Ikon Pass

[simple]

You need to go to St Anton and go to the Krazy Kangaroo. Talk about being a hazard on the way down. Fully plastered along with a hundred others. An everyday occurence.

[PNWbrit]

I hope it is uncrowded at Big when I am there in the beginning of April.

I was surprised how quiet it mostly seemed last week. Tram line excepted. Barely a single lift line..

[bigdude2468]

And realize that skiing with a group of 6 people of varying abilities is a terrible idea which just results in a shitload of lost people standing directly in front of or even IN the maze. If you are waiting for someone you wait off to the side outside of the maze. This is just common courtesy.

THIS, yesterday on a very uncrowded day with short ropes at the Collins chair they had the first three entrances completely blocked. Then the gaggle loaded and when they got off at the top eight of them stopped and had the unloading area blocked. Could not even make the hard right to get to the High T where they were stopped.

Saw something I have never witnessed before. Saturday at Supreme with couple of hundred people in line two guys ski along the rope on the right next to the double singles line. Get to the front, duck the two ropes and join their two buddies that are in the very first row. Guy hollers at them and says you just cut in front of 30 people in the singles line. Completely bewildered, can't figure out what they did wrong. Liftie chews on them but lets them ride up.

I never completely understood why Alta does not have Mountain Hosts, now I kind of like the fact that Gapers have no idea where they are going.

[m2711c]

I have found that it is one of life's small joys to be a gaper at a mountain that you do not normally frequent. I usually keep it together till lunch, then after a few overpriced beers at an on mountain restaurant, I like to hit the groomers and become a total liability.

[Tryingtostaywarm]

You need to go to St Anton and go to the Krazy Kangaroo. Talk about being a hazard on the way down. Fully plastered along with a hundred others. An everyday occurence.

My buddy tried skiing with my other friend on top of his shoulders coming out of the Krazy Kangaroo after some serious Apres. You can guess how that went.

[PNWbrit]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...-best-ski-pass

One Pass to Ski Them All

Alterra and Vail Resorts are going head to head snapping up resorts. Can they save skiing and make selling lift tickets a viable business?

[Benny Profane]

THIS, yesterday on a very uncrowded day with short ropes at the Collins chair they had the first three entrances completely blocked. Then the gaggle loaded and when they got off at the top eight of them stopped and had the unloading area blocked. Could not even make the hard right to get to the High T where they were stopped.

Saw something I have never witnessed before. Saturday at Supreme with couple of hundred people in line two guys ski along the rope on the right next to the double singles line. Get to the front, duck the two ropes and join their two buddies that are in the very first row. Guy hollers at them and says you just cut in front of 30 people in the singles line. Completely bewildered, can't figure out what they did wrong. Liftie chews on them but lets them ride up.

I never completely understood why Alta does not have Mountain Hosts, now I kind of like the fact that Gapers have no idea where they are going.

Skiing in large groups is a very Utah thing, because, I'm pretty sure, Mormons. I blow by entire three generation families many a time.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Please stop with the fact and actual economics. This is the place for conjecture, finger pointing and woe is me.

[406]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...-best-ski-pass

One Pass to Ski Them All

Alterra and Vail Resorts are going head to head snapping up resorts. Can they save skiing and make selling lift tickets a viable business?

A lot of good info in that article, thanks for posting. Scary stuff, I sure hope they don't start going after the mom and pop ski areas.

In October, Alterra invited leaders of the continent’s largest non-Vail resorts to New York City’s Gansevoort hotel. Their pitch was, “If you won’t let us buy you, honor our season pass, and we’ll split the revenue even-steven.” Under the partnership agreements, a resort would be paid for each day a skier swiped her Ikon Pass—either a negotiated fee or a “blended rate” based on how many Ikon days were tallied over the course of a winter. Stephen Kircher, president of Boyne Resorts, which owns nine properties spread from Maine to Oregon, says the offer went over well, particularly among ski areas that had been fending off Vail for years. “I emailed them within about eight seconds,” he says.

[PNWbrit]

Scary stuff

Indeed.

This kind of market domination is never good for any industry.

[Sirshredalot]

Personally, I'm annoyed by the push to commit earlier and earlier to my pass next season.

I don't know where my kids will be going to school yet, whether or not my family will be in a position to get comp passes via coaching gigs, or even what our work schedules will look like. Forget what our travel plans will look like next winter, we haven't even figured out this summer.

Putting my nuts in a vise to commit to a pass now is obnoxious.

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[Benny Profane]

Indeed.

This kind of market domination is never good for any industry.

Sounds good to me.

[PNWbrit]

Sounds good to me.

Obviously.

You're the exact kind of toss pot that these guys are aiming at.

[adrenalated]

Please stop with the fact and actual economics. This is the place for conjecture, finger pointing and woe is me.

