Ikon Pass

**phatty** · 03-25-2021, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by skysos

Grand Targhee? I can't believe Vail or Alterra hasn't picked it up. Maybe it would help Alterra with their JH crowding problem. Vail could get it just to be a thorn in Alterra's side.

Targhee is already on MC, so I could see that as an addition. Don't see it moving any needles or opening new markets.

Foreign destinations aren't going to move the needle in NA.

**glademaster** · 03-25-2021, 03:15 PM

Someone with some vision (and enormous amounts of capital) needs to buy JHMR, Snow King and Targhee, then put them all on one pass, but opt out of any Ikon/Epic/multi-resort bullshit.

**Benny Profane** · 03-25-2021, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by phatty

Targhee is already on MC, so I could see that as an addition. Don't see it moving any needles or opening new markets.

Foreign destinations aren't going to move the needle in NA.

Wrong on both accounts. Targhee and Italy/France would move my market and needle.

Targhee is a fairly close drive from Big Sky. Not a day trip, but, for travelers, fits in. Pretty drive, too.

**Supermoon** · 03-25-2021, 04:31 PM

Would love it if MHM or Timberline jumped onto ikon. Also a SW Idaho resort Bogus or Brundage would be nice as well

**davjr96** · 03-25-2021, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by glademaster

Someone with some vision (and enormous amounts of capital) needs to buy JHMR, Snow King and Targhee, then put them all on one pass, but opt out of any Ikon/Epic/multi-resort bullshit.

That might result in roving packs of Wydaho locals intentionally triggering slides that block the pass on powder days.

**AEV** · 03-25-2021, 10:22 PM

I read through a couple of odd pages, couldn't find, but maybe I'm just stupid so..

I deferred my pass, what sort of credit should I expect? Can I just outright buy next years pass, or will I have to pay a small amount?

**Supermoon** · 03-25-2021, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by AEV

I read through a couple of odd pages, couldn't find, but maybe I'm just stupid so..

I deferred my pass, what sort of credit should I expect? Can I just outright buy next years pass, or will I have to pay a small amount?

Should get a credit for what you paid last year toward your pass this year. Depending on what you buy I think it’s about $50-100 more for next year

**AEV** · 03-25-2021, 10:41 PM

Thx. I paid $700 for a student pass.

**glademaster** · 03-26-2021, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by davjr96

That might result in roving packs of Wydaho locals intentionally triggering slides that block the pass on powder days.

They already do that, it's the most entitled, self-important skiing population on the continent.

But, they could charge $3500 for that season pass and they would still have people lining up all the way to Dubois to buy one.

**paulster2626** · 03-26-2021, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by grapedrink

If you're an east coaster and you're travelling west for your ski trips instead of going east to Verbier and Arlberg for a couple weeks, you're doing it wrong.

*Unless you have family or friends out west you want to see as well, or if you like flying simple domestic flights, or if you like shorter travel days, or if you're not interested in big time zone changes, or if you don't want to bother with currency exchange rates, or if you just like being in your own country in general, of if you are already familiar with certain mountains and just like banging out laps on known terrain, of if you can really only get away for 5-7 days at a time, then yeah you're definitely doing it wrong and are a dummy.

**Benny Profane** · 03-26-2021, 08:22 AM

But, the food.

**old goat** · 03-26-2021, 09:18 AM

I've done 1 week ski trips to Yurp a couple of times. From the West Coast. It's a lot of flying time for a week but worth it IMO. From the East Coast it's a no brainer IMO. Especially for the food.
Preferring to fly domestically? International terminals and flights are much calmer and the overall experience more relaxing.
Bothering with currency exchange rates? What's the bother--euro=dollar once you subtract the tip. Everything goes on a credit card so there's no need to change money, or if you want cash take it out of the wall.
Preferring your own country--you see the same people in European resorts and American resorts. Either place you're actually in Skiastan.
Banging out laps on familiar terrain--why bother traveling at all?
Did I mention the food?

**Benny Profane** · 03-26-2021, 09:36 AM

Yeah, the food.

I can't imagine flying from the west coast, though. It took 24 hours from my house to Val d'Siere the only time I've gone, and I've also been to Europe enough otherwise to know that it's an ordeal from JFK. That's why, two weeks.

**old goat** · 03-26-2021, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Yeah, the food.

I can't imagine flying from the west coast, though. It took 24 hours from my house to Val d'Siere the only time I've gone, and I've also been to Europe enough otherwise to know that it's an ordeal from JFK. That's why, two weeks.

Flying into Geneva on a winter Saturday is an experience everyone should have once--arrival area packed shoulder to shoulder with people, all carrying skis.
I don't ski weekends at Tahoe, so traveling is as good a way to spend the time as any. That said, there is so much good skiing a short flight from Reno, the Euro trips are a couple per decade.
But how do you manage to take 24 hours to get to Val d'Isere from NY metro area? (The time difference doesn't count.)
BTW--when it comes to the food, there is a big difference between between Italy and Switzerland/Savoy. One can tire of cheese and potatoes.

**paulster2626** · 03-26-2021, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by old goat

I've done 1 week ski trips to Yurp a couple of times. From the West Coast. It's a lot of flying time for a week but worth it IMO. From the East Coast it's a no brainer IMO. Especially for the food.
Preferring to fly domestically? International terminals and flights are much calmer and the overall experience more relaxing.
Bothering with currency exchange rates? What's the bother--euro=dollar once you subtract the tip. Everything goes on a credit card so there's no need to change money, or if you want cash take it out of the wall.
Preferring your own country--you see the same people in European resorts and American resorts. Either place you're actually in Skiastan.
Banging out laps on familiar terrain--why bother traveling at all?
Did I mention the food?

