Basisphilosophie » e Premier League with 20 points, and Van Ge

DENVER - In 2010, the price of walk-up, single-day lift ticket at Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts topped $100. 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. Evgenii Dadonov Jersey . The Leafs were back on the ice Wednesday following an 10-day break. It apparently wasnt long enough, as Team Canadas 2-1 win over Latvia didnt conclude before the Leafs began practice. "I was thinking we might get a little delay, but it was nice to get out there," said Tyler Bozak of watching Wednesdays game. Florida Panthers Jerseys . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/customized/ .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. Aleksander Barkov Jersey . - The New York Rangers have momentum, a unified locker room and Henrik Lundqvist. Vincent Trocheck Jersey . -- Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf has been suspended two games for his hit from behind on Kevan Miller of the Bruins.Adrian Lewis nine-darter stole the show but the Premier Leagues top four all showed their immense quality on Thursday in Belfast. REPORT: Lewis trumps Wade Nine-darters, epic draw, and two Barney games Michael van Gerwen drew with Gary Anderson meaning the victorious Phil Taylor remains top of the shop, but it wasnt a successful night for everyone.What did we learn in Belfast? Finally a nine-darter! But do we need more?Lewis nine-dart leg during his victory over James Wade was the Premier Leagues first in four years, a remarkable streak that has finally been broken. Somehow, the worlds finest throwers had conspired to starve us of the perfect leg dating back to 2012 when Simon Whitlock achieved darts grandest finish against Andy Hamilton. Adrian Lewis ended a four-year drought Poor old Wayne Mardle, our Sky Sports expert, has been predicting a nine-darter every week for four years without any joy but he was right to continue backing the boys. Lewis and co have always proved they have the ability to score a nine-darter but had bizarrely saved their best efforts for other tournaments - Anderson, in January, nailed a perfect leg at the World Championship against Jelle Klaasen.Lewis, after Thursdays success against Wade, revealed he had already hit a nine-darter in the practice room. Van Gerwen did the same over the weekend at a Tour event. The quality has never been higher, so hopefully Lewis has broken down a barrier to more frequent nine-dart finishes.Who is currently the worlds best player?Van Gerwen and Anderson thundered the dartboard in a scintillating 6-6 draw that took just 16 minutes, creating such a whirlwind of arrows that the Belfast crowd were briefly silenced into a state of shock. Nobody deserved to lose this high-quality encounter, especially after Anderson sensationally fended off an attempted break of throw with a 119 checkout. Reaction from Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson At that moment, it was difficult to decide if world No 1 Van Gerwen was a better player than defending Premier League and World Championship winner Anderson. Locked at the pinnacle of the sport, their feverish back-and-forth rivalry means debate will rage about the superior player regardless of Van Gerwens current place atop the PDC rankings.Of course, the elephant is the room is Taylor. Sitting pretty with a four-point lead at the top of the league, Taylor has quietly gone about his business amid questions of whether he still has another major title in his locker. Try telling The Power that Van Gerwen or Anderrson is the worlds best player…Barneys play-off hopes are overPrior to Thursday, Mardle speculated: If [Raymond van Barneveld] can nick four points, hes back in the mix.dddddddddddd Hes got a lifeline. If he doesnt get all four points, hes out of it. The leg that may have ended Barneys season... The Dutch legend is five points off the play-off spots, having already played a game extra than fourth-placed Anderson. There are four more weeks before the play-offs at Londons O2 Arena so mathematically Van Barneveld can still stage a turnaround but, realistically, his fate is largely in his rivals hands.He put up a decent battle in Belfast, but a late comeback couldnt prevent defeat to Taylor. From there, even a win against Robert Thornton couldnt raise a smile. Barney is seventh in the Premier League and it looks very likely his season will end in Rotterdam, in his home country of the Netherlands, on May 12.The Thorn is still pricklyThornton, in all likelihood, is going through the motions with the remaining weeks of the Premier League. Sitting at the bottom of the table, he never truly harboured any play-off hopes and would have just been delighted to escape elimination on Judgement Night. Robert Thornton earned his best win of the season Yet the freedom has resulted in Thorntons best performances of the season, and a 7-2 win against Peter Wright on Thursday is his finest result to date. He followed it up with defeat to Van Barneveld that forced him to spend another week in eighth place, but suddenly Thornton has become a tricky customer for the seven players that look down on him.The battle for fourthTaylor is currently top of the Premier League with 20 points, and Van Gerwen trails him on 16. Lewis is third with 15, and Anderson is a point behind in fourth. But dangerously, Wade is only one point off the pace and Snakebite Wright has 11. James Wade is firmly in the play-off hunt Taylor and Van Gerwen seem assured of their play-off spots as part of the top four, but the rest is up for grabs. Even reigning champion Anderson is by no means assured of maintaining his defence, despite a hearty 6-6 draw with Van Gerwen.Six of the eight remaining players have realistic ambitions of getting to The O2, so its all to play for…Watch Premier League Darts next Thursday from Birmingham, live on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7pm. 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