ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN RESORT
Ascutney’s Two for Tuesdays program returns again this season. Show up with a friend and you both ride the lifts for $30 a piece on typically sedate Tuesdays. There’s a special deal just for telemarkers on Thursdays: a $29 ticket price. Friday afternoons lands Vermont and New Hampshire residents a $27 tariff and the same deal repeats on Sunday afternoons.
BOLTON VALLEY RESORT
Ski and ride till your quads burn up from the opening bell, Monday through Wednesday, until the lights go out here at 8 p.m., for only $39. If you need a marathon ski and ride day, there you go.
BROMLEY MOUNTAIN SKI AREA
On Tuesdays—what is it about this Tuesday thing?—you not only get an all-mountain lift ticket for $39, but a served sit-down lunch in the tavern as well. Then there’s Family Fridays—every adult who purchases a regular-priced ticket can purchase up to three junior tickets for a 1970s’ price of $12.
BURKE MOUNTAIN RESORT
The best deal here for occasional visitors is their Vermonter rate of $41 which also applies to residents of Coos and Grafton County, NH.
COCHRAN'S SKI AREA
A family season ski pass for any size family is a mere $330 before December 1, slightly more thereafter.
JAY PEAK RESORT
Jay’s Vermont resident rate is unique because it’s across the board—no holiday blackout nonsense. Hand over $45 at the ticket booth with legitimate Vermont identification and there you go up the tram.
KILLINGTON AND PICO RESORTS
Vermonter Days here are going strong on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $44. If you’re currently on active duty in the U.S. military, an EMT, a firefighter, or a legitimate cop, you get $20 off the ticket rack rate Sunday through Friday and $10 off Saturdays and holidays.
Mad River Glen
Their across-the-board ticket rates are a very reasonable $39, everyday, with no coupons or hoops to jump through. On Vermont Town Meeting Day, all school-aged students (not college) ski free. Please, no snowboards, although if you show up with one, they’ll outfit you with free ski rental gear for the day. And don’t forget Saint Patrick’s Day—$17 if you show up in green attire.
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
Pull into their parking lot with at least three people inside, midweek, and everybody rides the lifts for only $25 each. Even better: on Car Pool Wednedays, pack your vehicle with as many buddies as you can (like one of those circus clown cars where 20 or so jump out), and the entire vehicle passenger list rides up the mountain for a mere $80 for the day.
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL
Here you go—Vermont’s best overall value packed bargain this season! In exchange for $28 bucks midweek (1980s pricing) you enjoy a crowd-free, 1,050-feet vertical drop with a great mix of terrain for all abilities, three chairlifts, an abundance of natural snow, a library in the base lodge for studious types, and inexpensive cafeteria fare. What more do you want? Oh yeah, there is no bar. BYOB.
MOUNT SNOW RESORT
If you plan to visit here more than four times this season, consider purchasing their $99 Fanfare Card, which gets you 50 percent off midweek tickets and $25 savings on the weekends. On Christmas Day, bona fide Windham County residents ski and ride for $10, and your fee is donated to local charities. Youths 18 and under pay their respective ages to ski and ride on December 14 and January 4.
OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT
Okemo has a plethora of day ticket deals this season, starting with many scheduled $29 Skier and Rider Appreciation Days. Check out www.okemo.com for exact dates and online special deals.
Their Wonderful Wednesdays return, where Vermont and New Hampshire residents ski and ride for $39 in December, January, March and April. Sunday afternoons offer Twin State residents a $39 ticket deal and, get this, if you’d like to learn to ski or ride, how does FREE sound? From December 1 through December 19, simply show up at the lesson desk for this deal and you get free rentals, free lesson, and a free lower mountain lift ticket… no scams or gotcha deals here, just show up!
SMUGGLERS' NOTCH RESORT
Smuggs’ perennial Bash Badge Plus card is back. This $139 card offers free lift tickets from opening day to December 5 and then again for great spring turns from March 2 to closing day. During prime time, this card is good for purchasing daily tickets at $25 off and other various discounts around the resort. For those who require modest vertical, their $14 Sterling Mountain T-Bar ticket is a nice option.
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Your best bet to save hard-earned bucks here is to purchase multi-day tickets online or by calling 888-253-4TIX. Do you suppose with the mega U.S. government bailout of American International Group, the parent corporation of Stowe Mountain Resort, all Americans will receive discounted lift tickets in future seasons? Or am I dreaming? Stay tuned.
STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT
Stratton’s popular X2 card returns for $84.53. This puppy is linked to your credit card and gives you direct lift access and $30 off midweek tickets, $20 off weekends, and $10 off during holiday weeks. To put you over the top, if you’re undecided, they also throw in one free lift ticket as part of the package. Makes sense if you visit Stratton now and again.
SUICIDE SIX SKI AREA
Two for Tuesdays are back again: two ride the lifts for $36 total. Friday mornings, part with $20 to ride the lifts until 1 p.m.
***UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ALL DEALS ARE NON-HOLIDAY WEEKS***
Paul McMorris of Taftsville, VT, covers the skiing and snowboarding scene for a variety of publications. He skis more than 100 days per season and is a member of the United States Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
