Michael Atkinson has been skiing all his life and was shocked to discover how expensive ski passes are today compared to 34 years ago.
The 47-year-old Australian father visits Perisher ski resort in New South Wales every year and revealed how in 1990, when he was 14, a lift pass cost him $46 but today customers are charged $249.
The father of two, better known as @outback_mike Online, he detailed how he used to stack shelves at Woolworths for $7 an hour and was able to save up money for a swipe after a seven-hour shift.
Now her 15-year-old son, who makes $17 an hour, would have to work twice as hard to save enough money for a pass.
“And it’s not inflation because I plugged it into an RBA inflation calculator and it should be $107 today – add in GST because it came in later and it should be $118,” he said in the video.
“Adjusted for inflation, the lift pass should cost $118. It’s more than double that. It’s crazy.”
Although some skiers criticized the father’s calculation, pointing out that he was comparing a child’s pass in 1990 with an adult pass in 2024.
At Perisher, a child pass costs between $95 and $124 if booked in advance, and up to $136 if purchased on the day. This is more in line with their calculation of GST and inflation.
Michael Atkinson (pictured) visits Perisher ski resort every year and said an adult ski pass costs $249, up from $46 in 1990.
However, Perisher considers everyone over the age of 15 to be an adult. Adult day passes cost between $172 and $226 if purchased in advance, and can go up to $249 if purchased on the day.
Thredbo day passes were cheaper overall, with teen tickets costing a maximum of $112 per day.
Mr Atkinson told FEMAIL how this expensive hobby is becoming “out of reach” for the average Australian.
“I think this is going to lead to a greater divide between the rich and the poor,” he said.
The avid traveler said he will never stop skiing despite the cost and how difficult it is to pinpoint the exact cause of the price hike.
Mr Atkinson (pictured with his wife and children) told FEMAIL how the expensive hobby is becoming “out of reach” for the average Australian.
The disappointed father highlighted the price difference in a now-viral Instagram video that has surpassed more than 2.8 million views.
Mr Atkinson said his intention was not to “blame the rich” but to highlight the problem.
“Everyone is trying to make money and get ahead in life. This is rather due to the growing gap between rich and poor. Policies that foster this gap make life worse for the majority,” he said.
The avid traveller detailed how as a 14-year-old he used to stack shelves at Woolworths for $7 an hour and could save up money for a late night pick-up after a seven-hour shift (file image)
And thousands more people online agreed, with many calling the price “offensive” and also pointing out the fact that Australian snow isn’t that good compared to that in New Zealand or Japan.
“$250 for shitty snow, short runs and long lines,” one commented.
“I heard Japan is much cheaper, it’s sad that it’s so expensive in Australia,” added another.
A third wrote: “The same goes for house prices. It looks like they will soon become something only the rich can afford.”
The price of a day ticket for adults aged 15-64 varies depending on how far in advance you book.
