Snow Sports News

CORONAVIRUS NEWS IN REGARD TO SKI RESORTS: 

Operational Update - March 16, 2020

Dear loyal guest,

While the skiing and morale both remain fantastic in Sun Peaks, the unprecedented Coronavirus situation has created an overwhelming and difficult stretch for our guests, staff, and community in recent days.

At this time, the decision has been made to cease operations for the remainder of the winter season at the end of day Wednesday March 18, 2020. We will be implementing a gradual wind down of operations between now and then to help facilitate things in an orderly manner. Key points to note:

•    Lift Tickets:  No further lift ticket sales will take place for the remainder of the season. The mountain remains open until Wednesday for those already with tickets and for season passholders. We strongly encourage and ask anyone not already in resort to please not come to Sun Peaks at this time.

•    Food and Beverage:  Mountain operated outlets will be further restricted effective immediately. No more than 50 people will be permitted in any facility at any given time. Tables have been spaced for social distancing. Menus will also be changing to promote health and safety best practices.

•    Retail and Rental:  Mountain operated outlets will cease as of end of day Wednesday.

•    Accommodations:  Sun Peaks Grand will adjust as required while still fully taking care of all existing guests now in resort. No new bookings will be taken. Please contact your accommodation provider directly for more information.

A plan is currently being implemented to take care of all our impacted employees. We cannot say enough about how the teams have managed these extremely difficult situations.

We do not take this action lightly as skiing in the mountains was one of the safer and calming escapes people had left during this hectic time. However, the situation continues to evolve on an almost hourly basis and an appropriate response was now required. The logistics and ever-changing environment have made it too difficult to finish the season in what we consider a safe setting for all those involved.

This is the right decision. Everyone globally shares a certain level of social responsibility with the current crisis. Until today, we felt our role was to continue providing an outlet for guests to recreate outdoors. As of now, we feel our role has shifted to gradually close down in an organized manner and minimize impacts for the greater good where possible.

While there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the Sun Peaks area at the current time, the health and safety of our guests, staff, and community is of utmost importance to our organization and destination.

In the coming hours, days, and weeks we will do what we can to assist impacted guests and team members. Please be patient with our Guest Services teams while we navigate through these unchartered waters and do the right thing.

We thank you for your understanding during these exceptionally challenging times. We sincerely apologize to everyone caught up by this terrible situation during what has been one of our best spring skiing seasons in recent memory. More info and updates will follow as available.

Best regards,
Sun Peaks Resort Team 



Big White
MEDIA PORTAL    FAST FACTS
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Big White Ski Resort Ltd. Announcement
From President & CEO Peter Plimmer
Big White Ski Resort Ltd. Announces Operational Closing as of 3:30pm PDT, Monday March 16
I would like to take this opportunity to address those in our community at Big White Ski Resort, throughout the Okanagan Valley and the Province of British Columbia to share the following update.
After careful consideration and discussions with our Senior Leadership team, the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, the Kelowna International Airport, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, local doctors,  health professionals, colleagues in the industry, and the Canada West Ski Areas Association, the last six hours have made it clear that no matter what procedures we put in place, we cannot guarantee the safety of our staff, guests and residents while adhering to the mandatory reduction of group gatherings recommended by the BC Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, as of 3:30pm today, Monday March 16 the following operations at Big White Ski Resort will cease operations for the remainder of the 2019/2020 ski season; Ski lift operations, Elevation Spa, Big White Ski & Board School, The Kids Centre, The Black Forest Day Lodge, The Westridge Warming Hut and other operations by Big White Ski Resort Ltd. Some independently food & beverage establishments including the Market, are scheduled to remain open as of this writing. We are offering adjusted hours for the following operations; Rental Shop returns will be accepted until Tuesday March 17, 8am-4pm, The Woods 11am-5pm concession window only, Clocktower Coffee 7am-3pm, Happy Valley Cafeteria 11am-5pm, Village Shuttle normal operating hours until Friday, Gondola 7:30am-5pm Tuesday through Friday.
The well-being of our guests, staff and residents is my family’s top priority. This concern extends beyond the boundaries of the home we call Big White Ski Resort and into the greater Okanagan region. As a Canadian family owned and operated resort, we feel it is our duty to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 among the families and staff who share the mountain we all love. While risk level remains low for many, we want to protect those most vulnerable in these uncertain times. The most effective way we can do this, and help flatten the curve in Canada is to close our doors for the remainder of the season.
With more than 6,000 people currently residing in the resort, this will take some time and incredible effort to organize the systematic departure from the resort. In an effort to avoid crowding and congestion, as we help guide our guests and team members off the mountain, we ask that you follow the instructions, and those of the businesses that can assist, by referring to www.bigwhite.com
Central Reservations and our customer service teams will be working tirelessly to help our resort guests adjust their travel bookings so they can return home safely. Our room and property divisions will remain open to service the guests we have in-resort with existing reservations. We expect heavy call volume over the coming days as we work to accommodate travel changes, and we ask that guests exercise patience as our teams do their best to respond quickly and effectively. The reservation teams can be reached at 250-765-8888.
I will be leading our team throughout our resort closure, and sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding. Travel safely, thank you for visiting our Resort and we wish you all the best as the world handles the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kind Regards,
BIG WHITE SKI RESORT LTD.
Peter Plimmer
President and CEO



Investor Celebration
 
   UPDATE: OPERATIONS SUSPENDED FOR REMAINDER OF THE SEASON   
 
 After thorough consideration of the dynamic nature of Coronavirus Covid-19 and recommendations by Federal and Provincial Health Authorities, RED Mountain Resort has decided it will suspend all operations effective March 17th for the remainder of the season. March 16th, today, is the final day of the season.

