I want to express my disappointment in how Vail Resorts is handling the parent-pass program.
The purpose of the program is to help local Sea-to-Sky families afford passes in order to share their passion for the mountains with their children.
It helps to foster the next generation of skiers and snowboarders that will inevitably be the ones who support and help to grow the industry in the future.
By systematically eliminating the program through disqualifying people who really deserve the support, Vail Resorts is furthering elitism in the sport.
I know so many parents who would buy passes and lessons for their children if the program were available to them.
I grew up in Whistler and I feel like I am constantly being pushed away from my home by affordability [issues]. This program should not only be available to people who have had it in the past, it should not be phased out.
I've had the parent pass for the past three years. This year when I went to purchase my son's ski school program and our passes, I was told that the parent pass was no longer available as the cutoff was in September.
I was unaware of the early cutoff as all the emails concerning it went to the promotions folder of my email, which I never check. I was told to contact pass administration and they would likely be able to sort it out for me. In the past the pass has auto-renewed.
Pass administration informed me that I now no longer qualify for a parent pass and will not qualify in the future. I feel this is unfair. I have had a season pass in Whistler since 1983 (36 years), I have a five-year-old and a one-year-old. I am a chef and avid skier. I grew up ski racing in the Blackcomb ski club. I went to Whistler's high school.
I am not asking for special treatment. I just want to buy a parent pass, a pass that many other people were able to buy.
I am so disappointed.
Stefan Vagelatos // Whistler
