Crystal Mountain Becomes Alterra

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Originally Posted by Ottime

Would seem smart to offer a Crystal Only Pass for $729 with blackout dates. Can’t see how that would hurt Aterra, and it would help keep the cost low for those who do not plan to ski during the holidays.

On another note, I’m working on setting up an ikon Group Buy again this year. Will save a little off that $999 price, but don’t yet know the details. Will post up once I do.

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Sweet man, thanks for setting this up.

On another note, I would say that Seattle is one of the most complicated places to decide which pass to buy. I hemmed and hawed over this last year. I think getting a Summit Pass makes a lot of sense as it's so easy to jump up there for a half-day, but the Ikon vs. Epic debate makes it really hard to decide. You've got the US-2 shitshow at Steven's and the patroller fights (which are totally justified), but you also get Whistler if you're going to make that trip. Then you've got Crystal which has the tech bro and parking issue, but also includes some days at Summit (so you could get a midweek Summit pass and then use 7 days from Ikon on the weekends for example). This year was a bit easier with the border closed down, but I'm not sure about next year.

This avoids all the questions about if you travel too whether you want to be on Epic vs. Ikon. Ikon is clearly better if you want to go to Utah, but Epic is better for Colorado. California is sort of a wash between Kirkwood and Squaw / Mammoth, but I'd say favors Ikon overall and Canada is the reverse (WB + Fernie + KH vs. Revy).

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Originally Posted by ptavv

The giant resort corporations are mostly publicly traded companies whose SEC filings show you their financials. Vail Resorts are all here: http://investors.vailresorts.com/qua...annual-results

The pandemic has been terrible for their bottom line, but they're still making money and not just because they sell real estate or also own hotels and resorts, their mountains turn a profit (say what you will about how they manage their mountains).

I'm sure there are scale effects and no one thinks that any Vail resorts properties currently embody or demonstrate the "soul of skiing" that we all remember with nostalgia, but with their expensive amenities, high cost lift tickets, lessons, etc etc. they do turn a profit.

Since mountain expenses are largely fixed, the push towards mega passes is a way for the large corporations that are diversified into hospitality to generate more revenue from travelers. The mega passes also help distribute the "cost" of servicing each one across more mountains and lock in a fixed return for the company from a lot of people who buy the passes and only use them for 1-2 trips per year.

Worth remembering that most of the skiing in the US is done at resorts with substantial lodging / condo / housing footprints at, or much more near, the ski area than what we have in Washington state which drives a totally different model for the companies.

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Vail is the only "mega" that is public. Alterra and Boyne are both privately held, though both have outside investors and are not "mom and pop" shops. Unlikely the unwashed masses would be able to get their financials.

As we've said before, WA does not have any ski resorts. We have ski hills. Adding tubing and running lifts/gondis in the summer does not make you a resort. The financial analysis on our local hills cannot be compared to Vail's standard "resort" that has a mountain town, year round accommodations, golf courses, summer concerts, etc.

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Originally Posted by Ow_My_Balls

For the local passes, it seems like it will be the same as this year...full access early/late season, but weekdays only from Christmas until March.

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They have the terms of next year's Local Pass (midweek pass) posted:

https://www.crystalmountainresort.co.../season-passes

With the mid week locals pass ($550 if new pass, not renewal) you are blacked out on weekends November through Feb, then unlimited use in March and April.

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Originally Posted by PNW_Skier206

Prices needed to increase at Crystal unfortunately. The refusal to build a new ski resort has created this problem at all WA ski resorts which Ikon/Vail only made worse. I don’t like spending more money anymore than the next guy but the price was unsustainably low.


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There's so much money in WA, especially in King County, that it will have zero impact on skier visits. Will only help the bottom line. Alterra will find additional ways to generate revenue for Xtal. No doubt they are brainstorming on their weekly Zoom conf. calls how to extract more cash from their customers. Of that you can be absolutely certain.

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Originally Posted by Toadman

No doubt they are brainstorming on their weekly Zoom conf. calls how to extract more cash from their customers.

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"the F in F lot stands for free, any other lot? that'll cost ya" - CM zoom call, probably.

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Originally Posted by ptavv

I just don't believe that the problems with crowds at Crystal are a) driven by people from outside the Puget Sound metro area and/or b) people who are buying $729 passes can't/won't also buy $999 passes.

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This. Been skiing at Crystal for 40+ years and this is not a mountain that non-locals seek out. Why would you when for basically the same price you could hit Whistler, SLC or CO? Hopefully the price bump will get some people to not re-up and stick to day passes only for the "good" days which in turn should make the average days much more enjoyable for the regulars.

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Originally Posted by timeo

This. Been skiing at Crystal for 40+ years and this is not a mountain that non-locals seek out. Why would you when for basically the same price you could hit Whistler, SLC or CO? Hopefully the price bump will get some people to not re-up and stick to day passes only for the "good" days which in turn should make the average days much more enjoyable for the regulars.

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Yup that’s what I’m hoping.


