Ikon Pass

[Ørion]

After seeing the pics of the ridiculous crowds at Solitude this morning, I just don't see how these passes will be sustainable at the resorts that offer unlimited skiing. The Ikon is such a no brainer in the current configuration if you live in Utah. That means Solitude has 10+x the number of Season Pass holders they had previously.

While I know it's the first day and first resort in Utah open, limited terrain, blah blah blah. There's just no way that shoveling the numbers they are into a limited number of resorts can never make a great "guest experience".

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

In the long term I suspect the IKON pass will evolve to be something similar to how they're handling Crystal this year. A local unlimited pass with an IKON addon that gives a limited # of days at each other resort.

Maybe to simplify things a bit, have IKON passholders designate a "home mountain" where they get unlimited days and the remainder will have X number of days each.

Essentially a reversion back to how resorts used to group up regionally, but on a more national/global scale.

[phatty]

In the long term I suspect the IKON pass will evolve to be something similar to how they're handling Crystal this year. A local unlimited pass with an IKON addon that gives a limited # of days at each other resort.

Maybe to simplify things a bit, have IKON passholders designate a "home mountain" where they get unlimited days and the remainder will have X number of days each.

Essentially a reversion back to how resorts used to group up regionally, but on a more national/global scale.

I think that's the only way it works. Will still kill Solitude unless they do Crystal style pricing. Will be very interested to see how the Crystal experiment goes this year.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[EWG]

FWIW Solli seems to still be trying to increase numbers. Looks like they are thrilled with the bucks they are getting from the unlimited Ikon so far.

[old goat]

As long as Alterra is making money from IKON the only reason they will change it is to make more money. As long as resorts are making money from it they will keep signing on, with maybe a few exceptions. Skier experience will have nothing to do with it, except as a byproduct. For example they may decide to crank up the price figuring they can make more money selling fewer passes. That would reduce crowding. But let's face it. The reason ski resorts are crowded is because a lot of people want to ski and the only way they get less crowded is if more people who want to ski don't--either because it's too expensive or passes are limited. Just be careful about complaining too much--the person who doesn't get to ski might be you.

[The SnowShow]

Solitude doing it’s best Vail impression

[liv2ski]

Wow, that sucks

[EWG]

Solitude doing it’s best Vail impression

On the other hand, that was literally the only lift open in SLC today. Doesn’t seem bad at all when I think about it like that.

[gaijin]

Y’all need to just fly to Japan for a trip. Fuck those lines. Find one of a hundred mom/pop non-famous ski resorts in JP and just lap it up.

In rad snow.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[TahoeJ]

Y’all need to just fly to Japan for a trip. Fuck those lines. Find one of a hundred mom/pop non-famous ski resorts in JP and just lap it up.

In rad snow.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Well, duh. Can’t wait to get back over there but those trips aren’t cheap.

[Name Redacted]

Y’all need to just fly to Japan for a trip. Fuck those lines. Find one of a hundred mom/pop non-famous ski resorts in JP and just lap it up.

In rad snow.

What would you recommend as a loose itinerary for a Semi-dirtbag ski trip to Japan? Airport, and ski areas? Lodging?

[old goat]

My pilot is fueling my Gulfstream at the Truckee airport as we speak. My only problem is which of my posse to take. The Gulfstream only streams 8. I was going to get a bigger one but with bitcoin in the toilet I'll have to suffer with it for a while longer.

[turnfarmer]

Can’t say I miss what’s happened to the Wasatch. I remember a Solitude opening day before Eagle was high speed.. Traverse from Powderhorn was groomed. Skate up a hundred feet and ski untracked all day. Only one doing it until the afternoon when another caught on.
It’s not just ikon that has caused the crowds, a lot of it is all the people who moved in.

[m2711c]

What would you recommend as a loose itinerary for a Semi-dirtbag ski trip to Japan? Airport, and ski areas? Lodging?

fly into haneda, transfer to the domestic terminal for a flight to aomori, rent an rv from these guys - https://japan-crc.com/en/?page_id=135 and hit the indy pass areas - https://www.indyskipass.com/resorts/japan-region/. if you don't want to drive / would rather stay in hotels and don't mind traveling with strangers, sign up for a guided tour of them indy joints - https://www.japanskitours.com/indy-packages.html $1250 for the 8 day version and $1570 for the 10 day.

