$imply skiing: Deals abound for budget-conscious skiers

Snow has been falling in the mountains since October, the holidays crowds will soon be gone, and it?s time for Colorado residents to start thinking about hitting the slopes.
But skiing and snowboarding are expensive, and it?s hard to enjoy a few days of winter fun without spending a lot of money. Daily lift ticket prices now average more than $60, not to mention the $25 it costs to rent equipment and another $20 for a hamburger, fries and a soda for lunch on the mountain.
There are some common-sense ways to save money, such as packing a lunch and buying discount lift tickets. Internet deals on ski vacations and weekend getaways are endless, but how do you know you?re getting the best one?
Here are a few tips, gathered from research and advice from ski industry bargain-hunters, to help you get the most for your money:

Lift tickets
One of the easiest ways to save money is to avoid buying lift tickets at the ski resort ticket window. That?s where prices are the highest.
Grocery chain King Soopers and ski rental shops offer discounted lift tickets. But buy your tickets on the Front Range, not as you head up into the hills.
Grocery stores and rental shops in mountain towns offer discounts, but they aren?t as good as the discounts you?ll get in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland or Windsor stores. Front Range King Soopers stores sell lift tickets that average $12 to $15 less than ticket-window prices.
?The closer you get to the ticket window at the ski resorts, the more expensive the lift tickets get,? said Candice Hoy of the Summit County Chamber of Commerce.

Overnight trips
If you?re thinking about an overnight trip or weekend getaway, stay in a hotel or motel instead of a condominium. Ski resorts offer plenty of deals on condos, but many require a three-night minimum stay.
Some condominium management companies offer one- or two-night deals during the slow season, which typically runs from early January to early March, Hoy said. Prices change according to dates, so have a few dates in mind, and consider a mid-week getaway. The highest prices are around Christmas and New Year?s, President?s Day weekend and spring break.
Hoy said bargain hunters can often find lower prices at privately owned hotels and motels versus chain hotels. Deals are also better outside resort towns, in places such as Dillon, Silverthorne or Frisco if you?re skiing in Summit County, Avon ? if you like Vail ? and Fraser ? for Winter Park skiers and snowboarders.
Erik Dahlen of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade organization that represents 23 resorts in Colorado, recommends hostels for budget skiers. You can stay at hostels ? basically dorm accommodations ? in Fraser, Summit County, Idaho Springs and Crested Butte for $15 to $20 a night.
For something more private but a little more expensive, try the YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch outside Winter Park. The conference center has rooms as low as $63 a night on weekdays during ski season.

Off the beaten path
For a different kind of skiing experience, non-destination ski areas have plenty of bargains. Those areas include Monarch, Crested Butte, Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Durango Mountain Resort, Eldora, Powderhorn, Sol Vista, Ski Cooper and Sunlight.
Eldora, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are close to the Front Range. Ski Cooper has lift tickets for $34 a day. Arapahoe Basin?s Web site, www.arapahoebasin.com, has inexpensive stay-and-ski packages, which include a night of lodging and a lift ticket.
The other off-the-beaten path resorts require a longer drive, but the lack of crowds and lower prices make the trip worth it.
For example, Monarch Lodge offers a stay-and-ski package for $69 per person, per night during the off-season. Compare that to at least $100 per person, per night for the same type of package at Winter Park.
Colorado Ski Country USA offers the Colorado Gems Card, a free discount card to the state?s lesser-known ski areas. Cardholders get a $10 discount on adult lift tickets, $5 off child tickets and deals on lodging, meals and ski lessons.

Family deals
Most resorts have good deals for families, albeit many of them cater to out-of-state skiers looking for ski vacations. But there are a few bargains for Front Range residents.
One of the best is Colorado Ski Country USA?s Fifth Grade Passport Program and the Graduate Pass.
Fifth-grade students can get three free lift tickets to each of Colorado Ski Country USA?s 23 member resorts. Other discounts are available for lessons, rentals and lift tickets for mom and dad. Applications went to Colorado schools in September. You can still get in on the deal by going to any King Soopers or Colorado Ski and Golf for an application or by calling 303-866-9707.
This year, Colorado Ski Country USA added the Graduate Pass Program. For $49, kids who used the Fifth Grade Passport program last year can get three lift tickets to the 23 member resorts this year.
Arapahoe Basin offers a free child ticket (ages 6-14) with the purchase of an adult ticket. For $10, beginners at A-Basin can ski or ride all day at the Molly Hogan Learning Center.
Sol Vista has a beginners-only two-day lesson package for $99, plus free tickets for the rest of the season. Dates are limited, and reservations are required.
Most resorts also let kids 5 and under ski free.

Seniors
Skiers older than 60 may get the best bargains of all. Most ski areas offer senior discounts ? the exact threshold, 62, 65 or 70, depends on the resort.
For five days during the 2004-2005 season, Ski Cooper, near Leadville, will offer $20 lift tickets to skiers and riders ages 55 to 69. Those older than 70 can ski for $5. Those special rates will be available Jan. 5 and 19, Feb. 2 and 16 and March 2.
At Winter Park and Copper Mountain, anyone older than 70 can ski free Monday through Thursday. Senior rates apply Friday through Sunday.

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