Greetings, Rocky Mountain Sliders!

Last week we found some great lodging/playtime deals for you (search the archives if you've missed any issues), and next week we'll find our own Colorado Olympic Gold values. This week, let's look at a way to beat the high cost of lift tickets. You'll be surprised at the values out there, including such great deals on lesson packages it's as if the lift tix are free!

Thought for the week: Newton's First Law of Motion. A body in motion tends to stay in motion, and a body at rest tends to stay at rest, unless the body is acted upon by an outside force. Which one are you?

Congratulations to the winners of this week's Random Slide Pick:
Immeker44 [at] hotmail.com
mmelec [at] execpc.com
You can claim your lift tickets by contacting slidecheap [at] aol.com, and happy trails! If y'all'd like to be entered into the weekly sweepstakes, get your name in the e-pot by subscribing at www.slidingonthecheap.com.

Tip o' the Ski Week: E-Bay's lift tickets offerings have increased again, and there are great deals on tickets to Breck, Copper, Vail, Keystone, and Ski Cooper. Remember to check ticket origins, and bid away! If you're looking for reasonable deals on packages that include air, lodging, lift tickets, and usually any number of other perks, visit www.ski.com. and click on the resort of your powder dreams. And the OFFICIAL scoop at King Soopers grocery chain in the greater Denver area (www.kingsoopers.com) includes the following resorts that sell discounted lift tickets at their in-house Ticketwest counter: A-Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Eldora, Keystone, Loveland, Monarch, Ski Cooper, Sunlight, and Winter Park. The savings are significant and will also save you time in ticket window lines at the resorts.

Co' Sno' Repo': The beauty of living in the middle of the Rockies above 9,000 feet is that when the weather blows through, I'm in the heart of it, and right now the heart of it is dumping pure, white, champagne powder, just in time for Sunday brunch. Central and Eastern Rockies are anticipating 3-6 inches through tonight with clearing by Thursday afternoon. Dry, cold, clear conditions are expected at elevation with occasional orographic snow showers possible. The real snow is happening on the Western slopes of the Rockies and down to the San Juans. Aspen/Snowmass, Telluride, Crested Butte, Wolf Creek and environs will be accumulating anywhere from 6-24 inches by Thursday morning with clear, cold conditions prevailing throughout the weekend. For more updated weather conditions and snow reports, visit our happy sponsor at www.weather.com.

A-Basin: They've just come out with the Bonus Pass - buy an A-Basin season
pass now for $169, and receive unlimited skiing at the Basin through the end of the season, five passes to ride Breck/Keystone, and keep one out to ride Vail/Beaver. And if you have a Breck/Key's Threes ticket, it's also good at A-Basin. Kids also ski free with an accompanying paid adult at Arapahoe. Ski Above All at www.arapahoebasin.com.

Aspen/Snowmass: Almost any lodging deal you find at www.aspen4u.com. can
have lift tickets packaged in at your request, at reduced rates, and simply for the asking. This week, the downtown Hotel Durant is trying to outdo itself: stay in a standard room, no minimum stay required, for $99/pn through 2/6/02, and your continental breakfast and apres-ski buffet are included; call 1-888-649-5982. The Aspen Ski Plane just added OVERNIGHT stays - fly DIA/Aspen R/T, including 1 night lodging and a two-day lift pass, for $299. Think it's too high? How much do you make an hour at work, and how long would it take you to drive to and from Aspen? Figure the cost of your time and energy as well as gas and mileage into that one, and you'll appreciate the savings! www.aspensnowmass.com.

Breckenridge: Couple some great lodging deals with the ever great PEAKS
card at Breck. Beaver Run Resort is offering hotel rooms from $111/pn, 1/29-2/8, based on quad occupancy and availability, 1-800-525-2253. East-West Resorts have also jumped in on the deal-making, and are offering lodging at Main Street Station for 20% off through 2/3, some restrictions apply, 1-800-525-2258. While you're there, check out this weekend's International Snow Sculpture Championships. And remember the PEAKS Discount and Reward Program? Get your card, order your tickets 14 days in advance, and save up to $10/day on a three-day lift pass. Don't forget the Colorado Adventure Mobile ($15/R/T - www.coloradoadventuremobile.com) is heading for Breck and Keystone this weekend. www.breckenridge.snow.com.