[DanoT]

Y’all need to just fly to Japan for a trip. Fuck those lines. Find one of a hundred mom/pop non-famous ski resorts in JP and just lap it up.

In rad snow.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Or just go to B.C. where only gas and Whistler are expensive. And only places with flawed lift systems like Revy and Kicking Horse, get obscene lift lines on pow days.

[Spats]

Solitude doing it’s best Vail impression

"Solitude" has been renamed to "Multitude."

I remember 20 years ago when there was literally no one there except me, Lumpy, BobMc, and a few other dorks. I had my 9AM pow stash, my 11AM pow stash, and even my 1PM pow stash. I'd even go back to skiing 78mm Snow Rangers if I could have those pow days back with them.

[skaredshtles]

I'd even go back to skiing 78mm Snow Rangers if I could have those pow days back with them.

Ahhh... my first pair of "fat" skis. Almost felt like cheating. [emoji16]

[fantastic_damage]

It was a 100% guaranteed shit show recipe:
-3 ft of recent snow
-Holiday
-Opening day
-1 chair open
-Bluebird weather
-Ikon unlimited resort

[gaijin]

fly into haneda, transfer to the domestic terminal for a flight to aomori, rent an rv from these guys - https://japan-crc.com/en/?page_id=135 and hit the indy pass areas - https://www.indyskipass.com/resorts/japan-region/. if you don't want to drive / would rather stay in hotels and don't mind traveling with strangers, sign up for a guided tour of them indy joints - https://www.japanskitours.com/indy-packages.html $1250 for the 8 day version and $1570 for the 10 day.

This is pretty stout advice.

I’d just rent a car upon arrival, head west from Tokyo. Then north from Nagano. Look at the map. Watch the weather to dictate drive times.

[mcski]

"Solitude" has been renamed to "Multitude."

I remember 20 years ago when there was literally no one there except me, Lumpy, BobMc, and a few other dorks. I had my 9AM pow stash, my 11AM pow stash, and even my 1PM pow stash. I'd even go back to skiing 78mm Snow Rangers if I could have those pow days back with them.

I hit while visiting a friend around that timeframe and couldn’t believe I had a POW fest w no piraña like competition. Pretty sure my skis were in the 70s but it was all good. Would trade

[tuco]

"Solitude" has been renamed to "Multitude."

I remember 20 years ago when there was literally no one there except me, Lumpy, BobMc, and a few other dorks. I had my 9AM pow stash, my 11AM pow stash, and even my 1PM pow stash. I'd even go back to skiing 78mm Snow Rangers if I could have those pow days back with them.

You shoulda seen it 30 yrs ago

[Name Redacted]

I was at Solitude about 2004ish for a few days. It snowed 16" every day, we slept on the floor of a patroller who lived across the street, and road bell to bell every day. Our patroller friend was telling us when ropes were gonna drop and where. It was pretty amazing, and we were blown away how dead it was. It was a total ghost town the entire time. We felt like there were more employees than public skiers.

[The AD]

Or just go to B.C. where only gas and Whistler are expensive. And only places with flawed lift systems like Revy and Kicking Horse, get obscene lift lines on pow days.

Hey, beer ain't exactly cheap, either, though the exchange rate does help!

[DanoT]

Hey, beer ain't exactly cheap, either, though the exchange rate does help!

I don't drink, but since pot became legal the price has dropped by about 40%.

[old goat]

You shoulda seen it 30 yrs ago

I see your 30 and raise you ten. And knock another 10 mm off those skis. And yeah, it was great back then.
Faulkner said "The past is never dead, it's not even past." Maybe it was true for Yoknapatawpha County but it's not true for skiing. Sorry, those days aren't coming back. Learn to live with if you want good, easy to get to skiing. And quit yer bitching.
(I couldn't misspell Yoknapatawpha close enough to Google it. Had to look up Faulkner and read through the whole wiki,)

[The SnowShow]

I was at Solitude about 2004ish for a few days. It snowed 16" every day, we slept on the floor of a patroller who lived across the street, and road bell to bell every day. Our patroller friend was telling us when ropes were gonna drop and where. It was pretty amazing, and we were blown away how dead it was. It was a total ghost town the entire time. We felt like there were more employees than public skiers.

I feel like stories like this about days like that are never going to happen again…or very rarely.