I just gave some reasons why some people may not think europe is such a wonderfully attractive destination - of course many wouldn't agree with all those things.

Canadian domestic travel and our shitty dollar and having family out west is a major factor for the paulster. You can pick apart those reasons all you want, if that's your jam. I just think people should be allowed to do what they want without it being "wrong."

**Benny Profane** · 03-26-2021, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by old goat

Flying into Geneva on a winter Saturday is an experience everyone should have once--arrival area packed shoulder to shoulder with people, all carrying skis.
I don't ski weekends at Tahoe, so traveling is as good a way to spend the time as any. That said, there is so much good skiing a short flight from Reno, the Euro trips are a couple per decade.
But how do you manage to take 24 hours to get to Val d'Isere from NY metro area? (The time difference doesn't count.)
BTW--when it comes to the food, there is a big difference between between Italy and Switzerland/Savoy. One can tire of cheese and potatoes.

It was with a ski club, but I can't imagine solo would be much faster. Boarded a shared van To JFK from upper Westchester at 4pm or so, but that ran smoothly. Arrive early for flight, of course, check in skis and crap and board about 8pm, I think. Overnight 8 hours to Frankfurt, two hours there, then Geneva. Load a bus at Geneva and then get stuck in a six hour traffic jam in rain and snow up to our hotel. It was not nice. Then you factor in jet lag. A week later, do it in reverse. But the cheese was awesome.

**skaredshtles** · 03-26-2021, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by paulster2626

I just gave some reasons why some people may not think europe is such a wonderfully attractive destination - of course many wouldn't agree with all those things.

Canadian domestic travel and our shitty dollar and having family out west is a major factor for the paulster. You can pick apart those reasons all you want, if that's your jam. I just think people should be allowed to do what they want without it being "wrong."

But the food...

**skaredshtles** · 03-26-2021, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by old goat

Flying into Geneva on a winter Saturday is an experience everyone should have once--arrival area packed shoulder to shoulder with people, all carrying skis.
I don't ski weekends at Tahoe, so traveling is as good a way to spend the time as any. That said, there is so much good skiing a short flight from Reno, the Euro trips are a couple per decade.
But how do you manage to take 24 hours to get to Val d'Isere from NY metro area? (The time difference doesn't count.)
BTW--when it comes to the food, there is a big difference between between Italy and Switzerland/Savoy. One can tire of cheese and potatoes.

Really could use some Italian food, prepared in Italy, right about now...

**bobz** · 03-26-2021, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

This. It was not a change in the terms.

I'm actually pretty pleased with the deferral, since IMHO it was a shitty snow year + Covid stopped all ski trips for us. I'm planning on buying my next year's pass ASAP on April 19, and using it this spring - which I didn't really expect Ikon to offer, but I'm glad they are.

Huh, I didn't even expect that; a couple days of spring skiing on the deferred pass would be nice (well, except that Mammoth has turned into somewhat of a Covid hot-spot recently). And they're offering the new passes at renewal prices too? Cool. (Going to have to shell out plenty extra for my kid's deferral though, as he's 13 now.)

**Benny Profane** · 03-26-2021, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by skaredshtles

Really could use some Italian food, prepared in Italy, right about now...

The Dolomites are a mix of Italy and Austria.

**skaredshtles** · 03-26-2021, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

The Dolomites are a mix of Italy and Austria.

Yep - I've been there. Enjoyed the combo, though the food, for my taste, is quite a bit better to the south...

**phatty** · 03-26-2021, 12:07 PM

Look, I was not saying skiing in Europe isn't awesome. It is. I've done it from the west coast and I will do it again. What I meant was that adding new international destinations (they already have Zermatt, Niseko and ANZ resorts), is not going to get the average American/Canadian buyer who is looking at Epic vs. Ikon to swing to Ikon. Bunny, sure. Maybe it will. But for 99/100 adding Bormio or Andermatt isn't going to be the deal maker.

**Benny Profane** · 03-26-2021, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by skaredshtles

Yep - I've been there. Enjoyed the combo, though the food, for my taste, is quite a bit better to the south...

Fur shure.

Been watching Tucci on CNN, speaking of which? He leaves me flat and longing for Bourdain, but, the food, madone

**Benny Profane** · 03-26-2021, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by phatty

Look, I was not saying skiing in Europe isn't awesome. It is. I've done it from the west coast and I will do it again. What I meant was that adding new international destinations (they already have Zermatt, Niseko and ANZ resorts), is not going to get the average American/Canadian buyer who is looking at Epic vs. Ikon to swing to Ikon. Bunny, sure. Maybe it will. But for 99/100 adding Bormio or Andermatt isn't going to be the deal maker.

Well, I would really like to sit down and talk to the marketing people at both Ikon and Epic about the value of the multi mountain illusion in selling the passes. First, what's the data? How many pass holders actually ski at more than a few mountains available? There's tons of data all about that, especially in modern RIFD times. Then compare that to how they would react in a focus group if you added St. Anton, even though it would be 10-1 they'd ever go there. I'll bet they've studied it by now.