Industry News
U.S. Ski and Snowboard athletes rely on donations and fundraising to support their training and competitions. The Gold Pass program is the most impactful way a person can contribute to helping these athletes fulfill their dreams. The program is made possible through a partnership with the National Ski Areas Association and is the U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s most significant annual fundraiser. The pass is unrestricted with no blackout dates and grants access to over 200 resorts throughout the U.S., including big names like Park City Mountain, Aspen, Telluride, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Powder Mountain. The Gold Pass allows holders to stay up to 50 days at each participating resort per season. The pass is fully transferable and provides a sustainable source of funding for U.S. athletes.
There are only 520 Gold Passes available each year, and they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Passholders receive many perks, like a VIP tour of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s Center of Excellence training facility at Park City, Utah. Passholders gain access to more than 200 ski resorts throughout the United States. A great feature of the pass is that members can fully transfer or loan it to friends, family, co-workers, and staff. The pass is completely unrestricted and comes with no blackout dates, offering unparalleled flexibility.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation is the non-profit fundraising arm of U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Incorporated in 1964, the Foundation raises money to support year-round athlete training, development, competition, and educational needs. Donations to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Gold Pass Program was established in 1973 by David Arnold and generates approximately $6.6 million annually. The program is essential to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team because it does not receive government funding, which comprises of 240 professional athletes. Currently, the pass costs $20,000 a season, with $19,000 of that being tax-deductible. Purchasers of the pass would also appreciate knowing that more than 85 percent of the funding goes directly to the athletes, giving them confidence in their investment.
The pass sells out each year, and there is a substantial waitlist to join the program, with over 100 people on the list over the past three seasons. However, for anyone who still wants to try to get a pass, there is another possibility. Anyone who joins the U.S. Ski and Snowboarder Insider Program will be automatically entered to win a Gold Pass for the 2025-26 season. The initial cost might sound extremely high, but with the tax deduction, it comes out to just $1,000 a season, which is very competitive with other mega passes on the market. It’s a great way to support the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team’s athletes while also getting laps in at over 200 ski resorts throughout the country.
