With summer coming to a close, many of us are looking longingly up at the mountains and wondering when the first snowflakes will fall. Now’s also the time of year to start picking up those season passes, which can get pricey really quick. However, if you have a child in the 5^th or 6^th grade, you can snag one of the best deals around: the Ski Utah Passport.

Sponsored by Ski Utah (the marketing arm of the Utah Ski and Snowboard Association), the Ski Utah Passport program provides free skiing and snowboarding to all 5th and 6th grade students. Better yet, Utah residency is not required to cash in on this amazing deal. The 5th Grade Passport allows access three times to each of Utah’s fourteen resorts while the 6th Grade Passport gives your child one ticket to each resort per season. That’s a total of 42 and 14 days on the mountain, respectively. (Note: $35 processing fee is required to enroll in either Passport.) In addition to free lift tickets, the passes also come loaded with a variety of deals and discounts, including buddy passes, equipment rentals, ski/snowboard lessons and more. 

Why does Ski Utah single out 5th and 6th graders? Between the ages of 10 and 12, children are generally strong enough to begin participating in the sport to a greater extent. Children this age are also at an important developmental stage where they begin choosing either a healthy, active lifestyle or a more sedentary one for the future. Generally, children who choose the former also stay active as adults.

So what are you waiting for? Check out Ski Utah’s website starting Labor Day Weekend to fill out the application and get your hands on a Ski Utah Passport for your little shredder.