The ski business is expensive...there is way more involved then you may think or even dream of....A basic quad chair....2 million or more....then all the continual maintenance, staffing, government regs....to keep you and I all safe and in the air....Alot of thought goes towards parks these days...but parks raise insurance premiums through the roof...blame the insurance companies you say...blame everyone in that park around you...likely half would sue if they got hurt because THEY did something stupid....average cost of one basic rail or feature $1500...thats built and designed in house with a certified welder...My advice to all free riders skis or boards...becareful how much you vocalize your thoughts rants and rage towards the rest of the skiers etc old or young) Parks bring in money...but use a VERy large precentage of it just to build and maintain...not including the higher rates in insurance, Precentage of park users is a fraction of "full mountain" users, therefore more money per demographic goes to supporting freeride parks and riders then to joe public, racing, lessons, chalets, lifts, you name it....my rants done, and I must say the park is where I spend 95% of my free ski time, alot of my time goes into ours all year long at OSC (Kirby), I'm a huge supporter of parks the culture, and the industry....I support all resorts in our area, most of us work together at a managment level believe it or not. Just to throw out the word, A student MEMBERSHIP at OSC (kirby) is $290 14 years and up (no initiation fee, and as long as your in school) or an adult night pass is $200...or just give us a shot for $34 on a weekend. Cheers guys...Support the whole industry...it supports you....