There are advantages to being a Utah skier.
One, obviously, is a closeness not many skiers outside the state enjoy. From Salt Lake City, for example, there are seven resorts within 30 minutes. Statewide, spread from Logan to Cedar City, are 14 resorts.Another advantage, if exercised, is discounted lift tickets.
Deadlines and actual dollars saved vary, but they are available and can take some of the sting out of a day on the slopes.
With few exceptions, resorts offer good early-buying savings. And in some cases, requirements aren't all that restrictive.
For example:
Park City - Requirements for the Utah Resident Coupon Book have been lightened this year to include not only Utahns, but part-time residents.
Buy a book of five lift tickets, good anytime during the 1994-95 season, for $158, or a book of 10 tickets for $265. Children age 12 and under can buy five for $70 and 10 for $140. This lowers the daily lift ticket for adults buying 10 days a season to $26.50, or 1970 prices, compared to the regular daily rate of $47.
Other advantages are that once you commit to a book you can: 1. buy more anytime during the season if you choose to ski more; 2. get credit on all unused passes for the 1995-96 season. Books must be purchased before Nov. 15.
For those who wish to ski more often, family discounts are available for season passes. Passes go off sale Jan. 5.
To purchase a book a skier needs: 1. A valid Utah driver's license; 2. deed to property in Utah; 3. a Utah utility bill; or 4. a Utah voter registration. Books and passes are available at the resort or Gart Brothers' Sports Castle store or its stores in ZCMI.
Beaver Mountain - A season pass between now and Nov. 15 is $350. After that date it will go up to $395.
Brighton - Skiers can buy resident books between now and when the resort opens, which could be, snow willing, within the next two weeks. A book of five passes is $120 and a book of 10 is $220. Here, too, once you buy a book, five or 10, you can go back during the season and buy more.
This means a skier, buying a book of 10, can ski for $22 instead of $28.
Deer Valley - Even here, at Utah's priciest resort, locals can get a price break.
For a book of 10 tickets, good any day of the week, pay $270 or five for $150. Or, adults can buy a book of five passes good Monday through Friday for $120. Children's books of five, good seven days a week, are $75.
Purchases must be made before Nov. 30. And, here too, book buyers can purchase more books or upgrade if they wish anytime during the season.
Deer Valley's residency checks are the same as Park City's.
Books are available at the resort or at Smith's store throughout Utah.
Snowbasin - This area takes a little different twist. Skiers can purchase a discount card between now and Nov. 13. This photo-I.D. card entitles the holder to $4 off a day pass or $3 off a half-day pass any day of the season. Cost of the card is $12.
Snowbird - Volume buying and a membership card are two options skiers have.
New this year is a membership card programs. Adults pay $20 for the card and students and juniors $10. Then entitles the holder to an $8 discount of a daily tram ticket ($47) or $7 off a daily chair ticket ($37).
Still available, too, is the Buddy Program. One person can buy a minimum of 15 passes for the season and pay $29 each, or 20 to 45 passes at $27, or 50 or more at $25. The shared program works like this: two skiers can share is 20 or more tickets are purchases, three can share if 30 or more are purchases, four can share if 40 or more are purchase, and so on.
Brian Head - Available throughout the season is a book of 10 passes costing $270. This takes the price of the daily ticket down from $32 to $27. Also available is a midweek season pass for $195.