Probably the best definition of TGR I've seen

[skaredshtles]

Probably the best definition of TGR I've seen

Hell, it's the best definition of the *internet* I've ever seen...

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Personally, I'm annoyed by the push to commit earlier and earlier to my pass next season.

I don't know where my kids will be going to school yet, whether or not my family will be in a position to get comp passes via coaching gigs, or even what our work schedules will look like. Forget what our travel plans will look like next winter, we haven't even figured out this summer.

Putting my nuts in a vise to commit to a pass now is obnoxious.

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But how will the Ikon overlords buy their 3rd summer houses if they don't get your money NOW?!?! The horror.

[Benny Profane]

Obviously.

You're the exact kind of toss pot that these guys are aiming at.

Toss pot? You funny. You mean like somebody who wants the option of skiing at about thirty major hills for an affordable price. Options, baby, options. Who knows what's going to happen when you buy in April.

[Danno]

Personally, I'm annoyed by the push to commit earlier and earlier to my pass next season.

Last year, the Ikon pass went on sale at about the same time, the cheapest pass was only available until April 9, and no payment plan was offered. This year, the cheapest pass is available until April 23 (or 24th, their site is inconsistent), and a payment plan is offered. And the pass will no doubt be offered for just a slightly higher price in the Fall (though admittedly the kids discount of $100/pass will go away).

Please stop with the fact and actual economics. This is the place for conjecture, finger pointing and woe is me.

Whoops, my bad.

[phatty]

A lot of good info in that article, thanks for posting. Scary stuff, I sure hope they don't start going after the mom and pop ski areas.

Looks like that's exactly what they are going to do. I wouldn't be surprised to see Boyne get acquired in the next couple years.

“I can tell you one thing,” Wheaton said, “we’re not done shopping, and Vail’s not either.”

[EWG]

My buddy tried skiing with my other friend on top of his shoulders coming out of the Krazy Kangaroo after some serious Apres. You can guess how that went.

It went awesome?

[dump]

[dump]

[Duffman]

Personally, I'm annoyed by the push to commit earlier and earlier to my pass next season.

I don't know where my kids will be going to school yet, whether or not my family will be in a position to get comp passes via coaching gigs, or even what our work schedules will look like. Forget what our travel plans will look like next winter, we haven't even figured out this summer.

Putting my nuts in a vise to commit to a pass now is obnoxious.

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Couldnt agree more with this, Despite the value in many cases, we have avoided buying Epic or Ikon passes due to the early commitment and lock in. I know every year ill be up in VT a bunch of weekends, out in Utah , but other stuff is planned later or more Ad hoc based on work / kids / conditions, etc. The fucking Vail model of cheap early passes with excruciatingly high day rates unfortunately took over the industry, so others basically had to join Ikon or something similar to financially survive long term. Its an annoying trend that seems like its only going to get worse, and will likely damage growth of the sport long term. A relatively cheap pass is great for frequent travelers or hard core skiers who live near an unlimited use mountain. To the newbie or casual skiers, they arent considering a pass and $150+ lift tickets to force pass purchases are a terrible idea longterm.

[Sirshredalot]

Couldnt agree more with this, Despite the value in many cases, we have avoided buying Epic or Ikon passes due to the early commitment and lock in. I know every year ill be up in VT a bunch of weekends, out in Utah , but other stuff is planned later or more Ad hoc based on work / kids / conditions, etc. The fucking Vail model of cheap early passes with excruciatingly high day rates unfortunately took over the industry, so others basically had to join Ikon or something similar to financially survive long term. Its an annoying trend that seems like its only going to get worse, and will likely damage growth of the sport long term. A relatively cheap pass is great for frequent travelers or hard core skiers who live near an unlimited use mountain. To the newbie or casual skiers, they arent considering a pass and $150+ lift tickets to force pass purchases are a terrible idea longterm.

I was already locked into Epic this year when Ikon was fully rolled-out.

I'm lucky enough to live within driving distance of several of these hills.

Being able to delay my commitment to Halloween without paying extra would be helpful. Prior to the Epikon era, we could make our decisions on this timeline without financial penalties.

Oh well.

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[Danno]

Prices have always gone up over time, with the last chance to buy at low prices sometime in the Fall. That's the way it's been for 15+ years. Ikon hasn't changed that. The cheapest prices in early Fall,, then scare tactics to get you to buy before they go up, then they go up by $20-50, lather rinse repeat every few weeks. Then a few years ago, they started offering end of season lock in deals. But for a few bucks more, you could still wait till the Fall.

What exactly are you guys complaining about? Ikon didn't create or change this model (except last year, when there was no payment plan for the end of season deal). There's no huge penalty for waiting except if you wait till winter. But it's been that way for a long time.