Ready to hit the slopes? How to get deeply discounted or free ski passes.

Snow may be far from your mind in August, but the end of summer is the time to secure the best deals on ski lift passes in Minnesota. In some cases, you can even snag one for free.

Ski operators sell passes months before the first snowfall to help get an estimate of how many skiers to expect, said Zak Trimble, director of guest operations at Lutsen Mountains on Lake Superior’s North Shore. The practice of selling season tickets in the summer was popularized 10 to 15 years ago by Vail Resorts, which owns Afton Alps in the south metro area, near the Wisconsin border. Since then, many other resorts and hills have joined the movement, he said.

“Selling this early is an encouraging way to get people excited about the season,” Trimble said. “Having an estimate helps us make sure we have enough staff and supplies to give a better experience.”

Last season, the industry saw a record 61.5 million skiers nationwide. It is second only to the 2022-23 season, which recorded 65.39 million skiers — a spike attributed to a post-COVID surge in outdoor recreation, according to a report from the National Ski Area Association (NSAA).

Season passes are the most popular way people get on the slopes, according to the report. It found that half of visitors used season passes, a third used day tickets, and a fifth used complimentary passes (such as an employee season pass), according to the report.

At Lutsen, skiers can lock in a rate that starts at $69 a day for up to three days of skiing through its Flex Pass, though they must buy it before Oct. 1. Additional tickets bought with that pass are 40% off. Additionally, skiers can save about 18% on season passes purchased before that date.

Vail Resorts offers their lowest price for a variety of passes through Sept. 1. Daily passes to the resort are about 15% off if purchased before that date at Afton Alps.

Hills also offer free season passes to part-time employees, from cooks and lift operators to instructors and snowmakers. Time commitments vary among organizations.

At Lutsen, for instance, an employee must work at least a couple of times a week through the season to receive a pass. The perk includes an additional season pass for a family member or friend, which is valid at Lutsen, Granite Peak in Wisconsin and Snowriver Mountain Resort in Michigan, Trimble said.

Another way to score a free ticket is through volunteering.

Ryan Horstman, a volunteer coordinator at Allina Health’s Courage Kenny Ski & Snowboard adaptive program, said volunteers there enjoy making new friends on the hills. The program has grown from 175 volunteers to 300 last season.

“The volunteering feeds the soul and then I get to ski the rest of the day,” he said.

Weekend and weekday sessions are held at several hills, including Afton Alps, Hyland Hills in Bloomington and Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wis. Sign-up starts Sept. 2 and training starts in November.

After two years of consistently helping, volunteers have the option to buy a season pass through the Minnesota Ski Areas Association for $400. That gives access to all of the state’s ski hills and isn’t available to the general public, Horstman said.

Ski hills also provide free passes for those working or volunteering for ski patrol. At Hyland Hills, prospective participants must go through training and obtain the necessary certification before they can join, according to Tom Knisely, Three Rivers Park District media specialist. Sessions start in late November.

The First Tracks ski scholarship at Hyland Hills gives financial aid to people who qualify for government services such as MinnesotaCare, the state’s health care program for low-income Minnesotans. Funds can go toward lessons or a ski pass.