Once spring rolls around and the ski season draws to a close, many people may put up their ski gear and not think about it again for months. But before you put away your ski gear for the season, don’t forget to get your ski pass for next season. That’s right, springtime is the best time to buy a ski pass for the next season.
The world of ski passes has changed dramatically over the past decade with the advent of Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass, followed shortly by the Mountain Collective and the Ikon Pass. Recent years has brought the Indy Pass, comprised of non-affiliated ski resorts, most of which are smaller resorts, along with some other smaller ski passes. Even if you’re skiing just a few times per season, a ski pass is a no-brainer.
Spring is the best time of year to buy a ski pass
As spring ski season arrives, you probably start getting emails and seeing social media posts advertising ski passes for next season. Too soon? In our opinion, it’s never too soon to start thinking about and planning for the ski season. And there’s no denying how cost-saving it is to purchase a ski pass in the spring. Even if you predominantly ski at one mountain, and get a ski resort season pass, then spring is your best time to get a pass for the following season.
The biggest incentive is cost. The 2024-25 Epic Pass, for example, opened up at $982 in March. The launch price for the full adult Ikon Pass – no blackout dates – is $1,249. You can renew your pass for $1,149. There are other, more limited pass options too, of course. But these prices are as low as they are going to get. As you wait, incentives start to disappear and prices continue to go up.
The Mountain Collective Pass came out in March 2024 as low as $605. The Mountain Collective isn’t your traditional ski pass, however. Its main perk is that it comes with 2 days of skiing at 25 of the best ski destinations in the world. After that it’s 50 percent off for each additional day.
The Indy Pass, which won’t confirm all the included ski resorts until closer to the season, opened for renewals at $279 for two days of skiing or riding at each resort, plus 25 percent off a third day.
Buy early, and enjoy spring skiing and other perks
Buying a new ski pass as early as possible has a lot of perks beyond just savings. Buying early in the spring at some ski resorts means that you can ski the rest of the season at that resort. In Colorado, Monarch’s Wings Pass, for example, entitles skiers and boarders to slide the rest of this season and all of next season. Snowbasin, in Utah, is also offering skiing for the remainder of the season when skiers and snowboarders purchase a 2023-24 season pass.
The Ikon Pass offers spring skiing at a number of ski resorts when you purchase a new pass (all Ikon passes except Sessions are eligible). Furthermore, you can book any vacation for next season at Ikon Pass Travel and save $100 if you do so by May 3.
So, when is the best time to purchase your ski pass for next season? Spring. You have no time to waste. If spring is the best time to buy a ski pass, then fall is the worst time, as ski passes are typically at their highest prices. In some cases, ski resorts will run special flash sales or holiday sales around holidays like Labor Day, but we don’t recommend waiting until that time.
More reading
- Epic Pass Buyer’s Guide
- Ikon Pass Buyer’s Guide
- Epic vs. Ikon Pass
- Indy Pass Buyer’s Guide
- The Mountain Collective Buyer’s Guide
Photo Header Credit: ©Jordan Curet/Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort
April 23, 2024