Our absolute top priority is the health and well being of our guests and employees – and to no lesser extent the health and well being of the community of Rossland. We know each decision we make has a significant impact on the people and businesses in our community.

This difficult decision has not been made lightly, but we know it is prudent under the current Covid-19 status. We sincerely apologize to you, our guests, for this inconvenience and request your patience with guest services and lodging as we process inquiries, and prepare informational updates to our website and social media platforms. Guest Services will continue to stay open for any Early Bird Season Pass purchasing. We encourage ALL Early Bird purchases to be done online, and can be done so at www.redresort.com/mountain/season-passes/

This is an unprecedented time for everyone. We appreciate the support which we have received from all of you and we thank you for that. We will get through this together.

For any questions regarding previously booked lodging for the remainder of the season, please contact lodging@redresort.com
 
For any questions regarding lift tickets you may have purchased in advance, please contact tickets@redresort.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Update: COVID-19 - Vermont's Alpine Ski Areas Are Shut Down

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Monday, March 16, 2020 -- As the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has been quickly evolving over the past 72 hours, Vermont’s alpine ski areas have closed for the season or shut down operations - either indefinitely or for a period of time - to reassess their operating plans. 

The safety of ski area guests and employees is very important to all of us, and ski areas have been monitoring official updates from the state of Vermont, the Vermont Department of Health and the CDC, making difficult and appropriate decisions for their operations as this situation has been unfolding.

Vermont’s ski areas look forward to resuming normal operations and welcoming guests back to the mountains as soon as the situation improves and it is prudent to do so. For the most up-to-date information on ski area operations, check your favorite ski area’s website or SkiVermont.com.

STATEMENT FROM ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY

March 14, 2020, Denver, CO: After careful thought and deliberation of our duty in the face of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, and in what I believe is in the best interest of our guests, employees and local communities, Alterra Mountain Company will suspend operations at our 15 North American ski resorts, starting the morning of Sunday, March 15, until further notice.  All lift operations, food and beverage, retail and rental services will be closed until further notice.

Alterra Mountain Company destinations are Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California; Stratton and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia; Tremblant in Quebec, Blue Mountain in Ontario; Crystal Mountain in Washington; Deer Valley Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah; and CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures in British Columbia. (CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures will continue to operate through Tuesday, March 17.)

Each resort will work directly with guests in canceling their visit and will provide refunds to those who have hotel and other bookings during this closure period. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this short notice will undoubtedly create. We look forward to welcoming you back to the mountains as circumstances improve. 

Rusty Gregory 
Chief Executive Officer 
Alterra Mountain Company 

Update on Vail Resorts Operations
from CEO Rob Katz
RESORTS WILL NOT OPERATE SUNDAY, MARCH 15 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 22, WITH FURTHER GUIDANCE TO FOLLOW

This has no doubt been an incredibly challenging time. With 37 resorts spread across 15 states and three countries, we – like the rest of the world – have been closely tracking every new development related to coronavirus (COVID-19) and have been in constant contact with local health officials for guidance. Without question, our top priority has been the health and wellbeing of our guests and employees – and to no lesser extent the health and wellbeing of the communities where we operate. We know each decision we make has a broad impact far beyond our operations.

With each of those stakeholders in mind and with the most updated information from local health officials, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the operations of all our North American mountain resorts and retail stores beginning Sunday, March 15, 2020 through Sunday, March 22, 2020 and will use that time to reassess our approach for the rest of the season. Our lodging and property management operations will remain open to service the guests we have on location or those with existing reservations, but we will not be taking new reservations for this upcoming week. Epic Mountain Express, our Colorado shuttle service, will also continue operations to support the travel needs of our guests.  We will be closing our corporate offices and apart from essential personnel, we will be asking other employees to work from home, where possible.  

All our scheduled employees, both seasonal and year-round, will be paid during this upcoming eight-day period, without needing to use any vacation or sick time. Their commitment to our company and guests during this uncertain time has been unwavering and I am personally grateful beyond words. 

