Hey, Colorado sliders!

Welcome to a new season of Sliding On The Cheap, and from the way things have started it looks like we may be in for a great season. The word of the day is OPEN!!! That's right, most Colorado area have turned on the lifts thanks to recent snows and skiers and snowboarders are once again heading down the slopes.

If you're looking for a way to ride or ski for free this winter, make sure to contact your favorite resort now to see if they are looking for part-time mountain hosts, race staff, etc. Several resorts will provide a season pass to people willing to work on the mountain every second or third weekend. Not bad for a free winter of skiing or boarding.

Of course, not everyone wants to work their way to a free ticket, so we're back to give you the lowdown on all the ways you can slide on the cheap. And right now, most resorts are offering early-season discounted lift tickets, deeply discounted lodging packages and a host of other promotions to entice you up to the mountains in November.

So let's get started!

Free Lift Ticket to Monarch!!

Get the newsletter? You're automatically entered in our lift ticket drawing. This week's winners are:

weschoolathome [at] yahoo.com
dgonz1 [at] hotmail.com

Not yet a subscriber? Visit www.slidingonthecheap.com and sign up for the Colorado newsletter for your chance to win tickets in the future.  Winners -- make sure to send an email to skierrob [at] verizon.net

A-BASIN: OPEN!
Now through November 26, you can slide for just $35 a day. Or buy a season pass for just $179 and ski every day of the season ($229 gets you the pass and five one-day passes to Keystone or Breckenridge). Until December 4, stay at the Best Western Lake Dillon from $61 per person (Sunday - Thursday) and ski / board for free! www.arapahoebasin.com

ASPEN RESORTS-
ASPEN (opens Nov. 27)
BUTTERMILK (Opens Dec. 13)
HIGHLANDS (Opens Dec. 13)
SNOWMASS (Opens Nov. 27)

Spend your Thanksgiving at Aspen / Snowmass with lift / lodging packages starting at $135 a person. Or, check out their last minute specials for a spontaneous trip at http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/specials.php . Last check had rooms running as low as $47! www.aspensnowmass.com

COPPER MOUNTAIN: OPEN!
Ski and stay for Thanksgiving from $78 a person. Includes Copper's coveted BeeLine lift ticket which gives you access to your own designated lift line at most lifts and a special VIP line during Copper's rental shops peak hours! www.coppercolorado.com

CRESTED BUTTE: Opens Dec. 13.
This season, kids pay their age for lift tickets (4 and under are free). Six years old? Pay $6! www.skicb.com

DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT /PURGATORY: Opens Nov. 26.
Stay and ski / board this winter from $85 per person. www.ski-purg.com

ELDORA: OPEN!
Special 3 for $39 pack. Get 3 lift tickets for $39 and use them through Dec. 25 Monday - Friday. Get them at Eldora Mountain Sports in Boulder or at any Front Range King Soopers location by Nov. 30 - this discount can't be bought at the ticket window. www.eldora.com

HOWELSEN: Opening late November.

LOVELAND: OPEN!
Now until December 19, slide for just $30 a day (normally $46), and Beginner skiers and boarders can ski Chair 7 for just $14 a day (normally $21). www.skiloveland.com

MONARCH: Opens this Friday, Nov. 21!
Want to go sliding with all your friends? Grab a group of 20 or more and you can all lodge (quad occupancy) and ski / board from just $35 per person per day! www.skimonarch.com

POWDERHORN: Opens Dec. 11.
www.powderhorn.com

SKI COOPER: Opens Nov. 27.
www.skicooper.com

SOLVISTA: Opens Dec. 13.
Learn to ski special. get two days worth or lift tickets, rentals and lessons for just $99, and then ski for FREE the rest of the season! Valid Jan. 5-Mar. 5, excluding Jan. 17-19 and Feb. 14-16, 2004 but reserve now to avoid a sellout. www.solvista.com

STEAMBOAT: Opens Nov. 26
Special opening day lift ticket price of $15 valid November 15 only to benefit the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Scholarship Fund! www.steamboat.com

SUNLIGHT: Opens Nov. 26.
Ski, Swim and Stay packages from $54 per person per day let you relax your muscles after a day on the slopes in their famous Hot Springs pool. www.sunlightmtn.com

TELLURIDE: Opens Nov. 26.
Book lodging packages for Thanksgiving now for free skiing and discounted lodging at many properties. www.tellurideskiresort.com

VAIL RESORTS-
BEAVER CREEK (opens Nov 22)
BRECKENRIDGE (OPEN!)
KEYSTONE (OPEN!)
VAIL (opens Nov. 21)

Get 10 days of skiing and boarding at Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Heavenly, CA for just $349 (That's less than $35 a day) as long as you use your first day before January 31! Tickets not valid during the Christmas holidays (Dec. 19 - Jan. 3). Also, for those who live far away but love Colorado powder, purchase the Ultimate Season pass. $2,999 gets you UNLIMITED airline flights from anywhere in the US that Frontier Airlines flies to Denver and Reno, NV this winter along with free skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly, CA! www.snow.com

WOLF CREEK: 100% OPEN!
Local Appreciation Day is Weds., Nov. 19 - ski or board for just $21. No ID required! www.wolfcreekski.com

WINTER PARK: OPEN!
Until further notice, early-season lift tickets just $38 per person (normally up to $59 regular season or $65 on holidays!) Lodging specials from $42 per person per night. www.skiwinterpark.com

Till next week,

Robert Drueckhammer skierrob [at] verizon.net