Winter sports don’t have to break the bank

For many students, the winter sports season is something to look forward to and Bozeman’s proximity to multiple winter resorts makes it the perfect location for such activities. However, finding ways to ski or snowboard as a beginner may seem intimidating and expensive. While it can be difficult to know where to start, many affordable options exist for college students willing to commit to learning this season.

The Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) is one such organization offering an option to ski for free — specifically through free lift vouchers to community members. Volunteers who sign up to assist with races at Bridger Bowl will receive a lift ticket for the day they volunteer in addition to a lift voucher for another day, according to the BSF website. The next race with available volunteer positions is the alpine 2025 MSU invitational on Feb. 3-4. Volunteer positions include both licensed and non-licensed roles, all with varying levels of work and ski experience required.

For those seeking a season pass, the easiest way to avoid the steep prices is to purchase online as soon as they go on sale. Bridger Bowl started its online sale on June 1 and Big Sky’s began on April 4, according to their respective websites. While season passes for the 2024-25 season remain on sale after opening day, prices at Bridger Bowl range from $430 for a junior value pass — limited to ages 13-18 — to $1,210 for an adult full season pass.

If high prices are a concern, beginners might consider making a drive to Showdown Montana. This family-owned and operated resort is the oldest in Montana and offers a variety of discounted options for all skill levels. For first-time skiers and snowboarders, Showdown offers their Take 3, Sundays Free pass, currently priced at $200. This pass includes three lessons — available at either 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. any day the ski hill is open — free rentals for the entire season and a Sunday Season pass upon completing the third lesson.

“We’re so happy to offer that for people,” said owner and Vice President of Showdown Avery Patrick. Patrick’s grandfather ran Showdown for over 70 years until she and her mother took over in 2020., “We just focus on keeping things feeling like home,” Patrick said when asked what she believes separates Showdown from larger ski areas in Montana.

In addition to its Take Three pass, Showdown offers $30 lift tickets every Thursday and a $45 College Sunday package — the next of which takes place Feb. 9 — that includes a lift ticket, burger and a beer or soft drink for students who show their college ID.

Another major expense for beginner skiers and snowboarders is buying or renting gear. An adult rental package costs $50 a day at Bridger Bowl and $62 at Big Sky. While in-town rental options are not significantly cheaper, Round House Sports Center and Chalet Sports both offer $40 a day ski packages, which may add up to a significant discount for those planning to rent for several days at a time.

In terms of buying gear, shopping at consignment stores such as Second Wind Sports and Play It Again Sports is an easy way to save money. Additionally, the BSF holds its annual ski swap for all winter gear on the first weekend of November, allowing community members to sell and purchase gear for low prices.

For information on Bridger Bowl pricing and events, check out: https://bridgerbowl.com/.

For information on Big Sky pricing and events, check out:  https://www.bigskyresort.com/2025.

For volunteer opportunities, check out: https://www.bridgerskifoundation.org/.

For information on Showdown Montana pricing and events, check out: https://www.showdownmontana.com/.

For buying and selling used gear, check out: https://www.secondwindsports.com/ and https://playitagainsports.com/locations/bozeman-mt/.

For in-town ski rentals, check out: https://roundhouse-sports.com/ski-rentals/ and https://chaletsportsmt.com/alpine-ski-rentals/.