Season pass or not? - Snowboarding Forum

fayewolf · 04-15-2011, 09:05 PM

Season is almost over, 2 more trips and I'm probably done this year!

Living in the bay area is a good solid 4 hours away from lake tahoe without traffic, so although we are blessed with many good resort selections, it is quite a drive!

I'm debating whether or not to get a season pass, apparently if I do, i should do them now to save some money. I am pretty sure if I have to pick one, I'll do northstar/heavenly since as a beginner first season person, this mountain offers alot for me.

I felt like if i have a season pass, and if I am in sacramento for work, I can "make" time to go boarding for half day, or a few hrs not feeling guilty i'm not using the entire day. But this will pretty much lock me into 1 resort (mainly northstar). I would also take the bus (one bad experience) and they do offer killer deals, 89-99 dollars including lift ticket. or 49-69 just bus fee.

What you all think? Season pass or not? It's more complicated then just calculating the face value of what you can save by multiplying how many days i will spend on the mountain. Since we live in the bay area, we can get discount tickets from craigslist, shell 2 for 1, these bus thingys. However, i'm not sure if the shell 2 for 1 will still be good for northstar. I don't know how much ticket runs during jan/feb on craigslist, since they are pretty cheap now. (end of season)

Thoughts?

hellside · 04-15-2011, 09:53 PM

It depends. If you don't like to go alone, then season pass may not be a good idea. The ski bus may still have the 8-pack deal which can take you to multiple resorts that is relatively low cost. NACSki and Ski Bus are the better ones. There is a new one that is cheaper but service is not so good. Or you can just can get Tahoe 6 packs.

MistahTaki · 04-16-2011, 01:18 AM

the question in whether to buy a pass or not.

fayewolf · 04-16-2011, 01:25 AM

I prefer to go with my friend, but she doesn't ride as much as I do. My poor husband doesn't like it at all, but he went twice with me this year and gave it a try, i don't want to force him, but i suspect he would go maybe a couple tims with me. I have a job that allows me to do some riding here and there.
Most of my riding would be Friday/Sat, or Sat/Sun.
Decisions decisions!

This year, i spent 13 days on the slope, with 3 more days to come. Northstar, Sierra, Boreal, Alpine and squaw. I like northstar the best. For myself, I love Sierra, but if I drag my poor husband, at least northstar he can hang out at the village.

**Donutz** · 04-16-2011, 09:04 AM

It's the 4-hour drive that's killing you. If yo lived less than an hour from the mountain, the seasons pass would be great because you could justify going up for an hour or two after work or some such.

Work out the costs of buying a seasons pass and being wrong, or not buying one and being wrong. How wrong can you afford to be?

fayewolf · 04-16-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donutz

It's the 4-hour drive that's killing you. If yo lived less than an hour from the mountain, the seasons pass would be great because you could justify going up for an hour or two after work or some such.

Work out the costs of buying a seasons pass and being wrong, or not buying one and being wrong. How wrong can you afford to be?

BINGO!! And seriously, your answer to my question made me think hard.

4 hours one way is really killing me. I get up at 4:30, leave at 5, get there around 9, by the time we get on the slope its 10, ride till 4, go home and get dinner on the way back, it's already 10pm

hellside · 04-16-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fayewolf

I prefer to go with my friend, but she doesn't ride as much as I do. My poor husband doesn't like it at all, but he went twice with me this year and gave it a try, i don't want to force him, but i suspect he would go maybe a couple tims with me. I have a job that allows me to do some riding here and there.
Most of my riding would be Friday/Sat, or Sat/Sun.
Decisions decisions!

This year, i spent 13 days on the slope, with 3 more days to come. Northstar, Sierra, Boreal, Alpine and squaw. I like northstar the best. For myself, I love Sierra, but if I drag my poor husband, at least northstar he can hang out at the village.

Look at it this way, if you go more than 10 times, get a northstar pass then take the bus when you go alone. The bus goes to Northstar almost every week. You still come out ahead cost wise and you can sleep on the bus. You can also consider two day trips and that will cut down the driving.

fayewolf · 04-16-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellside

Look at it this way, if you go more than 10 times, get a northstar pass then take the bus when you go alone. The bus goes to Northstar almost every week. You still come out ahead cost wise and you can sleep on the bus. You can also consider two day trips and that will cut down the driving.

