Since the Great Pass Wars that began in the late 90s, the choice for many Colorado residents is either the Colorado Pass or the Rocky Mountain Super Pass. Both are outstanding values for anyone who hits the slopes more than five or six times a year (like, duh, why wouldn’t you?), and if you snu-snu (yeah, that’s the name I’m giving to the practice of skiing or snowboarding, since no one has ever come up with a good name to describe both, and I know it’s from Futurama, why do you think I chose it, besides I’m not sure if the Futurama writers didn’t abscond it from someone else even though I guess I could Google it and maybe find out if it’s a reference to something, but, and anyway I might change my mind down the road ’cause it’s my blog and I can do whatever I want, including writing really long and dangerous and ill-advised run-on sentences in a convoluted parenthesis explanation scenario that would be better off in a separate post but now that I’m on a roll I think I’ll just keeping rolling with it, ooh did you see that snowboarder who jumped into the opening ceremony of the Olympics, jeesh talk about pressure but he stuck it so mad props, oh hey is that my mac ‘n cheese on fire on the stove?) a bunch you can get your cost of snu-snu down to pennies a day. Almost.

But the problem with buying one pass or the other has always been your friends who bought the wrong other pass. It’d be great if all your friends had the same pass, and you could all snu-snu together all the time, but people gots their loyalties, and who’s to question loyalty to a mountain?

Anywhoo, Copper recently debuted their Swinger’s Pass offering any season pass owner a Copper lift ticket for $39. Just show up at the Copper lift ticket window with your other ski resort season pass and they’ll trade your 39 greenbacks for a day of snu-snu. From their Interwebz:

End Mountain Monogamy and Come Get Some!

There’s no question of loyalty here. It’s just a day riding a mountain with easier access, free parking and fewer crowds. Any season pass holder worldwide: Sneak over to Copper Mountain for a day and pick up the Swinger’s Pass for the easy price of $39! Get to Guest Services or to the Ticket Windows of Copper Mountain to purchase this sexy deal. This product cannot be purchased online.

Don’t have a pass to anywhere? Check out the High Four.

Deal is subject to change. Not valid 3/12 – 3/27/10 or 4/5 – 4/9/10. Limited to 1 day per person.

Not a bad deal. Now you can go snu-snu for cheap with a friend who has the other pass and get some strange. On the slopes, people. I know what you are thinking, and I would never resort to sex to promote snu-snu. And neither would Intrawest. I mean Pwder. Pshaww.

The half-price lift ticket gas purchase deal is back, now at participating Shell stations. Resorts in Colorado offering the BOGO deal are Copper Mountain, Monarch Mountain, Powderhorn and Winter Park. Props once again to Monarch for not having any weekend restrictions (not including their blackout dates).

Details (with blackout dates and days) can be found on the Ski Free Colorado website, or just head straight to the list of participating gas stations.

This jacket comes with a free lift pass to each of the following North American resorts. Use as many as you would like. Some people use enough of these passes to pay for their jacket many times over. Windham Mountain, NY; Copper Mountain, CO; Winter Park, CO; Arapahoe Basin, CO; Powder Mountain, UT; Big Bear Mountain, CA; Alpine Meadows, CA; Arizona Snow Bowls, AZ; Big Sky, MT; Sundance, UT; The Canyons, UT; Spirit Mountain, MN; Boyne Mountain/Boyne Highlands, MI; Indianhead, MI; Cannonsurg, MI; Shanty Creek, MI; Boston Mills/Brandy Wine, OH; Sunday River/Sugar Loaf, ME; Holiday Valley, NY; Hunter Mountain, NY; Wachusett Mountain, MA; Jay Peak, VT; Bretton Woods, NH; Waterville Valley, NH; Bear Valley, CA; Ski Train, CO; Mission Ridge, WA; Nashoba Valley Ski Resort, MA; Trollhaugen Ski Resort, WI; Appalachian Ski Mountain, NC; Angel Fire Resort, NM; Sunrise Resort, AZ; Rabbit Hill, AB; Big White, BC; Silver Star, BC; Grouse Mountain, BC; Kicking Horse, BC; Mt. Norquay, AB; Canada Olympic Park, AB; Hockley Valley Resort, ON; Mont Saint Sauveur Resorts, PQ; Sun Peaks Resort, BC.

To support your effort to cruise the early season White Ribbon of Life, the good folks at A-Basin have rounded up some sweet lodging deals. The Arapahoe Inn at Keystone is offering rooms for $13.99 a night from October from October 16-23. Yes, you read that right, $13.99 a night. You’ll probably spend more in gas to get to the mountains than it will cost you to stay for the weekend. Seriously, $13.99 a night!

Plus, the Arapahoe Inn is conveniently located directly across the street from Dos Locos. (With Happy Hour from 3-6 daily)

The $13.99 deal details:

Arapahoe Inn is offering skiers and riders the opportunity to stay for only $13.99 (plus tax).

Offer is valid October 16 until October 23, 2009. Must have a valid daily lift ticket for each day you stay or annual season pass. For reservations please call 888-513-9009 or 970-513-9009. Please visit our web-site www.arapahoeinn.com

*Terms and Conditions: Season pass or lift ticket must be presented upon check in. Rates are for single or double occupancy. No black out dates.

From the tale of discovery:

In search of a good bargain, the Rogers family decided to ride the free gondola up to the top of a mountain while on their vacation in Wyoming.

“We do anything that’s free,” Jane Rogers said.

