KillingtonZone.com

Highway Star wrote:

boston_e wrote:Looks like the plan is indeed to have Stowe as part of the Epic pass...

http://news.vailresorts.com/corporate/v ... -stowe.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So a Stowe season pass will be $859.00.

Wonder how Killington will respond?

This is crazy.

We've all seen some crazy stuff in the eastern ski industry, and this one is right up there.

I personally know a good number of Killington skiers who have bought epic local passes for trips out west. Clearly they will be visiting Stowe more, even if it's just for a couple day trips. Lots of people in Burlington, Montpelier and the northern Vermont region ski, but they go other places than Stowe because of the pass prices. Clearly there will be many more regional people buying Epic passes. Boston is about 3:30 from Stowe - many Boston people buy Epic passes. Many of them will be taking weekend trips or mini-vacations to Stowe, or looking for a seasonal rental or share house (there aren't many). They are going to have serious, serious, crowding problems.

I'm wondering what Vail's play is here. Are they also going to go after Smuggler's Notch? Will they dramatically increase lift capacity, say by replacing the Lookout Double with a detach lift? Lift between the quad and gondi? Expand south into the basin where the Bruce trail goes? Or the basin east of Spruce? Could they get a new lift in this summer to increase capacity?

There are going to be some more pretty big moves happening before this all settles down.

hillbangin wrote:

Highway Star wrote:

boston_e wrote:Looks like the plan is indeed to have Stowe as part of the Epic pass...

http://news.vailresorts.com/corporate/v ... -stowe.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So a Stowe season pass will be $859.00.

Wonder how Killington will respond?

This is crazy.

We've all seen some crazy stuff in the eastern ski industry, and this one is right up there.

I personally know a good number of Killington skiers who have bought epic local passes for trips out west. Clearly they will be visiting Stowe more, even if it's just for a couple day trips. Lots of people in Burlington, Montpelier and the northern Vermont region ski, but they go other places than Stowe because of the pass prices. Clearly there will be many more regional people buying Epic passes. Boston is about 3:30 from Stowe - many Boston people buy Epic passes. Many of them will be taking weekend trips or mini-vacations to Stowe, or looking for a seasonal rental or share house (there aren't many). They are going to have serious, serious, crowding problems.

I'm wondering what Vail's play is here. Are they also going to go after Smuggler's Notch? Will they dramatically increase lift capacity, say by replacing the Lookout Double with a detach lift? Lift between the quad and gondi? Expand south into the basin where the Bruce trail goes? Or the basin east of Spruce? Could they get a new lift in this summer to increase capacity?

There are going to be some more pretty big moves happening before this all settles down.

Uhhh - We've seen this before - It's Les Otten's business plan - butt they are making money.

Nothing new here - Stowe will get new lifts, get less day visitors, get more pass holders, ( they allready have $ 25 burgers and $ 15 Martini's ), and nightly lodging rates will go through the roof.

Is that better or worse than it is today? Depends - are you a townie that can't afford a $5,000 family pass but now it's half that? Do you own a crappy hotel? Do you own a shop on the road? Did you like to go there a couple days a year because it's too far to be the home mountain?

Let's not forget - the chess move for Powdr is that the old man owns The Bird ( has not announced pass prices yet ) - I'd still take K/Bird over Stowe/Vail/Whistler any day of the week.......

madhatter wrote:rumor has it K passes will go on sale on/after this coming weekend...

PinnacleJim wrote:The inclusion of Stowe on the Epic Local pass is a surprise. That pass is primarily of interest to the Denver area skiers that primarily ski Summit County but want the option to venture over Vail pass on occasion. Including Stowe for them has basically zero value. But for an eastern skier this option is a big deal. Gives them the option of a western ski vacation plus access to Stowe for 10 days.

With both Sugarbush and Okemo reducing pass prices this year, K is going to have to respond in kind or lose market share.

Big Bob wrote:

hillbangin wrote:

Highway Star wrote:

boston_e wrote:Looks like the plan is indeed to have Stowe as part of the Epic pass...

http://news.vailresorts.com/corporate/v ... -stowe.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So a Stowe season pass will be $859.00.

Wonder how Killington will respond?

This is crazy.

We've all seen some crazy stuff in the eastern ski industry, and this one is right up there.

I personally know a good number of Killington skiers who have bought epic local passes for trips out west. Clearly they will be visiting Stowe more, even if it's just for a couple day trips. Lots of people in Burlington, Montpelier and the northern Vermont region ski, but they go other places than Stowe because of the pass prices. Clearly there will be many more regional people buying Epic passes. Boston is about 3:30 from Stowe - many Boston people buy Epic passes. Many of them will be taking weekend trips or mini-vacations to Stowe, or looking for a seasonal rental or share house (there aren't many). They are going to have serious, serious, crowding problems.

