Skiers and snowboarders willing to work the angles - and do a little research - can cut the cost of sliding on snow, especially at ski resorts scrounging for customers and employees.
The easiest way to cut the cost of a skiing vacation is finding a hotel or motel that offers "Stay and Ski" packages. Many resorts offer three days of lodging and lift tickets for the price of two days of lodging and lift tickets.
Simply do an Internet search for lodging near favorite resorts. Warning: Most of these deals aren't available during popular times, such as the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, three-day weekends and spring break times for nearby schools and universities.
"Stay and Ski" packages are usually very easy to find in early winter and in February and March.
Skiing and Boarding Under the Lights
Heading for the slopes after dark is the easiest way to save big bucks on lift tickets - and more resorts are turning on the lights every winter.
For example, the Summit at Snoqualmie resort in Washington State is just an hour's drive from Seattle and the sprawling Puget Sound metro area. A day lift ticket at Snoqualmie is $51.61 during the winter of 2008-2009, but a night ticket - good from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. - is $34.17.
That's a good deal. But buying a night-only season pass is a screaming deal. At Snoqualmie, that pass - good every night except Sunday - is $239 for the entire season.
In Utah, Park City and Brighton offer night skiing and boarding deals. Squaw Valley near California's Lake Tahoe switches on the lights all winter. Keystone is one of Colorado's big night resorts.
Ski Lift Coupons and Ticket Books
Most ski and snowboard resorts offer modest deals on lift ticket books. Customers buy booklets of 10 or so lift tickets and usually save about $5 per ticket.
Other resorts offer two tickets for the price of one coupons, especially during the pre-season showings of ski and snowboard movies. Going to one show of, say, a Warren Miller Productions film, brings these kind of deals to skiers and boarders.
Savvy skiers and boarders also look for coupons at gas stations and supermarkets throughout ski country.
Load a Lift, Ski or Board for Free
Every ski resort in the United States and Canada struggles to find employees. The work is seasonal, the pay is usually skimpy and it's tough to work outside all winter long.
Skiers and boarders who are willing to work on a Saturday or Sunday - or both - often get a free season pass. That means they can hit the slopes all week - or even at night at many resorts - without paying a dime.
Operating lifts, shoveling snow, washing dishes, working a cash register or even setting up rental skis and snowboards are entry-level jobs at many ski resorts. Many retired people or students taking a break from school for the winter take part-time jobs to get a ski pass, but plenty of skiers and boarders with full-time jobs also moonlight at their local ski hill.
Most resorts have job listings on their websites.
Ride the Hooky Bus
Many ski and snowboard clubs charter buses for regular mid-week day trips to ski resorts. Members pay a modest fee to ride the bus and they often get a reduced-price lift ticket.
Many full-time workers - and quite a few professionals - adjust their work schedules during the winter to ride the "Hooky Bus" on a Wednesday for some bargain skiing with friends.
Just about every ski resort in North America offers some kind of deal on lift tickets - for those skiers and boarders who are willing to ferret out a bargain.
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