This decision provides a pause for the entire ecosystem of our mountain resort communities. It gives everyone the time to assess the situation, respond to ever-changing developments, and evaluate the approach for the rest of season, if we believe it is advisable or feasible to re-open. This was not an easy decision to make, as we deeply considered the impact it will have on our guests, employees, and the people and businesses in our communities. We understand this change may be confusing given our communications of operational changes over the past week, and as late as last night. Please know that this has been a fast-moving, constantly developing situation with new information from our communities coming to us by the day, if not by the hour, and we are trying to react as quickly as we can.  People may also wonder why we are not giving more notice ahead of this closure. We understand the challenges this creates, but our priority is to minimize any additional issues from operating in further uncertainty and to avoid potential crowding. 

We sincerely apologize to guests who are currently at our resorts – and those who were planning to come during this time. We have information on cancellations, refunds and travel credits on our websites. Many things like ski school, lift tickets, equipment rentals, and transportation can be fully refunded, and we have new credit policies in place for our owned and operated lodging properties. Please know that we will get to everyone and appreciate your patience as our most immediate priority must be the health and welfare of our resorts and communities.  I know there are a lot of questions about our season pass products and Epic Day Passes. Those products are non-refundable and not transferable to another season, however, we will be reviewing those policies and providing any updated guidance on that in the coming weeks.  Again, we very much appreciate your patience with this as well. 

We will be providing updated information on the remainder of the season by Friday, March 20, 2020.

These are unprecedented, challenging times for everyone. We will continue to navigate these unchartered waters with our guests, our employees and our communities remaining our highest priority. I am certain that there have been, and will be, moments where we will miss the mark and potentially disappoint. However, rest assured that we will continue to listen to your feedback – and continue to make the best decisions we can for everyone’s wellbeing. 

As COVID-19 cases rise in B.C., health officer reassures public 
'We're not talking about shutting down society here,' Henry says




·         BC GOV FLICKR
·         Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and health minister Adrian Dix at a press conference on March 12.
THOUGH B.C. HAS 11 new cases of COVID-19 as of Friday, March 13, (bringing the provincial total to 64), provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is reassuring the public that B.C. is still safe.
"We're not talking about shutting down society here. It's still very safe today in B.C., all across B.C., to go out, to go shopping, to go to restaurants," Henry said in a media update on the novel coronavirus.
"This virus does not transmit when people are outdoors, so go outside and play with your family, go up to our ski hills, go up to Whistler, go out and experience what we have here in British Columbia right now."
That said, the public is reminded to wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their faces, and stay away from others when they're sick.
"We can do things to stop the spread of this virus in our communities," Henry said.
"It is not inevitable that we are going to have a major surge in a short period of time, but those are the things that we need to do now to protect our communities, to protect our families, to protect our seniors and elders, and I'm calling on everybody in British Columbia to work with us to do that."
All 11 of the new cases originated in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region, Henry said: three admin staff at Lions Gate Hospital, an additional case at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, five more travel-related cases and two still under investigation (which Henry said she did not have details on).
Of B.C.'s 64 confirmed cases, 39 are in VCH, 23 in the Fraser Health Authority, one in the Island Health region and one in Interior Health.
"Six of those people have now recovered, with two consecutive negative tests, and of course tragically one person has passed away in North Vancouver," said health minister Adrian Dix.
As of last week, health officials had conducted 2,008 COVID-19 tests, Dix said.
"This week it's 6,326—that's 4,318 tests in a week, which is an extraordinary achievement by everybody involved in the system," he said.
That said, both Dix and Henry emphasized that the tests are not necessarily valid for someone who is not sick, that not everyone who comes back from travelling and gets sick needs a test, and that employers should not request physician notes for people to come back to work.
"We don't want people to have to go see a medical practitioner if they've been off on quarantine because they've been travelling or for other reasons," Henry said.
"So we are requesting (employers) not to request physician notes for people to be deemed safe to come back to work, and no, you don't need a test either.";
It is hoped that a ban on gatherings of more than 250 people—which Henry made mandatory on March 13—will help slow the spread of the disease.
"We need to stop and slow the spread of this virus in our communities here in B.C. to buy us the time to ensure that we can flatten that curve and protect the most vulnerable people in our society, the people who are in our communities who are more likely to have severe illness or to die from this virus, and to allow our health system to be able to build up and accommodate people both who have this virus and safely look after everybody else who needs healthcare in our system," Henry said.
"So this is the time where we all need to do our part. We need to stay away from others when we're sick in particular, we need to cover our mouth when we cough, we need to clean our hands regularly, we need to enhance our cleaning in our environment."


We are Committed to The Health and Safety Of Our Mountain Resort.
At Banff Sunshine, we are fortunate to be located high on the continental divide in one of the world’s most pristine environments - Banff National Park. Our unique location, high in the Canadian Rockies, is blessed with clean, fresh, mountain air.  

3/13/2020 Our response to COVID-19 | 
We at Banff Sunshine Village are committed to safety, and fun. As an organization, we care about the health and wellbeing of both our guests and our team members. To ensure the healthiness of our mountain we continue to follow best practices as published from public health agencies, while diligently monitoring updates.

To ensure public safety at Banff Sunshine, we have a dedicated wellness team who is focusing their efforts on pathogen prevention, wellness education, and working with mountain departments to implement the necessary precautions.

