DENVER - In 2010, the price of walk-up, single-day lift ticket at Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts topped $100. C.C. Sabathia Jersey . Aspen quickly followed suit, and ticket prices at resorts across the country have consistently increased in the years since. The trend has raised a question that has dogged the ski industry for years: Is the sport becoming unaffordable for the middle class?Industry leaders say that even though last-minute lift tickets at some resorts now exceed $100, skiing has never been more affordable if youre savvy about discounts.But despite the availability of deals, a report commissioned in August by the National Ski Areas Association found that skiing in the U.S. has increasingly become a sport for the wealthy. The percentage of people who participate in snow sports with household incomes over $100,000 has risen over the past eight seasons from 45 per cent of ski area visitors in the 2006-07 season to 56 per cent of visitors in the 2013-14 season, according to the report.Meanwhile, those with household incomes under $50,000 dropped from 30 per cent of ski area visitors to 19 per cent over the same period. Visitors who make between $50,000 and $99,999 remained steady over the years at about 25 per cent.Snow sports participants continue to skew significantly more affluent than the general U.S. population, according to the report, which was based on surveys of skiers and snowboarders at 87 U.S. resorts. The resorts surveyed hosted 31.9 million of the nations 56.5 million skier and snowboarder visits last winter.David Becher, who helped write the report, said the drop in participation by people earning under $50,000 may have been due to the recession, but now that the economy is improving, we might see lower-income segments in the population having more confidence. He also cited other possible explanations for a lack of participation at lower-income levels, including interests in other sports and lack of exposure to the sport among those who grew up in non-skiing families.Michael Berry, president of the NSAA, said ski resorts are working to attract participants from all income brackets.The trend certainly over the past decade has been to make the price lower, in toto, he said. Ways to save money include half-day access, skiing at smaller resorts, and discounts for kids, seniors and groups.Evan Reece, co-founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Liftopia, an online marketplace for lift tickets, says buying early and booking multiple days also goes a long way in lowering the price of getting on the mountain.If customers buy in advance, they will be rewarded by doing so, he said. Its very easy to understand. You wouldnt wait until the last minute to buy an airline ticket.Reece, who helped start Liftopia in 2005, also recommends that skiers and snowboarders — especially beginners — look locally when choosing from one of the more than 450 resorts across the country.To give skiing a try, you dont need to book a weeklong vacation to Colorado from New York. There are a lot of local ski areas where you can learn, he said. People will be surprised to find what is in their backyard. Sometimes the trendy spots, theyre awesome for a great reason. But there are some areas that will surprise you.And while large resorts like Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone offer varied terrain and more amenities, smaller resorts can provide their own charm, shorter lift lines, less crowded slopes and cheaper lift tickets.CJ Hartland, sales manager for Monarch Mountain in southwest Colorado, says the resorts owners have kept lift ticket prices down by offering group rates and free skiing to kids age 6 and under and to seniors 69 and over.The owners want people to learn and fall in love with the sport and not have to be wealthy to do it, she said. Walk-up tickets at the 800-acre resort, which has 53 lift-served trails, are $69; advance tickets run $57.At larger resorts, keeping skiing affordable has come down to an intense battle over season pass prices.Until 2009, an unrestricted pass to Vail Resorts at Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone cost $1,900. Now with Vails Epic Pass, skiers and snowboarders have access to those four mountains, plus 18 more resorts for $769.People rushed out to buy it because they thought we had made a mistake, said Vail spokesman Russ Pecoraro. The pass could pay for itself in a week, depending on where and when you go.The debate over pricing will likely continue, but industry leaders contend that a day of skiing and snowboarding is, well, priceless.Theres really no better value for a family, said Pecoraro. To get your family out there. To participate together. Its the value you get from the experience and its not always about the price. Zoilo Almonte Jersey . In five games last month, Billings led all scorers with 11 goals, 27 assists and 38 points as the Rock posted a 2-3 record. Austin Romine Jersey . A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision. http://www.authenticbaseballshopyankees.com/black-48-chris-carter-womens-jersey/ .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan had ideal preparation for the playoffs at the Ford World Curling Championships with a pair of hard-fought wins over tenacious opponents Thursday.CHICAGO - Andre Burakovsky, Marcus Johansson and Joel Ward scored in a 4:52 span late in the second period, and the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Friday night, ending a five-game losing streak.Braden Holtby made 38 saves for the Capitals, who were 0-4-1 since winning at Calgary on Oct. 25.Brandon Saad and Duncan Keith scored for Chicago, which led 2-0 but then came unglued after Burakovsky scored with just under 5 minutes left in the second.Corey Crawford made 21 saves for the Blackhawks, who have lost three of four and are 3-6-0 in their last nine.The Blackhawks played their first game without forward Patrick Sharp, expected to miss a month after injuring his right knee Tuesday at Montreal. Sharp led Chicago last season with 34 goals and 44 assists.RED WINGS 4, DEVILS 2DETROIT (AP) — Niklas Kronwall scored on a lucky bounce and Detroit beat New Jersey to snap a three-game skid.Jakub Kindl, Brendan Smith and Johan Franzen also scored for the Red Wings, who outshot the Devils 31-17. Jimmy Howard finished with 15 saves.Steve Bernier and Jordin Tootoo scored for the Devils, who lost their third straight. Cory Schneider stopped 20 shots while giving up all four goals in the first two periods, and was replaced by Keith Kinkaid to start the third. New York Yankees Jerseys. . Kinkaid stopped all seven shots he faced.Kronwalls long slap shot late in the second sailed past the net and ricocheted straight back off the boards. The puck hit the back of Schneiders left leg and rolled in to give the Red Wings a 4-1 lead.HURRICANES 3, BLUE JACKETS 2, OTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Elias Lindholm scored with 37.8 seconds left in overtime to lift Carolina over Columbus for its fourth straight win.Scott Hartnell had two second-period goals for the Blue Jackets, who lost their seventh consecutive game.Carolinas Victor Rask tied it at 2 with 8:09 left in the third period on a shot through traffic. Jeff Skinner also scored for the Hurricanes, and Cam Ward made 29 saves.OILERS 3, SABRES 2BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Boyd Gordon scored with 4:16 remaining in the third period to give Edmonton a victory over Buffalo.After a giveaway by Andrej Meszaros, Gordon took a pass from Teddy Purcell on a 2-on-1 break and poked the puck into an empty net with goalie Michal Neuvirth out of position. Purcell had two assists.Iiro Pakarinen and Mark Arcobello also scored for the Oilers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Victor Fasth stopped 29 shots.Matt Moulson and Drew Stafford scored for the Sabres. Neuvirth made 49 saves. Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 China Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Stitched Jerseys NFL T-shirts From China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 ' ' '