Whats up with the hate for ikon pass?
- Thread starter ajbski
- Start date
KilaTsunami
Active member
Bad east coast selection, costs like a million dollars just for one season.
GrandThings
Active member
For me, it's just the type of people that buy them. I want to ski with the crusty local dude or NS bro that is ACTUALLY skiing obsessed like me. Not the guy who rides 6-7 times a year but claims skiing as his biggest passion and just wants to Apres in the lodge.
I feel like talking about which pass you have is a pretty normal convo on chairlifts, and I've noticed the Ikon passholders are always complaining about conditions and visibility and crowding like "Ohh I wasted one of my days" whereas local passholders, and even day-ticket buyers are just stoked to be out there.
I feel like talking about which pass you have is a pretty normal convo on chairlifts, and I've noticed the Ikon passholders are always complaining about conditions and visibility and crowding like "Ohh I wasted one of my days" whereas local passholders, and even day-ticket buyers are just stoked to be out there.
PeppermillReno
Active member
14397039:GrandThings said:
Owning an Ikon or Epic is white trash AF and like being a fat ass southerner who takes every vacation to Disney.
If your mountain is tied into the Ikon they scale off the good shit now too so you get hoardes up the ass but can't ride the tram at Big Sky or visit JH/Aspen.
If you get a pass to a local non Ikon/Epic in the spring 1000 bucks should cover all the day tickets you need. I have the New Hampshire College pass but I'm going to ski in Switzerland for 6 days (300) Alyeska for 7 (500) Jay 1 day early season Smuggs Bolton its about a wash for what an Ikon costs and that is 40 way better days with no bullshit.
Schoess
Active member
The problem is the same as Vail.
You have one ultra expensive pass that makes it much more expensive for local and dedicated skiers to ride at the same resort they used to ride for much less except with wild parking situations, much longer lift lines and further inflated prices on food and shit. Beyond that, the type of person who is there with the ikon pass isnt necessarily invested in skiing like most of us are and are there for the resort experience which includes bigger lodges, more expensive hotel rooms, etc. It facilitates a culture of luxury bullshit that again just sucks
You have one ultra expensive pass that makes it much more expensive for local and dedicated skiers to ride at the same resort they used to ride for much less except with wild parking situations, much longer lift lines and further inflated prices on food and shit. Beyond that, the type of person who is there with the ikon pass isnt necessarily invested in skiing like most of us are and are there for the resort experience which includes bigger lodges, more expensive hotel rooms, etc. It facilitates a culture of luxury bullshit that again just sucks
switchlip2
Active member
Completely changed my home mountain. I remember when I was little only having to wait like maybe 10 minutes on weekends. Now it’s sometimes an hour
ThaLorax
Active member
Because it's fucking ruined where I live. Longer lines, powder doesn't last nearly as long, moguls have gone to shit, gated terrain gets scraped out, they don't spend money on the local economy outside of bars and restaurants, and when they do, they always expect a discount even though they're a dime a dozen.
literally ruined the cottonwood canyons in utah, I've been in utah for 15 years and the years since the IKON pas have been the busiest ever, obviously covid last year was a big deal but its just as busy this year
**This post was edited on Feb 14th 2022 at 11:47:38am
**This post was edited on Feb 14th 2022 at 11:47:38am
ajbski
Active member
i guess from a locals perspective at a well known resort it does suck. i would not wait 20 min let alone 1 hour in a lift line.
from my perspective, i love it. my local hill (blue) hasnt seen really much of the negative things you guys are talking about. even on weekends i ski right up to the lift, and generally people here with the ikon pass are better/more passionate at skiing than most of the tourists. it only cost me $650 to renew it. considering that a full pass to blue is $500, i think its well worth it.
from my perspective, i love it. my local hill (blue) hasnt seen really much of the negative things you guys are talking about. even on weekends i ski right up to the lift, and generally people here with the ikon pass are better/more passionate at skiing than most of the tourists. it only cost me $650 to renew it. considering that a full pass to blue is $500, i think its well worth it.
