Skiing New England: best Season Ticket/Rental prices?
September 23, 2020 10:16 PM Subscribe
I'm turning toward (alpine) skiing as a viable option for my son and me, as an outdoor recreation option this winter. I'm looking to maximize bang-for-buck—we don't own equipment; and I've never bought a season lift/rental package before. Putting aside my searching website-by-website, can you recommend a good place(s) within three-ish hours of Boston, (i.e. Berkshires, White or Green Mts, and maybe into Maine) in terms of good skiing and great season-ticket price?
We're both intermediate skiiers. Other questions/notes:
• The less zoo-ey and more off-the-beaten-path, the better. (i.e. Don't mention Killington unless they have a season-pass deal with all the other mountains in VT. On the other hand, if Mad River Glen has a Mad Dope Deal, yawwww!)
• Speaking of which, what's with these multi-mountain passes?
• Is there a reliable "compare-mountains'-prices-side-by-side" site? Searching the web gave me way TMI.
• Would it be worth it to buy used equipment? (Retail? CL? We're not experts at boot-fitting.)
Anything I'm not thinking of? Thanks so much.
We're both intermediate skiiers. Other questions/notes:
• The less zoo-ey and more off-the-beaten-path, the better. (i.e. Don't mention Killington unless they have a season-pass deal with all the other mountains in VT. On the other hand, if Mad River Glen has a Mad Dope Deal, yawwww!)
• Speaking of which, what's with these multi-mountain passes?
• Is there a reliable "compare-mountains'-prices-side-by-side" site? Searching the web gave me way TMI.
• Would it be worth it to buy used equipment? (Retail? CL? We're not experts at boot-fitting.)
Anything I'm not thinking of? Thanks so much.
Oh, searching now is worthless, it's seasonal and the two week weather forecast flips all price points.
posted by sammyo at 5:45 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 5:45 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
Very novice, once-a-year skier here but these are my thoughts:
I've always liked Bretton Woods in Twin Mountain, NH. It's never seemed too crowded, the trails are nice, the views are nice, and it's only about 2 1/2 hours from Boston.
The multi mountain passes are good in case it's windy at, say, Sunday River you can just shoot over to Bretton Woods. Or you can spend a day at one and a day at the other.
Getting your own skis is worth it. Rental is a GIANT pain in the ass and takes an hour or so away from your day. Especially this year you really don't want to be crowded in a room filled with sweaty skiers. With your own skis if you have the passes ahead of time you just get out of your car and go right to the lifts.
The trouble with New England is that it really varies year to year and day to day. A place can be perfect conditions one day and ice the next. You kind of have to be willing to change your plans quickly.
posted by bondcliff at 6:24 AM on September 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
I've always liked Bretton Woods in Twin Mountain, NH. It's never seemed too crowded, the trails are nice, the views are nice, and it's only about 2 1/2 hours from Boston.
The multi mountain passes are good in case it's windy at, say, Sunday River you can just shoot over to Bretton Woods. Or you can spend a day at one and a day at the other.
Getting your own skis is worth it. Rental is a GIANT pain in the ass and takes an hour or so away from your day. Especially this year you really don't want to be crowded in a room filled with sweaty skiers. With your own skis if you have the passes ahead of time you just get out of your car and go right to the lifts.
The trouble with New England is that it really varies year to year and day to day. A place can be perfect conditions one day and ice the next. You kind of have to be willing to change your plans quickly.
posted by bondcliff at 6:24 AM on September 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
People buy skis, ski 2x and then don't ski again. Post on freecycle, check ski shops, craigslist and fb marketplace. Have skis checked at the ski shop for safety, and boots for fit. You might want to rent the 1st time.
posted by theora55 at 7:09 AM on September 24, 2020
posted by theora55 at 7:09 AM on September 24, 2020
I second that skiing in the northeast requires a certain reset of expectations, even more so at some of the smaller places. I've had some of the most incredible powder days of my life, but I've also frozen my butt off, skied literally blue ice, and navigated bare patches.
first, you may also want to consider a season rental from a local shop in Boston- it gives you some options, is cheaper than buying gear, and if anything goes wrong with it, the shop will help you figure it out.
If you want to buy any part of your gear, I would recommend you buy your own ski boots from a reputable shop if you at all have slightly wonky feet. Skis really don't matter quite as much (and poles even less so), and I recommend keeping an eye out for Ski-swap sales- here's one at Killington that's being held virtually, but there definitely more out there. I've never bought skis new, and I have been skiing for 20yrs, but it is worth getting a rough idea of what is out there, so check out outdoor lab's reviews .
Your teen may prefer to noodle around on a set of Line skis, they're relatively cheap, super soft (so good for bumps/jumps) , look cool and they're fun to ski-- I have a set of sick day 92's I picked up at a ski swap and they're just a blast.
posted by larthegreat at 7:31 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
first, you may also want to consider a season rental from a local shop in Boston- it gives you some options, is cheaper than buying gear, and if anything goes wrong with it, the shop will help you figure it out.