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Crystal responded to my question of whether you get renewal discount if you go from Ikon to a Crystal Pass (like a Local or Hall Pass) or from Crystal Pass to Ikon pass:

We have taken a look and the two passes are totally separate. We are not able to offer the renewal price if someone switches from ikon to crystal or vice versa.

Kristin Wiseman

Guest Experience Manager
E: kwiseman@skicrystal.com
O: 360.663.3014

Needed to happen. Some folks will continue to pay for Crystal but it doesn’t take a huge percentage to opt out towards an epic or alpy pass to make a significant difference on hill. With an open border hopefully more than a handful will now go epic for Whistler access.

It’s still a little undervalued IMO, but some parking fees would help to. It would also enable some revenue generation and cost analysis on the several hundred cars who are their to tour/snowshoe/sled and make the experience worse for pass holders / ticket buyers.

I’ll I want is consistency and transparency in pass offerings and policies over the season. Not changing up offerings and restrictions mid season.

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Originally Posted by XavierD

Needed to happen. Some folks will continue to pay for Crystal but it doesn’t take a huge percentage to opt out towards an epic or alpy pass to make a significant difference on hill. With an open border hopefully more than a handful will now go epic for Whistler access.

It’s still a little undervalued IMO, but some parking fees would help to. It would also enable some revenue generation and cost analysis on the several hundred cars who are their to tour/snowshoe/sled and make the experience worse for pass holders / ticket buyers.

I’ll I want is consistency and transparency in pass offerings and policies over the season. Not changing up offerings and restrictions mid season.

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They can’t require payment to park in lots on leased public lands.


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Originally Posted by pyromaniacman129

They can’t require payment to park in lots on leased public lands.

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Sure they can, and currently do.

I'm wondering what will happen to 20/21 IKON holders with crystal as their home mountain who deferred?

Will they get a credit that allows them to only ski 5 days at crystal in 21/22? Will they have to upgrade IKON to get unlimited skiing at crystal even though the product they deferred gave them unlimited skiing at a cheaper price than it will for 21/22?

That would be a pretty shitty thing for IKON and crystal to do but it wouldn't be a big surprise.

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Originally Posted by altasnob

Kristin Wiseman

Guest Experience Manager
E: kwiseman@skicrystal.com

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Her office is right at the end of the corridor level G basement

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Her office is right at the end of the corridor level G basement

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Attachment 366178



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Originally Posted by pyromaniacman129

They can’t require payment to park in lots on leased public lands.
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Wrong.

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Originally Posted by oftpiste

I'm wondering what will happen to 20/21 IKON holders with crystal as their home mountain who deferred?

Will they get a credit that allows them to only ski 5 days at crystal in 21/22? Will they have to upgrade IKON to get unlimited skiing at crystal even though the product they deferred gave them unlimited skiing at a cheaper price than it will for 21/22?

That would be a pretty shitty thing for IKON and crystal to do but it wouldn't be a big surprise.

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I am 99% sure you just get the 2021 $$ credit applied to the 2022 pass price so anyone who deferred and wants unlimited is coming out of pocket some cash.

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Originally Posted by timeo

I am 99% sure you just get the 2021 $$ credit applied to the 2022 pass price so anyone who deferred and wants unlimited is coming out of pocket some cash.

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Yeah Timeo is right. Saw some people bitching about it on Instagram (rightfully so).


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That's seriously fucked up. There should be some special dispensation for Xtal folks. They bought a product that guaranteed unlimited access (reservations notwithstanding) and it should be replaced with the same thing. Fuckers.

Not to defend the resorts, but that deferral policy was spelled out in writing last spring when they rolled out sales. It just takes a little reading before buying to know that was the case.

That said, sounds like it was a fucked yo year at Crystal so it would be cool if the local resort did something for its local passholders.

Don't forget about the discount to walk uphill at night time!

Has anyone with the Ikon base pass this season had any success getting the renewal discount for the full Ikon pass for next season? I went with the base pass this season because I assumed I would only be skiing Crystal and Summit due to the pandemic. The renewal discount from the base pass doesn't seem to apply to the full Ikon for next year when I add it to my cart. I guess if the renewal discount doesn't apply to the full pass hopefully the group buy will at least get close to the renewal discount price.

I have the base pass and am upgrading to full Ikon for next year. The discount shows up in your cart after you have assigned the new passes to the a passholder. Just go through the whole checkout process and you will see it.

^^^this.

If you have or deferred a 20/21 pass you can get the Renewal price for either pass.

If you are renewing and want to help the collective, shoot me a PM. If you are buying for the first time, shoot me a PM before you do to help yourself.

And Nwslider, close but no cigar.

Anyone know if 20/21 Ikon passes are still good until closing on May 9? Or do you have to re-up to the 21/22 to get these bonus weekends?

Crystal Mountain Guest Services (CM) <gservice@skicrystal.com>
Mon 4/19/2021 3:23 PM

Hello,

Your 20-21 Ikon pass is valid for the bonus weekends through May 9th 2021. Yay!

Lorna