The American multi-ski-resort owning giants Vail Resorts, which last month snapped up Whistler Blackcomb in Canada for a reported little over $1 billion, has announced its Epic Pass season-long lift ticket is extending its global reach to cover more of the biggest ski areas in Europe.
Epic Pass is Vail’s annual season ticket which gives holders access to ski at any of its dozen ski areas in North America (Including Park City, Heavenly, Vail, Breckenridge, Northstar and others, but not Whistler until winter 17-18) and Australia’s largest resort Perisher for a flat cost of US$809 – currently around £610 (price due to rise on Monday, Sept. 5th, new price from then not yet published).
Now Vail has announced the pass holders can also ski for limited periods at several big European ski regions including with up to two days in each of the 3 Vallees, Espace Killy (Tigns and Val d’Isere) and Paradiski (Les Arcs and la Plagne); up to five days in the Swiss 4 Valleys dominated by Verbier and three days in the newly fully lift inter-linked Arlberg ski area of Lech and St Anton (pictured above) in Austria. The Italian Dolomiti Adamello Brenta region which includes Madonna di Campiglio is also included for three days.
Skiers planning to visit multiple resorts this season will need to do their maths to work out whether splashing out on an Epic Pass is worthwhile, but Vail Resorts are reported be selling more than half a million of them in around 100 countries worldwide each year now.
“This partnership with Vail Resorts gives skiers and snowboarders access to some of the most iconic winter destinations the world has to offer,” said Vincent Lalanne, General Manager of Association Les 3 Vallees. “We couldn’t be more excited to provide this type of value to our dedicated guests who want to experience the best skiing in Europe and the U.S.”