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How to Score Discounted Skiing and Riding in Colorado

Photo: Powderhorn Mountain Resort

No matter what type of Colorado skier or rider you are, there’s a deal for you. Whether you’re a powderhound who’s hoping to break your record days on the mountain, a first-timer or recent-returner who’s eager to learn, or a family seeking kid-friendly deals, you’ll find great opportunities to enjoy the mountains in Colorado.

Planning to spend a full season on the slopes? It’s not too late to score a season pass. While the prices aren’t the lowest they’ve been all season, a season pass is still an affordable way to maximize your time on the mountain this winter, especially if you intend to ski or ride more than a few days. Ski passes tend to become more affordable than buying daily lift tickets if you plan to ski or ride 5-6 days or more, on average.

If you’re loyal to a home mountain, or you plan to ski most of your days at the same ski area, you might want to opt for a season pass there. Many Colorado ski areas also include bonus days at additional resorts, or belong to a collective or alliance that offers free or discounted lift tickets at other resorts.

Another great option for the full-season skier is the Colorado Gems Card, which offers either 2-for-1 lift tickets or 30% off lift tickets at 11 Colorado ski resorts.

Ready to learn (or re-learn) how to ski or ride? If it’s your first day on the slopes, or your first day back on the slopes after a long hiatus, it’s a good idea to take a lesson. You can take a lesson at almost all Colorado ski resorts, and many resorts offer great deals on beginner lessons that also include your lift ticket and equipment rental, so you’ll have everything you need to get started.

Colorado ski areas have unique deals and opportunities to learn. For example, Echo Mountain offers Ambassadors that are available throughout the beginner area to offer tips and suggestions, included in the price of your lift ticket. Winter Park Resort offers a half-day lesson package, including lift tickets and equipment rentals, for only $149 first-timers who have never skied or snowboarded before. Granby Ranch offers a one hour private lesson for first-timers only, which includes equipment rentals, if you’d prefer to have personalized attention and instruction. And there are many, many more deals available for first-timers at Colorado ski areas.

Once you’ve taken a lesson or two and your ski legs are ready for the season, consider purchasing a 4-Pack of lift tickets or the Colorado Gems Card to keep the good times rolling.

Looking for deals for the whole family? There are lots of family-friendly options at Colorado ski areas, including deals on kid’s season passes, lift tickets, lessons, and equipment rentals. But the best deal for families in Colorado skiing in the Colorado Ski Country USA Passport Program, which offers 4th Graders, 5th Graders, and 6th Graders four days of skiing at 21 ski areas (84 days total). Right now, the Passport is only $59. That comes out to about 70 cents per day. So for families with children in 4th-6th grade, there’s really no better way to get your kids on the slopes.

Kathryn Robinson is a professional communicator at the intersection of the outdoor industry and higher education. After transplanting to Colorado from Florida, she learned to ski for the first time in her early twenties and never looked back. When she’s not on the slopes, she’s working with the Outdoor Recreation Economy program at CU Boulder, hiking, kayaking, or spending time with her family.