News from the Ikon Pass
3rd November 2021
Last modified on November 11th, 2021
The Ikon Pass expands further into Europe with the addition of Dolomiti Superski in Italy and Kitzbühel in Austria for Winter 21/22. Time is running out to buy the pass that gives access to 47 ski areas across 9 countries and 5 continents.
The multi resort pass is on sale for just a few more weeks and has gone off sale in early December in previous seasons.
If you are thinking of heading over to North America and want to be able to ski some resorts in Europe as well then now is the time to act.
See here for the full details on the Ikon Pass.
For next winter Dolomiti Superski in Italy and Kitzbühel in the Tirol in Austria join Zermatt in Switzerland on the Ikon Pass.
“The addition of Dolomiti Superski in Italy and Kitzbühel in Austria offers Ikon Pass holders European access to some of the most renowned terrain and quintessential winter experiences in the Alps,” said the Chief Marketing Officer of Alterra Mountain Company, Erik Forsell.
“We are continually looking for opportunities that expand pass holder access to global experiences with special destinations that share the spirit of the Ikon Pass community, and these iconic European destinations do just that.”
We reported on the development earlier on PlanetSKI:
The Dolomites, Italy. Image © PlanetSKI
The Dolomites, Italy. Image © PlanetSKI
The Ikon pass offers up to 21 days in the Alps for the 2021/22 season.
Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day combined access to Dolomiti Superski’s 12 mountains and
seven-day access to Kitzbühel (including Kirchberg and Mittersill) on the Ikon Pass.
There are no blackout dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, also with no blackout dates.
There is no access on the Ikon Session Pass.
The Ikon Pass unlocks adventure with access to 47 iconic winter destinations across the Americas,
Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
It is a collaboration of ski industry leaders including – Alterra Mountain Company, Aspen Skiing Company (USA), Boyne Resorts, POWDR, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (USA), Alta Ski Area (USA), Snowbird (USA), Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (USA), SkiBig3 (Canada), Revelstoke Mountain Resort (Canada), RED Mountain (Canada), Taos Ski Valley (USA), Windham Mountain (USA), Schweitzer (USA), Dolomiti Superski (Italy) , KitzSki (Austria), Zermatt (Switzerland), Thredbo (Australia), Mt Buller (Australia), Niseko United (Japan), Valle Nevado (Chile), and NZ Ski (New Zealand).
Each demonstrates integrity, character and independence that is reflected in their mountains and guests.
Image c/o Ikon Pass
Ikon Pass Stats
Destinations: 47 / Continents: 5 / Countries: 9 / States: 15 / Canadian Provinces: 4 / Total Acres:
393,681* / Trails: 6,229 / Lifts: 1,278 *Does not include CMH stats.
The Ikon Pass is available now at www.ikonpass.com.
This winter Alterra is suggesting some multi-resort road trips in a selection of different ski areas in the USA and Canada.
Here’s one we rather fancy taking in Utah, Wyoming and Montana:
Ikon Pass US road trip
The Ikon Pass is enlisting the help of the UK North America specialists, Ski Independence and Ski Safari, to put the packages together.
We will have reported on the initiative in a separate article on PlanetSKI:
Colorado ski road trip. Image © PlanetSKI
Regular readers will know we love road trips in North America and have done several over the years.
The Ikon Pass is ideal for this type of ski trip.
See below for a flavour of what they can be about, where many of the resorts are on the Ikon Pass:
The road to Revelstoke. Image © PlanetSKI
Riding in Revelstoke. Image © PlanetSKI
Image c/o Alterra Mountain Company
Here at PlanetSKI we asked Alterra and its Ikon Pass to update us on what is new for the coming season, and beyond…
ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY ANNOUNCES $207 MILLION IN TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES AT FOUR MARQUEE DESTINATIONS
Village Development, Base-to-Base Gondola and Tech Advancement Emerge as Priorities
Alterra Mountain Company is investing $207 million in capital improvements for the upcoming year.
There is transformational base area and on-mountain developments at the US resorts of Steamboat, Deer Valley Resort, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Mammoth Mountain.
