 Poster: A snowHead
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Distracting myself from the heatwave this weekend by considering options for this coming winter...!
I'm not necessarily looking to be skiing in the US or Canada this winter, but if I'm right it seems the Epic Pass could be a good deal, even if not using their main resorts.
The pass is $859, which is £724 with the current (poor!) exchange rate.
I'm interested in these passes (has to be consecutive days) which are included in the Epic Pass:
7 days Three Valleys (I'll need this pass anyway, via Epic Pass or not)
5 days Verbier (happy for an excuse to ski there again!) - has to be redeemed in conjunction with booking accommodation, but there are some good value options
Andermatt unlimited access (never been, but really want to try it)
5 days Hakuba Valley Japan (been meaning to go there, good excuse to get it sorted)
5 days Rusutsu Japan (could definitely shoehorn it into a trip, even if not using all the days)
Excluding Andermatt, there's approx. just over £1000 of value assuming I can make it back to Japan this winter. Add considerably more value if I ski more than a few days in Andermatt.
Plus I'll have the additional option to ski various resorts in the US with unlimited access and Canada (7 days access), effectively for free, if I can make it work.
Is anyone here a previous or regular buyer of this pass?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm a semi-regular buyer. I've never previously used it outside North America, but this year I plan also to use it in Madonna, Italy.
Prices rise frequently as the year progresse and the best deal has already passed, so check your dates carefully if you plan to buy.
There are a few UK agents, too, which may offer better prices depending on exchange rates, and which may also offer better customer service. For 2021, the season that never happened, I bought mine from American Ski Classics, who arranged a group refund for all their clients long before most buyers were refunded when, inevitably, the claims system became overwhelmed. Another year a missing pass (lost in post) was sorted out extremely quickly by ASC when I couldn't get through to Epic directly.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've bought them before but then I have friends in Tahoe and have done time around Colorado too. Last winter did 2 weeks across Whister, KH and Fernie.
I think now Andermatt is on you can probably just about make it work for Europe only ( don't know if they've actually closed on the Andermatt deal yet. Also usable in Brenta Dollies still I think but it's far better value if you're going to be doing a 2 week swing in US or Canada ( except Utah where it sucks donkey balls compared to Ikon)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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How many days do you plan to ski and how much traveling do you typically do?
I don't know of too many people who can pull off a trip to Japan AND a trip to the US in the same season, while still putting in enough number of days in Europe to take advantage of what the pass offers.
I'm a "regular" buyer of the pass. But that's because I live in the US. And even for me, I can only manage 2 trips, 1 to Colorado and 1 to either Tahoe or a repeat of Colorado. The year when I did Japan, I did manage 1 trip to Colorado and 1 to Tahoe plus 1 to Whistler. But that was the year when I was unemployed from November to May. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I have bought it a few times and it's worked well for me. Used it 1st time in Europe (3v) last season, very easy to use. Currently researching super ski card for next season.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There is also a week in the Dolomites, and 3 days in Alberg.
https://www.epicpass.com/region/europe.aspx
We already have the 22/23 Magicpass, but if the Andermatt deal goes through, will definitely get it for 23/24 as it is worth it for Europe alone to me.
(Andermatt is one of the closest resorts, about 5:30 drive from Lux, and have 2 kids and other family & friends in BC)
Though I read somewhere, probably in Snowheads, that Tignes? was considering lowering season pass price as a replacement for owner discount, so hopefully the US model will finally make it to Europe. Our 93/94 Tignes, VdI season passes were Ffr 4,620 ie eur 705, so can’t wait to buy the Epic pass
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| abc wrote: |
I don't know of too many people who can pull off a trip to Japan AND a trip to the US in the same season, while still putting in enough number of days in Europe to take advantage of what the pass offers.
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Yes you're probably right, unlikely I would do both in one season!
The value is probably marginal (and restrictive) if not visiting the US, but would make much more sense if I end up doing a US trip instead of Japan this winter, plus potentially a few weeks in Europe.
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Andermatt deal has been finalised, so included in the 22/23 epic pass
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FAQ
