COUPLES, NO KIDS

30-year-old couple, prep school teachers, Connecticut

We go whenever we have a good hook up in a ski town-whether that is a place to stay or discounted/comped lift tickets. The economy might be failing, but our salary has stayed the same. We feel the hurt in our retirement plans, but we have many years to recoup that. Plus, that's what we do in the winter. I guess we are willing to go broke for it. Speaking of which...I need new boots. Have you got any hook ups?

Couple, early 30s, Colorado

My wife was laid off in early December, leading us to spending more time XC skiing and skiing closer to home and on the cheap. We both have season passes, but with the traffic and the expense of going up we have been more cautious than in years past. We never used to think twice about spending a few hundred dollars on a hotel, dinner, and parking. This year, though, we scout deals on hotels, pack our own lunch and breakfast, and have cut back our restaurant budget. I have also noticed this year that we are just not motivated to do it. We have had so many other things on our minds that hitting the slopes has had a lot less importance. I think this is a year where people are really going to reflect on what is important to them.

Young couple, mid-twenties, Connecticut

I am personally not being affected by the economy up to this point and there is nothing else I would rather spend my money on in the winter time. We plan to take one big vacation every year to a new ski resort and budgeted for months to make it happen.

Couple, thirties, Colorado

I didn't get a season pass this year. I added up the cost of the pass and gas to get to the mountain and at the time passes were on sale, gas was $4/gal. I estimated it would cost me about $700 to go skiing 10 times, and that was the tipping point. I've been snowshoeing and backcountry (XC) skiing instead. Of course, gas is now half the price it was. I don't know if I can say the economy directly affected my decision. I do know that I wish I had bought a pass.

Couple, forties, California

They've got a great ticket deal now and after two weekends we pay for the whole season. This way we can afford to stay here for a few weekends instead of having to make day trips all the time. It just makes sense when there are deals to be had!

Couple, fifties, Colorado

Not at all. We purchase four-pack tickets pre-season for a total of 6 to 8 resort days for the two of us. We are drinking less beer and eating less at the resorts. But, one of us is still employed, so gas money is not an issue. We also ski 6 to 10 days in the backcountry.

Comment: Couples only have to support themselves and for many, skiing or riding is at the top of their leisure list. How sweet it is.

FAMILIES

Family of four, two kids, 11 and 13. Mom and Dad are life-long skiers, Massachusetts

We have definitely cut back on our ski/board budget this year. Last year we took a trip out to Park City and there is no way we can do this again due to expense and decreased revenue coming into our household. We often go to Waterville Valley. But we have cut that back too-its' just too expensive. The lift tickets used to be in the $50s and they are up to $72 this season, meaning almost $300 for a single day. We have tried to go more local and sometimes evenings, which the kids think is a blast and we find economical. On the whole I would predict we will ski/board about half as much this year as last.

Family of three, teenage racer and lifelong skiing parents, Colorado

I have dramatically changed my skiing habits as a result of the need to economize on all things. I will still get in my 50 days and am enjoying a great season, but it is a very different experience than any other season in my more than 55 years at this sport. I am skiing only at Winter Park (plus a day or two at Copper) because I bought a season pass last spring. I have skied at a few other areas to watch my daughter race with her high school ski team, but only when I can get a reduced price ticket (usually $25 to $30 versus $75 or more). I have a group of friends who do a big trip each season and I did not join them this year. My annual trip to Utah with friends and clients won't happen, either. I may ski Taos this spring because I get two free ski days there with my pass. One other significant change: we (and other families) are packing lunches rather than expending $10 on dried-out hamburgers or the $7 chili the resorts sell. It is kind of like skiing when we were young with my Depression-era parents, who always packed a lunch to economize, even when they could afford to buy. Amazingly, we are eating better food than we would if we were buying lunches at the resort.

Family of four, two kids, 7 and 9. Mom and Dad are life-long skiers

We are not cutting back on skiing this year. While our retirement and college funds seem to have lost thousands, we can now fill our gas tank for $25seems like a fair trade. Plus, being able to spend time outdoors with the whole family is too important and we make it a high priority.

Family of four, two kids, 11 and 15. Mom and Dad are life-long skiers, Massachusetts

We're taking advantage of coupons even if we have to travel a bit further. We typically ski at Burke, but we'd travel to Jay Peak for the 2/1 lift ticket deal. Also, we're taking advantage of the Vermont and New Hampshire 5th grade passport. That is an incentive for us to try some new mountains, as one of us will ski for free.

Family of four, two kids, 3 and 5, New York

We haven't taken a ski vacation before because our kids were too young. We're excited to take a week at Okemo now that they are old enough. The economy didn't play into our decision, but age did.

Comment: The fresh outdoors over retirement fundsif we build hard-to-beat deals, it looks like they will still come. And in family packs noless.

WHEN LODGING IS INCLUDED

Single mom, one child, Bay Area resident

I have a cabin I share with nine other families, so other expenses are more affordable. It's also our annual vacation this year.

Family of five, three kids; 3, 6 and 9. Mom and Dad have skied since high school, Bay Area Residents

We probably wouldn't have come on vacation without being able to use our parent's condo. My husband has a small start-up Internet company, so there's not a lot of money to spare at the moment. We love skiing and having the condo was the deciding factor.

Family of four, kids 18 and 20, southwestern Connecticut

Fortunately, we can stay at my mom's place. To economize, we ski mid-week. For instance, I took my daughter (a boarder) on a weekend to Stratton; it cost $160 for two tickets. We skied Mount Snow midweek and it was $125. Then we went to Bromley (the sun was shining and it was 6 degrees!) and the bill for two adults and one student was $109. We plan to do more mid-week skiing in March. My husband has skied less because he's been busy looking for a job.

Comment: Smart lodging allows spending elsewhere, which is always a plus. Looks like lodging deals is what they have their eye on.

INTERNATIONAL

Family of six, kids 3 through 15. Parents are life-long skiers, Italy

With your economy doing poorly, it was worth it for us to visit the U.S. We have always wanted to come to California and this year we could comfortably afford it. Hopefully our kids will want to come back again.

London family of three, child, 6. Mom and Dad have skied for decades

We saved more money coming here than if we went to Europe. Our child gets to see the U.S. and we can stay longer since it's so cheap.

Comment: Poor economy + snow = foreigners!

DIE-HARDS

Alaskan heli-ski guide, young family

We still bought season passes, but we had to take the money out of savings. We're giving up other things in life such as cable TV because skiing is too important to compromise. Bag lunches for sure!

Notable adventurer, young family, California

Buying passes for the family at Squaw is like paying the power bill, we work it into the budget. Maybe we'll drink PBR instead of the alternatives, but we will end up on the snow.

Young skier, California

Dude, if you only knew. We are brown-bagging it big time.

Young family, California

We are definitely cutting back, no ski passes for the family this year, which is a huge deal, but we have the backcountry, which is free and we ski the resorts that offer deals.

Female, 28 years old, local Tahoe resident

I moved here to ski so it doesn't matter what the economy does, I'll still find a way to afford it. But, I did opt for a mid-week pass this year since it's a few hundred bucks cheaper. And I've stopped buying coffee at the mountain to save some cash.

Comment: Avid skiers and riders are still finding ways to afford their habit. For them, it has a high priority; they will cut other items, even beer and coffee. But make no mistake: even the die-hards are feeling the pinch.

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