For the health and wellbeing of our mountain resort, we have increased the frequency of our deep cleaning efforts, and have enhanced resort-wide sanitization. To stop germs in their tracks we are cleaning all surfaces washrooms, common areas, and lodging areas with disinfectant and bleach-based products. Hand sanitizer and single-use tissue stations are available thought-out our resort, and we encourage all our visitors to practise good hygiene while out on the mountain.
FAQs
1. Are you open?
Banff Sunshine Village is open for skiing and snowboarding. Health and safety is a key priority for us, and we have implemented new measures to help stop germs in their tracks and to keep our resort sanitized.
2. Do you plan on staying open?
We are open and are working diligently to ensure the healthiness of our mountain resort
by following best practices as published by public health agencies. We will communicate any changes to our hours of operations on our social media and our website.
3. Are passes/reservations refundable?
We are offering full resort credit on any unused pass products and reservations.
4. What are you doing to take precautions?
We at Banff Sunshine are working to stop germs in their tracks. We have implemented a dedicated wellness team who is focusing their efforts on pathogen prevention, wellness education, and working with mountain departments to implement the necessary precautions.
Actions in effect are:

- The introduction of hand sanitization stations across our resort

- Daily sanitization of our public spaces, including our gondola cabins - Loading cabins in more private groups

- Increased frequency in resort cleaning schedules

5. How can I find out if you are open?
We will be communicating any changes to our hours of operations on our social media and our website. Stay up to date by following us at Banff Sunshine Village on Facebook and at Sunshine Village on Instagram.



Sundance, Utah 

Important Update From Sundance Mountain Resort

After considerable thought and careful deliberation, Sundance Mountain Resort has made the difficult decision to close operations effective Monday, March 16 in response to the evolving COVID-19 health crisis. The health of our employees, guests and community are our top priority in this uncertain time.

The closure includes all lift operations, ski school, food and beverage, rentals and activities. Lodging and limited F&B options will temporarily remain open for those guests currently lodging at Sundance Mountain Resort.

We understand this will present significant challenges for many and ask for your patience as we work with all those affected. All day lift tickets, lessons, rentals or activities that were purchased online will be refunded to our guests. Please check our social media channels for updates and below for frequently asked questions.

We also recognize this will create significant impact on our employees who make Sundance Mountain Resort the unique and special place so many love. We have communicated with and are assisting, our employees through this challenging time.

We anticipate re-opening on April 16 following our scheduled seasonal closure.

We know how much this place means to each of you as it does to each of us at Sundance Mountain Resort. This has been an incredibly difficult decision and we have not taken it lightly. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to seeing you later this spring.

Chad Linebaugh
President and General Manager








DEER VALLEY RESORT; PARK CITY, UTAH (March 10, 2020) – This summer, Deer Valley Resort will begin their biggest capital investment in over two decades with a $14 million improvement plan for the 2020/2021 season. This year kicks off Alterra Mountain Company's ambitious five-year plan for the resort, that will total more than $75 million in enhancements once completed.

Deer Valley Resort’s $14 million in 2020/2021 capital improvements include:
  • Beginning a modernization master plan of the resort’s dining experience. Phase 1 begins with a complete renovation of the 100,000+ sq. ft. Snow Park base lodge, including new retail offerings and extensive updates to food and beverage experiences with a new indoor/outdoor après bar, slope-side coffee shop and bistro.
     
  • Addition of an outdoor deck to Cushing’s Cabin, located at the top of Flagstaff Mountain
     
  • Continuing to work with Gravity Logic to expand our mountain bike trail inventory, including a blue flow trail on Bald Eagle Mountain and a green trail from the top of Bald Eagle Mountain to Silver Lake Village
     
  • New Helly Hansen uniforms for all on-mountain staff
     
  • Additional outdoor digital signage to supplement the signs installed in the 2019/2020 season. More digital signage will be implemented throughout the resort, continuing to enhance the guest experience by having real-time information available on ticketing availability and pricing, lift operations, grooming conditions, and other mountain and lodge related information
     
  • Purchasing four new state-of-the-art snow cats to add to the snow grooming fleet
     
  • $1 million of investment in snowmaking capabilities including purchasing additional low-energy guns, new fan guns, upgrading control systems and replacing several thousand feet of snowmaking pipes
     
  • Continued upgrades and investment in overall transportation fleets around the resort
     
Alterra Mountain Company also announces its plans to invest $223 million in capital improvements across its 15 North American mountain destinations for the upcoming year. The plan includes $50 million for base area facility development, $48 million towards new lifts and upgrades, expanded terrain, and state-of-the-art snowmaking, $30 million in technology including Ikon Pass and destination app development and data utilization, $27 million toward enhancing base area and on-mountain dining experiences, and $7 million towards various summer and winter activity investments.

“Three years ago, when we formed Alterra Mountain Company, an initial priority was to commit to investing a half a billion dollars by 2023 across our family of North American destinations,” said Rusty Gregory, CEO, Alterra Mountain Company. “To date, we have invested more than $350 million and are committed to exceeding our original plan, spending $575 million by 2020 on lifts and gondolas, snowmaking, summer activities, real estate development, hospitality and technology, all in the name of creating memories for our guests through an elevated mountain experience.”

