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Jim Schlaver: Pass hike hits all adults







A few letters have appeared recently protesting the unreasonable, 20-percent increase in senior rates for 2016/17. Actually, all adults are paying exorbitant prices. Early season pricing for the Rocky Mountain Super Pass+ is $499, $49 down. This gives unlimited access to Copper, Winter Park, Eldora and six days at Steamboat.

New for 2016/17, kids under 12 ski free. A family of four with two kids under 12 skis for $998 next year with the RMSP+ pass. An Adult Pass at Steamboat is $1099, $99 down. Skiing Steamboat costs that same family $2198, that is, 2.2 times RMSP+. Steamboat’s eight-day pass is the same price as the RMSP+ season pass.

An adult Epic Pass for unlimited skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, North Star, Kirkwood and A Basin is $809; $49 down.



Early season senior pricing: Steamboat $599, $99 down; RMSP+ $409, $49 down; Combined Keystone, Breckenridge, A Basin $450, $49 down. A 20-percent increase cannot be justified. Steamboat seniors are being “gouged” but not nearly as bad as the rest of you.

The earlier letters appealed to the good graces of Ski Corp for lower pricing. How’s that working? They only understand the language of money. The City Council is now deciding what to do about the 1/4-percent sales tax that funds the air fare program. It will likely appear on the November ballot, and there is discussion of increasing the rate.



The CEO of Ski Corp has suggested keeping the same rate so the voters will pass it. I guess he thinks we are low-information voters, and we probably are, but we can change that. One of the reasons for the airfare program is to give destination skiers a competitive price for their vacation. If we had competitive pass prices, we may not need to subsidize airlines.

The citizens of Steamboat need to be informed and defeat the continuation of this tax. We are all paying an exorbitant price for an inferior product. Time to derail the gravy train.

Get involved. Make your voice heard where it counts. Attend council meetings. Inform friends and neighbors. Let’s get organized.

Jim Schlaver

Steamboat Springs


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