the entire family to Colorado easy and affordable with the Kids Ski Free and Kids Rent Free packages. Any children ages six through 12 receive free lift tickets and rental equipment for each parent or grandparent who purchases tickets and rentals for five or more consecutive days.

Even non-skiers have an edge in Ski Town, U.S.A.® Guests looking for a non-skiing experience can take a gondola ride up to Thunderhead where the gondola pass is also worth a $9 discount on food purchased.

Sunlight
Quite possibly the most affordable ski vacation in Colorado, Sunlight offers the Ski Swim Stay package that includes a day of skiing at Sunlight, a swim at the largest hot springs pool in the world, and a night of lodging in Glenwood Springs. Additional vacation packages are also available that include deals on lift tickets, snowmobile tours, and tickets to the Glenwood Caverns.

Telluride
Telluride rewards skiers and riders who are aching to get on the slopes even before the snow begins to fall. The resort offers reduced early-bird pricing on a variety of ski passes to get people excited about the coming season and to help the resort's guests save some money at the same time. The resort is also busy planning other lodging deals and ski packages that it will offer throughout the season.

Winter Park
The Winter Park website is the place to go to find deals and discounts for a Winter Park vacation. A variety of vacation packages can be found throughout the season with discounts on lodging, lift tickets, and equipment rentals. Also, guests can sign up online for the Winter Park newsletter and receive discounts through newsletter offers. Discounted lift tickets can also be purchased online, with additional deals offered to season pass holders.

Winter Park insiders also take advantage of some lesser known money-saving tips, such as free parking available at Mary Jane, free lift tickets for volunteers at the Winter Park Competition Center, and unbeatable deals found at the ski swap, which the resort holds every fall.

Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek celebrates its 70th birthday this year. To celebrate 70 years of operation, the resort will offer discounted lift tickets during special events held throughout the season, such as local appreciation days and college days.

For guests looking to learn more about the free-heel style of skiing, Wolf Creek Telemark clinics offer guests a discounted lift ticket with the purchase of a two-hour telemark lesson.

Additionally, for early-bird buyers, Wolf Creek is selling season passes at a pre-season rate from September 25, 2009 through October 4, 2009. The early-season pass rate gives guests a significant discount, worth over $100 in savings.

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) is the not-for-profit trade association representing Colorado's 22 ski & snowboard resorts. CSCUSA is the global voice of the Colorado ski industry. The Association's primary functions are concentrated in marketing, public policy and public relations. Information about CSCUSA and its members can be found at www.ColoradoSki.com, on Twitter @ColoradoSkiUSA and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ColoradoSkiCountryUSA. This release and other press information can be found in the online press room at http://media-ColoradoSki.com.