Deer Valley’s Season Passes, as well as Alterra Mountain Company’s multi-destination pass product, the Ikon Pass, are currently on sale for the 2020/2021 winter season.

For more information about Deer Valley Resort, please visit deervalley.com
 


VAIL RESORTS INTRODUCES ‘EPIC MOUNTAIN REWARDS’ FOR PASS HOLDERS

When skiers and riders hit the slopes next season with Vail Resorts’ discounted pass products, the savings will continue all season long. Today, Vail Resorts introduced ‘Epic Mountain Rewards,’ which gives pass holders a discount of 20 percent off food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals and more at the Company’s North American owned and operated resorts.



Epic Mountain Rewards is available for everyone who purchases an Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Day Pass, Military Epic Pass and most of the Company’s other pass products – regardless of whether guests plan to ski one day or every day of the season. Those passes are on sale now and the Epic Mountain Rewards discounts go into effect for the 2020-21 season.

“Last year, we changed the definition of a season pass by launching the Epic Day Pass and giving all skiers and riders the same value and flexibility – even if they only plan to ski or ride one day. Today, we are transforming the breadth of value offered with a pass by providing our pass holders truly epic discounts on their mountain experience,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts.



With no sign-up, no point tracking and no blackout dates, 
Epic Mountain Rewards is designed to be as simple as possible. Pass holders get the 20 percent discounts by simply presenting their pass at the register or logging into their account for online reservations. In addition to the significant discount already offered by purchasing a pass product, a family of four will now be able save hundreds of dollars per day in food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals and select mountain activities.

“No other major pass product provides this level of across-the-board savings for skiers and riders – it is completely unique, even across the travel industry,” Lynch continued. “I’m especially excited about the simplicity of Epic Mountain Rewards – which requires no points, no requirements – just one of our pass products and, of course, a passion to have an Experience of a Lifetime at one of our resorts.”
 
Epic Mountain Rewards also includes 20 percent off Epic Mountain Express transportation in Colorado, Guided Cat Skiing Tours in Keystone and Heli-Skiing packages in Whistler Blackcomb. More details on Epic Mountain Rewards are online at www.epicmountainrewards.com.



FROM ONE DAY TO EVERY DAY

Back for its second season, the Epic Day Pass is a customizable pass for skiers and riders who may not need the unlimited access offered by a traditional season pass. For as low as $93 for a day of skiing or riding at world-class destinations like Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, Park City and Breckenridge, guests can create their own pass by selecting the number of days they plan to ski or ride – from one day to seven days – and whether or not to add holiday access. Guests can use their Epic Day Pass at any of the Company’s North American owned and operated resorts and have the flexibility to choose where, when and how frequently they want to ski or ride closer to their travel dates. Now the occasional skier and rider will be able save hundreds of dollars per day by saving up to 50 percent off lift ticket window prices and 20 percent off other mountain experiences with Epic Mountain Rewards.

For guests looking for the most flexibility during the 2020-21 season, the Epic Pass continues to offer the best value and variety for unlimited skiing and riding. Launching at $979 for the 2020-21 winter season, the Epic Pass provides unlimited, unrestricted access to all of the Company’s 37 owned and operated resorts plus additional partner access at Telluride, Snowbasin, Sun Valley, Courchevel, Fernie, Kicking Horse, Hakuba Valley, Japan and more. Continuing for the 2020-21 season, the Company offers a complimentary Epic Pass for children age four and under who are signed-up ahead of the season.

For skiers and riders willing to navigate around a few peak dates, the Epic Local Pass offers an incredible value at $729 with access to all of the Company’s owned and operated North American resorts, which includes unlimited, unrestricted access to many resorts like Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte. In addition, the Epic Local Pass still provides ten combined days of holiday-restricted access at our world-class destinations of Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, and Beaver Creek, at no additional charge, plus additional partner access.


Returning for the third year, the Military Epic Pass program honours the epic service of the Company’s founders from the 10th Mountain Division and men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force. With a significant discount from the Epic Pass, the 2020-21 Military Epic Pass provides an incredible value for Active or Retired service members and their families to enjoy unlimited, unrestricted skiing at the Company’s owned resorts for $169.

With 17 new resorts in the Vail Resorts portfolio across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, guests near major metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, Washington D.C and Philadelphia now have the opportunity to access their local mountains and explore world-class destinations with any of the passes listed above.

For skiers and riders only looking to hit the slopes on the East Coast, two new pass products are launching for the 2020-21 season. The Northeast Value Pass, priced at $599, provides guests with unlimited, restricted access to Okemo, Mount Snow and Hunter, 10 restricted days at Stowe, plus unlimited, unrestricted access to Wildcat, Attitash, Mount Sunapee, Crotched, Liberty, Whitetail, Roundtop and more. The Northeast Midweek Pass, priced at $449, offers guests similar access, but restricted to Monday through Friday, and five restricted midweek days at Stowe.



BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE

Through the Turn In Your Ticket program, guests who purchase a lift ticket between March 3, 2020 and the end of the 2019-20 ski season can apply the value of a single day ticket toward the price of an eligible 2020-21 pass product, including an Epic Day Pass with four or more days. This program applies to new pass holders who did not purchase a 2019-20 season pass product.

Those who purchase the Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass this spring can pay just $49 down and the remainder in September. They will also get ten Buddy Tickets and six Ski With a Friend Tickets. For additional convenience and flexibility, Buddy Tickets and Ski With a Friend Tickets can now be redeemed online, making it easier than ever to enjoy the mountains with family and friends.

2020 Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Championships - Photo by Mark Gallup, courtesy of Marmot Basin

MARMOT'S REVENGE
2020 Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Championships

The Marmot’s Revenge Ski Mountaineering race will be held at Marmot Basin on March 7th - 8th, 2020. It will be the host of the 2020 Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Championships. Marmot’s Revenge is one of the four races in the Canada Cup that will be used for National Team Selection for the 2020-2021 Season - https://www.skimarmot.com/mountain/upcoming-events/.

FREE skiing option in North America, Chile and Japan – Powder Alliance.  Purchase a season pass to any Powder Alliance Resort and get three FREE days at all the rest, non-holiday. That’s up to 54 FREE tickets! There are no membership fees and no collective pass prices. Simply present an adult or child's anytime season pass from a participating Powder Alliance resort and receive FREE skiing benefits at all the rest. 



POWER of the ALLIANCE
· 19 Resorts
· 174 Lifts
· 1,215 Trails
· 40,548 Vertical Feet
· 33,866 Skiable Acres
· 6,790" Cumulative Annual Snowfall


WOLF CREEK SKI AREA TURNS 80

PHOTO by Sam Bricker, courtesy of Wolf Creek Ski Area 
Wolf Creek Ski Area in Southern Colorado is celebrating its 80th Anniversary of abundant powder and an atmosphere unique to the family-owned-and-operated ski area. Since commemorating the 75th season of Wolf Creek Ski Area in 2014-2015, various milestones, achievements, improvements and upgrades have been accomplished. The 2014-2015 ski season was one for the books: with Kingsbury Pitcher being inducted to the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame; the installment of Wolf Creek’s eighth chairlift named Elma; an upgrade to the Fun Races with the construction of a Race Hutch and offering a snowboard version of Wolf Pups, named Wolf Riders.  In the five seasons since then, Wolf Creek Ski Area has continued to organically evolve with: the addition of two new lifts; online ski school reservations; a lift ticket specific to ages 65 and older; an espresso bar atop the Continental Divide and the development of the largest exploder system in North America - just to name a few.

In 2016, the Pitcher Family celebrated 40 years of operating Wolf Creek Ski Area. The family has gone from hand-stamped lift and lesson tickets with metal wickets to a point-of-sale system with barcoded tickets and a computerized system that also allows season pass holders to go directly to the lift. The point-of-sale system has moved Wolf Creek Ski Area into e-signing season pass contracts and waivers and rental liability forms. This system only further compliments the sustainable and eco friendly practices the Pitchers have implemented during the 45-year stewardship of its U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permit. Wolf Creek Ski Area has also made its mark in the ski industry as the first ski area in the country to operate on 100% solar power during day use and other sustainable energy sources for night use.

PHOTO by Christi Bode, courtesy of Wolf Creek Ski Area
   
Wolf Creek’s 79th season was memorable with over 550 inches of snow and the ski area’s second earliest opening in history - October 13th, 2018!  

Wolf Creek Ski Area’s Improvements from 2019-2020:
- The full service Lynx Learning Center complete with rentals, lessons and tickets for beginner skiers; two new major trails, Orion’s Beltway and Feather Duster; the introduction of the Charity Jane Express and the accompanying terrain; Raven Grill upgrade with sunroom and BBQ smoker.






Understanding the nuances of collective passes can be really tricky! When I wrote my article about the Epic Pass and Ikon Pass for Ski Canada magazine things kept changing in their offerings just during the period from getting the assignment to having the article published. I must have done at least four updates! So here are the latest details of Ikon Pass to help you clarify the situation and decide in advance which collective pass is for you next season. I'll also publish the Epic Pass details as soon as I get them. 

 
IKON PASS UNLOCKS WINTER 20/21 ON MARCH 5, 2020
Offering Expanded Access and New Ikon Session Pass
  
Ikon Pass invites skiers and riders across the globe to unlock adventure and the lowest pricing for winter 20/21 on Thursday, March 5, 2020 when the Ikon Pass will go on sale. After debuting in January 2018, the Ikon Pass enters its third season with 41 inspiring winter destinations, a new four-day product, and continued pass holder benefits.

The Ikon Pass offers access to 41 iconic global mountain destinations across the Americas, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand and is a collaboration of industry leaders - Alterra Mountain Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, SkiBig3, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Taos Ski Valley, Zermatt, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Niseko United, Valle Nevado, and NZ Ski. Each demonstrates integrity, character and independence that is reflected in their mountains and guests.


