Ski passes available in variety of forms
Ski season is around the corner and students are wasting no time
getting a hold of their passes for the upcoming season.
Luke Babbitt, a senior civil engineer major, bought his pass as
early as possible to try to save him some money.
“I bought my pass in May,” Babbitt said. “You get the best deals
if you buy it earlier.”
Ski resorts in Colorado are offering season passes at discounted
rates again this year. The combo mountain passes have been marketed
to snowriders who plan on going multiple times throughout the
season and do not want to be limited to certain mountains.
The combo passes offer skiers lift tickets to a variety of
different mountains in Colorado. These combo passes include the
Colorado Pass and the Buddy Pass, offered until Friday, and The
Rocky Mountain Super Pass, available through this weekend at Winter
Park’s Ski and Sport Extravaganza.
The Colorado Pass, commonly known as the five-mountain pass, is
available for $319. It allows the pass holder unlimited skiing in
Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin along with ten days at
Vail and Beaver Creek.
The average adult lift ticket to Breckenridge is about $59. The
season pass holder would need to ski for six days in order to save
money with their pass.
The Buddy Pass is unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone and
Arapahoe Basin and is available for $299. The Rocky Mountain Super
Pass costs $319 with unlimited access to Winter Park and Copper
Mountain along with different benefits at each resort and a year
subscription to Skiing Magazine.
Students vary in their opinions as to which pass is the best
deal.
“I normally get the Buddy Pass, and I can ski three mountains,”
Babbitt said. “But this year I got the five-mountain pass because
you can get 10 free days at Beaver Creek and Vail for only $20
more,” he said.
Chase Campbell, a sophomore health and exercise science major,
took advantage of a deal provided by Wells Fargo, Winter Park and
Copper Mountain.
“My buddy got a deal,” Campbell said. “I got a really cheap pass
because he got an account with Wells Fargo,” he said.
The Wells Fargo College Combo Package is offered to college
students who open an account with the bank. When the student opens
a checking account and buys the Rocky Mountain Super Pass, he/she
receives a pass to Winter Park for free, said B.D. Daugherty,
communications coordinator for Winter Park resorts.
“The Rocky Mountain Super Pass is a great deal because it gives
you the choice of one or two great ski mountains so if you like the
skiing here, it makes more sense,” she said.
Campbell is only able to go skiing during winter break because
of commitments during the school year, but he suggests the Colorado
Pass for students.
“If you can go on the weekends, than the five-mountain pass is
the best deal,” he said.
Loveland, Copper Mountain and Winter Park offer season passes to
their resorts for slightly less expensive prices. Loveland offers a
season pass to young adults ages 15 to 22 at $238 and adults ages
23 to 69 at $269. The Copper Mountain season pass is $259 for
adults and the Winter Park pass is available for $269.
Nic Ferrington, a mechanical engineer senior and an avid
snowboarder from New Orleans, started snowboarding three years ago
and is a fan of the Buddy Pass.
“I like the Buddy Pass because it offers a good variety,”
Ferrington said. “I like Copper Mountain and Winter Park, but it is
only two mountains.”
The Colorado five-mountain pass and Buddy Passes are available
online at www.snow.com or at REI stores. The Rocky Mountain Super
Pass is also available online at www.passwagon.com or by calling
1-800-977-SNOW.
Jera Johnston, a sophomore health and exercise science major,
will continue buying her season pass to Copper Mountain for the
love of the sport.
“It’s just relaxing,” she said. “You can test the limits and get
out of your comfort zone and do something that you normally
wouldn’t do.”
Distance from fort collins and season pass prices:
Vail- 158 mi. 3 hours $319
Breckenridge-142 mi, 2 hrs 25 min $299
Keystone- 134 mi. hrs 30 min. $299
Beaver Creek- 156 mi. 3 hrs 5 min. $319
A-Basin- 156 mi. 3 hours $299
Winter Park- 127 mi. 2hrs. 30 min $269
Copper Mountain-2 hrs. 30 min $259
Loveland- 106 mi. 2 hours $239
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