How to Snowboard for Cheap: 8 Ways to Cut Costs
In 2022, a popular travel publication estimated that the average cost of ski/snowboard trip for a family of four was approximately $3,000 USD. Oof, that’s a lot of money. Fortunately, with a little bit of planning, it’s possible to pay much less and still have just as much fun.
After decades of carpooling, pocket sandwiches, and second-hand gear, we feel uniquely qualified to share our proven methods for saving money on snowboarding. And while many of these suggestions are broadly appealing to individuals and families, others require a bit more effort and are reserved for only the most serious penny-pinchers. Check out Burton’s top tips for cutting costs and learn how to snowboard for cheap.
8 Ways to Cut Costs and Snowboard for Cheap
- Get a Mid-week Lift Ticket or Season Pass
- Purchase Second-hand Gear
- Purchase Samples & Second-quality Gear
- Shop Sale Products
- Carpool to the Mountain
- Pack a Lunch
- Car Camp at the Ski Area
- Hit the Backcountry
1. Get a Mid-week Lift Ticket or Season Pass
Our first tip for how to snowboard for cheap is to buy mid-week lift tickets or season passes. Off-peak mountain access generally costs much less than access on weekends and holidays. If your schedule allows it, this strategy can be one of the best ways to save money on snowboarding. A few popular options include:
- Mid-week Lift Tickets and Mid-week Season Passes
- Season Passes with Blackout Dates
- Single Mountain Season Passes
- Lift Ticket Package Deals
- Pre-purchased Lift Tickets
- Choose Ski Areas over Ski Resorts
Mid-week Lift Tickets and Mid-week Season Passes
Visit your local mountain mid-week for the lowest-priced lift tickets. If the mountain offers evening riding under lights, check when the “night-only” rate applies, and you could potentially save a bit more. However, this tip is mostly relevant to riders who only plan to get out once or twice per season. If you plan to stack some days and still save money snowboarding, the next best option is a mid-week season pass.
A mid-week season pass will typically allow you to ride any time between Monday and Friday and be priced accordingly. For example, one well-known multi-mountain mid-week season pass is almost half the price of the unrestricted version that includes weekends and holidays. And while this money-saving tactic won’t work for everyone, the few who have the flexibility to ride mid-week should definitely consider it. As an added bonus, there’s generally much less traffic on the slopes during the week.
Pro tip: Mid-week season passes typically carry additional restrictions (like Monday holidays) so make sure to review the specifics carefully.
Season Passes with Blackout Dates
Another great way to save some cash and snowboard for less is to get a season pass with blackout dates. Blackout dates are restricted days when you won’t be able to use your pass to ride. Ski resorts offer passes with blackout dates to help minimize the number of visitors on the mountain during the most popular days of the season. For example, one common multi-mountain season pass in North America is available with blackout dates for a 25% discounted price.
Single Mountain Season Passes
If you're looking to cut costs even more and don’t plan on traveling, a single mountain season pass is a great alternative to a multi-mountain season pass. A dedicated home mountain pass allows you to discover all the sweetest powder stashes, figure out the fastest way to get to your favorite trails, and get to know the bartenders in the lodge on a personal basis (potentially another great way to save money). Plus, a season pass often pays for itself in as few as five visits.
Pro tip: Check out 7 Beginner Snowboarding Tips for more season pass advice.
Lift Ticket Package Deals
If you don’t live close to a ski area, and you’ll only be able to get out and ride a handful of days each season, lift ticket package deals can help get you and the entire family out on the slopes. However, this approach generally requires quite a bit more planning, since these package deals typically start to pop up in the summer and fall months before the snowboarding season starts.
Keep an eye out for 3-day or 4-day packages, which will usually be offered at rates that come out to much less than the average daily rate. To score one of these package deals, we recommend visiting the website of your favorite local mountain and signing up for their email newsletter.
Pre-purchased Lift Tickets
Planning a snowboard trip? Many resorts offer discounted daily lift tickets when they are pre-purchased a few weeks in advance. So, grab your calendar and hit the resort’s website to pre-purchase your lift ticket and save a few dollars.
Choose Ski Areas over Ski Resorts
Many major ski resorts have large “village-style” base areas with restaurants, bars, hotels, condominiums, retail stores, spas, and paid parking. And while these amenities can provide great après entertainment, riders who are looking to snowboard for cheap should consider the smaller ski areas. A small ski area likely won’t have much more than a bar and a cafeteria but will probably have reasonably priced lift tickets and plenty of local charm.
2. Purchase Second-hand Gear
Sure, it’s nice to have a brand-new shiny snowboard, top-of-the-line snowboard bindings, and snowboard boots that are the exact color you love, but you can save a ton of cash (and be a more sustainable consumer) by investing in gently used equipment. Not quite sure where to start? Here are a few places to check out on your quest for second-hand snowboard gear.
- Ski resort: Drop into the rental shop at your local mountain during the off-season and ask about any rental gear that might be for sale.
- Snowboard shop: Swing by your favorite local snowboard store to see if they have any prior-year demo gear for sale.
