Budget Skiing Guide in the Poconos

With our guide for budget skiing in Poconos, you do not have to empty your pockets to enjoy the recreational sport.

Skiing is extremely popular around the world but it is also considered an expensive hobby as there are very limited places to go skiing. Luckily, for urban dwellers from NY, NJ, and Philly, there are plenty of options in the Poconos to go skiing. In this blog, we will guide you on how to have a budget-friendly skiing experience in the Poconos. So, let’s get started.

Book Your Tickets/Passes/Insurances in Advance

In case you have a fixed date and venue for your skiing trip, book the tickets and insurance well in advance. The catch here is that your insurance and ticket costs don’t change substantially, but your flight charges, accommodation charges, car hire, and ski hire charges tend to go up as the season closes in.

Go for Skiing Passes

If you are truly enthusiastic about skiing, you better go for seasonal/unlimited passes instead of per-day tickets. Most resorts offer skiing passes and packages for skiing, and these help you save hundreds of dollars. You may also choose to go skiing during the late seasons and/or go skiing on weekdays instead of weekends.

Skiing Clothes

Your regular winter clothes won’t be good enough for skiing, for starters you will need the following:

Base layer (should be made of sweat-wicking material like merino wool).
Ski socks, pants, gloves, and jackets (should be insulated and water resistant).
Goggles (should be suitable for light conditions).

Although you need sophisticated ski clothing, there is no need to go for big brands. You can check for off-brand clothing that can cost way less than branded merchandise.

Rent the Equipment or Buy a Second Hand

If this is your first experience in skiing, it is recommended to rent skiing equipment rather than buying it as skiing gears are very expensive. Almost all ski resorts and ski parks have rental shops. You can try rental gear for a couple of runs to get a fair idea about the equipment and gears. Also, many people give up skiing, you can go for second-hand equipment after giving them a thorough check.

Manage the Travel Expenses

The cost of traveling to a ski resort can make or break your skiing budget, especially if you live more than a few hundred miles away from the nearest ski resort. You can save on travel expenses by sharing fuel expenses with friends or booking flight/ bus tickets in advance.

Choosing an Accommodation

If you are traveling from a far place, you would definitely need a place to rest and recharge yourself. Booking a resort or a short-term vacation rental a month before can help you save more money by avoiding peak pricing. Get in touch with Mountain Laurel Resort’s team to know more about the booking best deals.

Beginner’s guide for Budget Skiing in Poconos

If you are looking to hit the slope for the first time, then you need a few beginner tips that will help you overcome the challenges of skiing.

It is always recommended to take a lesson in skiing from any ski school, as it boosts your confidence, and helps you develop the right form and avoid mishaps.

Another common beginner’s mistake is the selection of boots. Buying a pair of boots that is comfortable or spacy will not do any good for you, instead, it will destabilize your balance and it is also one of the most common causes of foot cramps. So, finding a boot that is well-matched in size and shape should be the priority.

Another important tip is to unbuckle your boots if you are experiencing foot cramping while skiing. Giving a short break to your tired foot can make a big difference. If you are feeling too cold then unbuckle your boot and grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

A great way of improving your ski skill is to ski with more experienced skiers, especially if the person is known to you as they can point you in the right direction.

When moving downhill, leaning forward is a great way to have more control over your ski.

During your initial phase try to stay on the groomer as it ensures the best condition for skiing and gives the skier a better grip than the powder.

Understanding the ski symbol is a must as you don’t want to end up in an extremely uncomfortable snow zone. Here are a few basic symbols are:

Green Circle represents a run that is suitable for beginners.
Blue Square represents intermediate.
Black Diamond represents difficult, ungroomed, and steep slopes.
Double Black Diamonds are for experts only.
Orange Rectangle with rounded edges represents a terrain park, where you will find boxes, rails, jumps, and half-pipes

Now that you know how to go skiing on a budget in the Poconos, we suggest you check local updates for news and weather near the ski parks. Remember to ski safely and responsibly. And the most important thing of all, have fun!! Cheers.