Ski passes will once again be all the rage and available at Vail Resorts which, despite heat records and August’s dog days of summer, is announcing opening day plans for the 2023/24 ski season for its resorts across the Rocky Mountains and the West.
Here are four things to know to plan for the season and the purchase of ski passes:
From October to May, Epic Ski Passes offer one of the longest seasons in North America. The ski season for this upcoming year will kick off at Keystone Resort, with an early-as-possible opening scheduled for October, contingent on Mother Nature and some added assistance from the resort’s state-of-the-art, energy-efficient snowmaking system. The rest of Vail Resorts’ resorts located in the Rocky Mountains and West plan to open by December 1, giving Ski Pass Holders and guests an opportunity to maximize their time on the mountain all winter long.
Vail Resorts Ski Season: Target Opening Dates: Ski passes
+ Mid-October (pending early season conditions): Keystone (CO)
+ Also November 10: Breckenridge (CO), Vail Mountain (CO)
+ November 17: Heavenly (CA), Northstar (CA), Park City Mountain (UT)
+ In November 22: Beaver Creek (CO), Crested Butte (CO)
+ November 23: Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia)
+ December 1: Kirkwood (CA), Stevens Pass (WA)
Note: All opening dates are subject to change, based on weather and conditions
The ski season will continue through the spring, with Whistler Blackcomb and Breckenridge planning to stay open into May. Vail Resorts will announce opening day targets for its additional resorts closer to the start of the season. Those resorts expect to open consistent with target dates shares in years past.
Otherwise lift tickets will be limits again this year to preserve the guest experience at each resort. Guests are encouraged to purchase their lift access in advance – whether that is a lift ticket, season pass or Epic Day Ski Pass. If tickets are sold out online, guests will not be able to purchase them at ticket windows. Lift ticket availability will be visible on resort websites in the coming weeks.
The Epic Ski Pass
The Epic Ski Pass Labor Day deadline is just around the corner. Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, is the deadline to lock in an Epic Ski Pass before prices increase. Guests planning to visit this winter – whether one day or every day – are encouraged to purchase their lift access online in advance to save big on skiing and riding. For instance, Epic Day Passes offer up to 65% off when compare to a lift ticket. Compare all Ski Passes, including regional passes, on the Epic Pass website.
Skiers and riders who purchase their ski passes now will also unlock early access to Vail Resorts’ Winter Getaway Sales and the chance to purchase Epic Ski Passes with an additional 20% off already discounted lodging rates for stays during the winter season. Running Aug. 24-Sept. 5 for Pass Holders and Aug. 29-Sept. 5 for public access, ski pass holders will have access five days earlier to lock in their preferrs winter lodging at a great rate across Vail Resorts’ portfolio of hotels, condos and premier vacation residences.
Epic Lift Upgrades at Vail Resorts
Over the past two seasons, 25 new or upgraded gondolas and chairlifts have been introduces across Vail Resorts. This season, five resorts will see new chairlifts (four of them high-speed), plus exciting new lift-served terrain at Keystone – all designed to help skiers and riders make the most out of every minute on the mountain. The projects will increase uphill capacity, giving guests more time to learn new skills, explore new terrain, and discover new peaks.
This season at Keystone Resort, for the very first time, guests and ski pass holders will have lift access to Keystone’s high alpine, thanks to the installation of a brand-new, high-speed, 6-passenger chairlift in Bergman Bowl. The Bergman Express will provide lift access to more than 550 acres of intermediate-and-above-level high alpine terrain, including 16 new trails in Bergman and Erickson Bowls. In addition to offering an inviting high alpine adventure, Bergman Express will elevate the guest experience by improving skier and rider circulation across Keystone’s three mountain peaks.
Breckenridgecontinues the transformation of the Peak 8 Base Area with the upgrade of 5-Chair to a new, high-speed quad – the FIVE SuperChair. With this lift upgrade, all four chairlifts that service Peak 8 will now be high-speed to assist with improves flow and circulation out of the resort’s most popular base area. Previously the new investments will provide a clear path to progression on Peak 8, with Rip’s Ride servicing learning and beginner terrain, FIVE SuperChair servicing beginner and intermediate terrain, and the Colorado and Rocky Mountain SuperChairs servicing intermediate and advanced terrain.
Whistler Blacombs: Ski passes
Whistler Blackcomb’s Fitzsimmons Express will replace with a high-speed, 8-person chairlift – the first of its kind across Vail Resorts’ North American resorts. The upgrade will help reduce lift line wait times out of the base at Skier’s Plaza in Whistler Village, increasing uphill capacity and improving circulation in the mid-mountain area.
Since Stevens Pass,the iconic Kehr’s Chair will replace with a new fixed grip quad ahead of the 2023/24 season. The new chair brings modern upgrades and comfort while also increasing uphill capacity. Kehr’s Chair has historically provides access to advance terrain off Big Chief Mountain, where guests can choose to take intermediate or advanced trails back to the base area or can continue to Double Diamond to access a diverse network of trails on the backside.
At Attitash Mountain Resort in New Hampshire, the much-anticipate Mountaineer, a high-speed, 4-passenger chairlift replacing the Summit Triple, will reduce ride time by more than half, increase uphill capacity and improve the flow of the Attitash base area.
Ski Passes: Skip the Ticket Line
Ski pass holders skip the ticket lines and phone to the slopes. With Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket on the new My Epic app coming to guests this fall, the ubiquitous smartphone becomes the ticket to the slopes. Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket will be available for the 2023/24 winter season at all Vail Resorts’ U.S. resorts, with availability at Whistler Blackcomb to follow in future seasons. Additionally the new technology allows guests to buy their ski pass or lift ticket online, activate and store it on their phone in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands free, via Bluetooth® technology designed for low energy usage.
These actions go far to reduce visits to ticket windows and waits for lift tix by mail. They also reduce the waste created by plastic cards and RFID chips.
Moreover plastic cards will continue to be available to any guests who cannot or do not want to use their phone as their pass or lift ticket. Plastic cards will continue to be used at Whistler Blackcomb, as Mobile Pass will not be available at the resort during the 2023/24 season. The company will also activate the plastic cards of renewing ski pass holders and mail plastic cards to all new guests for the 2023/24 season, as part of the transition to Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket.
Why Vail? Ski Passes
Vail Resorts is a network of destination and close-to-home ski resorts. The vast chain includes Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America; Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia – and 250 retail and rental locations across North America.
Finally the company also owns and/or manages a collection of elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, a portfolio of vacation rentals, condominiums and branded hotels located in close proximity to our mountain destinations. Included in the hospitality portfolio as well is Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
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