Epic & Ikon 24-25 Passes Go On Sale
Epic & Ikon 24-25 Passes Go On Sale
Published : 18-Mar-2024 06:52
According to industry stats from the North American National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), more than half of Americans now buy one of the multi-resort season passes now, rather than a pass for a particular resort by the day or week.
Most of America's big resorts are now owned by one of half-a-dozen multi-resort groups, dominated by vail, who have more than 40, and the Alterra Group with more than a dozen. Their Epic and Ikon season passes dominate the market and the 24-25 passes have just gone on sale at what will be the lowest price for those prepared to commit six months before the season starts.
Quite how many passes are sold and how much money is raised is shrouded in secrecy, but some years ago a Vail executive did let slip that back then they' were selling over a million Epic passes to buyers in more than 100 countries. The practice means a much more stable business model for the companies involved, having plenty of money in the bank ahead of the season and not so subject to the whims of nature when the snow does or does not arrive at any individual area or region, as the passes have been sold anyway.
Prices for day and week passes at resorts on the passes have gone up dramatically in recent years too, to make purchasing the season pass more of a no brainer. Some resorts have also restricted access to pass holders only at peak times.
Both Epic and Ikon passes also include lots of other ski regions around the world that are not owned by the groups concerned, but offer limited access to pass holders. Epic Pass, for example, includes varying amounts of access at Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis (Switzerland), Verbier 4 Vallées (Switzerland), Les 3 Vallées (France), Ski Dolomiti (Italy), Ski Arlberg (Austria) – and newest addition Crans-Montana Mountain Resort (Switzerland), subject to the close of Vail Resorts' acquisition.
Both companies are pushing to increase their pass sales outside North America.
The full adult 24-25 season Epic Pass is priced at $982 USD if purchased in the next few months, the full Ikon Pass has gone on sale at $1,249 USD. Both passes have many variants.
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