Ikon Pass

[EWG]

Collective passes pretty much overran our local hill. Totally changed the experience - lines, faster lifts so more crowding on runs, powder gone immediately, no parking, etc. However, it's about the same price for a base Ikon as a local hill pass, and compared to years ago visiting 1 hill all year, this year I will have days at 10 different areas that are Ikonic.

Some good stuff has been lost but I have to admit I've enjoyed the year, and enjoyed the same multi-location privileges on RMSP+ before Ikon.

The other interesting thing is how Epikonic has created competition. As soon as skiers are willing to travel, the local hill no longer has a monopoly. If Ikon or Epic goes starts to win, hopefully the other starts a price war. But the local mountain now has to participate in the price wars.

As an example, if I'm reading the Ikon pravda correctly, the Full Ikon now is unlimited to Steamboat (maybe it was last year too?). Until Ikon I think the cheapest full year pass that Steamboat offered was something like $1,200 or so.

I don't know where it ends, but it's interesting to watch, and in the meantime, I've had a pretty awesome year on snow. So I think I might be about ready to embrace our Epikonic overlords...

[phatty]

It's owned by Boyne so will end up on Ikon eventually...

It's already on Ikon, just 5-7 days. Since it's not really a destination, I have seen zero negative impact, only smaller crowds as folks went Eouc/Ikon. Yes, they could be bought by Alterra sometime soon and then I'll likely be an Ikoner when forced to, just like everyone else. Until then, I'll enjoy my padded seat experience.

[PNWbrit]

It's already on Ikon, just 5-7 daysY

Yep

Yes, they could be bought by Alterra sometime soon.

This is what I meant..

It's inevitable I think. Lots of potential pass sales for their business model... from a booming city... existing relationship with Boyne... perfect for that points system I speculated about earlier.. use fewer Puget Sound annual points to ski Summit West, Go Mediocre for a bit more, Southern Gondola if you want to splash out.

Only question is whether Boyne sells the whole dam corp to Alterra.

[Benny Profane]

Seems the best way to resolve all of this is for both Epic and Ikon to cost twice as much and 40% less purchasers.

Nope. Ski off between the CEOs. Or a joust. Yeah, a joust, with full body armor.

[Bunion 2020]

So, slightly off topic but a lot of folks that ski "World Class Resorts" posting here.

How many of you have hills that for whatever reason cannot keep their fucking lifts turning?

Today at the Really Big, at any given time, the new 8 pack, down, the Tram, down, the 1 year old 6 pack, down and Headwaters, down.

[fantastic_damage]

Regarding the BCC traffic vs Ikon, i think Brighton's cheap ass passes are just as much to blame, probably even more to blame IMO. For fucksake a grown ass 30 year old still isnt a "Adult" per Brighton's season pass pricing options. That place is slammed to hell on the weekends compared to Soli.

[Foggy_Goggles]

So, slightly off topic but a lot of folks that ski "World Class Resorts" posting here.

How many of you have hills that for whatever reason cannot keep their fucking lifts turning?

Today at the Really Big, at any given time, the new 8 pack, down, the Tram, down, the 1 year old 6 pack, down and Headwaters, down.

Who makes your lifts? At Winter Park, we are pretty much a test center for Leitner Poma. They have a job trailer on site. I think it is getting better but our high speeds are down frequently.

[PNWbrit]

So, slightly off topic but a lot of folks that ski "World Class Resorts" posting here.

How many of you have hills that for whatever reason cannot keep their fucking lifts turning?

Today at the Really Big, at any given time, the new 8 pack, down, the Tram, down, the 1 year old 6 pack, down and Headwaters, down.

Famous for it.

As well as for our soup.

Despite predictions to the contrary the Umbrella still works too.

[Bunion 2020]

Who makes your lifts? At Winter Park, we are pretty much a test center for Leitner Poma. They have a job trailer on site. I think it is getting better but our high speeds are down frequently.

Hodgepodge of Dopplys, CTEC, some Skytrak and the Headwaters lift is a refurbished Yan as is Lone Moose.

OK, now I feel a little better.

[Ottime]

It's already on Ikon, just 5-7 days. Since it's not really a destination, I have seen zero negative impact, only smaller crowds as folks went Eouc/Ikon. Yes, they could be bought by Alterra sometime soon and then I'll likely be an Ikoner when forced to, just like everyone else. Until then, I'll enjoy my padded seat experience.