This year’s $207 million plan includes $111m in significant resort projects, $31m in enterprise technology systems, $65m in resort maintenance and planning.
This year’s capital investments will focus on four major destination developments and a commitment to technology infrastructure and advancement.
Deer Valley Resort, Utah: Snow Park
The Snow Park Lodge and base area will see a complete revision to create a premier base area
experience for guests arriving at Deer Valley.
- Additional accommodations and skier services,
- New contemporary food and beverage and après options,
- An additional ski beach and upgraded mountain transportation network.
Snow Park will feature architecture and design inspired by the mountains, allowing the natural
setting to flow through the new plaza, offering an array of activities and mountain views.
A new expansive ski beach will offer a place for more guests to watch skiers and take in the sunset as they enjoy a quintessential Deer Valley après scene.
A new integrated transportation and mobility hub with multiple access points from new parking
facilities will dramatically improve the current guest arrival and mountain access experience.
Pending local government review and approval. Snow Park is projected to break ground in 2022.
PlanetSKI was in Deer Valley in January 2020 ahead of the pandemic.
Deer Valley, Utah. Image © PlanetSKI
Palisades Tahoe, California: Base-to-Base Gondola
The state-of-the-art and highly anticipated Base-to-Base Gondola (B2B) begun construction last summer.
It will take skiers and riders between the Palisades and Alpine Meadows bases in around 16 minutes, it is currently a seven-mile drive.
The B2B will be one of the most significant new lifts in North America with 8-passenger cabins and the capacity to move 1,400 people per hour between resort base areas.
The B2B will offer access to 6,000 acres of skiing and riding for all skill levels on one smooth ride, with 360-degree iconic views.
The $60MM B2B project includes two main terminals, two mid-stations and additional base area
improvements targeted to enhance the guest experience.
Image c/o Alterra Mountain Company
Mammoth Mountain, California: Main Lodge Redevelopment
The Main Lodge redevelopment multi-year plan will create the “Base Camp to the Eastern Sierra”.
It aims to provide the world’s best ski beach, state-of-the-art services, Adventure Concierge Center, an array of boutique dining and retail, luxury lodging and a variety of residential ownership options.
There’s also club amenities and programming.
This ambitious plan is in the permitting phase and scheduled to begin construction in spring 2023.
Image c/o Alterra Mountain Company
Steamboat, Colorado: Gondola Square Redesign & Pioneer Ridge Terrain Expansion
Steamboat will embark on a three-year $135m base area redevelopment and on-mountain terrain expansion.
It aims to reinvent a premier guest experience to match the destination’s long recognized industry excellence.
Steamboat’s Gondola Square will be transformed into a multi-use, amenity-rich plaza.
It will create an easy-to-navigate destination core, complete with additional dining and après, retail, entertainment and welcoming gathering places for guests to enjoy year-round.
A re-imagined guest arrival experience will eliminate cumbersome stairs and provide direct and easy access to the mountain.
Guests will now be able to fully experience the fun, family atmosphere and be fully immersed in
Steamboat’s western hospitality.
Phase I of the redeveloped plaza is expected to break ground following the destination’s close of the 20/21 winter season.
This phase will bring immediate improvements to the guest arrival and circulation and will clear the way for guest enhancement amenities expected to be completed by the start of the 22/23 winter season.
On-mountain improvements slated for the 21/22 season, (pending additional approvals), include 650 new acres of advanced/expert skiable terrain in Pioneer Ridge.
The new area will also include a world-class teaching area and the first leg of the new Big Blue gondola, providing gondola access to the newly re-developed Bashor teaching area.
Steamboat’s trail map will expand by nearly 20% for a total of 3,620 acres, making Steamboat the second largest ski area in Colorado.
Image © Loryn Kasten c/o Alterra Mountain Company
Enterprise Technology Systems
Alterra Mountain Company will invest $31m to bolster the delivery of personalized experiences,
simplify transaction processes and alleviate wait times.
Priorities include Ikon Pass mobile app enhancements, expansion of mobile food ordering, upgraded destination apps and a new single sign-on that will make it easier for guests to interact with Alterra Mountain Company across all digital touchpoints.
Ikon Pass. Image c/o Alterra.
