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Though ski season remains to be in full drive — particularly for these out west — now could be one of the best time to lock in subsequent yr’s ski plans. Whether or not you’re a newbie skier or a seasoned professional, one of the best ways to pay in your carry tickets is normally with a ski cross as an alternative of particular person mountain carry tickets. And by buying an Epic Cross now, you possibly can keep away from overpaying in your days on the mountain by getting what are doubtless the bottom costs of the yr.
An Epic Cross can prevent cash on snowboarding even in case you are solely planning a single journey — or maybe snowboarding for as little as sooner or later.
For instance, a one-day grownup carry ticket at Beaver Creek can price $299 for one single day (for the 2023-2024 ski season). Probably the most you’d pay for sooner or later on the slopes at Beaver Creek or another Vail-owned mountain if you happen to purchase a one-day Epic Cross now for subsequent yr is $129. It’s an astounding value distinction.
For these trying to save cash and ski at resorts on the Epic Cross, buying now for subsequent season is the way in which to get the least costly pricing for the passes. Whereas there’s no actual date when costs improve, usually there are small jumps within the spring, on the finish of summer time and once more within the fall.
Plus, Buddy Tickets — a set variety of discounted carry tickets for a buddy snowboarding with you for the day — are solely obtainable to those that buy through the introductory provide. So, if you are going to buy an Epic Cross now, you possibly can finally lock in your winter snowboarding for as little as $43 per day for adults and $23 per day for teenagers ages 5-12. Children age 4 and below can ski free of charge when accompanied by an grownup with an Epic Cross.
Your particular per-day value relies on the cross you buy and the way usually you’re on the mountains.
For those who get pleasure from Vail Resorts and its associate mountains — a few of the greatest names within the trade — an Epic Cross is a good choice. The truth is, that is my household’s third yr in a row snowboarding with the cross.
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Epic Cross pricing
The Epic Native Cross — which is accessible to locals and travel-in skiers alike — is at present on sale for $731 for limitless, unrestricted entry to 29 resorts — together with Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte — plus limitless, non-holiday entry to Park Metropolis, Heavenly and Stowe, plus 10 days at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb, amongst others.
The complete Epic Cross, priced at $982, unlocks limitless snowboarding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Whistler Blackcomb, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Stowe, Keystone, Park Metropolis and lots of different Vail-owned and associate resorts. Plus, you’ll additionally obtain seven days at Telluride and choose resorts all through the Canadian Rockies.
Whereas one cross carries a “native” identify, that doesn’t imply it’s restricted to buy by those that stay close to the mountain; anybody can profit from tons of snowboarding all through the season. “Native” primarily means it has some peak-date restrictions through the busiest vacation occasions of the yr.
There are additionally many mountain-specific or regional cross choices, such because the Northeast Worth cross.
For $600, you possibly can ski all the Northeast mountains (21 in complete) all through the season. This consists of widespread mountains reminiscent of Okemo, Mount Snow, Hunter Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Stowe and extra. Whereas there are just a few vacation blackout dates for choose mountains and solely 10 entry days for Stowe, this cross can present nice entry to the area.
Moreover, there are important reductions for college kids, army personnel (energetic, retired and dependents), seniors and people with everlasting disabilities.
Nevertheless, if you happen to’re solely trying to take one or two journeys to the mountain, you possibly can as an alternative go for the Epic Day Cross; this provides you with a set variety of ski days at a choose variety of resorts.
An Epic Cross will prevent cash — even on a brief journey
You could not have thought-about getting an Epic Cross if you happen to solely ski or snowboard a day or two every season. Nevertheless, with so many alternative cross choices, you may discover one which works completely in your ski habits.
The Epic Day Cross has three tier ranges primarily based on the mountains included. You should buy entry to 22 resorts (together with the smaller Vail resorts), 32 resorts or all 38 mountains.
For a single-day ticket, the grownup cross value begins at $52 ($26 for youngsters) for a restricted variety of ski resorts (these within the Midwest, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania). The associated fee then jumps to a beginning value of $85 per day for many ski resorts ($43 for teenagers) or $110 per day ($57 for teenagers) for the complete vary of Vail-owned and associate resorts. However with a seven-day cross, the value begins at simply $44 per day.
The extra days you buy, although, the inexpensive it’s per day. For instance, a seven-day cross on the 22 resorts on a non-peak date is simply $304 complete, or $44 per day. Or, for all entry, you’re taking a look at $93 per day. After all, if you happen to’re trying to ski throughout peak vacation dates (there are solely 11 of them), the value goes up barely; it’s capped at $129 per day.
This can assist you save, contemplating single-day walk-up passes can begin near $300 per day at resorts reminiscent of Vail and Beaver Creek. So, even if you wish to ski simply sooner or later at Vail Resort through the peak Christmas week, you should purchase an Epic Day Cross prematurely and lower your expenses.
Notice that solely Epic four-day, five-day, six-day and seven-day passes with “All Resorts” entry embody entry to Telluride in Colorado and the six resorts of the Canadian Rockies.
Epic Passes present unique reductions
On high of all that, vacationers with the Epic Cross, Epic Native Cross, Epic Day Cross and extra can get pleasure from reductions by way of the Epic Mountain Rewards program. This easy however rewarding program supplies the next reductions at Vail Resorts’ 37 North American resorts:
- 20% off meals and nonalcoholic drinks (on as much as $150 per day)
- 20% off group ski and journey classes
- 20% off lodging owned and operated by Vail Resorts
- 20% off the Epic Mountain Categorical non-public or shared shuttles from Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) and Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
- 20% off gear leases
- 20% off choose on-mountain actions
- One free wax and one 50%-off tune per season at choose U.S. areas
Moreover, all 2024-2025 Epic Cross merchandise mechanically include included Epic Protection; this supplies refunds for private occasions reminiscent of job loss, harm, sickness and sure resort closures.
