Season Pass Chess Game: Reciprocal Programs VS “The Nationals”/What’s the Best Value?

Most in-the-know skiers and snowboarders are familiar with Ikon, Epic, Indy and The Mountain Collective. But what about the Powder Alliance, with its 16 resorts in the U.S., Canada and Japan or the the Freedom Pass, a collection of smaller size resorts in the U.S. plus one in Spain. There are various reciprocal lift ticket programs from which to choose and has anyone ever heard of Mountain Capital Partners? Obviously, what’s “right” for YOU depends on where you live.

You might want to check an analysis from The Skiing Sports Journal if you want help deciphering the options. This web site/podcast goes in-depth analyzing what is happening in the ski industry and is worth a “look-see”. It pairs up different pass programs like a sommelier would pair wine with food.

But, first, a quick tutorial on the Powder Alliance, the Freedom Pass and Mountain Capital Partners.

Powder Alliance: Eaglecrest, Mission Ridge, White Pass, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Timberline, China Peak, Mountain High, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Dodge Ridge, Blacktail, Bogus Basin, Loveland, Silver Mountain, Angel Fire, Castle Mountain, Marmot Basin, Kiroro (Japan)

Freedom Pass: Greek Peak, Black Mountain (NH), Whaleback, McIntyre, Lost Valley, Yawgoo, The Rock Snow Park, Nordic Mountain, Little Switzerland, Mont du Lac, Bogus Basin, Cherry Peak, Eagle Point, Ski Cooper, Sunlight, Red River, Snow Valley, Masella (Spain).

Mountain Capital Partners includes Arizona’s Snowbowl, Utah’s Brian Head and New Mexico resorts Sipapu and PaJaRito plus a few extra businesses.

One recent bit of news is the fact that Utah’s Powder Mountain dropped its “reciprocal mountain pass” in favor of the Indy Pass. This is all about business but, who cares, as long as it benefits savvy skiers and snowboarders as well as the health of ski resorts.

“If a resort is trying to hit a daily average ticket price goal or is experiencing capacity issues, reciprocals are usually the first thing to go,” Indy Pass’s Doug Fish said. And the Indy Pass seemed to have worked out well”. Indeed, Indy is making an impact.