Ski resorts offer deals for veterans, active-duty military personnel

November 11, 1:03 PMSkiing ExaminerEric Wagnon

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Saddleback Mountain ski area in Maine announced on Tuesday
several programs to benefit veterans and current military
personnel.                    Photo: Saddleback Mountain

Saddleback plans Veterans Day
in January

Ski season may be just getting started by Veterans Day in mid-November, but support of veterans and active-duty soldiers continues throughout the season. In fact, Saddleback Mountain in Maine announced Tuesday that it will hold its own Veterans Day celebration in the heart of ski season.

On Jan. 10, 2010, all veterans can ski for free at Saddleback. The resort is also giving free lift tickets all season to veterans or active-duty service members who served in Iraq or Afghanistan from January 2008 to the present.

Saddleback also announced Tuesday the new Blue Star Family Pass for families of service members who have been or will be deployed between January 2008 and the end of the 2009-10 ski season. Spouses of deployed service members can buy a Saddleback lift ticket for $25 and their dependant children can ski for $20 a day. The regular prices are $49 for adults and $39 for youth.

"As a former Marine who served in Vietnam and father of a Marine who has been deployed five times, the Blue Star Family Pass is close to my heart," said Warren Cook, CEO and general manager of Saddleback. "Having a loved one overseas can be hard and we hope to provide a more affordable way for the families of deployed service members to have some fun at Saddleback."

Squaw Valley USA gives free lift tickets to
active-duty military personnel except on 
Saturdays and during holiday periods. 
                     Photo: Squaw Valley USA 

Lake Tahoe area features free skiing

The Lake Tahoe area should be particularly attractive to active-duty military personnel, because several areas offer free skiing. The area also has a military-specific lodging option.

Founded by the late Alex Cushing, a veteran of World War II, Squaw Valley USA is starting its seventh season of giving free lift tickets to active-duty military members. The program is good every day except Saturdays and the holiday periods of Dec. 27, 2009- Jan. 3, 2010; Jan. 16-17, 2010; and Feb. 13-14, 2010.

Click here for Squaw Valley slideshow

According to the California resort, 73,140 active-duty military participated in the program during the past six years, saving them a collective $5 million. The military guests also receive discounts on rental gear.

A short distance from Squaw Valley USA, Alpine Meadows ski area also offers free lift tickets to active-duty service members on any day including holidays. Alpine Meadows has 2,400 skiable acres with a vertical drop of 1,802 feet.

On the western side of the lake, Homewood Mountain Resort lets active-duty military personnel ski for free any day of the season including holidays. Also on any day of season, the military member's immediate family can receive 50 percent off a lift ticket at the ski area known for its views of the lake.

Click here for more on historical connections between skiing and the military

Diamond Peak, on the north side of the lake, offers free skiing to anyone with a a valid military ID-- meaning active-duty, reservists and retirees-- on weekdays outside of holiday periods. Lift tickets on weekends and holidays are reduced from $49 to $39.

The U.S. Coast Guard maintains four A-Frame rental units for
members of the military vacationing in the Lake Tahoe area.
                                                    Photo: USCG

Also on the north side of Lake Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe gives active-duty personnel free tickets on Sundays except during holiday periods. Northstar-at-Tahoe covers 3,000 skiable acres with a vertical drop of 2,280 feet.

For lodging in the Lake Tahoe area, military  service personnel can also take advantage of four A-Frame rental units maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Lake Tahoe Station. With nightly rates generally in the $30-$50 range, the furnished cottages along the northwest side of the lake are an excellent value. The location is particularly convenient to Homewood and Alpine Meadows.

Patriot Pass offered in Colorado

The three Intrawest-owned Colorado resorts-- Winter Park, Copper Mountain and Steamboat-- are offering the Patriot Pass, a season-pass specifically available to military personnel.

A Patriot Pass covering Winter Park and Copper Mountain costs $219 for adults and $104 for children. For another $20 per pass, six days of skiing at Steamboat can be added to the pass. The equivalent pass for adult civilians skiing Winter Park and Copper Mountain costs $399, so military personnel receive a discount of about 45 percent.  

Snowbasin in Utah offers active-duty or retired military personnel
season passes for less than half of the regular rate.
                                               Photo: Eric Wagnon

Utah areas give discounts

Several areas in Utah also give discounts on season passes to military families. Snowbasin offers active-duty or retired military personnel a $525 season pass. The regular rate at Snowbasin is $1,100. 

For active-duty military members and spouses, The Canyons Resort sells season passes for $599, well below the usual rate of $1,099. Brighton Resort also offers current military and spouses passes for $599, compared to the regular rate of $949.

Click here for the non-profit Vail Veterans Program serving wounded soldiers