I live in Park City, and snagged an Epic Local, Deer Valley Pass, and Ikon! Wondering what you should consider when choosing the best pass for you? Read on for more!
Ski passes, love ’em or not, have become an essential part of the skiing and snowboarding world, especially if you plan to hit the slopes for more than just a handful of days in a season. Let’s dive into some key considerations before making your pass choices:
Skiing or snowboarding solo can be great, but it’s even better when you’re riding with a friend. So, seeing what passes your buddies pick up is always a good idea.
Living in Park City, I’m in the heart of ski country. Utah locals often lean toward the Ikon Pass, especially those of us in Salt Lake City. If you’re residing in Wisconsin and planning to shred at Wilmot, the Epic Pass is the go-to. However, don’t forget to consider those big vacations.
For those not surrounded by mountains, family or friend trips are a huge deciding factor for a pass. If my family is heading to Summit County, Colorado, to explore Copper and A-Basin for a week and Keystone for a few days, I’d grab the Ikon Pass and an Epic 1-day. Dreaming of Niseko and the Dolomites? Ikon is your ticket. Whistler? Go Epic. Planning out your season’s trips is key to pass selection.
Start by listing the resorts you’ll frequent regularly and check if they offer season passes. Some areas have local passes that can be more budget-friendly than the collective passes. I often make a spreadsheet with resort names and pass costs, including base, midweek, and unlimited options.
Remember, sometimes buying day passes makes more sense than season passes. To figure out the best plan of action, track your ski days. I use a spreadsheet and the Slopes app to ensure I get my money’s worth—especially since I have multiple passes this season. Calculate based on the prior season or upcoming plans if you don’t know your average days.
Tracking days and making these calculations are super important when deciding if you’re trying to be cost-effective and choose the best pass for YOU.Â
Depending on your goals, you should track dates, locations, ski buddies, vertical feet, and costs. This data helps you calculate the daily price and determine whether a season pass is worth it.
Once you have your tracking data, estimating how many days you’ll ski is easier. Divide the total pass cost by the number of days you plan to spend at your local resort. Make sure to consider the resort’s seasonality; some resorts, like Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, open early, while others start later. Ensure you ski enough times to AT LEAST break even on the season pass.
The 24/25 Full Epic season pass will run you $982. I did some calculations for how many days you’d need to ride at many of their flagship resorts to make the cost worth it:
Think about whether your pass includes or partners with nearby resorts or those close to friends you can visit during the winter. Ski travel adds costs but is a fantastic way to escape the winter blues. If work travel aligns with ski weekends, that’s a bonus!
Remember, skiing isn’t just about the pass. There are travel, lodging, and food expenses. Setting a budget for your ski season, especially if you’re traveling, is wise. Resort towns can be pricey during the winter months, and some even charge for parking on top of lift pass costs!
And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for…once you’ve considered all the above questions, let’s take a look at our options:
