Good friends Belén, Alex, and Ashton enjoy a fun day on the slopes in Keystone last season!

It will be time to hit the slopes before long.  Get a pass and make plans for some great skiing and boarding this season.  Here is the run-down for 2016-2017 season pass information:

Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack
The Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack is FREE for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.  It provides four days of skiing or snowboarding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Breckenridge.  Also included in the Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack is a free first-time lesson and rental.

Hurry! Registration for this program runs through October 9.  Simply bring your child and his/her report card/transcript/school ID or birth certificate to Colorado Ski & Sports located by Park Meadows Retail Resort, and complete the pass application.

For more information about Epic Schoolkids Colorado Pack, visit http://www.snow.com/epic-pass/info/EpicKids_colorado.

Epic Pass, Epic Local, and Summit Value Pass
Ski as much as you want, whenever and wherever you want!  The Epic Pass includes unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Wilmot, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, Perisher (2017 season), and Arapahoe Basin with no blackout dates.  The Epic Pass for adults ages 13 and older is $829 and the Epic Pass for children is $429.  These prices are guaranteed through October 9.

In addition to the Epic Pass, there are plenty of other options.  The Epic Local, Summit Value, Keystone/A-Basin, Keystone 4-Pack, Epic 4-Day, and Epic 7-Day passes offer more specific offerings for those who have plans to ski at just one resort, only a few resorts, or for just a few days.  These passes range in price from $200 to $630 for adults and $200 to $329 for children.  Some passes have a teen price option, too.   Prices may increase after October 9, so shop early for best deals. Visit www.snow.com to view all pass options available for Vail Resorts’ mountains.

Colorado Ski Country USA Fifth and Sixth Grade Passports
Fifth graders can ski or snowboard 60 days free across 20 resorts with the Fifth Grade Passport.  Passport holders will receive three days at each participating location: Aspen Highlands, Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk,  Cooper (formerly Ski Cooper), Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Eldora, Howelsen Hill, Loveland, Monarch Mountain, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Snowmass, Sunlight, Steamboat, Ski Granby Ranch, Telluride, Winter Park, and Wolf Creek.  Also, fifth graders who have never skied or snowboarded have the opportunity to do so with a free beginner lesson.

Have a sixth grader?  Purchase a Sixth Grade Passport with four days each of skiing or snowboarding at the 20 resorts listed above for only $105 by November 16.   Visit http://www.coloradoski.com/passport to learn more about the Colorado Ski Country USA’s Fifth and Sixth Grade Ski Programs.  Flyers will be distributed at most schools, and registration for this program is completely online.

Colorado Ski Country USA’s Gold Pass
Only 100 Gold Passes are available each year, so it is highly coveted.  Enjoy unlimited access to some of the best mountains in Colorado all season long and with no blackout dates for $3,300.  The pass is transferable so it can be shared among friends, clients, co-workers, family and more.  The pass is valid at 20 resorts across Colorado. Visit http://www.coloradoski.com/gold-pass to learn more about the Gold Pass and to apply online.

Article and photo by Elean Gersack