Aspen-Snowmass Ski Passes on Sale Monday

 “Our passholders really took advantage of the long season and all the snow last year and got tremendous value from their passes,” said David Perry, Senior Vice President, Aspen Skiing Company. “Our mixture of products allows everyone to find the pass that works best for them. We’re excited for the winter ahead and have some great new on-mountain improvements .”

 

The Premier Pass, which allows unlimited skiing/riding on all four mountains with no blackout dates, and is loaded with more than $800 in added benefits, costs just $1,549 in the Super Early Season. The Premier Chamber Pass for area businesses is just $1,139 in the Super Early Season. The Premier Pass is also available at senior (65-69), youth (13-17), child (7-12) and silver (70+) rates. As always, children six and under ski for free.

 

The Double Flex Pass and Flex Pass cost $1,249 and $849 respectively in the Super Early Season (or $989 for the Double Flex Chamber and $729 for the Flex Chamber). The Double Flex offers two days of skiing/riding each week of the winter season (22 weeks) and the Flex Pass offers one day each week on all four mountains plus the flexibility to add days any time for $52 per day. Direct-to-lift access is available for flex days. Double Flex and Flex Passholders also receive discounts on summer lifts. Weeks begin on Monday and end on Sunday and unused days may not be carried over. Double Flex and Flex Senior passes are also available.

 

The Escape Pass is just $319 and offers pay-as-you-go access with direct-to-lift options to all four Aspen/Snowmass mountains for $52 per day and discounts on summer lift access. New this year, the Escape Pass must be purchased at least seven days in advance of first use. Escape Passes are also available for senior, youth, college, child and silver.

 

This summer saw more than $26 million in capital improvements including the new $7 million Tiehack Express chair on Buttermilk, cutting the ride time from 18 to 7 minutes; a complete $6 million remodel of the Merry-Go-Round on Aspen Highlands; and the first phase of construction on the new $15 million Elk Camp Restaurant that will open for winter 2012-2013 season.

 

The Premier Pass provides unlimited skiing and riding on any of the four mountains during the winter season as well as access on summer lifts at both Snowmass and Aspen Mountain plus discounts on bike haul fees at Snowmass. Other benefits include:

•       Discounts on winter lift tickets for friends and family – four vouchers good any time during the 2011-  2012 winter season, each valid for 50% off a 1-day ticket.

•       Discounts on equipment rentals for passholder or friends and family – four vouchers each valid for 50% off a 1-day premium/demo ski/snowboard rental during the 2011-2012 winter season (not valid 12/17/11 – 1/02/12 and 2/17/12 – 2/26/12).

•       Special pricing on ski/snowboard school Locals Clinics Pass – just $99 (a $75 savings) with no deadline for purchasing.

•       Discounts on ski/snowboard school for passholder or friends and family – four vouchers good any time during the 2011-2012 winter season, each valid for 50% off a 1-day adult group lesson.

•       Special pricing on a full-season transferable parking pass, just $249 (a $50 savings) – park at Two Creeks at Snowmass and Aspen Highlands parking garage all winter long. (Subject to availability. Parking pass does not guarantee a spot.)

•       Rental/retail discounts at all Four-Mountain Sports/D&E Ski & Snowboard Shop locations – 30% off premium/demo ski & snowboard rentals,20% off ski & snowboard tunes and 15% off official Aspen/Snowmass merchandise.

•       Food and beverage coupons.

•       Discounts on lodging – 25% off stay at the Limelight for the 2011-2012 winter season (blackout dates apply, subject to availability, for a Sunday-Thursday stay.) Call the Limelight Lodge at 925-3025 for more information.

 

Offers apply to adult, senior, silver and parent Premier Passes only.

 

A mailer and letter outlining season pass options and rates was sent to 2010-2011 season passholders. Purchasers are also encouraged to find the perfect pass to fit their needs by visiting the Pass Finder at www.aspensnowmass.com beginning in late August.