ASSholebomber22
Active member
This thread is the exact reason why I laugh when skiers act like they want skiing to be more inclusive.
14397133:ajbski said:
Its not even lift lines dude, its the traffic/time just to get to the resort that is 15 miles away, it's absurd.
As for your personal perspective, you don't ski at a busy resort so it makes sense why you don't get it. Its different if your resort pass is an IKON pass (ie mammoth) but its the 2-7 days you get at the other resorts that makes people hate the IKON pass.
**This post was edited on Feb 14th 2022 at 12:23:10pm
cool270out
Member
You guys insist on skiing lift service corporate resorts but get mad when they operate like a business. Why do you all feel like you’re owed any of this? You’d think we’re talking about actual issues with how heated it gets.
jakeordie
Member
14397190:eheath said:
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdo...s/vail-resorts-record-ski-passes-overcrowding
GrapeHunter
Active member
14397137:Biffbarf said:
skiing is getting too expensive even for me, a straight white college aged male with a middle class family lmao
MikeStreeter
Member
Hot take but I enjoy the epic/ikon passes. I have owned both in the past and plan to purchase both next year. Planning to get the Epic Local College pass (500 dollars) and Ikon College pass (700 dollars). It is very pricey if you're only skiing a couple days a year but I am able to get 39 days on my epic pass and 6 days at other mountains for only 450? dollars (Epic Local College) this year. I like the variety of mountains that I am able to go to and when I go out west I am able to ski at Vail, Keystone and Breck without having to spend extra money. I use to get the drifter college pass that only let me go to mount snow and other mountains for 399. Yeah there is a lot of people because of the vail acquisition but mount snow was always busy and will always be busy.
crimeenthusiast
Member
i be hating on the ikon cuz im a crusty local who doesnt see any benefits from the ikon but all the negatives
PickleSause
New member
Never bought a Icon pass but in my opinion Epic pass is better. The resorts are always better, including the parks.
MikeStreeter
Member
14397405:eheath said:
Definitely agree to that point, but I guess I am a part of the problem. Buying the Ikon purely to go spring skiing at A-basin and Mammoth. Also probably gonna check out some of the mountains that allow for few days on that pass. I'd say that's more the problem of the mountain for partnering with Ikon that brings all the extra tourists though.
Skibumsmith
Active member
14397120:eheath said:
Basically this. This among other reasons was why I moved away from Utah. Waiting in bumper to bumper on non-powder weekends was the tipping point for me to leave.
PimpChimpin
Active member
Just like vail/epic pass. No respect for locals ?
cool270out
Member
I hear you, I’m just trying to shine a light on the fact that we are so financially separate from these resorts. It sure feels like “our” place when it’s slow and we go every day, soul shreddin.
Just remember that you’ve been nothing but a green digit to a stockholder since you bought your first ticket at a corporate resort. We love to shred but have been blissfully graced with the ability to do that only because the powers that be didn’t know how much money they could squeeze out of a guest.
I guess some part of me just really wants the skiing/skiers I love to somehow be separate from the grubby city folk who turn everything into a cash cow, only to be milked until it dies.
Just remember that you’ve been nothing but a green digit to a stockholder since you bought your first ticket at a corporate resort. We love to shred but have been blissfully graced with the ability to do that only because the powers that be didn’t know how much money they could squeeze out of a guest.
I guess some part of me just really wants the skiing/skiers I love to somehow be separate from the grubby city folk who turn everything into a cash cow, only to be milked until it dies.
14397190:eheath said:
ButteredToast.
Active member
I absolutely don’t want it to be more inclusive, mountains are already way too busy and it’s getting out of control. The sport does not need to grow, it is already struggling to keep up with demand.