If they buy, fight for it. We did at KW and ended up with the only Only Pass in the VR family. Same price as the Tahoe Pass, but w/o blackouts. Still way more expensive than it used to be, but no blackouts and we aren't epic. Wondering now what that pass price will be next year. Hoping it stays under $600.

My son and I might get a blacked out IKON, mostly so we can ski Squawalpine and Mammoth this spring. But if we do, we might go out and travel a week.

Not Bunion. Heavenly and Northstar seem to have lift issues. Kirkwood, even tho it is ancient shit, seems to run more smoothly. I think it has to do with how long the lines are in the corral. No one seems to bother coming out here, so the lifts run fine. Hoards show us at Heavenly and shit breaks down.

[TahoeJ]

So, slightly off topic but a lot of folks that ski "World Class Resorts" posting here.

How many of you have hills that for whatever reason cannot keep their fucking lifts turning?

Today at the Really Big, at any given time, the new 8 pack, down, the Tram, down, the 1 year old 6 pack, down and Headwaters, down.

Squaw / Alpine... lol. Actually, they've finally got their act together in the last year or two, but when KSL first took over they fired all of the long time lift ops staff who knew the various quirks (to save money) and it was a real shit show for a couple of seasons.

[yeahman]

Padded Seats been loading ass since 1968 OG 2 seater FTW

Ha, sounds like Great Divide, the local Helena hill. Never seen a lift go down up there, all old two seaters. Apparently the owner Kevin is a total grease monkey and loves nothing more than maintaining his babies.

[MakersTeleMark]

That's some funny shit there. Hahaha.

The only reason that post is funny is that he named the wrong circuit.

[sb]

Detachable lifts have their own issues of operation that a fixed grip will never have.

That said they have their place on the mtns but if you can a fixed is the way to go.

[Core Shot]

Expecting ikon overkrowding at JH to cause the two upper chairs to go detachable
Instant death of a skiers mountain
More skiers is not more better

[mcski]

fixed is what keeps a ski area

Universal truth

[S_jenks]

Ha, sounds like Great Divide, the local Helena hill. Never seen a lift go down up there, all old two seaters. Apparently the owner Kevin is a total grease monkey and loves nothing more than maintaining his babies.

A very-well managed hill. You can bitch about conditions, but the lifts run smoothly.

SJ

[yeahman]

A very-well managed hill. You can bitch about conditions, but the lifts run smoothly.

SJ

Yep. And sometimes the conditions aren't even that bad.

[skifishbum]

i kinda think checkers, chess, darts bowling is a sport
skiings more of a lifestyle thing
it helps cause id feel odd
having thousands of posts on a sports forum
dont care to much bout whats good for the sport
as you live a lifestyle

[jerlane]

Ikon has beaten Epic.

How do I know? Epic passes for next year have dropped and there isn't even a thread.

Seriously, could Epic have rolled out any more quietly??? I still wouldn't know it had dropped without your post.

[AdironRider]

Expecting ikon overkrowding at JH to cause the two upper chairs to go detachable
Instant death of a skiers mountain
More skiers is not more better

I don't see how subby could be, the wind rips over that ridge pretty much all day, probably 6 days a week.

Thunder though seems inevitable.

[406]

Do any of the resorts on the ikon pass charge for a kid 4 & under? Noticed Ikon sells a $50 pass, but I have never seen a ski area charge for that age. At Big Sky they printed out a free pass last year for the kid. I wouldn't be surprised if Mammoth charged.

[Sam Apoc]

Do any of the resorts on the ikon pass charge for a kid 4 & under? Noticed Ikon sells a $50 pass, but I have never seen a ski area charge for that age. At Big Sky they printed out a free pass last year for the kid. I wouldn't be surprised if Mammoth charged.

Snowshoe in West by God Virginia charges $10/day for 4 and under or $39 for a season pass if you buy it at the end of this season for next year:
https://www.snowshoemtn.com/plan-you...s/lift-tickets

Bizarre what they get away with charging but they're pretty much the biggest show in town south of Vermont / upstate NY. They just started charging for that age group this year though, I believe.

[Name Redacted]

https://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspe...for8B2S88gEUPQ

Aspen:

Aspen Skiing Co.: Ikon Pass accounts for 9% of visits at Aspen-Snowmass, local pass use up 40%

And Jackson

“Skier days are up 11 percent season to date. … Season to date, local residents make up 39 percent of our total skiers versus Ikon passholders, representing 16 percent,” Buckley wrote.

Buckley said the resort attributes Ikon passholders “as adding 8 percent incremental skier visits.”

[PNWbrit]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BusEhjvFDqU/