A Shift Is Happening

Our Mandate is Shifting from Growing the Sport to Growing the Industry

Listen to President & CEO Paul Pinchbeck sharing a mini synopsis of “Key Findings & Learnings” in the industry from criss-crossing the nation and speaking directly to boards of the Ski Area Operator Associations, gaining input into the future needs of the snow sports industry.

We have listened to industry and will shift our primary focus from new skier development to a broader long term strategic vision on “Where the industry is going” for the sustainability, growth and overall, well-being of the ski industry.

Here’s what you can expect:

A strategic shift in the primary funding model where ALL of industry participates. Increased research with a longer-term vision on the horizon.
Representation and a voice on active issues and challenges towards labor shortages, foreign ownership along with a host of other advocacy opportunities. Opportunities for fundraising research with grant writing services and the ability to source out on a regional basis.
Proactive government relations.

WHY are we contacting you right now?
– It’s time to commit!

The Canadian Ski Council (CSC) Board made up of Canadian Ski Industry leaders has directed management to shift our primary focus from new skier development to a broader long term strategic vision on “Where the industry is going”. To deliver Research, Advocacy, and Government Relations without membership dues, government funding or sponsorship we must change.

The 2024 board approved funding model is the Canadian Lift Pass (CLP). The Canadian Lift Pass is a multi-ski area lift pass program where all monies are used to support the Canadian Ski Industry. View details on the CLP Program.

How Will Your Ski Area Benefit?

Several Ways

We have you covered with industry trends, insights, and data that you will receive on a quarterly basis.

  • Expertise and support with a national beginner motivation study to help you find more new skiers and snowboarders for your ski area.
  • Market segmentation study that helps you plan for future growth.
  • Economic impact study that will quantify the value of the entire Canadian snow sports industry. This study can be used for government relations and industry valuations. Inform and provide consideration on: What is the value of your business. What is the ski industry worth. What is your market share worth.

First Quarter
(May – July)
  • Preparing for next season with the Facts & Stats.
  • Followed by the Consumer Satisfaction Report – key insights on what drives consumer satisfaction.
  • Consumer Profile from a national perspective down to a regional perspective.
Second Quarter
(Aug – Oct)
  • Results of Canadian Model for growth. In terms of lapsed skiers, beginner, or core along revival skiers.
  • Global Research
Third Quarter
(Nov – Jan)
  • Foundational Research
  • New Research Investments
    • Snow ID market segmentation study
    • The Beginner study
    • The Economic study
  • Advocacy on an issue-by-issue basis.
Quarterly workshops – brought to you by the CSC on specific research topics. For example, “Now what do we do with the research”

For the 2023-2024 season the Canadian Lift Pass program contains an Option A and an Option B which will allow ski areas of all sizes to participate.

About the Canadian Lift Pass

The Canadian Lift Pass program is the only multi-ski area lift pass program owned and operated by and for the Canadian ski industry. With this program, all profits are utilized in Canada with the direct benefit going to ski areas.

The CLP product is available to customers at the Go Skiing Go Snowboarding storefront. With the CLP, purchasers can travel freely between participating ski areas to use the passes within their category. Research has shown that many of our customers use the CLP in conjunction with their local season pass, allowing for day trips and extended excursions across Canada. Sold in packs of 5 (five), the CLP has become known as an incredible offer allowing customers to pre-book their destinations through our online storefront.

How Does the CSC Determine Category Levels?

Your ski area ticket price from FY23 was collected from your website to determine the price of a Regular Adult weekend lift ticket price.
Ticket Prices determined as follows:

  • Adult Regular Weekend pricing – No Peak Dates
  • Window pricing – not on-line or pre-purchase pricing
  • 8-hour day

From these price points we have created six categories that are divided in $20 – $22 increments.
Your category consists of “like-priced” ski areas.

Category Name Regular Adult Weekend Ticket Price July/August selling price Minimum payout/ticket
Platinum $139-$159 $95.00 $57.00
Diamond $116-$138 $79.00 $47.00
Gold $93-$115 $65.00 $39.00
Silver $70-$92 $49.00 $29.00
Bronze $47-$69 $35.00 $21.00
Fun $25-46 $25.00 $15.00

  • The only lift ticket program that returns money and services to the Canadian Ski Industry.
  • Respects peak profit days and allows ski areas the choice of using blackout days: limited to periods around Christmas and Family Day.
  • Customers must review and agree to the Exclusion of Liability and Assumption of Risk notice prior to booking.
  • Barcodes are redeemed and tracked in the SnowStorm software for accurate payout.

  • Shareable: customers can use the passes and share them with family and friends.
  • Flexible: customers can use their passes at any of the ski areas within that category AND any ski areas in the categories of lesser value.
    • For example – A customer who purchases a pack of Silver passes can use them at all the Silver, Bronze and Fun Pack ski areas.
  • Bookings can be made in advance of the dates required.
    • On average we see a 2 (two) week window prior to their day on hill.

2023-2024 Participation Options

Make the commitment from your ski area to play a part in making the industry better.

Your commitment:

Grows and develops the industry

Supports and improves the industry

Gains access to resources and expertise

Commit to Option A or Option B

Option A

Option A follows our historical participation plan. With this model ski areas allow the CSC to openly market availability and receive payment based on the total redemptions made at their location.

  • 60% payout for redeemed visits sharing in the revenue.
  • Payout is monthly, starting in December for November redemptions.

Bob’s Ski Area shares in 60% of revenues that is unlimited.
Bob’s Ski Area redeems 100 tickets in category X sold by the Canadian Ski Council via the Go Skiing Go Snowboarding store. Bob’s Ski Area will receive 60% of that revenue when a lift pass is redeemed at Bob’s ski area.

Option B

Option B is our new participation format and is based on annual average of skier visits to your ski area. Here you agree to donate a specific number of lift tickets directly to the CSC. This number will be reduced with every redemption made at your location. Once the redeemed tickets have surpassed the in-kind amount, the ski area will be compensated 100% full lift ticket price based on CLP category.

Small
Under 100,000
Skier Visits		 Medium
100,000 – 300,000
Skier Visits		 Large
Over 300,000
Skier Visits
250 tickets in-kind 500 tickets in-kind 1000 tickets in-kind

Sally’s Ski Area is a small ski area with under 100,000 skier visits who commits to the category of 250 lift tickets. The Canadian Ski Council sells lift tickets to Sally’s Ski Area via the Go Skiing Go Snowboarding store in the various categories. The 251st ticket redeemed at Sally’s Ski Area is paid out at 100% lift ticket price of the category. Sally’s Ski Area continues to redeem lift tickets beyond their chosen category if exceeded.

What Customers are Saying

Below are some of the stats we have collected from our 2022-2023 Canadian Lift Pass Survey.

0%
Better value than Multi-Mountain Passes
0%
Shared with friends and/or family
0%
Used out of province or on a day trip

Frequently Asked Questions

The passes are scanned and tracked through SnowStorm (the proprietary software program of the CSC). This is the same software used for the Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass program and Never Ever Day program.

The payout to ski areas begins in December for November redemptions and continues to the end of the season. Passes that are scanned through SnowStorm are eligible for payout. Payouts are done by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Ski areas can use programsupport@skicanada.org to get immediate support on CSC programs and software. This email is monitored regularly and was set up exclusively for ski areas. If you are new to the software, we are available to answer your questions and provide a demonstration.

Yes, we provide Training Manuals and offer individual or group training before the season starts and during the season. Ski areas have access to support through the email programsupport@skicanada.org which is regularly monitored.

The CSC has a team of customer service agents using the robust Zendesk Help Desk software. Customers can contact us at help@skicanada.org. Our social media channels are also monitored to assist customers.

Ski areas have the option of using Blackout Days at two specific time periods. They are:

  • Any days up to and including January 5, 2024, which takes care of the Christmas and New Years period.
  • Family Day and up to 7 days surrounding February 19, 2024

If a customer purchases the Canadian Lift Pass using fraudulent credit cards, the risk is assumed at our end.

Projected redemptions are a guide to help you remember what you redeemed this past season OR if you have not been in the program for a while, or ever, what you might expect to redeem based on your category. It is not a promise or a guarantee.

You Can Count on Us

Commit Now!

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PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

The name the public best associates with. This is how your ski area will be posted/advertised in printed materials and on our program's websites.
New for 2023-2024 - Payout Options*
For the 2023-2024 Season we are offering a choice on how your ski area is paid out...