An annual study of lift ticket prices from more than 600 ski areas in 40 countries worldwide has reported that US ski areas are selling 19 of the 20 most expensive six-day lift tickets on the planet.

The World Ski Lift Ticket Price Report 2009 is compiled by Snow24 Ltd, an independent ski resort research company based in Scotland.

The results reflect how currency exchange rate fluctuations have altered international cost comparisons – last year only 12 of the top 20 resorts were American, with other entries from Australia and Canada, both of which have no resorts in the top 20 most expensive this season.

The findings are published in the eighth edition of the World Ski Lift Ticket Price Report (2009) which converts ticket prices published in 20 different currencies in to US dollars, European Euros and British pounds to allow for international comparison.

Key findings:
- 8 of the world’s top ten most expensive tickets are offered by ski resorts in Colorado.
- Deer Valley in Utah sold the world’s first $600+ ticket ($602) for Xmas/New Year week this season.
- An average six day US resort peak-season lift ticket cost of $408 is exactly double the average French ski resort peak season cost of $204 dollars.
- The average cost of a six day US resort peak-season lift ticket is the second highest in the world, up from fourth highest in 2007-8.
- The only major ski nation to match the US for currency strength over the past six months has been Switzerland.

However the finding does conclude that:
- As well as being the most expensive in the world, US tickets are the most flexible and, in the US, few people actually pay the headline rate that is compared in the study due to the plethora of discounts available to advance, online and package deal buyers. Vail for example offer a season pass for only a few dollars more than a non-discounted six-day holiday season ticket.
Most other countries have little flexibility in prices – what you see is what you pay, no deals.
- The strong US dollar and weak Australian and New Zealand dollars mean that skiing overseas this summer has rarely been more affordable for Americans, and is certainly the best for at least six years. Currency fluctuations mean Australia is 29% cheaper and New Zealand skiing 40% cheaper than last year. New Zealand prices for US citizens are down from an average of just over $302 (US) for six days in the 2008 Report to $190 (US) in the new Report, a saving of almost 40% – the result of a strong US dollar. If exchange rates stay the same tickets will cost between 10 and 20% less for Americans in Europe and 15% less in Canada.
- Smaller US ski areas have six-day pricing more in line with ski areas in other parts of the world.

Novelty.
- The tiny principality of Andorra, once famous as a budget destination, now has Europe’s highest average lift ticket price at $245.
- The lowest priced six day pass in the world was found at Iran’s Tochal ski area near Tehran with a $51 cost.
- The weak British pound means skiing in Scotland is currently 20% cheaper for Americans.

“There are a lot of issues at play here behind the headline prices,”

said report editor, Patrick Thorne. “Apart from the discounts offered by many of the more expensive tickets on the headline prices, the Report also does not compare the quality of service the skier or boarder is buying when they buy their tickets. Most US resorts are famous for quality of service, grooming, lift infrastructure and staffing compared to other parts of the world. Slopes are often less crowded too.”

Snow24 has been compiling the Report each winter for eight years, comparing the cost of a six-day, peak-season lift ticket purchased non-discounted and on-the-day at a resort ticket desk (for ease of international comparison).
At least 50 resorts are compared from each of the six leading ski nations (Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland and the US).

The Report is available in digital format by email at a cost of $195(US) – please contact info@snow24.com