Kid Friendly Tactics to Lift Ski Biz

Dec. 14 —, 2007 -- With the U.S. ski season off to a snowy start on both coasts and slopes in between, USA TODAY asked editors of Ski and Powder magazines to pinpoint hot trends. Their forecasts:

• Soaring lift-ticket prices. Resorts such as Aspen and Vail, Colo., are nudging the $90 mark for a day of skiing, says Powder editor Derek Taylor. "We're worried about it, because (skiing) already has this reputation as a country-club sport," and the young and budget-conscious are being priced out. He likes value destinations such as Mount Baker Ski Area in Washington state ("great powder"), where an adult lift ticket costs $41. Look for deals on multiday, package or advance-purchase tickets, says Ski editor in chief Kendall Hamilton.

• A flurry of programs and amenities for kids. Resorts are trying to keep young parents on the slopes instead of home minding the children, says Hamilton. "A lot of folks give up skiing when they have young kids; resorts are looking to keep skiing hassle-free."

This weekend, Snowmass Mountain in Colorado is opening The Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center. The $17 million, 25,000-square-foot center is billed as unique in the ski industry. It houses seven themed interactive rooms, each designed for a certain age group (8 weeks old and up), climbing wall, storytelling theater and babysitting service.

Colorado's Beaver Creek Ski Resort has added a Buckaroo Express Gondola to ferry youngsters to beginners' slopes. "Little kids in chairlifts can be difficult," Hamilton says. "This is warmer and safer. It's a smart thing to have."

• Ever-fatter skis and chic boutique makers. "A lot of small, independent companies" are blazing trails, Taylor says. Salt Lake City-based 4FRNT, started by young pro skiers, offers trendy freestyle and "big mountain" models. Armada, co-founded by X Games champ Tanner Hall, also produces skis popular with half-pipers and hot doggers in their teens to '30s.

Company founders "couldn't get the skis they wanted (from big brands), so now they're making their own," Taylor says. Their products "go better in powder and deep snow" and stand up to tough conditions.

Hamilton, too, cites the growth of "home-brewed, garage" companies that sell products in the $500-$600 range vs. $1,000 or more for high-end skis and bindings from traditional makers.

With some status-symbol models costing thousands, "skis are becoming a mode of personal expression," he says.

The Ferrari of the ski world is the Zai Spada, handmade by Swiss craftsmen. The $5,000 skis have a granite core and incorporate titanium. "They're sleek, like a sports car," Hamilton says. "People buy them to enjoy the bragging rights."

• Insider ski areas. Taylor praises Revelstoke in British Columbia, formerly known as Powder Springs. It opens Dec. 22 with a new gondola that ferries skiers up Mount Mackenzie.

"It's some of the most challenging terrain you'll find." He also points the crowd-phobic to Big Sky, Mont. "There are two resorts there, Big Sky and Moonlight Basin," he says. They're connected, and their combined two dozen lifts and 200-plus runs can be enjoyed on a joint daily ticket ($89 for adults). "Both are very good for all levels, for never-evers to the world's best."