To Epic, IKON or Season Pass or Not
This is the time of year when one starts planning ski trips. Maybe not the details such as booking hotels and flights, but at least beginning to let the “where” rattle around in your brain.
And, as you think about this, unless you live near a ski area and are a season pass holder, the cost of lift tickets is part of the discussion. Day pass tickets are now well north of $100/day. Last year, the daily rates pushed $200/day for some areas. Lift tickets are now the second most expensive item on the trip after the hotel or condo.
What’s emerged over the past few years are multi-area passes, i.e., Epic, IKON, and others. They provide access to areas in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, but are they worth the cost?
If you are considering buying one of these multi-area passes, the first question is how many days will I use it? The prices drop dramatically for weekdays only and no major holidays.
Depending on where you plan to ski, the break-even is around seven days. In other words, if the area’s multi-day rate comes out to $100/day, and a multi-area pass costs $700, it’s a push. However, once you pass break even. The daily cost of skiing comes down in a hurry. So, if you’re going to ski 12 days, the cost drops to $58/day.
Second question is, where do you plan to ski? Look at the multi-pass websites very closely. While they list an area, when you read the fine print, you may be limited to five or seven days and/or no major holidays. But then again, if you subscribe to SeniorsSkiing.com, you probably aren’t skiing those days unless it is with your grandkids.
Are there other options? YES!!! One, if you are active duty, Reserve, National Guard or retired from one of our Armed Services, many areas offer very good deals on a daily rate. Or contact a Morale Recreation and Welfare office at a military base near the mountains and see what they offer. FYI, the discounted costs for the multi-area passes make them a no-brainer even if you plan to only ski for a week.
Another is senior discounts. They’re out there, but they are not as big as they were in prior years. Bad news is the minimum age (back when I was in my 60s, it was around 72 keeps going up. Now that I am 78, many of the areas want you to be 80!!!). Enquire if it is not on the area’s website.
One last note about the multi-area passes. They come with substantial discounts on clothing, food at the resort, and hotels and condos. All help reduce the cost of the trip and enable you to ski more for the same budget. Now that is truly an Epic or IKONic thing!!!
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Marc: I’m 76. Started skiing at Stratton ’71/’72. Then moved north to Killington for 25 years. Unfortunately, now I’m only skiing about 6x/yr. I’m caught between a “rock n hard place.” I can’t seem to figure out what kind of pass to buy or where and whom to buy it from? I do plan on going out West for a week in February maybe even attending the competitions at Copper in April. My grandson (age 15) is into Free Style and participated in the competitions at Copper last year. No doubt he will do it again this year. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Also, I have a draft of 3 short childrens’ books featuring a couple of young boys who become amateur detectives. I’m looking for advice on publishing and marketing. Would you be willing to consult?
Peter,
I feel your pain…. If you know where you are skiing, the first thing I would do is figure out is the cost of the days you are skiing at the senior skier rate. That will give you a number…. Then, you have three choices…. One buy and Epic or IKON pass. Two, buy passes at the senior rate, or, oddly enough, buy a season pass at the senior rate. You’d be amazed how cheap (that’s a relative word) they’ve become fro some areas. Also, there are some areas where us old farts over the age of 75 ski for free. One of which is a great, particularly for kids, but little known area called Purgatory. It has great runs for all abilities, the weather is wonderful and they get lots of snow. Don’t know where you life, but you can fly into Durango either from Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix.
Hey Marc,
Nice piece, helpful without turning into the phone book – remember that?!
Also, depending where one skis, there are more and more specialized “season passes “, where various resorts have gotten together.
And with Epic, for example, many people might want to look at their “Epic Northeast” pass…many great areas, just nothing out west.
Thanks!
John Gelb
Yup. Space – 500 words max – limits to what one can cover…. So, my IKON pass doesn’t cover the end of the year holidays or President’s weekend, but who cares. I’m not skiing on those days!