NEW FOR 20/21
Expanded Access at Stratton and Sugarbush Resort
New for 20/21, skiers and riders in Vermont now have unlimited access days to Stratton and Sugarbush Resort on the Ikon Pass and unlimited days with select blackouts on the Ikon Base Pass.
Ikon Base Pass Access Changes - Add Jackson Hole and Aspen Snowmass
For 20/21, the Ikon Base Pass will offer unlimited and up to five days access to 38 destinations. For an additional $150, five days can be added at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and five days at Aspen Snowmass, with select blackout dates.


Flexible Southern Hemisphere Access
New 20/21 Ikon Pass holders may now split up their five or seven days across the 2020 and 2021 Southern Hemisphere seasons at Thredbo, Mt Buller, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt, and Valle Nevado. Buy now and decide to visit this season, or next, or both.
Ikon Session Pass 4-Day - $399 Adult, Select Blackout Dates
Discover the new pass that kick starts a season of adventure, ideal for a long weekend or four spontaneous snow days. Pass holders lock in four-day access across 30 global Ikon Pass destinations, offering the choice of where and when to ski or ride throughout the 20/21 season. The four days can be used at four different destinations or at one favorite mountain. 

PASS HOLDER BENEFITS
Renewal Discount
As a thank you to the Ikon Pass community, renewal discounts will be offered to 19/20 Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass holders for winter 20/21 if purchased before Wednesday, April 22, 2020 with savings of up to $100.
Spring Access
New 20/21 Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass holders will have immediate access to unlimited spring skiing at Big Bear Mountain Resort, Crystal Mountain, Snowshoe, Stratton and Blue Mountain, valid day of purchase. Starting April 13, 2020, new pass holders will have unlimited spring access at Mammoth Mountain, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Solitude Mountain Resort, Sugarbush Resort, and Winter Park.
Payment Plan
An interest-free payment plan is available for Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass if purchased before Wednesday, April 22, 2020 with a $199 deposit and four monthly payments, June – September 2020.
Child Pass Promotion
To provide additional value for families looking to ski and ride together, Ikon Pass holders can purchase up to two discounted Child Ikon Passes or Child Ikon Base Passes for children ages 5-12 with the purchase of an Adult Ikon Pass or Adult Ikon Base Pass. The Child Pass Promotion ends, and prices go up on April 22, 2020.
Night Skiing
Night skiing is available at Steamboat, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Blue Mountain, Sunday River, Brighton Resort, Snowshoe, Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, Mt. Norquay, Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Cypress Mountain, Niseko United, Coronet Peak and Thredbo. Ikon Pass holders get unlimited access to night skiing at Steamboat.
“As the Ikon Pass community grows, we are growing with it and are excited to offer skiers and riders around the globe expanded access and more products that offer value, suit their needs, and help them experience the mountains we all love,” said Erik Forsell, Chief Marketing Officer, Alterra Mountain Company. “Ikon Pass holders will use any excuse to get on the mountain, and our 41 destinations are happy to provide endless inspiration for their next adventure.”



THE PASSES
IKON PASS: Offering unlimited, 7-day and 7-day combined access at 40 destinations, with no blackout dates.
ACCESS
Unlimited: Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper Mountain Resort, Eldora Mountain Resort, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, Big Bear Mountain Resort, June Mountain, Stratton, Sugarbush Resort, Snowshoe Mountain, Crystal Mountain, Solitude Mountain Resort, Tremblant, Blue Mountain
7-Days: Deer Valley Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Big Sky Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Cypress Mountain, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Loon Mountain, Taos Ski Valley, Brighton Resort, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Valle Nevado, Zermatt
7-Days Combined:
· Aspen Snowmass: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk
· Alta Ski Area, Snowbird
· SkiBig3: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay
· Killington - Pico
· Niseko United
· Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt

BLACKOUT DATES: None

IKON PASS PRICING                   Renewal         20/21
Adult (23+ years)*                       $899         $999
Young Adult (13-22 years)*        $659         $739
Child Promotion (5-12)                    NA         $209
Child Pass (5-12)                          NA        $309
4 & Under                                    NA                  $209
*Military and College Student discounts available with validation at ikonpass.com
Child Pass Promotion: Up to two discounted Child Passes (5-12) can be purchased for $209 each with the purchase of an Adult Ikon Pass, before Wednesday, April 22, when prices go up.

