Industry News
Vail Resorts, Inc. announced yesterday that Epic Pass holders will now receive seven days of skiing or snowboarding with no blackout dates at Les 3 Vallees, France, and Skirama Dolomiti in a long-term alliance beginning with the 2018-19 winter season. The Epic Pass, available for $949, offers skiers and snowboarders unlimited, unrestricted access to 19 mountain resorts, including world-class destinations like Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Breckenridge and Park City, plus additional access to 46 more throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. The Epic Pass is the only multi-resort pass to offer significant access to European resorts. Sunday, Nov. 18 is the last chance to buy the 2018-19 Epic Pass and the entire suite of Epic Season Pass options.
Skiing began in Europe and that storied heritage – along with the incredible terrain and abundant culture – puts Europe on the bucket list of every skier and snowboarder. The Epic Pass was the first multi-resort pass to offer North American and European access and now it offers an even more expansive experience.
“The value of the Epic Pass is giving skiers and snowboarders the flexibility to ski and ride where and when they want,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “Our long-term alliances with Europe’s best ski resorts truly put the Epic Pass in a class of its own.”
“Les 3 Vallees is proud to expand the alliance with the Epic Pass and give skiers and snowboarders access to the largest interconnected ski area in the world,” said Vincent Lalanne, general manager of Les 3 Vallées. “We look forward to welcoming Epic Pass holders to experience the French Alps this season.”
Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest connected ski area, is located in the Tarentaise Valley, in the heart of the French Alps. As implied by its name, the area consists of three valleys: Saint Bon, Les Allues and Les Belleville. The ski area is a network of seven resorts Courchevel, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle. With 155 lifts, 372 miles (600km) of skiing on 332 marked pistes, Les 3 Vallées offers incredible skiing on high altitude terrain. 85% of the runs are above 5,905 feet (1 800 meters) and Les 3 Vallées is home to Val Thorens, Europe’s highest ski resort, at an altitude of 7,545 feet (2 300 meters).
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South of the Alps, nestled amongst some of the most beautiful mountain peaks in the world such as the Brenta Dolomites and Adamello, is some of the best skiing in Italy. Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta is home to 150 lifts and 236 miles (379 km) of ski slopes that make up acclaimed resorts such as Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo in Val Rendena; Folgarida-Marilleva, Peio and Tonale in Val di Sole; Ponte di Legno, Andalo-Fai della Paganella, Monte Bondone and Folgaria-Lavarone. The winter offering is enriched by the high-quality cuisine and the exclusive “Italian style.”
The 2018-19 Epic Pass access also includes restricted access to Paradiski and Tignes-Val d’Isere in France (2 days at each), 4 Vallées in Switzerland (5 days), in addition to Arlberg in Austria (3 days). The Paradiski ski area in France is a true skier’s paradise, covering the domains of La Plagne, Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry, with two glaciers and three summits ranging from 3,937-10,660 feet (1200 – 3250 meters) in altitude. An unforgettable ski resort in France, Val d’Isère offers a huge ski area at the heart of the French Alps. With practically limitless skiing and breath-taking vistas, Val d’Isere and neighboring Tignes have a reputation for excellent terrain including some of the most exhilarating off-piste skiing worldwide. Verbier, part of the 4 Vallees ski area, is the largest resort in the Swiss Alps, is acknowledged as one of the premier “off piste” resorts in the world, and is home to a number of professional freeride competitions. Above and beyond this reputation, Verbier is well-known internationally for its electrifying, cosmopolitan nightlife, and the resort is proud of its legendary apres-ski and its lively clubs. For decades, the Austrian mountain range between Tyrol and Vorarlberg, which is home to Arlberg, has been a highly sought-after metropolis for international ski and snowboard enthusiasts. Arlberg is widely considered the cradle of modern skiing and home to the four world-famous ski resorts St. Anton, Lech, Zürs, Stuben, and St. Christoph.
