Vail's Epic Pass = More Snowboarding, Less Money

New for the 2008/2009 season, Vail Resorts is offering their Epic Pass, which at a measly $579 promises way more snowboarding for way less money this season. The pass, which must be purchased before November 15^th, is valid all season long...no strings attached, no blackout dates, no exceptions...at all six of the company's mountains: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Arapahoe Basin. The marketers really picked the right name for this one, eh?

A quick look at the Vail website shows daily lift ticket prices hanging out in the stratosphere, with adult skiers and snowboarders being asked for anywhere from $89 to $94 per day. That's a big chunk of change, even for the biggest resort in the U.S., and it means the Epic Pass begins paying for itself after just seven days! Locals forced to pay their own way onto the mountain should jump all over this deal, but for the first time in recent memory, it also makes sense for destination vacationers to consider a seasons pass as well.

The Epic Pass has certainly made waves in the industry, but not all of the buzz has been positive. Concerns about parking and labor shortages, overcrowding on the slopes, and the potential watering-down of Vail's traditionally high-end clientele base have all been voiced, albeit quietly for the most part. The exception was Vail Chamber and Business Association Executive Director Kaye Ferry, who managed to stuff a big 'ol stinky snowboard boot in her mouth after she was quoted by local media outlet RealVail.com saying,"Throughout the history of (Vail) we have appealed to exclusivity. The only people we let up there during Christmas are the ones with the big homes and their ski instructors. We had eliminated the Front Range riff-raff, and all of a sudden we're selling a pass that's to the masses.” Ferry has since resigned her position...whoops!