By Kristen Lummis, braveskimom.com
Whether youre a family of hardcore skiers and riders, or your kids have been begging to learn, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA)s 5th and 6th Grade Passport is the best deal going.
Heres why:
1. Amazing Value – Families are always looking for value. When it comes to skiing, more value equals more days on snow. We all want that!
Guess how much CSCUSA 5th grade passport costs? The answer $0. That’s ZERO; and thats value.
Heres how it works. Apply for your Colorado 5th grader online. Check your mail and within just a short time your child will have a pass good for three days of skiing or riding at each of 20 Colorado resorts. Thats 60 days of snow-filled fun for FREE!
The deal for 6th graders is different. Their Passport includes 4 days of skiing at each of 20 resorts for $99. Thats $1.24 per lift ticket if you use them all.
If your child skis 5 days, youre looking at less than $20 per day. Ski or ride 10 days, and the lift ticket will set you back less than most 3D movies.
2. Start Off Strong – Maybe youre not a skier or snowboarder yourself, but your child really wants to try one of these sports. Or maybe youre been away from snowsports and now you want to get the entire family involved.
If your 5th grader has never skied or snowboarded, the 5th grade pass comes with a free beginner lesson and rental, the First Class Program for use during January.
Without a doubt, lessons are the best way to learn to ski or snowboard. And usually, one complete beginner lesson will take a novice from never-ever to advanced beginner. After one free lesson, your child should be ready to enthusiastically ski the rest of the season with friends and family!
3. Take A Friend – One of my favorite things about the CSCUSA passport is how easy it makes bringing friends along.
Ill never forget taking a young friend to Snowmass. He had skied a lot, but never at a big mountain. Since he had a 5th grade passport, and we had room in our car, he joined us for a ski day. As we drove up to the mountain, his jaw dropped, only to be replaced with a broad perma-grin as he experienced his first gondola ride, his first high-speed quad and his ski run above timberline.
These are good memories and easy to make when the ticket is free.
4. Hit the Road – No matter where you live in Colorado, several resorts are probably within easy access. Yet, most of us have a home mountain where we buy a season pass or ski most of the time. While we make think about hitting the road and skiing somewhere new, its hard to pull the trigger and buy full-price lift tickets.
With a 5th or 6th grade pass, at least one family member is taken care of wherever you ski in Colorado ski country
Parents can buy a CSCUSA Gems Card for $20. This card will give you buy one/get one free adult lift tickets at each of eight smaller, ultra-family friendly Colorado resorts including Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Powderhorn, Monarch and more.
Plus, keep your eyes open for exclusive discount coupons for the families of 5th or 6th grade passport holders!
And dont forget: most ski resorts now offer reciprocal deals at sister resorts across the state. Your home mountain season pass may give you some steep discounts, or free days, at other Colorado destinations.
5. Family Time – This one is my favorite. For us, skiing time is bonding time. Chairlift rides are one of the best places weve found to laugh together, chat together and simply be together without the distractions of media, electronics and homework.
By getting a 5th or 6th grade pass for your child, youre not only introducing them to, or encouraging them in, the amazing world of snowsports, but youre investing in healthy wintertime activity and a lifetime family sport.
Thats the best deal!