I'm wondering what Vail's play is here. Are they also going to go after Smuggler's Notch? Will they dramatically increase lift capacity, say by replacing the Lookout Double with a detach lift? Lift between the quad and gondi? Expand south into the basin where the Bruce trail goes? Or the basin east of Spruce? Could they get a new lift in this summer to increase capacity?

There are going to be some more pretty big moves happening before this all settles down.

Uhhh - We've seen this before - It's Les Otten's business plan - butt they are making money.

Nothing new here - Stowe will get new lifts, get less day visitors, get more pass holders, ( they allready have $ 25 burgers and $ 15 Martini's ), and nightly lodging rates will go through the roof.

Is that better or worse than it is today? Depends - are you a townie that can't afford a $5,000 family pass but now it's half that? Do you own a crappy hotel? Do you own a shop on the road? Did you like to go there a couple days a year because it's too far to be the home mountain?

Let's not forget - the chess move for Powdr is that the old man owns The Bird ( has not announced pass prices yet ) - I'd still take K/Bird over Stowe/Vail/Whistler any day of the week.......

The Bird is not on the Maxx Pass even when all the Powdr resorts are from the inception. It is on The Mountain Collective pass however.

https://mountaincollective.com/?utm_sou ... swodHtcGAw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wonder why...

GlacierBoy wrote:"Powder praying their disjointed individual resort strategy still works."

Not true, the MAX Pass is a joint collaboration (and I guess ownership) between POWDR, Intrawest, and Boyne in association with numerous smaller independent ski areas.

Killington is shooting themselves in the ski boot now. The early bird rates for Mountain Collective, Epic, local Sugarbush and MAX passes are ending this week and next. K. Is missing the gondola... er....train. We have already jumped on the early Mtn. Collective pass.

Unless, Killington is also waiting to announce pass prices along with amazing news like $$$ infrastructure investments and a 2nd Women's World Cup weekend.

ME2VTSkier wrote:

GlacierBoy wrote:"Powder praying their disjointed individual resort strategy still works."

Not true, the MAX Pass is a joint collaboration (and I guess ownership) between POWDR, Intrawest, and Boyne in association with numerous smaller independent ski areas.

Killington is shooting themselves in the ski boot now. The early bird rates for Mountain Collective, Epic, local Sugarbush and MAX passes are ending this week and next. K. Is missing the gondola... er....train. We have already jumped on the early Mtn. Collective pass.

Unless, Killington is also waiting to announce pass prices along with amazing news like $$$ infrastructure investments and a 2nd Women's World Cup weekend.

Maybe K's early season pricing will be valid until lift-served skiing ends on Superstar for the season?!

icedtea wrote:

ME2VTSkier wrote:

GlacierBoy wrote:"Powder praying their disjointed individual resort strategy still works."

Not true, the MAX Pass is a joint collaboration (and I guess ownership) between POWDR, Intrawest, and Boyne in association with numerous smaller independent ski areas.

Killington is shooting themselves in the ski boot now. The early bird rates for Mountain Collective, Epic, local Sugarbush and MAX passes are ending this week and next. K. Is missing the gondola... er....train. We have already jumped on the early Mtn. Collective pass.

Unless, Killington is also waiting to announce pass prices along with amazing news like $$$ infrastructure investments and a 2nd Women's World Cup weekend.

Maybe K's early season pricing will be valid until lift-served skiing ends on Superstar for the season?!

I went with the Max Pass this year. I intended to buy a blackout pass for myself and my girl (pending prices etc.) but may just end up going with the Max Pass again.

Mister Moose wrote:The die is already cast.

Sugrbush: $800, $550 for MT Ellen with LP midweek
Okemo: $850, $400 Blackout
Stratton: $800, $400 Blackout
Mount Snow: $600, includes Attitash, Crotched, Hunter, Wildcat
Sunday River: $1,100, includes Loon, Sugarloaf, $740 Blackout (new pricing after April 30)

Killington very likely will come out with a full pass between $800 and $850, and include some days at Copper. et al.

wannabeskibum wrote:

PinnacleJim wrote:The inclusion of Stowe on the Epic Local pass is a surprise. That pass is primarily of interest to the Denver area skiers that primarily ski Summit County but want the option to venture over Vail pass on occasion. Including Stowe for them has basically zero value. But for an eastern skier this option is a big deal. Gives them the option of a western ski vacation plus access to Stowe for 10 days.

With both Sugarbush and Okemo reducing pass prices this year, K is going to have to respond in kind or lose market share.

Jim, I think you are confusing Epic Local and Summitt County Pass option -

Epic Local is all of Lake Tahoe Vail owned resorts, all of Vail owned Utah resorts, and all of CO (with the 10 day limit to Vail/Beaver/Whistler/and now Stowe) - at $639 it is a great deal - you are essentially breaking even on 5 days of skiing based on average on-line multiday lift rates across all the Vail owned resorts.