More fine print: many areas are now charging Epic and IKON pass holders to park where as season pass holders can reserve a spot for free.
Didn’t know that. Ski areas are getting better and better at fleecing the people who pay the bills. They’re almost as good as the pro sports teams, Disney and other theme parks.
Yup!
Left park city over that! Overcrowded and a nightmare every day to find parking. If you’re not out the door by 7 am. You’re already in a very long traffic line. UNLESS, you win the lottery and stay at ski in/ski out.
a good option in NY State is the SKI3 frequent skier card. The card is $59 and is good at Gore, Whiteface and Belleayre. It gives you half price tickets which for an over 70 like me comes to $25 on a week day.
Cool….
Check for localized versions of passes, if that fits your needs. Summer price for Epic’s “Keystone Plus Pass” is a bargain at only $361 for most days at Keystone, 6 at Crested Butte, and April+ at Breckenridge.
The ski resort business has always been tough, but the advance collection strategy of Ikon and Epic passes has made participation much more of a chore for many skiers. Weekend lift tickets are becoming less available for folks who want to go skiing when the opportunity arises on short notice. Too bad.
Horace,
I understand your pain, but for the larger resorts, once you ski more than 10 days, the all area passes make sense. I’d also look for areas that offer substantial discounts to senior skiers. Many offer free skiing to those over 75.
Between multi-day passes, discounted rates for seniors, it will take some research on your part, but the answer is out there.
Shaking that money tree pretty hard, epic, IKON & Vail Resorts. $200/day isn’t going to encourage new skiers.
Lots of good information here. One of the leading multiple ski area passes gives a discount to retired military, however, this year they have changed their policy by requiring the retiree to supply military records proving retiree status. Military records typically have SSN’s. Having been the victim of identity theft, I was not about to supply my SSN, when they were not able to supply me with any confidence in their security measures! It took me years to recover from a prior theft of my SSN from a former employer’s computer system.
Richard,
Actually, you don’t have to provide your SSN. If you have a retired military ID card, there’s a number on it that’s not your SSN. That is what I provided and should be sufficient. Both IKON and Epic use a third party vendor that specializes in checking this out. My suggestion is pick one of the programs that you like and call them. Tell them your fear, and see what happens.
I realize I am a bit different than most. I skied 77 days last year. For the past ten years I have averaged about the same. I am currently 77. I get both Ikon and Epic passes. I ski close to 20 days on each in both the east and west. I have always purchased a Local Bristol mountain pass and easily cover the cost of that pass with about twenty ski days before traveling west. Finally, when I get to the Rockies and stop at Loveland ski resort that offers a season pass for seniors that is very reasonable. The pass includes free days at multiple resorts throughout the west. Yes, the passes are expensive but worth every penny as l use them.
Yup and good on you for skiing your age. This year, ski 78 days!!!!
Alaska prolly not an option since you can expect: WET, SOGGY ……——— SEA level (elevation 90+ feet) ,cloudy, stormy , Flat light, WX. Frequent lower bowl closings for racing,lack of snow forcing EVERYONE to the ONE- Only way to the bottom . Military Mondays, senior pass 70 yrs.
Guessing the WX during El Nino? Guess warm,wet flat light (yeah 2x).
Grooming has improved with new Ownership. The season is 3 weeks shorter in 10 last years. Besides all that bring your boot covers for the below zero temps .
Bill,
I have never skied in Alaska… but have been there in the winter when it is dark, cold, windy and snowy….Don’t know what to tell you….
Epic Pass for retired military is a Godsend…this pass has enabled me to rekindle my passion for skiing. Now that I live in the DC area with Whitetail, Liberty and Roundtop within 100 miles from me, I’m making the most out this pass. For years, I was unable to ski because I was often stationed in areas where skiing was not accessible (no ski areas in Hawaii!). The Big 3 may not be Lake Tahoe where I learned to ski as a kid, but I have been loving the trails here in the Mid-Atlantic.