14397137:Biffbarf said:
Renegade14
New member
I have the ikon pass as a college student and it’s nice with the discount ($630 for the full pass) but I work at a ski shop at an ikon resort and I can see how it’s ruined things here. Since alterra bought the resort snowmaking and grooming sucks. And they don’t put a limit on how many people can ski in a day, so everyone shows up with an ikon pass and crowds out the resort. It’s to the point where I don’t want to take a ski break just to stand in a 40 minute line, and we are dreading Presidents’ Day. People have also realized that it is cheaper to buy an ikon pass than 5 days of skiing, so it hurts resort sales and income. And then everyone who has an ikon pass wants ikon discounts (which we don’t do). Also people on ikon passes are both more entitled and stingy, and overall harder to deal with than our normal clientele.
mattytru
Active member
14398022:ButteredToast. said:
Vail posits it as an inclusivity argument, but I'd say that the issue is more so their proposition of skiing as a vacation/travel sport, rather than a local pastime of folks living in/near the mountains.
As soon as wealthy people from non-skiing areas are able to claim skiing as one of their major passions, without sacrificing other things (economic prosperity) in order to live near skiing, skiers become seen as cosmopolitan elitists rather than dirtbags who have chosen skiing over the rat race. At the same time skiing becomes more expensive because these folks who have made money in outside sectors can bring that money into ski towns and drive up prices of nearly everything.
I don't think this should be a debate over being more or less inclusive, as 'inclusivity' is just a marketing term being used by Vail to justify trying to grow their target markets. Responding to it as such is kind of just falling into their marketing tropes.
I also don't know if there is really a solution in an increasingly globalized and transient world.
ButteredToast.
Active member
At the same time, it is disappointing that there is no real way for people to come spend money and stimulate mountain town economies without major downsides. Crowds, housing shortages, traffic, etc.
You’d think all the ski tourism would be a boon for these towns and their residents but it seems that nowadays all the money is siphoned off to Vail/Megacorporations and the ski towns and their residents are left holding the bag with the unaffordable housing, and overcrowding.
It is unfortunate that we seem unable to strike a reasonable balance. Without some ski tourism, these mountain towns die and the resorts close. Too much, and the locals suffer.
It feels like we struck a happy medium in the 2000’s/early 2010’s and I often wonder what the answer is to get back to that.
You’d think all the ski tourism would be a boon for these towns and their residents but it seems that nowadays all the money is siphoned off to Vail/Megacorporations and the ski towns and their residents are left holding the bag with the unaffordable housing, and overcrowding.
It is unfortunate that we seem unable to strike a reasonable balance. Without some ski tourism, these mountain towns die and the resorts close. Too much, and the locals suffer.
It feels like we struck a happy medium in the 2000’s/early 2010’s and I often wonder what the answer is to get back to that.
14398054:mattytru said:
Titus69
Active member
Long story short for my personal opinion, a vast majority of the ikon people have no fucking clue what they’re doing on skis but decide to go to cool ski destinations and just overcrowd the roads, lift lines and even patrol clinics. They also think it’s a fucking golden necklace that they love to sling around their necks in lift lines, then ask for discounts on everything.
GayWolf420
Active member
Because people like OP buy them.
And yeah you guys ruined our local hills
And yeah you guys ruined our local hills
BigPurpleSkiSuit
Active member
Couldn't have said it better myself man!
14397048:Schoess said:
Angioedema
Member
I bought one as a uni student and it was hella cheap (like $450). I get to go to multiple parks and is a good deal. Will be buying again
I'm not sure any of yall are old enough, but once upon a time none of these multi mountain passes existed.
Back then you'd pay ~$1800 or so for a season pass to one mountain. Epic and ikon passes are running ~$1000 ish.
Is its cheaper? Yes. Is it's more accessible? Yes. Is it better for locals? Open question.
Back then you'd pay ~$1800 or so for a season pass to one mountain. Epic and ikon passes are running ~$1000 ish.
Is its cheaper? Yes. Is it's more accessible? Yes. Is it better for locals? Open question.
