Skiing for the Middle Class Impossible This Year? Prices Soar
Skiing requires skill, clothing, equipment, and most importantly- hundreds of dollars in order to hit the slopes this year.
The wintertime favorite sport has seen a sharp increase in prices where ski lift tickets can top $100 per day in some places today, and both skiers and resort owners are expressing concern.
Among the most expensive aspects of skiing include travel and board, and travel industry researcher Douglas Quinby at PhoCusWright said that the sport is becoming harder to reach for the middle class.
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"You have the haves and the have mores," the analyst explained to NBC News. "When you factor in the airfare on a typical ski trip, the accommodations and the length of stay, you're talking about a pretty significant penny."
Last year, 54 percent of skiers consisted of people who earned more than $100,000 a year, according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The amount of people in that salary bracket on the slopes increased 12.5 percent from just five years ago.
Alternately, the amount of people on the ski slopes who earned less than $100,000 during the same time period has slipped from 52 percent to 46 percent- an 11.5 percent decrease.
While the sport has never been cheap, skiers today face the highest lift ticket charges and equipment rental prices than ever before, coupled by the fact that some places charge for parking and other amenities.
If you are renting equipment, a good tip for saving money on the slopes this year is to call around the area before you get to the ski mountain in order to assess the best rental deal.
Furthermore, it is always a good idea to pack your own lunch as food and drinks may be expensive on the mountain.
Another money-saving option is to commit to a lift ticket deal far in advance, and many resorts offer discounts to local residents.
Meanwhile, the online forum at WellTrainedMind.com revealed many skiers' specific grievances about the sport today.
"I grew up in a skiing family, near the VT border," wrote 5KidzRUs. "Skiing and cheap do not go together… Even if you get your equipment for free, it's still going to cost as much, or more, than an amusement park."
"I love skiing more than just about anything, but it's just too expensive a hobby anymore," the online user added.
