SkiSU is Colorado State University’s bus for student skiers and snowboarders, providing round-trip transportation from campus to a variety of ski resorts on many Saturdays throughout the season.
Tickets are available for CSU students for $20 round trip at SkiSU.colostate.edu. Students may purchase a ticket for up to one non-student guest per trip, while supplies last.
“SkiSU provides an inclusive opportunity for students to experience Colorado’s great outdoors, and makes a weekend ski trip for students accessible by reducing the cost of the trip and providing transportation,” said Erika Beni, active transportation professional in the university’s Parking and Transportation Services department.
“We know that only about a third of our students rely on a personal vehicle for transportation, so adding ski resorts to the list of destinations they can reach without a car enhances their student experience while supporting alternative transportation options for our community and the university’s sustainability goals.”
The bus boards passengers on campus at 6 a.m., and returns to campus on the same day, typically boarding at the resort at 3:30 p.m. On the ride, students can use on-board wifi, watch a movie, make a new friend, or everyone’s favorite: catch a few extra hours of sleep.
Trips this spring semester are:
- Feb. 9 to Breckenridge
- Feb. 16 to Copper
- Feb. 23 to Vail
- March 2 to Winter Park
- March 9 to Keystone
- March 30 to Copper
- April 6 to A Basin
The first trip of the 2018-19 season was in December. In its second year, SkiSU has grown from five trips per season to ten. The pilot season last spring was a significant success, with trips averaging 70 percent full rates, and some trips selling out. In a post-season survey, 100 percent of all students who used the bus in its inaugural year said they’d ride it again.
Ski resort locations are evaluated by student surveys each year. As many as 54 students can travel via the SkiSU bus to each resort. Ticket sales cover the cost of the bus trip, including fuel and a university- provided driver.
SkiSU is a program under Parking and Transportation Services with a purpose of supporting alternative transportation options for students. It started as a student project with funding help from the Housing & Dining Services Sustainability Fund in its pilot season last year, and is now partially funded by the Alternative Transportation Fee Advisory Board, which is part of the Associated Students of Colorado State University.
SkiSU aims to make outdoor winter recreation accessible to all CSU students, without the need for a car, or the stress of driving on busy mountain roads.
Learn more and purchase tickets at SkiSU.colostate.edu.
