The ever-elastic universe of multipasses has stretched and shrunk (mostly stretched) since our Winter 2023 issue compared and contrasted Epic, Ikon, Indy, Mountain Collective and Powder Alliance. See: Multi-Resort Ski Pass Comparison.
Spring early-bird sales are now a distant memory, which means the next notable dates will be when the passes are removed from the market for the season. This typically happens in late November or early December, with exact dates provided on pass websites several weeks ahead of time.
With early-season pass-related news typically dropping faster than Sam Kuch into a couloir, readers still wondering which pass to choose for the 2023-24 season will want to get up to date on these five developments:
1. The Ikon 55
The addition of Alyeska Resort in Alaska and Snow Valley in Southern California extends Ikon’s top-tier coverage to 55 ski areas in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Parent company Alterra Mountain Co. is also making nine-figure investments in lifts, snowmaking, guest amenities, resort infrastructure and employee housing at many of the 16 North American resorts it owns, including Ontario’s Blue Mountain and Quebec’s Mont Tremblant, as well as technology upgrades such as new features on the Ikon smartphone app and new RFID gate tech. More info: ikonpass.com
2. Epic Extends Europe
Unlimited and unrestricted access to Switzerland’s Disentis Ski Area is now available on Epic, with owner Vail Resorts extending its long-term partnerships with Les 3 Vallées in France, Ski Arlberg in Austria, and Skirama Dolomiti in Italy. Vail also announced that its Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket tech will be available to guests of its U.S. resorts on a new My Epic app coming in the fall of 2023. (Whistler Blackcomb will be the first Canadian resort to take part, date TBD.) This will allow guests to buy passes online and activate and store them on their phones, which can then be scanned via Bluetooth. Vail also announced My Epic Gear, which enables passholders to rent ski equipment with free slopeside pickup and dropoff. More info: epicpass.com
3. Indy Adds 20 New Resorts
While SoCal’s Snow Valley is jumping ship to Ikon, Indy spokesman Doug Fish told Ski Canada the pass expects to add at least 20 new resorts by this fall, including several Canadian and Japanese destinations. This will bring Indy’s total to more than 158. Unlike past seasons, Indy passholders will now be mailed RFID-enabled passes, with photos, for a $10 (U.S.) fee. This will provide direct-to-lift access at select Indy resorts, expedited lift ticket pick-up at all resorts, and discounts on products and services from various Indy partners. At the time of this writing, however, Indy passes had been taken off sale “due to high demand in our spring release,” Fish said, adding that anyone interested in learning about upcoming pass releases can join a waiting list at indyskipass.com.
4. Mountain Collective Skiers Go Direct-To-Lift
While Mountain Collective bid farewell to Australia’s Thredbo ski area, it added heaps of convenience by introducing direct-to-lift access at 18 of its 23 resorts, including Lake Louise and Marmot Basin in Alberta and Panorama, Revelstoke and Sun Peaks in B.C. Previously, visitors to these resorts had to display their passes at ticket windows before hitting the slopes. More info: mountaincollective.com
5. Ski Copper Joins The Powder Alliance
The Powder Alliance’s partner resorts dipped from 21 to 20 with the departure of Kiroro Snow World in Japan, and New Zealand’s Tūroa and Whakapapa, and the arrival of Mt. Shasta Ski Park in Northern California and Colorado’s Ski Cooper. More info: powderalliance.com