Ski and journey at world-class resorts
Whereas the Epic Cross is the juggernaut, the inexpensive Epic Native Cross is one of the best worth for vacationers who don’t plan to ski over holidays or throughout peak intervals.
This season, the vacation dates that have an effect on the Native Cross are Nov. 29-30, 2024; Dec. 26-31, 2024; Jan. 18, 2025; and Feb. 15-16, 2025. Needless to say a few of the regional passes embody extra restricted dates. For instance, the Northeast Worth Cross can be restricted from Jan. 18-19, 2025 — the Saturday and Sunday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.
Epic Cross
For those who’re craving entry to all of Vail’s resorts, with extra entry to associate resorts, and don’t need to cope with beforehand talked about vacation restrictions, the complete Epic Cross will suit your wants.
Passes for the 2024-2025 season at present price $982 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $501 for youngsters (ages 5 to 12). There are not any full Epic Cross reductions for teenagers.
This Epic Cross will get you entry to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park Metropolis, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Stevens Cross, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, Okemo, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain, Crotched Mountain, Hunter Mountain, Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, Whitetail Resort, Jack Frost, Massive Boulder, Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain, Hidden Valley (Pennsylvania), Afton Alps, Mount Brighton, Wilmot, Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Mad River Mountain, Hidden Valley (Missouri), Snow Creek, Paoli Peaks, Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham. And, pending a closing acquisition, Crans-Montana in Switzerland will probably be added to the checklist.
At associate resorts, the complete Epic Cross will get you entry to seven days at Telluride, seven days at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, limitless entry to 26 European resorts and 5 days in Japan.
Epic Native Cross
For the 2024-2025 season, the Epic Native Cross supplies limitless entry to Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Stevens Cross, Mount Snow, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain, Crotched Mountain, Hunter Mountain, Afton Alps, Mount Brighton, Wilmot, Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Mad River Mountain, Hidden Valley (Missouri), Snow Creek, Paoli Peaks, Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, Whitetail Resort, Jack Frost, Massive Boulder, Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain and Hidden Valley (Pennsylvania).
You’ll additionally get entry (with vacation restrictions) to Park Metropolis, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Stowe.
The Epic Native Cross consists of 10 complete mixed days (with beforehand talked about vacation restrictions) at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb.
Moreover, if snowboarding outdoors of North America is in your plans, you’ll obtain 5 complete days in Japan at Hakuba Valley and Rusutsu Resort, and 5 days in Switzerland at Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis and Crans-Montana (entry topic to acquisition shut).
Briefly, if you happen to can work round just a few restrictions, the present Epic Native Cross pricing is a heck of a deal at $731 for adults, $380 for youngsters ages 5-12 and $591 for teenagers 13-18. To match, a seven-day, restricted Epic Day Cross is at present $648 for adults, so you possibly can ski limitless occasions all through the winter with out paying an excessive amount of more cash.
Sizzling tip: For those who’re trying to buy the Northeast Worth Cross or Ohio Cross and have a toddler who’s 5 or 6 years previous, you should purchase a Tot Cross. This cross is considerably cheaper: It’s lower than $50 (pricing relies on once you buy the cross), however you’ll have to name Vail or an area resort to buy it. As we’ve realized from the previous few years, if the consultant isn’t conscious of this explicit cross, you need to ask to talk to another person.
What’s modified with Epic Cross for this yr
For those who had an Epic Cross final yr, you’ll be pleased to know that choices are nearly similar regardless of the value improve of roughly 8%.
There aren’t many adjustments, however you’ll now see the Cell Cross choice at extra mountains, reminiscent of Whistler Blackcomb, and enhancements to redeeming your Buddy Tickets. The principle change is that Crans-Montana is slated to affix, pending acquisition approval.
Epic launched a brand new app to exchange the EpicMix app. With the brand new app, your telephone will function your carry ticket at most resorts.
There will even be just a few new carry upgrades, with tasks together with Whistler Blackcomb, Hunter Mountain, Afton Alps, Perisher and Andermatt-Sedrun.
Backside line
For years, probably the most cost-effective technique to ski at main mountains has been with a cross. However now, with single-day carry tickets knocking on the door of $300 per day, it’s important to plan forward and get an Epic Cross of some type to keep away from paying these extremely excessive charges.
Though the season just isn’t but over, my household will doubtless get in at the least 22 ski days this yr. Primarily based on the value we paid final yr, that comes out to only $30 per day, and that features six days in Vail and Breckenridge. This can be a large financial savings in comparison with the day charges at most mountains all through the U.S — even the impartial resorts not on Epic.
On high of these extra accessible costs to get you on the carry, if you happen to plan forward, you can even doubtlessly use your lodge factors to remain close to (and even on) the mountain to maintain your out-of-pocket ski costs as little as doable.
Associated studying:
- Information to visiting Vail
- 7 errors to keep away from when planning a ski journey
- Greatest bank cards for ski cross purchases
- Find out how to plan a ski journey utilizing factors and miles
- A powder hound within the making: 4 ideas for taking your first ski journey as an grownup
- From choosing the proper mountain to renting winter garments: How I’m prepping for my first ski journey