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April, 2024

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How to make skiing more affordable

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foolmetwice
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,008
An assignment for one of my poli sci classes about the way capitalism commodifies parts of our identities got me thinking about the cost of skiing. It's no secret that for the average person, skiing is basically untenable. Even at the tiniest midwestern hills a lift ticket generally costs upwards of $50 these days. Out west that's more like $100 minimum. Throw in the cost of rentals and transportation and its remarkable there are any new skiers at all. I'm sure others have discussed this, but given that a majority of ski areas (at least in the west) are on public lands, is it time for the government to start regulating the cost of lift tickets at ski areas on public lands? Another solution would be for the larger ski areas to start subsidizing smaller "feeder" ski areas but I don't see this happening. Frankly, I'm quite happy paying $650 for a (college) ikon pass and skiing over 100 days a year at a bunch of different world class mountains, but that's not going to work for the entry level skier. So what are some solutions, outside or inside the box, to combat the cost of skiing and help grow the sport?

**This thread was edited on Nov 11th 2022 at 12:58:50am
Nov 11 2022 12:57AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,683
Buy skis that have been drilled 3 times and re-use the holes like the old ho's they are. Done it for years. Worked great.

Spend your money on things that touch you, and pants - so baselayers, goggles, hats, gloves. Helmet. Everything else can be used. Except pants. Get your own ski pants, and spend the money there. Jackets can come used easily.
Nov 14 2022 6:49PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6188 - Karma: 66,644
SteezyYeeterthat makes skiing more expensive. if everyone's on the streets, then the resorts will need to price up their tickets to make up for the loss.


That's not how to get demand up, they would realize potential customers are skiing somewhere else (streets - or zero zone maybe?) because it costs so much to ski at resorts. Then lower the cost to ski at resorts so they attract those skiers back. If they care. The number of people who realistically would head to the streets instead of resort skiing is probably not even noticeable on their ledgers though.
Nov 14 2022 6:59PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1456 - Karma: 10,564
1. Purchase land on a hill.
2. Secure a rope tow/T Bar, set up a bunch of rails and shit.
3. Set up a 501-c3 non profit for the purpose of supplying access to recreation. Put yourself and some friends on the board of directors.
4. Nonprofit rent payment ≈ cost of operation.
5. If lawsuit occurs, the nonprofit was the one operating the mtn and has no assets. Not your fault that the nonprofit you rented to may have fucked up.

This is not legal advice.

Anyway, if anyone wants to be on my board lmk.
Nov 14 2022 8:29PM
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Skiblade420
Posts: 1001 - Karma: 16,470
basically untenable
Nov 15 2022 1:23AM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6643 - Karma: 57,261
It’s true. It’s a different liability structure where the liability is on you. Many places in the alps, they only avy control the piste unlike North America where it’s pretty much all open terrain.
RIP_leos_shackFinally there aren't the same insurance and liability concerns as in the states. If you fall off the chairlift for being an idiot, you don't get to sue the resort. Rather you just get taken to the hospital where your health care is free and learn from your mistake.
Nov 15 2022 1:27AM
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Skiblade420
Posts: 1001 - Karma: 16,470
Is this one of those white savior threads trying to send kids from the hood to ski again
Nov 15 2022 1:27AM
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