Copper: The mountain snow depth is at 92% of normal seasonal levels - can
you say "wax and tune, please?!" Kids ski free at Copper when Mom and Dad book three nights lodging and a three-day lift ticket, and since you're staying that long, the fourth night lodging and fourth day lift ticket are free. Ask about the Beeline Advantage when you make your reservation, and you'll get perks like dedicated lift lines, early riser runs, and no wait at lift ticket windows. www.ski-copper.com.

Eldora: Got a season pass for any Colorado resort? Bring it to the Special
Ticket window at Eldora, and ski FREE for a day, on them. Literally. www.eldora.com.

Monarch: You can still get a season pass at Monarch for $399 (it's over
$1,000 at Vail), or wait until the golden hours daily after 2 PM, when the rest of the world is heading home, and adults pay only $16 each to have the mountain to themselves. www.skimonarch.com.

Ski Cooper: While we're on season passes, Ski Cooper's is only $299 through
the end of the winter season. If you don't want to commit, buy a four-day consecutive for $104 and save $16, or do the King Soopers thing for $24/day. Ski Cooper rests under the southern spell of Vail and has a higher base and summit elevation, so whatever Vail's getting (right now, they're getting dumped!), Cooper's getting more, and it's ALL NATURAL SNOW! No wonder the 10th Mountain Division trained here! www.skicooper.com.

Sunlight: A favorite among Glenwood Springs locals, Sunlight offers the
kid's ski free program with each paying adult through 3/31. Stop at King Soopers and get your regular adult lift ticket for $27, or buy a Ski and Swim ticket for only $33. You'll need a good soak after all the runs you'll grab on the mountain's uncrowded 2,000 feet of vertical! www.sunlightmtn.com.

Tell-U-Ride: Remember, if you're a ski instructor or patroller at ANY
resort, bring your valid PSIA or NSP ID and a current letter of employment from your home resort to Tell-U-Ride, and ski FREE through 2/10. Those hunger pains you're feeling from dropping into Prospect Bowl so many times will be well quelled at the Limeleaf at Swede-Finn, where the 4-6 PM Happy Hour $2 fish tacos, $5 burgers, discounted brews, and mountain-sized margaritas will make you cry for your mommy! www.tellurideskiresort.com.

Vail: Vail Resorts and American Airlines have teamed up to offer the Kids
Fly, Stay, and Ski Free packages. Receive these savings for a child ages 2-12 with each paid adult booked at the resort and on American Airlines. Need I say more? Yes, as a matter of fact - the Vail Ski & Snowboard School is offering incredible deals on the chance to learn from the best. Beginners, buy three lessons, pay for one, and have plenty left over for your lift ticket (segue, PEAKS Ticket Discount and Rewards Program). All level riders, save 50% on a 3-hour breakthrough clinic - $35 will move you Ticket Discount and Rewards Program!). Call 1-800-475-4543 for more information. Get the ultimate lesson experience with one of Vail's pros by forming your own private group of six people and pay as little as $55/pp/half-day (segue, PEAKS Ticket Discount and Rewards Program!!), including access to Ski School Express lift lines, demo gear deals, and video analysis. Save the memories for the grandkids! www.vail.snow.com.

Winter Park: Ladies, while the guys are being Super Bowl couch potatoes,
get your bodies in motion to Winter Park for Take Your Daughter to the Snow Weekend. Heck, take your best, short female friend for these prices! Register at the Balcony House any day this weekend, and get $39 adult women's lift tix, $15 lift tix for girls age 6-13, $10 off private lessons, $20 off a full-day Children's Center program, and vouchers are also available for a 2-for-1 snowshoe adventure at the Tour Center. Sorry boys: ladies only is a beautiful thing! www.skiwinterpark.com.

Wolf Creek: Sunday is Local Appreciation Day (know any locals?) offering
lift tix at half price, and that means $21/adults. If you're not a local, you can still get in on the action with a Tele clinic that won't set you back any more than $44 for lift and lesson. www.wolfcreek.com.

Backcountry/Avalanche Awareness: Berthoud Pass is still alive and kick-turning and continues to offer their Hike-to-Ski program. No lift lines or lift tickets involved, because your $100 custom tour is led on-the-hoof for six hours by one of their skilled Powder Guides. It's a great introduction to backcountry riding and avalanche preparedness. www.berthoudpass.com.

Till next week, stay low, stay smart, and stay luz,
Your Robin Hood of the Rockies,
Martha
skibabeage [at] hotmail.com