The snow was still coming down strong when the ski season came to a shocking halt as COVID-19 swept around the world. With the future up in the air and most of us still basically on lockdown, when is the right time to think of next season? After all, the industry has evolved to one of season passes and preseason ticket purchases. In “normal” times, we’re shopping the pass deals now. So when should we be doing that, given the state of things?
The answer seems to be, in many cases: now. Ski resorts, both individually and as groups, are putting out deals for those who buy now. And they’re not just about saving money. Almost all offer skiers and riders assurances that make it easy to roll the dice and choose a season pass now.
Skiers and riders willing to make a decision now will find discounted prices, varied packages and yes, in most cases, programs that build assurances into the investment. While not all resorts have come up with their season pass plan yet, many are ready and selling.
“We took pretty drastic steps and it appears many products, IKON and EPIC, are going to be doing the same,” said Steven Wright, president of Jay Peak Resort in Vermont. “No one is going to get away with ‘charging’ for pass insurance or doing anything other than offering, at the very least, seasonal deferments if things get worse. Those days are long gone and they aren’t coming back.”
What that means is good news, in some ways: Make an investment now and you’ll save cash this coming season. Should things go awry, you’ve got a safety net.
Vail Resorts, operators of 37 ski resorts around the world, announced this week their new structure and assurances for their Epic Pass products, adding special discounts, credits for those who held Epic Pass products this past season, and the “Epic Coverage” program, a new addition that allows for refunds for illness, job loss or injury, as well as for any resort closures that may come.
Said Kirsten Lynch, Vail’s chief operating officer, those additions had to come.
“Our pass holders are our most loyal guests and we have spent weeks reading their emails and comments on social media to fully understand their concerns so we could respond thoughtfully and carefully,” Lynch said. “What became clear is that to address last season, a one-size-fits-all approach would not work. That is why we are providing our season pass holders credits based on the number of days they were able to use their pass. Additionally, while we are confident we will have a great upcoming ski and ride season, we understand some people may be nervous about committing to a pass now in this current uncertainty. With that in mind, we are redefining pass protection with our new ‘Epic Coverage,’ free for all pass holders, and extending our spring deadlines to Labor Day to give them the time they need.”
In the case of Epic Pass, depending on the product you choose (you can see them all at epicpass.com), you can choose unlimited access to most of Vail’s resorts, limited access all season to many, and packs of day passes at discount prices.
The Ikon Pass is another big pass, offered by Alterra Mountain Co. (which recently purchased Sugarbush in Vermont, adding to its New England resorts). This year, Ikon is offering a discount to all who held passes this past season (doubling that usual discount), a payment plan that allows you to put $199 down and pay with no interest over time, and the ability to defer your pass to the next season with no added cost. They are also extending the date for discount passes to May 27. You can learn more at ikonpass.com
Jay Peak, which often boasts the most annual snowfall and longest season in the east, stepped up with passes available for just a $25 deposit (refundable at any time), no charge to credit cards for passes until mid-June, a cost-free back out option up through October, and the ability to transfer the balance to the following season, should the season be impacted. You can learn more at jaypeakresort.com.
At Wachusett Mountain Resort, spokesman Tom Meyers said that they, too, will be offering passes with flexibility in mind. And while their new season passes are available on their website now, they are still tweaking their offerings. One thing is for sure: They’ll do so with the customer and this new reality in mind.
They’ve already sold almost 1,000 passes on line under their REST-NEXT program, which usually allows skiers to purchase it in the spring, ski the remainder of the season and all the coming season. Meyers said that while their season was only cut short by six days of what their usual season length is, they are looking into some kind of special deal for those who purchased already.
They are also working on the logistics of creating an installment plan of their own, one that would allow skiers to put down $25 and pay over four installments. “We will possibly adopt a deferral option too, allowing people to roll it to the 2021/22 season if that is needed,” he said. While they’ve yet to announce all details, passes are on sale at wachusett.com.
Things could change. The future is uncertain. But for those who love snow sports and are mourning the loss of this spring season: The deals are sprouting and resorts are building ways for ski and ride lovers to plan for the coming season now.
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April 30, 2020 at 05:19PM
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Now’s the time to get great deals on ski season fun - Boston Herald
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