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Skiing

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(Email) For skiing enthusiasts. Sat 2025-01-18 (US-focus, WSJ article, lift tickets, …)

(Originally an email January 2025.)

For skiing enthusiasts. Sat 2025-01-18
A) Article from today’s WSJ.
B) A bit on lift ticket prices.
C) Solutions, Recommendations:
D) A bit news for happy former visitors to St. Bernard in TSV

A) Article from today’s WSJ – Vail Resorts has some Epic problems, WSJ, 2025-01-17

“The ski company’s Epic Pass, which offers unlimited annual access to 42 mountains around the world for $982, has become the butt of jokes among customers who complain of “epic” wait times. Vail recently disclosed that it sold fewer Epic Passes than the year before for the first time as growth in skiers remains muted. ”

Full article, and comments: 2025-01-17 Vail Resorts Has an Epic Problem – WSJ

B) A bit on lift ticket prices.

See some calculations in Extract 2025-01-18 1 Skiing 2025Research&Planningx

For the bigger resorts, part of Vail Resorts, Inc (EPIC Pass) or Alterra Mountain Co (IKON Pass) corporations around the North America (which unfortunately include e.g. Whister)
– Day passes: nowadays think US$ 250-$300 per person and day, if not really start spending time to research options, and plan ahead.
– Buy in advance for a trip: think US$ 200+  per person and day. See also Extract 2025-01-18 1 Skiing 2025Research&Planning.pdf.
– Buy a season pass (e.g. EPIC or IKON): lots of options and you have to spend some serious time researching options (1) AND BUY before season starts (2)…….
  Some links below for indication of research to consider. Thinks 18 pages for different pass options and variants.
  (And this is the high-level reads. Think Fine-print legal mumbo jumbo and you will never be able to have time to get to any skiing, at all.)
  – Think more US$ 1000, $1500 per person, for some season pass.
“Featured Lift Passes”: https://www.onthesnow.com/news/featured-lift-passes/, intro/overview to 6 articles to read
IKON Pass: https://www.onthesnow.com/news/ikon-pass-buyers-guide/, 3 pages to read (7 tot, 4+3)
Mountain Collective Pass: https://www.onthesnow.com/news/mountain-collective-buyers-guide/, 4 pages to read (11 tot now)
Indy Pass: https://www.onthesnow.com/news/indy-pass-buyers-guide/, 6 pages to read (18 pages tot now)
More from WSJ article:
… “ The whole business model rests on the pass, and any diminished interest in it could spell trouble, compounding other issues the company has been grappling with. Chief among them: Growth in skiers has been muted for nearly 20 years.
The Vail method is to lock in customers with season passes and then charge for a growing number of extras like premium parking lots. The three-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend is among the busiest of the year. ”
… “ The driving force behind everything Vail does is the “guest experience,” a phrase Lynch repeated 11 times in the 30-minute interview.  “
“he driving force behind everything Vail does is the “guest experience,” a phrase Lynch repeated 11 times in the 30-minute interview.
The “Guest Experience” encompasses
 – strongly driving customers to buy Season Passes
    – which must be bought ahead of Season,
      – meaning customers are locked in early
         – no reimbursement possibilities
 – then at resorts, as  locked in, herded into the pasture
   – to pay for pricy parking,
   – jacked up prices at restaurants, gear rentals, …
   – long wait times at lifts

 

C) Solutions, Recommendations

1. Plan on spending “some” time on research!
2. Plan AHEAD, preferably before season starts.
3. Seriously consider ski resorts outside the realm of Vail Resorts, Inc (EPIC Pass) or Alterra Mountain Co (IKON Pass).
  In general for avoiding the extreme greed of these companies (for these “Experience” is only as word, w/o meaning), in specific as only choice to get any reasonable costs for life tickets is buying ahead of season start.
I.e. look for smaller and more independent ski resorts.
(4. And of course, as always: sure, skiing has maybe never been a cheap pastime but … It’s good fun!)
Kind regards,
J&P Analytics

 

(Video) How Vail Destroyed Skiing, YouTube, 2025-03-07

A bit background on how skiing market and opportunities for “regular families” has evolved in the US.
And one reason why we are planning ahead for next J&P ski trip.

How Vail Destroyed Skiing

Mar 7, 2025
“The real reason skiing sucks now is because two companies—Vail & Alterra—control the entire sport. They’ve jacked up day passes at Park City by 263% since 2011. Now you get packed trails, pricey meals, and an empty wallet… and execs get rich.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bfD4NiiMfo

Reasons in general, for not delaying more skiing ###

(Email) Flyer – Ski trips 2026-2028: TSV’26

Taos Ski Valley (TSV) 2026. Being sent via email to potentially interested partners.

Include plans for ski trips 2027 and 2028.

 

Resorts

General

TSV, New Mexico, USA

Val d’Isere, France

Whistler Blackcomb, Canada