How to Get Free Season Passes to Ski and Snowboard

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By David Sarokin
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Skiing...what can be better!

Skiing and snowboarding are fantastic winter fun, but can sometimes be fantastically expensive as well, especially when you add up the cost of equipment, travel, meals, lodging, lift tickets, and maybe even some lessons (don't get me started on entertainment, snacks, video games, hotel movies, and everything else you can get charged for).

BUT...it is possible to get free season passes for some or all of your kids, and perhaps for the grownups as well. You can hit the slopes and enjoy the snow for a lot less than you thought possible. Here's what you need to do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

**Check Out Ski and Snowboard Passport Programs**

State and regional ski associations have been putting together so-called passport programs to encourage kids to learn to ski.

Each program is different in its details, but usually works something like this. Children in particular grades in school (4th and 5th grade seem especially common -- 9, 10 and 11 year olds) are offered free season passes to popular ski resorts. That's the only real catch to the programs -- you have to have a child in the appropriate grade. Other than that, there's only a small application fee (typically $15-25), and the pass is yours.

Some ski passport programs even extend their offers to other siblings of the eligible child, and I know of one that even extends to parents as well! Free season passes for the whole family!
Step 2

**Pay Attention to Details**

Some programs require students to actually attend school in the state hosting the program. But most do not.

For instance, I don't live in Pennsylvania, but I do ski there with my family. We take advantage of the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association free passes for 4th and 5th graders (check it out at SkiPA.com).

The application is pretty simple: I just mailed off a copy of my son's report card, an ID-sized photo, and a check for $15, and voila, free lift tickets for the season at more than 20 participating ski resorts, including the most popular ones like Seven Springs, and Big Bear.

A handful of resorts impose black-out dates at the usual times (Christmas and New Years) but most will honor the passes for the entire skiing and snowboarding season.

The passport program in Maine does Pennslyvania one better, offering free skiing and snowboarding to 5th, 6th and 7th graders, as well as a lot of freebies for siblings and parents. Check them out at winterkids.org
Step 3

**Apply Well in Advance**

A few programs are absurdly simple -- show up with your kid, have his or her picture taken, and they give you a pass on the spot.

But most are set up like the Pennsylvania program, and involve sending an application through the mail. The process can take several weeks, so allow plenty of time before your first ski trip.

There are ski/snowboard passport programs all over the country, as well as in Canada. Most major ski resort areas are covered. For instance, Colorado's School of Shred program for 5th and 6th graders offers free skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone, just to name a few.

There's even a National Passport for wandering skiers.

The links in the Resources section will get you started finding out what's available in the areas where you like to do spend your winters.

Happy schusshing, dudes.

Comments

computertech4u said

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on 11/5/2009 Great article on How to Get Free Season Passes to Ski and Snowboard! You have a lot of great tips here, and in your other articles as well. I can tell I have a lot of reading to do! 5* article and recommended!