Contemplating Stowe Season Pass - good deal?

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by Tech420

Do they offer a blackout pass? Maybe pick up something like that and go Jay on the blackout days.

They do offer a blackout season pass - I think it's $900ish but I'll check again when I get to a computer.

Great idea actually...I looked at it before but the thought of not being able to go to "my" mountain on the holidays seemed weird to me...

[Wangta]

Crap just kidding - the blackout date season pass is $1400!!!

[sb60]

Sugarloaf has a blackout pass for $765. I used to go there every weekend when I lived in the east.

[Tech420]

Originally Posted by Wangta

They do offer a blackout season pass - I think it's $900ish but I'll check again when I get to a computer.

Great idea actually...I looked at it before but the thought of not being able to go to "my" mountain on the holidays seemed weird to me...

Look into it a little more. I know Killington allows you to go to any 5 of the blackout dates you want.

[surfinsnow]

Originally Posted by Wangta

So the deadline for the "cheap" Stowe season pass is coming up on the 30th of Oct. For those of you who don't know, Stowe season pass is ~$1650 now, with prices jumping up over $2,000 after Oct 30.

I love Stowe and was about to pull the trigger but was doin the math in my head - I'd have to go to stowe 21 times in order to break even (daily tix can be had online for $79). That's a crazy number of times, considering ill likely go to Jay a handful of times this year too? Is that realistic?

As you guys can probably guess, this would be my first season pass at Stowe. I had no idea they were this expensive!

Am I not thinking about this the right way? Is this a good deal? Maybe 21 times is easily achievable - I've lives in the southwest for the past couple years and haven't been near enough a mountain to consider a season pass in a long time!

NO NO NO! Google Connecticut Ski Council. You don't have to be a skier, you don't have to live in CT. But they offer discounts you won't find anywhere else...like three days at Stowe for $98. They even have a five-day pass for $122. That's an insane deal! The caveat is that you have to go by their calender, but that's not a problem. Every weekend and most weekdays have super-cheap tix to virtually every mountain in VT and several in NH. Killington, Stratton, Jay Peak, Okemo, Mt. Snow. Most tix are $30-40, and they even have them available on usual blackout dates and holidays. The calendar is on their web site. The membership is only $35...pays for itself your first time out. And if you like the whole club thing, they hold frequent parking lot cookouts. You don't have to attend meetings or go on their sponsored trip, but you can if you want. I never have, but some people like to be able to get hammered and pass out on the trip home instead of driving. Check it out. WAY better than spending $1,600 on one mountain!

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by surfinsnow

NO NO NO! Google Connecticut Ski Council. You don't have to be a skier, you don't have to live in CT. But they offer discounts you won't find anywhere else...like three days at Stowe for $98. They even have a five-day pass for $122. That's an insane deal! The caveat is that you have to go by their calender, but that's not a problem. Every weekend and most weekdays have super-cheap tix to virtually every mountain in VT and several in NH. Killington, Stratton, Jay Peak, Okemo, Mt. Snow. Most tix are $30-40, and they even have them available on usual blackout dates and holidays. The calendar is on their web site. The membership is only $35...pays for itself your first time out. And if you like the whole club thing, they hold frequent parking lot cookouts. You don't have to attend meetings or go on their sponsored trip, but you can if you want. I never have, but some people like to be able to get hammered and pass out on the trip home instead of driving. Check it out. WAY better than spending $1,600 on one mountain!

Thanks surfinsnow. I'll send check them out. One concern I have would be frequency of deals - i know you said every week/weekend, but do they really run deals nonstop?

[surfinsnow]

Originally Posted by Wangta

Thanks surfinsnow. I'll send check them out. One concern I have would be frequency of deals - i know you said every week/weekend, but do they really run deals nonstop?

The calendar for this season is posted on the CT Ski Counsel web site. There is never a weekend without a deal, Saturday and Sunday, even holidays that would normally be blacked out with a regular resort pass. Lots of weekdays, but not all. If you like variety, it's a great option. Personally, I get sick of riding the same place all the time.

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by surfinsnow

The calendar for this season is posted on the CT Ski Counsel web site. There is never a weekend without a deal, Saturday and Sunday, even holidays that would normally be blacked out with a regular resort pass. Lots of weekdays, but not all. If you like variety, it's a great option. Personally, I get sick of riding the same place all the time.

Man, seriously - thank you so much for this suggestion. Even if I get the season pass, this is still a great option for other resorts. I agree, I do tire of riding the same place but Stowe is pretty big mountain and I have yet to get bored with it. Hmmmmmmmmm.

[HoboMaster]

Jesus, you guys get raped for some pretty mediocre mountains. Passes out west for some of the best terrain in the U.S are $300-$800 a pass. Another reason not to live on the Ice Coast.

[Wangta]

Originally Posted by HoboMaster

Jesus, you guys get raped for some pretty mediocre mountains. Passes out west for some of the best terrain in the U.S are $300-$800 a pass. Another reason not to live on the Ice Coast.

Not gonna argue with that. I think prices are generally higher out here due to a couple factors:

1) Boston/NYC big money is nearby. Willingness and ability to pay is high.

2) Higher cost for maintenance due to reliance/dependence on snow making vs. western mountains that rely more on natural snow.

I would love to live in Colorado or Utah one day just to board....but the professional opportunities out there are extremely limited compared to Boston, New York, SF, etc...