ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 11, 1995 TAG: 9512110104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
WEEKEND PRICES continue to rise, but weekday rates remain favorable to skiers.
The price of lift tickets keeps easing up at most ski areas, but this year's overall increases aren't as steep as they have been in the past, and if you avoid weekends - especially Saturday's - there are some bargains to be found.
Wintergreen's $40 Saturday ticket is the highest in the region, $3 more than last year's weekend ticket. But the resort is offering packages, appreciation days and discount coupons to keep midweek rates from soaring.
New this year at Wintergreen is a Frequent Skier/Rider card that can save skiers and snowboarders 50 percent on midweek day or twilight lift tickets. The card sells for $40 and can pay for itself by the third visit.
``There is not a ski area in the country that is not slammed on a Saturday,'' said Mark Glickman, a spokesman for Wintergreen. ``There is a great ski experience to be had Sunday through Friday. We want to give people a reason to check it out.''
Wintergreen is offering two ski appreciation day for Roanoke Valley skiers, Jan. 2 and March 5. Twenty dollars will get you a lift ticket, rentals and a lesson.
Most resorts offer big discounts during early and late season periods.
Timberline and Canaan Valley, in West Virginia's Canaan Valley, is holding the line on lift ticket prices. The two resorts, however, won't be offering a shared lift ticket, which was initiated last season. While it was popular with skiers, it wasn't with the resorts.
Timberline has lengthened its daytime skiing, ending it at 4:30 p.m. rather than 4 p.m.
The adult weekday and twilight lift tickets at Massanutten remain $25, but there are $1 to $2 increases in weekend, night and half-day tickets.
``We want to be sensitive to skiers' budgets, yet keep a watchful eye on our ability to provide a top quality ski experience,'' said Steve Showalter, ski area manager at Massanutten.
The Virginia Division of Tourism and the Ski Virginia Association is offering discount coupons good at Bryce, The Homestead, Massanutten and Wintergreen. The coupons can be redeemed at the resorts for $25, which get skiers a lift ticket, rental and beginner's lesson. The program is restricted to Dec. 18-22; Jan. 2-5; Feb. 26-March 1 and March 4 to the close of the season. The coupons can be obtained by calling 800-843-7669.
Winterplace is offering free night skiing to the holders of its ``All Day Lift Ticket.'' The program ``will increase slope time for skiers and will allow them to be more flexible in their arrival and departure times,'' said Terry Pfeiffer, the general manager.
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