Make Me Smart The ski industry squeeze
Mar 10, 2026
Daniel Scott, a University of Waterloo professor who studies sustainable tourism and climate impacts on winter sports, explains why skiing feels pricier. He discusses consolidation and season-pass mechanics. He covers how industry shifts affect local jobs, snow shortages, crowding, and who can still afford winter sports.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Host's Vermont Ski Trip Reveals Cost Barriers
- Kimberly Adams recounts attempting to ski in Vermont and noticing rising costs and accessibility issues firsthand.
- She references conversations on the hill where families and locals lamented ticket, rental, and food costs approaching $200 a day.
Passes Shift Costs To Occasional Skiers
- Consolidation and seasonal passes have reshaped pricing so day visitors pay much more while frequent skiers get deals.
- Daniel Scott explains Epic/Icon style passes lower cost for regulars but make one-off family or beginner day trips nearly prohibitively expensive.
Prebook To Avoid Crowded Ski Days
- Prebook lifts or use resort reservation systems to avoid crowding on multi-resort pass days.
- Scott notes some areas require pre-booking to limit daily skier numbers and protect the experience.