Benefits
· 10 Friends & Family lift tickets offering 25% off of the window rate at any Ikon Pass destination (excluding CMH and Zermatt), with no blackout dates
· Early winter booking privileges and 10% off summer reservations at CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures
· Free one-year $50-value membership to Protect Our Winters that includes POW die cut stickers, 20% off POW store merchandise, a monthly POW newsletter, and a subscription to the biweekly email newsletter, “The Line”
· Additional destination benefits and discounts are available at ikonpass.com



IKON BASE PASS: Offering unlimited, 5-day and 5-day combined access at 38 destinations, with select blackout dates.
ACCESS
Unlimited: Winter Park, Copper Mountain Resort, Eldora Mountain Resort, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Snowshoe Mountain, Crystal Mountain, Tremblant, Blue Mountain
Unlimited with Blackout Dates: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Solitude Mountain Resort, Stratton, Sugarbush Resort
5-Days with Blackout Dates: Steamboat, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Deer Valley Resort, Big Sky Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Cypress Mountain, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Loon Mountain, Taos Ski Valley, Brighton Resort, Thredbo
5-Days with No Blackouts: Mt Buller, Valle Nevado, Zermatt
5-Days Combined with Blackout Dates
· Alta Ski Area, Snowbird
· SkiBig3: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay
· Killington - Pico
· Niseko United
· Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt (no blackouts)
For expanded Ikon Base Pass access, five days can be added at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and five days at Aspen Snowmass, with select blackout dates, for an additional $150. With this purchase, all 20/21 Ikon Base Pass destinations, benefits and blackout dates apply, and 20/21 Ikon Base Pass Friends & Family vouchers are also valid at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Aspen Snowmass.

BLACKOUT DATES
· North America: December 26, 2020 - Jan 2, 2021; January 16-17, 2021; February 13-14, 2021
· Thredbo: June 26 - July 11, 2021
· No blackouts at Zermatt, Valle Nevado, Mt Buller, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt



IKON BASE PASS PRICING                   Renewal     20/21
Adult (23+ years)*                                   $649         $699
Young Adult (13-22 years)*                   $499         $539
Child Promotion (5-12)                               NA         $169
Child Pass (5-12)                                     NA               $269
4 & Under                                                 NA          $169
With Jackson Hole Mountain Resort & Aspen Snowmass Access
Adult (23+ years)*                                   $799        $849
Young Adult (13-22 years)*                   $649         $689
Child Promotion (5-12)                              NA         $319
Child Pass (5-12)                                    NA               $419
4 & Under                                                NA          $319
*Military and College Student discounts available with validation at ikonpass.com
Child Pass Promotion: Up to two discounted Child Passes (5-12) can be purchased for $169 each with the purchase of an Adult Ikon Base Pass, before Wednesday, April 22, when prices go up.

Benefits
· Eight Friends & Family lift tickets offering 25% off of the window rate at any Ikon Pass destination (excluding Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Zermatt and CMH), with select blackout dates
· Early winter booking privileges and 10% off summer reservations at CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures
· Free one-year membership to Protect Our Winters ($50 value) that includes POW die-cut stickers, 20% off POW store merchandise, a monthly POW newsletter, and a subscription to the biweekly email newsletter, “The Line”
· Additional destination benefits and discounts are available at ikonpass.com




IKON SESSION PASS 4-DAY: Offering four days of access to 30 global Ikon Pass destinations, with select blackout dates. The four days can be used across four destinations or pass holders can use all four days at a favorite mountain.
ACCESS
Steamboat, Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Big Sky Resort, Stratton, Sugarbush Resort, Snowshoe, Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Tremblant, Blue Mountain, SkiBig3, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Cypress Mountain, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Loon Mountain, Taos Ski Valley, Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt, Valle Nevado

BLACKOUT DATES
· North America: Dec. 26, 2020 – Jan. 2, 2021; Jan. 16 -17, 2021; Feb. 13 – 14, 2021
· Thredbo: June 26 - July 11, 2021
· No blackouts at Valle Nevado, Mt Buller, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt

IKON SESSION PASS 4-DAY PRICING             20/21
Adult (23+ years)*                                     $399
Young Adult (13-22 years)                        $339
Child Pass (5-12)                                       $249
4 & Under                                                   $249
*Military and College Student discounts available with validation at ikonpass.com
Friends & Family lift tickets, payment plan, flexible Southern Hemisphere access and 2020 spring skiing do not apply

IKON PASS BY THE NUMBERS                                
Destinations: 41                                                             
Continents: 5
States: 12                                                                       
Canadian Provinces: 4                                                   
Total Acres: 84,385*
Trails: 4,857*
Lifts: 719
*Does not include CMH Heli Skiing & Summer Adventures stats

Ikon Pass Destinations by Location
California: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Big Bear Mountain Resort
Colorado: Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Eldora Mountain Resort
Maine: Sugarloaf, Sunday River
Michigan: Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain
Montana: Big Sky Resort
New Hampshire: Loon Mountain
New Mexico: Taos Ski Valley
Utah: Deer Valley Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, Brighton Resort
Vermont: Stratton, Sugarbush Resort, Killington - Pico
Washington: Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie
West Virginia: Snowshoe
Wyoming: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Alberta, Canada: SkiBig3
British Columbia, Canada: Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Cypress Mountain, CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures
Ontario, Canada: Blue Mountain
Quebec, Canada: Tremblant
Switzerland: Zermatt
Australia: Thredbo, Mt Buller
New Zealand: Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt
Japan: Niseko United
Chile: Valle Nevado

For more information please visit www.ikonpass.com.