Schoess
Active member
14398093:eheath said:
Yeah they bought up Afton Alps in MN where a pass used to be like $300 and it immediately went to 800 and is now at 600. Half the resort isnt open STILL, the lift lines are absolutely absurd and the food sucks/ costs more too lol. People there buy passes mainly to ski out west but go because they have it.
Brule.
Active member
While bouncing back and forth between Stratton and Killington this season, the only problem I’ve heard from people with Ikon passes on the east coast is that they’re quick to bitch about the lack of days allowed at Killington on both the Ikon pass and the Ikon base pass.
Like if you’re complaining about the lack of access to Killington but like having an Ikon pass, just buy a fucking Beast 365 pass and you’ll essentially have two season passes. Or just plan out your days to Killington better, idk I’m saving all my remaining days to Killington for spring skiing.
Like if you’re complaining about the lack of access to Killington but like having an Ikon pass, just buy a fucking Beast 365 pass and you’ll essentially have two season passes. Or just plan out your days to Killington better, idk I’m saving all my remaining days to Killington for spring skiing.
14398130:Schoess said:
Yeah I mean thats a pretty unfortunate situation, but i'm also surprised they don't sell a cheaper pass for the area.
That being said, the midwest is completely different than anywhere else, most of the resorts vail acquires get cheaper passes, especially in the west.
14398136:Schoess said:
Yeah i mean i understand buying an IKON especially if youre gonna be travelling, but its not like you're immediately a better person because you buy a 1500 pass to snowbird vs a 900 IKON pass, there are tons of options and honestly if youre in utah the IKON isnt the play, but if you're in cali/nevada it makes tons of sense.
Epic pass in a little different as its moreso for full access to resorts, while the IKON has so many 2-7 day deals. I buy an epic pass because thats what you buy to ski PC, nothing wrong with that.
ajbski
Active member
I don’t remember where I heard this, but someone arguing how the coalitions are actually good for the snow industry.
apparently it brings stability to resorts. If a resort has a bad snow year and low ticket sales, then it’s losses are offset since another resort in the alliance may have had a relatively good year.
any one know how to get the details of how alterra or vail distribute funding? Is it at based on how many people are skiing at each resort with the corresponding pass? How does that entire system work? Like if I buy an epic pass and mostly ski Whistler, does Whistler get a relative amount of money? If it all goes to vail resorts, how do they allocate their spending appropriately?
apparently it brings stability to resorts. If a resort has a bad snow year and low ticket sales, then it’s losses are offset since another resort in the alliance may have had a relatively good year.
any one know how to get the details of how alterra or vail distribute funding? Is it at based on how many people are skiing at each resort with the corresponding pass? How does that entire system work? Like if I buy an epic pass and mostly ski Whistler, does Whistler get a relative amount of money? If it all goes to vail resorts, how do they allocate their spending appropriately?
BigPurpleSkiSuit
Active member
They allocate their spending well, but they really screwed up on the management side. Alterra keeps local management for the most part and that makes them better than Vail and more able to find employees
14398164:ajbski said:
ajbski
Active member
Ok I think I get it now. Took me a bit admittedly.
ski towns don’t have the infrastructure or funding to be able to support basically everyone with a multi pass when the snow is good. It makes life for people who live in these towns more expensive and difficult to live in. Therefore they hate the company that sells the multi pass and the people who ski on them.
On another note, the industry depends on young people working a season or two. I don’t think businesses care too much about building communities for many people to stay long term. don’t know what I’m getting at here, but it might lead to some conclusion, idk yet
ski towns don’t have the infrastructure or funding to be able to support basically everyone with a multi pass when the snow is good. It makes life for people who live in these towns more expensive and difficult to live in. Therefore they hate the company that sells the multi pass and the people who ski on them.
On another note, the industry depends on young people working a season or two. I don’t think businesses care too much about building communities for many people to stay long term. don’t know what I’m getting at here, but it might lead to some conclusion, idk yet