Info needed for snow skiing

[SheridanL]

Good idea Brill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Haley R]

I used to work for Vail Associates and found I wasn't really into skiing AFTER I bought skis/poles/boots. They've been hanging on my wall in the garage and I'd make a heck of a deal for anyone interested. Size 8, Coyote skis, Alpine boots.

As far as tickets, you can get discounts all over the place! Just check when you get here. Sometimes, radio stations do giveaways and some tv stations promote discounts. You missed a very busy snow season this year in the mountains.

[rosie]

Originally Posted by lildreamer

We will be spending our first winter in Colorado Springs this year. We are a family of four and would love to do some skiing and snowboarding. I would like to know of any deals. Should we get season passes? If so where and when? Do they offer multi park ski passes? Also we will all need equipment. Used is fine. Is ebay the best way? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Do you have any kids entering 5th grade? In the past few years there was a special program for 5th graders which allows the kids to ski free in each or most Colorado ski resorts. If you google "5th graders ski for free in Colorado" you will find some websites which describe the program. Also, for equipment for the kids, you can go to the Ski and Golf Store on Academy. They have second-hand equipment for kids...and a "return" program - if you buy equipment for the kids and return it the next season they will refund 50% of the costs and apply it toward a new purchase of equipment. I have skiied since the age of 3 and I am very experienced...I would never buy equipment on the internet...especially not boots...unless you have tried the same boot in a store beforehand and you know exactly what you need and want
Have you ever tried skiing before? If you have not, I would recommend that you rent the first time and see how you like it... skiing and snowboarding are very different from each other! Also, for the first year, I would not buy a pass but check out the different resorts and get to know them before you buy a season pass. If you like skiing I would invest into the adult gear (because you can keep that equipment for many years)...for kids I would try to spend less..but still get good equipment (for example I buy always black snow bibs/trousers because they will go with any colored jacket and I can pass them down my kids

Skiing is not cheap! But it is lots of fun especially here in Colorado!
Good Luck For now - enjoy the summer...it will be very short

[lildreamer]

Thanks everyone for all the info, I will sure use it. Rosie the 5th grader program sounds great. I will have to remember it next year. My daughter is entering 4th grade this year. We have all skiied before, my kids just once (but five days straight) in North Carolina, which will be nothing compared to here. My son did snowboarding and the rest of us skiied. We all have most of the pants and jackets, but will be needing skis and boots. The return program sounds perfect for my daughters equipment.

[jrbd]

Ski Cooper (in Leadville) is a great place to learn, IMO. Loveland is fine (I ski there more than anywhere else) but you'll be dealing with the I-70 crowds. Cooper also has the lowest ticket prices anywhere. It's small and compact but has excellent skiing, and you won't really want to deal with a big place when you're new and confused anyway.