This isn’t the announcement of a follow up to the 1991 Windows PC game SkiFree, complete with a kid-friendly version of the original game’s infamous man-eating Abominable Snow Monster. This is actually one of three new initiatives at Powder Mountain Ski Resort meant to help get area families on the slopes at a lower cost.

In a press release last week, Powder Mountain announced that, starting with the next ski season, kids 12 and under will be able to ski for free, season-pass rates for teens are being significantly reduced and the resort will launch a competitive freeride skiing program.

Powder Mountain Ski Resort President Brandi Hammon told the Standard-Examiner on Wednesday that, after taking her current position at Powder Mountain last November, she started reassessing how season passes were handled.

“When I came around to ski passes this year — this was the first time it came under my umbrella — just looking at where ski is and how I believe in getting kids back to the mountain, our ticket positioning was very much wrong,” she said. “I had a friend who reached out to me and sent me a text saying, ‘Hey, it’s like $6,000 for me and my family to ski at Powder. I love you guys, but this is a lot.'”

Photo supplied, Powder Mountain Ski Resort

She said Powder Mountain officials sat down and assessed the situation, with Hammon pitching greater youth accessibility to resort owner Reed Hastings.

“I said, ‘Hey Reed, I think we’ve made the wrong decision on our pricing modeling,'” she said. “He supported me, and the team did too.”

According to the press release, “adult season pass purchasers will receive up to two complimentary youth passes for children 12 and under. The benefit is available with the purchase of any adult season pass and is designed to make it easier for families with children to enjoy season-long access to uncrowded skiing and riding.”

Hammon said the reason for this change is simple.

“It is expensive to have a family and we really want to have kids out on the mountain versus sitting in front of video games and doing other things,” she said.

Photo supplied, Powder Mountain Ski Resort

She said response to the announcement has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I think that’s the coolest part about being a local and getting to run the mountain,” she said. “People tell me when they’re not happy, obviously, but less often do you get to hear, ‘Hey, this is the most amazing thing.'”

Powder Mountain isn’t ignoring teens either, applying new pricing for Unlimited, Unlimited Renewal, and Midweek tiers that can  reduce the price of a season pass for teens aged 13-18 by up to $300.

“As you get teenagers, they’re skiing more and we want them on the mountain having fun,” Hammon said. “We want it to be a price where more parents can get their kids up there.”

In addition to these changes, the resort will also be introducing new competitive skiing options.

“Powder Mountain will offer a new competitive freeride program for young athletes through Powder Ski & Ride Team,” the press release said. “The program extends the resort’s existing multi-week ski school offering with a competition track, giving serious junior skiers and riders structured coaching, team development, and a pathway into freeride competition. Registration for teams opens May 1st.”

Hammon said all of these changes come down to improving youth access, not only to skiing, but skill-building as well.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than learning a skill in a sometimes less-than-pleasant environment,” she said. “You get strong kids and they get confidence and they learn they can do new things.”

For more information, visit PowderMountain.com.