Yep, that's exactly my reasoning. If someone goes with me, i'll drive. if i just one to get out on a sat or sun, I'll take the bus.
I've been mixing a few 2 day trip this year and it works out great!

slyder · 04-16-2011, 11:51 AM

We have a hill 3 hours away. I won't get a pass there but the distance is deffinately an issue. Since it's only me driving, YES boys starts driving this winter. We would have to be up early and drive 3 hours, ride all day and leave 7pm'ish to be home by midnight. Makes for a very long day. And for me riding after sitting in a car for 3 hours takes me longer to loosen up. Maybe not so much the kids, but me for sure.

Figure your break even or even how many trips to make the cost 50% of window ticket. This could help sway you as well. You widow price is $100 but since you went 8 times you saved $20 on each trip kinda like a coupon. Not the best option but still another way to think of it

SnowDotCom · 04-19-2011, 03:02 PM

The drive is killer but depending on how many times you're up there riding it might make sense to buy a season pass. I live in Boulder and head up to the I-70 resorts all the time on the weekends. Although it isn't a 4 hour drive like yours, I know exactly what you mean.

04-15-2011, 09:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
fayewolf Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 164	Season pass or not? Season is almost over, 2 more trips and I'm probably done this year! Living in the bay area is a good solid 4 hours away from lake tahoe without traffic, so although we are blessed with many good resort selections, it is quite a drive! I'm debating whether or not to get a season pass, apparently if I do, i should do them now to save some money. I am pretty sure if I have to pick one, I'll do northstar/heavenly since as a beginner first season person, this mountain offers alot for me. I felt like if i have a season pass, and if I am in sacramento for work, I can "make" time to go boarding for half day, or a few hrs not feeling guilty i'm not using the entire day. But this will pretty much lock me into 1 resort (mainly northstar). I would also take the bus (one bad experience) and they do offer killer deals, 89-99 dollars including lift ticket. or 49-69 just bus fee. What you all think? Season pass or not? It's more complicated then just calculating the face value of what you can save by multiplying how many days i will spend on the mountain. Since we live in the bay area, we can get discount tickets from craigslist, shell 2 for 1, these bus thingys. However, i'm not sure if the shell 2 for 1 will still be good for northstar. I don't know how much ticket runs during jan/feb on craigslist, since they are pretty cheap now. (end of season) Thoughts?

04-16-2011, 09:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,669 Blog Entries: 176	It's the 4-hour drive that's killing you. If yo lived less than an hour from the mountain, the seasons pass would be great because you could justify going up for an hour or two after work or some such. Work out the costs of buying a seasons pass and being wrong, or not buying one and being wrong. How wrong can you afford to be? __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

04-16-2011, 11:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,922	We have a hill 3 hours away. I won't get a pass there but the distance is deffinately an issue. Since it's only me driving, YES boys starts driving this winter. We would have to be up early and drive 3 hours, ride all day and leave 7pm'ish to be home by midnight. Makes for a very long day. And for me riding after sitting in a car for 3 hours takes me longer to loosen up. Maybe not so much the kids, but me for sure. Figure your break even or even how many trips to make the cost 50% of window ticket. This could help sway you as well. You widow price is $100 but since you went 8 times you saved $20 on each trip kinda like a coupon. Not the best option but still another way to think of it __________________ Thanks -Slyder

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04-15-2011, 09:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
hellside Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 126	It depends. If you don't like to go alone, then season pass may not be a good idea. The ski bus may still have the 8-pack deal which can take you to multiple resorts that is relatively low cost. NACSki and Ski Bus are the better ones. There is a new one that is cheaper but service is not so good. Or you can just can get Tahoe 6 packs.

04-16-2011, 01:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
MistahTaki Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,362	the question in whether to buy a pass or not.

04-16-2011, 01:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
fayewolf Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 164	I prefer to go with my friend, but she doesn't ride as much as I do. My poor husband doesn't like it at all, but he went twice with me this year and gave it a try, i don't want to force him, but i suspect he would go maybe a couple tims with me. I have a job that allows me to do some riding here and there. Most of my riding would be Friday/Sat, or Sat/Sun. Decisions decisions! This year, i spent 13 days on the slope, with 3 more days to come. Northstar, Sierra, Boreal, Alpine and squaw. I like northstar the best. For myself, I love Sierra, but if I drag my poor husband, at least northstar he can hang out at the village.

04-19-2011, 03:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
SnowDotCom Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 9	The drive is killer but depending on how many times you're up there riding it might make sense to buy a season pass. I live in Boulder and head up to the I-70 resorts all the time on the weekends. Although it isn't a 4 hour drive like yours, I know exactly what you mean.