Kids Ski Free!

--note that the date for this blog is Feb. 2007! Some Kids Free Deals may repeat, some not--

What lovely words; for skiing (and 'boarding) can be expensive pursuits, especially for families.

"Kids Free" deals come in several types. Some points to watch out for with "Kids Free":

• kids may variously Stay, Ski, Rent Gear, and/or Fly for free
• typically one kid per paying adult gets the freebies
• "kid" is usually age 12 and under
• "Stay Free" isn't that big a gift, as usually kids are staying free in parents' room anyway
• often Kids Free deals are limited to weekdays

Note that at most mountains kids always ski free, up to a certain age. Typically, that age is pretty young: say, five years old. But some mountains give kids a green light 'til they're as old as ten or twelve.

Sample Ski Deals for Kids to Stay, Ski, Rent Gear, and or Fly Free

--note: this blog page is outdated, but many of these deals tend to repeat year after year--

• United Vacations is a good  source for "Kids Free" promotions, and typically teams up with a number of popular ski resorts every year

Kids Ski Free in Utah: Kids 5 and younger ski free with an adult at Brian Head, Wolf Mountain, and Powder Mountain; at Solitude, near Salt Lake City, kids ride free up to the age of six; and at Snowbird -- also near SLC-- two kids 12 and under ski free with a paying adult (and the whole family skis free some nights on the beginner hill.  Read more at SkiUtah.com.

• Alta Lodge, Utah: right on the slopes of skiers-only Alta Mountain, old-fashioned ski lodge Alta Lodge has some freebies for kids: free shuttle to Ski School, free après ski activities, and a special Kids' Dinner.

• Mammoth Mountain, in California has Kids Stay and Ski Free promotions;  when adult guests stay three or more nights, they receive up to two free kids' lift tickets for each night stayed (-for kids age 12 and under, on weekdays.)

• Steamboat, CO: Kids Ski Free and Grandkids Ski Free runs all season, and may be combinable with other promotions. Kids 12 and under ski free when parents/grandparents purchase a 5-or-more day adult lift ticket at regular prices. Same type of deal applies to rentals, too. And with three major airlines -- United, Northwest, and American-- Kids Fly Free, too.

• Kids Ski Free at Sun Peaks: Sun Peaks is in the Okanagan region in the interior of BC: a fine place for skiing, with beautiful dry snow, great powder, and several mid-sized family-friendly ski resorts. Look for packages with Alaska Airlines for Kids Free.

• Sun Valley, Idaho: Nice break for young teens: kids 15 and under staying at Sun Valley Lodge, Sun Valley Inn or Village Condos, stay and ski free; one child per paying adult, max. 2 per hotel room.

• Copper Mountain, CO: Buy three or more nights of lodging and lift tickets, get a free night and free day of lift tickets free PLUS kids 13 and under ski free every day.

• Crested Butte CO: free lift tickets for kids and adults too, for skiing and snowboarding, if you can get to the slopes early in the season.

^{*photo © Mammoth Mountain.}