Tahoe Local Pass

Vail is offering the 2012/13 Tahoe Local Pass that allows 7 days per week skiing/riding at Kirkwood, Heavenly, and Northstar for only $420.  This is $80 less than the Epic Local Pass from last season that only included Northstar and Heavenly.  This pass is available starting today, March 12th, 2012.

Vail’s take over of the Tahoe ski scene is certainly still controversial.  Not so much at Northstar and Heavenly (because those locales fit Vail’s style to a T), but at Kirkwood where Vail’s style doesn’t mesh with the energy there whatsoever.

Yet, if you live in South Lake Tahoe, this pass is pretty tempting.  $420 to be able to ski both Heavenly and Kirkwood is solid.

Vail political banter for ya:

“Each of our Tahoe resorts offers a different type of skiing and riding and now skiers and snowboarders can have it all on one pass from Heavenly’s breathtaking scenery and Northstar’s award-winning terrain parks to Kirkwood’s high alpine steep terrain.  And new for the 12/13 ski season, we are now offering The Tahoe Local Pass, providing skiing seven days a week at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.” – Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts

Tahoe Local Pass Details:

•       New for 2012-2013, the Tahoe Local Pass™ offers skiing and riding seven days a week to Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood resorts for $419. The Tahoe Local Pass includes Saturdays at all three Tahoe resorts with limited holidays restrictions and $50 pass holder tickets available for purchase during blackout dates. Priced $80 less than last year’s comparable Epic Local Pass, the Tahoe Local Pass pays for itself in five days.
•       The Tahoe Value Pass™, available for $379, includes skiing or riding seven days a week at Heavenly and skiing or riding at Northstar and Kirkwood on Sunday-Friday, with all Saturdays blacked out. Holiday restrictions apply, but pass holders can purchase a $50 ticket to any of the three resorts on restricted dates. In only four days of skiing or riding, the Tahoe Value Pass pays for itself.
•       A Kirkwood only pass will also be announced at a later date.
•       The Epic Pass™, the best season pass deal in the ski industry, offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Arapahoe Basin for $659. The Epic Pass pays for itself in just seven days on the mountain.
•       The Epic 7-Day™ gives skiers and snowboarders a total of seven unrestricted days of skiing and riding at any one of Vail Resorts’ seven mountain resorts, plus Arapahoe Basin, anytime during the season for a price of $509.

Season Pass Insurance Option: Protect Your Pass Investment in the Event of an Unexpected Event

Season pass Insurance?  Ever heard of this?  Vail is adamant about it:

Vail Resorts encourages its guests to purchase pass insurance. All of its pass products are non-refundable. However, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected events including sickness, injuries and job loss. Pass insurance is $20 for adults and $10 for children (ages 5-12). Coverage applies for all season passes and the Epic 7-Day valid for the 2012-2013 ski and snowboard season.