We might be right in the middle of mountain biking season, but it’s already time to start preparing for the upcoming ski season.
If you’re planning to purchase a pass this winter, you have one more month to take advantage of the lowest available prices.
Monday, Sept. 2 is the final day to buy your pass of choice—including the Epic Pass, Military Epic Pass, the Whistler Blackcomb Unlimited Pass, EDGE Cards and more—before prices are set to rise.
So which pass is the best option for Whistler locals? “It depends what you’re looking for,” says Marc Riddell, communications director for Whistler Blackcomb.
If you’re spending the vast majority of your winter in Whistler and hope to spend as much of your free time on the slopes as possible—while taking advantage of retail and food and beverage discounts—the Whistler Blackcomb Unlimited pass is the way to go. That pass, offered at CAD$1,349 for the next month (CAD$809 for teens aged 13-18 and CAD$469 for children seven to 12) also offers passholders 50 per cent off winter tickets at other Vail Resorts-owned hills.
For more casual skiers expecting to ski around seven to 10 days this winter, Riddell recommends a five- or 10-day EDGE Card. Vail Resorts continues to offer the two-, five-, and 10-day passes—a leftover remnant of Whistler Blackcomb’s offerings prior to Vail’s acquisition—which provide “deeply discounted days at Whistler Blackcomb to residents of Canada and Washington State,” Vail Resorts explained in a release.
Five- and 10-day EDGE Card holders can also use a portion of their days at Stevens Pass or any other owned and operated Vail Resorts’ mountain.
A lower price tag isn’t the only benefit of committing to your season’s pass before Sept. 2: Guests who purchase passes now can still take advantage of summer benefits, “including free scenic access at Whistler Blackcomb and Stevens Pass with eligible 2019-20 winter season passes,” in addition to summer food and beverage discounts, according to the release.
Whistler Blackcomb Unlimited Pass Holders will receive a PEAK 2 PEAK 360 Pass for use this summer, while five- and 10-day EDGE Card holders receive one PEAK 2 PEAK 360 Ticket for use this summer.
However, “the Epic Pass is our signature” product, said RIddell.
Currently offered at USD$939 (around CAD$1,245)—until prices rise next month—the pass offers skiers and riders unlimited, unrestricted access to Whistler Blackcomb, as well as Vail’s U.S. ski destinations like Stevens Pass, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Park City.
Again this winter, Epic Pass holders can access up to seven days of skiing at the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which include Fernie and Kicking Horse, as well as limited access to partner resorts in Japan, France, Switzerland and Italy.
To that end, an Epic Pass would suit skiers or riders “looking to do that B.C. road trip” this winter Riddell added.
The Epic Pass is not to be confused with the Epic Locals Pass—that Vail product offers its holders unlimited and unrestricted access to several of its U.S. resorts, but only offers up to 10 days combined at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb, and is subject to holiday restrictions. Last winter, a few Whistler locals were disappointed to have their pass declined part way through the ski season after mistakenly purchasing this pass.
Also returning to Whistler Blackcomb for a second winter is the Epic SchoolKids pack. That program offers five days of free skiing to Canadian and Washington State children in kindergarten through Grade 5 with no parent purchase required in order to participate. Registration includes one free first-timer ski or snowboard lesson with equipment rental.
The program’s inaugural year was a massive success: Last winter, Whistler Blackcomb saw over 15,000 children taking advantage of the Epic Schoolkids program.
For more information, go to https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/plan-your-trip/lift-access/passes/season-passes/compare-passes.aspx.
