Lostone wrote:

There is a large long term gain in the free child's pass. It is a good way of enticing families to buy a (their) pass(es) here.

I understand that. However it discourages me from buying a season pass because I can't afford to and don't want to subsidize someones kid's pass.
But I am aware of why they want to do it, just don't like it.

madhavok wrote:

Lostone wrote: There is a large long term gain in the free child's pass. It is a good way of enticing families to buy a (their) pass(es) here. I understand that. However it discourages me from buying a season pass because I can't afford to and don't want to subsidize someones kid's pass. But I am aware of why they want to do it, just don't like it.

If the resort's strategy of seeding the herd for future generations of pass/ticket/lessons buying riders, discourages you then don't buy a pass. But to be clear, your not subsidizing anything. Beyond seeding for future consumers, the "free" passes you speak of are a loss leader a.k.a. a product provided at a discount to encourage other purchases such as adult season passes, seasonal programs like Blazers, meals in the lodge and goods at the ski shop to name a few. If your remorseful over your purchase, feel better knowing family guys like Yard Sale are up there on week ends throwing the doe rae mi around like drunk sailors on shore leave. The cost of passes, seasonal programs and mountainside incidentals? Thousands of dollars. Chasing my 11, 8, and 5 year old girls through Eden? Priceless. The good life ain't cheap, but it is good.

Speaking of paying dues. Is there going to be a trimming party in Slidebrook this year? If so, I'd like to be in on it. Did last year for the first time, and it was pretty fun. And it was free.

And I would have to point out that if you fly, there are a myriad of prices for the very same ticket.

The deal is, if it is a good value to you, buy the pass.

The bad news is you'll have to lay out the up-front dough. The good news is, you'll have to do a lot of skiing/riding, to make it worthwhile.


You can have a kid, to make it seem like a better deal, but be warned... I don't know of anyone who had kids and thought that was a good way to save money.

I would love to see a non-holiday pass offered. Buyer wins because he gets a discounted pass price (affordable in bad economy) and resort wins because it is not overcrowded or non-holiday season pass holder buys tickets for holiday period. Sounds like a win-win idea.

They used to offer that.

It was called the Value Pass. It was the pass that got me to start skiing Sugarbush in '87.



Just looked at the past, and not only was my hair brown... There was a LOT more of it.

Lostone wrote:

They used to offer that. It was called the Value Pass. It was the pass that got me to start skiing Sugarbush in '87. Just looked at the past, and not only was my hair brown... There was a LOT more of it.

sorry about the hair loss. it happens to the best of us...

I wonder how many other skiers started with this Value Pass (or would start out with a modern day equivalent) and then moved up to a full pass and now are lifelong Sugarbush skiers? It's a good hook and may be a middle ground for this conversation.

asland wrote:

Lostone wrote: They used to offer that. It was called the Value Pass. It was the pass that got me to start skiing Sugarbush in '87. Just looked at the past, and not only was my hair brown... There was a LOT more of it. sorry about the hair loss. it happens to the best of us... I wonder how many other skiers started with this Value Pass (or would start out with a modern day equivalent) and then moved up to a full pass and now are lifelong Sugarbush skiers? It's a good hook and may be a middle ground for this conversation.

Have you looked at the Midweek or Ellen pass options?

My sense is that the "draw" is Lincoln Peak now....and that is in high demand. Hence no Lincoln Peak only tickets, etc. Makes sense considering that is where you have a captive audience and where most skiers/riders go now.

If you offered a non-holiday Mountain-7 Pass, a lot of the Mountain-7 passholders would go to that...so you'd lose money because you'd be selling less $999 passes.

Lostone wrote:

They used to offer that. It was called the Value Pass. It was the pass that got me to start skiing Sugarbush in '87.

yes, the Value Pass sucked me away from Stowe in the early 90's when their similar product took a sudden leap in cost (vague memory is it went from $500 to $800 approx - a big jump!)..... I for one would absolutely do a Value Pass were it available; alternatively during more budget conscious seasons (the last 2!) I have chosen the Mt Ellen or Mt EllenPlus.
ME+ has turned out to be a great choice for me in the absence of the old Value pass. As soon as budget allows, I'll go back to full pass.
IMO, costs at Sugarbush are def not out of line for the product and services offered. Local owner and management play a huge role in making it the place it is. They listen and are very responsive. We are lucky! My friends that ski K... not so much!

Saabski:

+ 1 on the Killington comment. Everyone is complaining about the place. I skied there in April and it was just OK. Really dead...employees were not as nice to me....and the vibe was just off. They've really burned a lot of bridges down there....

summitchallenger wrote:

Saabski: + 1 on the Killington comment. Everyone is complaining about the place. I skied there in April and it was just OK. Really dead...employees were not as nice to me....and the vibe was just off. They've really burned a lot of bridges down there....

friends who are long time killington skiers, just bought their SB passes for next year.

That's nice to hear. We are really pleased with the spring pass sales. Up more than we anticipated. Now let's think "early snow"