If you want to buy any part of your gear, I would recommend you buy your own ski boots from a reputable shop if you at all have slightly wonky feet. Skis really don't matter quite as much (and poles even less so), and I recommend keeping an eye out for Ski-swap sales- here's one at Killington that's being held virtually, but there definitely more out there. I've never bought skis new, and I have been skiing for 20yrs, but it is worth getting a rough idea of what is out there, so check out outdoor lab's reviews .
Your teen may prefer to noodle around on a set of Line skis, they're relatively cheap, super soft (so good for bumps/jumps) , look cool and they're fun to ski-- I have a set of sick day 92's I picked up at a ski swap and they're just a blast.
posted by larthegreat at 7:31 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
I assume you have already checked the Vermont Ski Area Assoc (aka Ski Vermont)'s deals?
posted by terrapin at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by terrapin at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
When you're looking at ski areas, you may want to look at their 2020/2021 operations plans. I know that some areas have announced limited services for the upcoming year, and I'm guessing that some will also announce capacity limits.
posted by golden at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by golden at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks, keep'em coming! The "buy your own equipment" thing seems like a lock.
Also, I am looking more for season passes than multi-day passes (unless on sale as mentioned upthread). E.g. the Sunday River/Bretton Woods/anyplace-else pass sounds up my alley in terms of convenience—if I can be stuck with a choice of mountains rather than bound to one mountain, all the better.
As far as my expectations for conditions, don't worry about that—I learned to ski on ice and frozen granular snow at Mt Snow and Attitash when I was young, and was on a pair of Dynastar 210cm's by the time I was 13. I was aiming for Olympic Downhill Stardom before I lost the excitement and the gobs of money.
Final note: son is 25 years old, not-a-teen, and is on disability for cognitive reasons, but they don't inhibit his enjoyment of the sport. But as his thoughts are both strongly fixed but also flighty (contradictory impulses are a hallmark), a season pass would allow us to return multiple times in case of a sudden change of mind after two runs on a particular day.
Thanks again! I'll keep checking back.
posted by not_on_display at 9:34 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also, I am looking more for season passes than multi-day passes (unless on sale as mentioned upthread). E.g. the Sunday River/Bretton Woods/anyplace-else pass sounds up my alley in terms of convenience—if I can be stuck with a choice of mountains rather than bound to one mountain, all the better.
As far as my expectations for conditions, don't worry about that—I learned to ski on ice and frozen granular snow at Mt Snow and Attitash when I was young, and was on a pair of Dynastar 210cm's by the time I was 13. I was aiming for Olympic Downhill Stardom before I lost the excitement and the gobs of money.
Final note: son is 25 years old, not-a-teen, and is on disability for cognitive reasons, but they don't inhibit his enjoyment of the sport. But as his thoughts are both strongly fixed but also flighty (contradictory impulses are a hallmark), a season pass would allow us to return multiple times in case of a sudden change of mind after two runs on a particular day.
Thanks again! I'll keep checking back.
posted by not_on_display at 9:34 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
We did season rentals for a couple years and found that to work well for us, though we own our own boots. Storing skis and doing the tune-ups are a PITA in our opinion, and season-long rentals are pretty reasonably priced. We did it last with a place in Newton, IIRC.
In addition to mountain season plans, keep the COVID quarantine stuff in mind. VT still doesn't want anyone from Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, or Middlesex counties anywhere near the place. NH is LIVE FREE OR DIE*, with masks only needed inside and limited/no restrictions on New England travel. ME just opened up to MA residents again yesterday.
*former New Hampshirite here---I speak of what I know
posted by chiefthe at 5:09 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
In addition to mountain season plans, keep the COVID quarantine stuff in mind. VT still doesn't want anyone from Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, or Middlesex counties anywhere near the place. NH is LIVE FREE OR DIE*, with masks only needed inside and limited/no restrictions on New England travel. ME just opened up to MA residents again yesterday.
*former New Hampshirite here---I speak of what I know
posted by chiefthe at 5:09 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Boots are the the hardest but if they are snug and no serious pain points its 95% good.
Cannon has a Wednesday 2fer. Liftopia is worth scanning regularly. Watch for special days, St Pats and superbowl sunday often are cheep. Just scanning you potential areas web sites or signing up for news letters for various anniversary events (50 years for original price) Wildcat has good 2fers and weekday pricing. NH seems to have better prices than VT, probably as it's off the NYC corridor. Early season, end of season and midweek. Early season it's good to have cheep skis so a bit of rock scraping is fine.
But, you picked a the wonkiest year, take lots of blankets as the lobbies may be closed, probably have a bunch of area failures. Who knows.
posted by sammyo at 5:42 AM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]