- Gear consignment store: Gear consignment stores often end up with quality used snowboarding equipment. Visit a reputable shop and make sure to thoroughly assess the condition of anything before making a purchase (it’s also not a bad idea to confirm the return policy, just in case).
- Online auction websites: eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace can be great places to score a deal on used snowboarding gear. However, it can be difficult to figure out the exact condition of used equipment without being able to physically inspect it first, so make sure to ask lots of questions before making a purchase.
Pro tip: Not confident in assessing the condition of used snowboarding equipment? Bring a knowledgeable friend along to help you identify the gold from the garbage.
3. Purchase Samples, Second-quality & Open Box Gear
Prefer new gear without new gear prices? Purchasing snowboard gear samples, second-quality snowboard gear, and open box gear is a smart way to save money.
For example, Burton offers second-quality snowboards, outerwear, and accessories at significant discounts. This gear is fully functional but may have minor aesthetic imperfections according to our stringent quality standards. Regardless, you get great gear that’s backed by an industry-leading warranty.
4. Shop Sale Products
If you don’t mind riding a prior-season snowboard or jacket, we recommend keeping a close eye on the sale rack at your local snowboard shop. Better yet, if you’re located close to a Burton Flagship Store, drop in to check out discounted gear from last season.
Not close to a store? No problem. Whether you’re in need of a new snowboarding jacket or snowboard boots, drop into burton.com to save some cash and get exactly what you need for the right price.
There’s not much more to say here. Be thrifty, shop sales, score discounted gear.
5. Carpool to the Mountain
Sometimes the easiest ways to snowboard for cheap are simple, like carpooling. Simply wrangle your motley crew, shove them in the back of the old station wagon, and make your way to the mountain. Some mountains offer carpoolers preferential parking as a reward for helping keep more cars off the road and reducing your carbon footprint. It’s a win-win for you and the planet.
Pro tip: Don’t be shy asking your friends to chip in. Smartphone apps make it easier than ever to split gas money. Don’t own a car? Never fear, the demand for ski mountain transportation has led many resorts to create shuttle services from nearby cities. A quick visit to the resort’s website will likely get you the specifics you need to catch a ride.
6. Pack a Lunch
It’s no secret that resort food options are expensive, so get a leg up by bringing your own food from home. According to many Burton families (with small children) this is one of the best ways to save money and keep everyone happy during full days on the slopes.
In general, focus on foods that are easy to stash and eat without utensils.
- Sandwiches
- Burritos
- Granola bars
Elevate your food game to pro status by bringing your grill and cooler stocked with beverages for a proper parking lot tailgate or post-ride party. You'll save money and make memories with your buddies at the same time.
Pro tip: Many resorts have microwaves in the base area lodge so you can bring and reheat cold pizza, soup, or anything else that would be better warm. Remember that some resorts have a designated area for folks who bring their own food so pay close attention to posted signs.
7. Car Camp at the Ski Area
Believe it or not, some ski areas have designated parking lots where you can legally sleep in your vehicle overnight for free (or relatively low-cost). We recognize that this won’t appeal to everyone, but for the die-hard riders who don’t want to stay in a swanky ski-in/ski-out hotel, it can be a huge cost savings. However, before you get adventurous and head up to the mountain with plans to camp in your vehicle, there are a few things to be aware of.
First and foremost, not all mountains allow overnight vehicle camping, so you’ll want to contact the resort you plan to visit and confirm that you can legally camp before you show up expecting to stay. Find out the exact parking lot where you can camp, and make sure to follow all the rules and regulations. This includes being respectful of stay limits, not leaving any trash, and generally being considerate of other visitors.
The second thing to consider is whether or not you have the appropriate equipment to safely (and comfortably) camp in the winter. Two of the most important items that you’ll need are a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag. The warmth of sleeping pads is described by their R-value, and the higher this number is, the warmer the sleeping pad. Sleeping bags are rated for specific temperatures. To ensure that you stay comfortable at night, it’s wise to choose a sleeping bag that is rated at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celcius) colder than what you expect to encounter.
Pro tip: Sleep in a high-quality snowboarding base layer to provide extra warmth and comfort.
8. Hit the Backcountry
You don’t need lift tickets for the backcountry (i.e., after an initial investment in gear, touring is less expensive than resort riding).
Backcountry snowboarding (or splitboarding) offers all of the thrills of riding at a resort, but with a fraction of the crowds, and more high-quality snow than you can shake a stick at. However, backcountry travel comes with inherent risks, like avalanches, unpredictable weather, cold temperatures, and unmarked obstacles and cliffs.
To safely visit the backcountry, you’ll need to get educated. Begin by reading How to Get Started with Backcountry Snowboarding for a basic introduction and always carry an avalanche transceiver (beacon), shovel, and probe (and know how to use them).
Final Thoughts on How to Snowboard for Cheap
There are lots of ways to save money and snowboard for cheap. Investing in second-hand snowboarding equipment, taking advantage of seasonal sales, and snagging a mid-week ski pass are all simple yet effective money-saving tactics. And for the more adventurous among us, car camping at ski areas and backcountry splitboarding are some more outside-the-box ideas to help you cut costs while still having tons of fun. And remember, the more money you save on gear the more money you can spend on cold beverages.