All Aspen/Snowmass season pass products will go on sale Monday, August 15, 2011. Passes will be on sale at the Aspen Mountain Ticket Office and the Snowmass Gondola Ticket Office, online at www.aspensnowmass.com and by phone at 970-923-1227 or 877-282-7736. Chamber pass vouchers must be purchased in person and a voucher from the appropriate Chamber of Commerce must be presented at time of purchase as proof of eligibility There are three deadlines for individual and Chamber member Premier and Flex pass purchases:

¨       Super Early, which offers the best rates on all season passes, for passes purchased through Sept. 16, 2011. 

¨       Early, for passes purchased through Nov. 11, 2011.

¨       Regular, for passes purchased after Nov. 11, 2011 (see attached pricing grid). 

All season passes are good for early-and late-season openings. Season passes are nontransferable and nonrefundable. Fraudulent use is subject to fine.

 

Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass Locals’ Clinic Pass is available for only $174 (just $99 for Premier Passholders). This pass allows participation in unlimited clinics throughout the season. The cost for each clinic is $67 without the pass.  This pass must be purchased by Nov. 11.  Dates and locations for clinics are available at the Aspen Mountain Ticket Office, the Snowmass Gondola Ticket Office, by calling the Advance Sales & Reservations office at 970-923-1227, or online at www.aspensnowmass.com/localsclinics .  NASTAR Season Passes are also available, valid for unlimited runs on all three NASTAR courses throughout the season, for just $109.

All season passes are printed on rewriteable, reusable RF (radio frequency) cards, will have a thermal printed blue photo instead of a full color photo and will not have a season date so they can easily be reloaded for future seasons. Passes may also be purchased over the phone by calling 970-923-1227.

 

 

 

4-day and 7-day Classic Passes are back.  Classic Passholders can ski or ride for less than $50 per day plus receive discounts on extension days and summer lift access. The Classic Pass cannot be combined with any other pass.

 

Classic Passes are picture passes and all new passes must be purchased in person. Classic Passes will ONLY be available at select sales in Colorado beginning September 2, 2011. Visit www.aspensnowmass.com/classicpass, call the Classic Pass Hotline 800-525-6200 x4475 or ask at any ticket office for sale dates and locations. 2010-2011 Classic Passholders can renew their Classic Pass online or by phone from August 15 – November 13, 2011.

 

Guests can attach a credit card to their season pass and never carry cash on the mountain again. With Resort charge season passes can be used like a credit card at mountain restaurants*, Four Mountain Sports/D&E locations, and Aspen/Snowmass ticket offices. Resort charge plus direct-to-lift and hands-free gate access provides the ultimate hassle-free experience. Sign up at any ticket office.

 

 

Skip the ticket office and go straight to the lift with direct-to-lift access. Flex Pass, Double Flex Pass, Escape Pass and Classic Pass purchasers can sign up for direct-to-lift capability. Go through the lift gate and be automatically charged the appropriate extension/validation fee for the day. To sign up for direct-to-lift access provide credit card information and complete the agreement when purchasing a pass or at any ticket office.

 

Season and Classic passes are nontransferable and nonrefundable for any reason. Pass insurance allows you to recoup the prorated cost of your pass for covered reasons such as illness or serious injury, care for a family member, death, jury duty, employer termination or work relocation that prevent you from using your pass for at least 30 consecutive days during the ski season. The cost is only 6% of your season pass price. More information about season pass insurance is available at any ticket office, online at www.aspensnowmass.com/passinsurance, or by contacting Travel Guard Customer Service at 877-828-6720.

 

Operating dates for the 2011-2012 winter ski season are: Snowmass and Aspen Mountain, Nov. 24, 2011 – April 15, 2012, Aspen Highlands, Dec. 10, 2011 – April 22, 2012 and Buttermilk, Dec. 10, 2011 – April 8, 2012. 

 

~Summit Sojourner

 

Photo Courtesy of Aspen Snowmass and  Matt Power, taken at Big Air Friday’s in Snowmass on Fanny Hill.