“I was over on a pile of snow… sliding down on my feet and my mom just told me, ‘Quickly, quickly, come over here,’” Dustin Rogers said.

In a melting pile of snow, Jane had found a silver money clip – and it was full.

Yeah, heartwarming and all, but what those 9News peeps didn’t tell you is that there’s millions of dollars worth of cash, cell phones, ski poles, gloves, sunglasses, bags o’ weed, gold chains, goggles, GPS’ssses, flasks, diamond rings, cigarettes, lottery tickets, bongs, ladies unmentionables, lighters, Golden Tickets, full bottles of beer, wine and liquor, and other sundry and skeezy items just waiting to be absconded by you! That’s right, run up to the hills right now and start looking under all the lifts and scouring all the runs, ’cause there’s treasure just a-waiting to be found.

Join us Saturday, May 30, 2009 for the official Spring Splash at Lake Reveal.

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Lake Reveal is the natural lake currently forming mid-way up the mountain. Ski or snowboard across the lake and win all kinds of cool prizes.

Registration is FREE and starts at the top of the course on Lenawee Face at 1:00 p.m. Just look for the big, orange Sobe flag.

Win prizes for best costume, best run, best dunk, best trick and many more.

Bring your camera, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to photograph this one!

This pond skimming event puts all others to shame, ’cause it’s free and easy, and anyone who shows up early can probably skim their ass off before the competition begins at 1 p.m. Plus, the pond is a real temporary pond that forms, unlike all the man-made ponds with plastic liners that other ski resorts build for their pond skimming events.

The pond has been slowly forming for a few weeks, and should be large and in prime shape by Saturday. Last year there was so much snow that the pond never formed before A-Basin closed. The last time the pond was this good was 2006.

A couple of quick tips: The skimming is easier in the mid-morning before the sun and warmer temps cause the snow to get softer and slower. And the crowd is smaller earlier in the day, so there’s less intimidation factor for noobs to give it a whirl. Scope out the pond before your first skim to size it up and pick a smooth exit spot to ride out of. Remember to stay loose and keep your weight back a little. Also, don’t feel like you have to skim the whole pond on your first try, just bite off a piece of it before you go long and impress your brahs on your next run.

Check this video from last weekend for some pointers (and sweet liquid yard sales):

It was bound to happen. Brociety just launched as a snowboarders version of Steep and Cheap. It’s the latest online one-deal-at-a-time specialty store from backcountry.com, the same company that bought you the original SAC, plus Tramdock, Chainlove and Whisky Militia. It’s online marketing genius.

But I’m still waiting for somebody to open a photography-only version of SAC. That would be cool. I’d love to see this at 50% off.

Also, there are some really good gear sales going on right now, both online and in real stores. Seems to be the year of the markdown, and I predict more to come. Guess there is an upside to the recession.

Wolf Creek Ski Area. Annual snowfall average is 465 inches, hence the claim "The Most Snow in Colorado." You know you want some. (Courtesy Wolf Creek)

Wolf Creek Ski Area is having one of their super sweet Local Appreciation Days this Sunday, February 1, 2009. That means $31 adult lift tickets to anyone who shows up at the ticket window, no ID required. And they’re doing it again next Sunday, February 8, and a bunch of other days this season. Thanks Wolfy!

You know you want to road trip to Wolf Creek. They’ve had 270 inches of snowfall to date. The place just rocks the snow, and it’s always a laid back, uncrowded, mellow experience.

You can check the schedule of all Wolf Creek Ski Area Local Appreciation Days and other events here.

Phillips 66 is offering a nice buy one get one Colorado lift ticket deal in exchange for buying 10 gallons of their fuel. Copper Mountain, Monarch Mountain, Powderhorn and Winter Park are the participating ski resorts. There are some blackout dates and day of the week restrictions, but most Sunday’s are good to go. Hooray Monarch for no day of the week restrictions!

And there’s are no limit on how many vouchers you can get. Fill tank = get voucher, fill tank = get voucher, fill tank = get voucher, rinse and repeat, and so on and so on into April. So you could fill up at Phillips 66 each time you need gas and get half price skiing for the rest of the season.

The site makes you click through four pages to get the skinny on blackout dates, so here they are:

Copper Mountain: Valid January 2 thru April 13, 2009, Sunday thru Friday. Blackout dates: Spring Break March 14-29, 2009.

Monarch Mountain: Valid January 2 thru April 13, 2009, Monday thru Sunday. Blackout dates: January 17-18, February 14-15, Spring Break March 14-22, 2009.

Powderhorn: Valid January 2 thru March 29, 2009, Monday thru Thursday. Blackout dates: January 19th, February 16th, Spring Break March 9-12, 2009.

Winter Park: Valid January 2 thru April 13, 2009, Sunday through Friday. Blackout dates: Spring Break March 14-29, 2009.

Details can be found on the Ski Free Colorado website, or just head straight to the list of participating gas stations here.

UPDATE: The deal is being offered for 2010 via Shell gas stations.

If you’re tired of avoiding kooks at the Big Ski Co. resorts with their limited early-season terrain, then grab your rock sticks or board and head down to Wolfy and get some. Check out a calendar of their Local Appreciation Days with $31 lift tickets (no ID required, woot!) here.

Zach Hooper and friends documented a Wolf Creek trip last month, with a cat ride and snowboarding with Wolf Creek owner/president/manager/snowboarder/all-around-cool-guy Davey Pitcher: