This year, things have changed, and no one is more excited then Corey Thibodeau, the back country ski and ride coordinator here at St. Michael’s College and part of a group that decided to switch the student pass deal from Smugglers Notch to Sugarbush Resort.

St. Michael’s stated it will be offering three different passes, a value pass for $85, a premium pass for $150 and the option of adding Mad River Glen to the premium pass for an extra $50.

“I’m really excited about the change to Sugarbush this year,” said Thibodeau, who through an independent study found that students were willing to pay more money for a mountain with more options. “We feel like the mountain itself kind of warrants that price bump.”

“We noticed over the past couple years that the number of students activating the [Smuggs] pass were decreasing,” said Todd Wright, Director of the Adventure Sports Center at St. Michaels, and who helped with the study. “But when we looked at the total amount of students that were skiing, the number was static.”

Thibodeau and Wright noticed that students would regularly decided to pay more money for a pass to Sugarbush and Stowe instead of Smuggler’s Notch.

“Its not like Smuggs was bad but Sugarbush has more to offer,” said AJ Whitney, a sophomore at St. Michael’s College. “I think people are excited because they aren’t from around here and they get to explore a new mountain this year for a cheap price.”

Wright and Thibodaeu talked with both Sugarbush and Stowe in order to find a deal and in the end they landed on Sugarbush.

“We were really trying to work out a deal that was best for the school,” said Thibodaeu.

Along with the three passes that St. Michael’s stated they will be offering, there is also a new learn to ski and ride program that will be available to students new to winter sports for just $50.

“This is great for first year students or people out of the country who haven’t skied before,” said Thibodeau, “We really want to get students into the sport.”

This new program will allow students who have always been interested in skiing or riding to give it a shot. With transportation, lessons, and ski rentals all accommodated for through the new program.

Keep a lookout for Sugarbush booths set up around campus during family weekend and in the future.

You can find more information about the ski and ride passes on the adventure sports page or by stopping by their offices.