How do you guys in Denver afford skiing regularly? (Vail: sale, rental)

[ferner1]

So disclaimer first, I am not yet a skier (but I really want to!)

But just wandering, how is it even feasible to live this lifestyle where you can ski regularly in top places? Is it realistic for anyone who isn’t rich? Especially for those guys out on regular basis, at least most weekends. It does look so fun though!

[BarryK123]

Season Pass. Even so, it's not cheap by any means with equipment, etc. Neither is golf, etc.

[Norrov]

IKON was like 700ish dollars
Keystone Plus Pass is 365
Epic is 500-700
Abasin pass is 360ish

Buy used gear when starting out, update gear slowly over time once you decide what you like.


Maybe costs 1000-2000 a year for me, more if I go on ski trips because of lodging. I’ve got 35 times so far, between Eldora, Copper, Winterpark, Abasin, Steamboat and Keystone. I have friends that go more than me and make less than 50K a year.

It’s probably one of my favorite things to do on this planet, very affordable compared to other hobbies. My buddy spends more on golf each year. It’s definitely a luxury activity.. worth it IMO.

[Denverpro]

In early 10's I could go ski and rent gear for $130 total now its more like $250 for a day. That's more than a plane ticket to miami so I just go to miami a couple times a winter.

[DKM]

I did it there with a very low budget. Used barely running subaru for 1k. Epic pass was a few hundred bucks for the season. Gear a few hundred bucks if you know where to buy it. You should already have the personal snow equipment if you live there.

[vunderbar]

Cut back on dumb purchases in town: coffee-to-go, eating out, etc. Get a pass, bring up food to keep daily costs down, share rides to keep gas costs down, buy your equipment used/on sale and don't replace it very often. You don't have to be rich to ski often. But if you're not rich, adjust your other spending, and then spend wisely when you do go up. It's doable. But it does take some commitment/discipline.

[Denverpro]

Originally Posted by vunderbar

Cut back on dumb purchases in town: coffee-to-go, eating out, etc. Get a pass, bring up food to keep daily costs down, share rides to keep gas costs down, buy your equipment used/on sale and don't replace it very often. You don't have to be rich to ski often. But if you're not rich, adjust your other spending, and then spend wisely when you do go up. It's doable. But it does take some commitment/discipline.

Yeah, I have been too lazy to explore other skiing areas not owned by Vail resorts, or I'm too lazy to stop in Idaho Springs to rent my gear for cheaper.

Maybe I'll try cooper this year, the ocean doesn't warm up in Miami until April.

[Westerner92]

I’ve skied 30ish days each season for the past four years, in part due to having friends I stay with in Summit County. I bought new equipment and have bought either the Epic or Ikon base pass. Doing some back of the envelope estimates, between equipment, passes, gas, and on-mountain meal splurges, I’ve averaged $50ish per ski day over the past few seasons. If you get more modest equipment and a single-mountain pass, you could easily halve that. There are large upfront investments, but if you take full advantage of them, it’s not a particularly expensive hobby.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Denverpro

In early 10's I could go ski and rent gear for $130 total now its more like $250 for a day. That's more than a plane ticket to miami so I just go to miami a couple times a winter.

I just got a demo rental for $60/day and a lift ticket from Liftopia for $76 at a high-end area. You just have to shop around and look for deals.

[LHS79]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

I just got a demo rental for $60/day and a lift ticket from Liftopia for $76 at a high-end area. You just have to shop around and look for deals.

I have used Liftopia many times in the past but all of the CO. ski areas did not have any deals recently.

Probably since a lot of areas have reservation systems or do not want large crowds if they can help it.