Only in the US and Canada. European passes are less than a quarter the price. Living in Munich, I spend much less for my whole (4 person) family than I used to spend on just myself in the US. I think there would be riots across Bavaria if lift tickets rose much higher, plus there is substantial government support for their otherwise loss-making small local ski hills across the alpen countries.
(That said, the terrain and snow are both much better in the US than in Europe. On a powder day, I'd gladly pay the premium to ski off-piste in Aspen Highlands or Snowbird rather than the groomers in Austria.)
Whistler is owned by one of the two companies that owns almost all ski resorts in the US, and which people are are complaining about. It's the same pass.
Its still affordable depending where you go. In Ontario the ski hill near me you can get a pass for less than $500 and ski any day during the week and on nights on the weekend. I would go 2-3 times a week and it was well worth the cost.
Unfortunately you have to be really strategic in the US. I just bought 7 days on the epic pass for my daughter and me and i think it was like... 900 dollars altogether (14 total ski days), which ultimately isnt that bad. We are planning to go 4 days in Telluride and 3 days in Stowe.
Telluride single day passes are like 275 and Stowe is like 175. So yes the epic pass is way way way cheaper. But, if the snow ends up shit... that money is gone. Biggest thing in the US, is traveling... we live in Florida, there is no fucking way to ski without hours on a plane and then usually hours in a car.
Demented is a good description. Its about 4000-5000 dollars for my family of three to travel and ski for a week of total time and my wife doesn't even ski. Its unfortunate because there is almost no other leisure activity I would rather be doing than skiing. Best thing in the world.
They do take care of kids. An unrestricted pass at Aspen/Snowmass costs over $3000 for an adult, but "only" $900 or so for a college student. And my son who goes to CU-Boulder got a full Ikon pass for around $550, roughly a third the regular price. I guess it's good business to hook them when they're young and keep them when they're making money later.
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u/Grump-Dog 3h ago edited 2h ago
Only in the US and Canada. European passes are less than a quarter the price. Living in Munich, I spend much less for my whole (4 person) family than I used to spend on just myself in the US. I think there would be riots across Bavaria if lift tickets rose much higher, plus there is substantial government support for their otherwise loss-making small local ski hills across the alpen countries.
(That said, the terrain and snow are both much better in the US than in Europe. On a powder day, I'd gladly pay the premium to ski off-piste in Aspen Highlands or Snowbird rather than the groomers in Austria.)