The dog days of summer are here, with heat advisories, scant cool breezes and lots of ice cream to help get through it all.
Want a great way to cool off? Get ready for the ski season, of course.
When I was a girl, August always meant the giant tent ski sales that would pop up all over. I can remember being under a tent on a hot afternoon getting fitted for ski boots, closing my eyes and imagining my first run that coming winter.
This year, perhaps more than any year, it’s a good move to plan ahead in your ski pass purchases. And with many resorts offering special deals, now truly is the time to buy.
Why a season pass or pre-purchase tickets? In recent years this has morphed into the way to buy. Window-price tickets should be your last option, and while planning ahead may feel odd in this heat, passes have evolved to allow you to save money and plan ahead but not have to have those plans cast in stone.
And this year, most (if not all) are offering assurances just in case the season does not go the way we all are hoping.
With some deadlines bearing down, it’s time to make a decision. So dig out your parka and goggles, put them on to get in the mood and make your winter ski season purchase now. (OK, it’s too hot for that. How about a fun ski T-shirt instead?)
Vail Resorts has been the master of the pass for years, with its EPIC Pass (www.Epicpass.com) being a top purchase. This year, they are offering those who held passes last year discounts on this year’s passes, depending on how much they were able (or unable) to use their passes last season.
The discounts, which start at 20% for any past season pass holder who skied five days or more and go up to 80%, are only available through Labor Day, said Jamie Storrs, senior manager of communications for Vail’s Eastern Region. (Those who are due a credit were emailed; reach out to Vail if you’ve not been contacted and feel you should have been).
According to Storrs, Vail is predicting this coming winter to be very much about the drive-to ski and ride day. For that, Vail offers their Northeast Value pass, which, for $599 for adults (and less for kids and seniors), gives you unlimited access to Wildcat, Attitash, Mount Sunapee and Crotched Mountains in New Hampshire, as well as access to Okemo Mountain and Mount Snow in Vermont and Hunter Mountain in New York with some holiday blackout dates. You’re also offered 10 nonholiday visits to Stowe Mountain Resort.
Storrs said the option is strong for a New England skier or rider this winter.
“This year is going to be the year of the drive-up ski trip,” he said.
The Epic Pass itself offers access to more than 40 resorts around the world, should travel become more doable this winter. Some of their passes also come with “buddy passes” and “Ski with a friend” passes; deeply discounted day tickets to share with friends who want to join you.
As for assurances, all the Epic passes come with free “Epic coverage,” which will give you a prorated or free refund should you be kept from your winter fun due to coronavirus closures, job loss and even pregnancy. The goal, Storrs said, is to help skiers and riders have confidence as we all hope for a full winter out there.
“We know this,” he said. “It’s going to get cold. It’s going to snow and we’re going to make a ton of snow. We’re looking forward to winter. In order to get there, we ask for patience.”
He’s sure the need is there. “People are desperate to get out into nature,” he said.
The IndyPass (www.indypass.com) debuted last season and this year comes back stronger, with 50-plus independent resorts teaming up on a pass (11 new this season) that offers you two days of skiing and riding at each resort.
Doug Fish, founder of the IndyPass, said that in a year that may mean sticking closer to home for your ski and ride adventures, this pass is a great choice.
The IndyPass goes on sale Sept. 1, and offers access to some of the nations – and the East’s – most prized independently run resorts. Black Mountain and Pat’s Peak in New Hampshire, Berkshire East and Catamount in Massachusetts, Bolton Valley, Magic Mountain and historic Suicide Six in Vermont all return this season (along with many New York and Connecticut spots).
And good news: Classic Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire joins the IndyPass this year as well.
Your pass gives you two free tickets at each resort (only one per pass holder daily), along with a 25% discount for other tickets should others join you.
“With people sticking close to home, I think we’ll see more drives to skiing,” Fish said. “And there’s always an Indy resort along the way.”
IndyPass is offering assurances too, with their “Get America Skiing Promise,” which offers credits up to 80% for the following season should you ski four days or fewer this season.
With an adult price of $299 for no blackouts and $199 for some, Fish said the IndyPass is a great choice for this season.
They’ve also added another deal: If you hold a season pass to one of their included ski areas (say Pat’s Peak or Cannon), for $129 (or $199 with no blackouts), you get all IndyPass privileges added to your season pass. Children and seniors are considerably less in all pass prices.
It’s hot and winter seems so far away. But ski season planning time is here. With assurances, we’ll all meet up, socially distanced of course, smiling in a powder day lift line.
"time" - Google News
August 13, 2020 at 05:19PM
https://ift.tt/3gWjzWf
It’s August – time to plan for ski season - Boston Herald
"time" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3f5iuuC
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "It’s August – time to plan for ski season - Boston Herald"
Post a Comment