With all the crazy unpredictable changes that happened in the ski industry last year, it seems even harder to make determinations on what is impossible anymore. After the creation of Alterra Mountain Company and the acquisition of even more ski resorts by Vail, some things we thought would never happen have come to fruition. As we look forward to finding the positive benefits of changes made last season, we also find it natural to speculate on things we may still know for certain might just never change. Here are some safe bets on the ski industry we will make for the foreseeable future:
Alta will never allow snowboarders.
One of the few non-snowboarding ski areas left, unless something radical and unexpected happens it seems the controversial policy at Alta might never change. Even a court battle couldn’t help get snowboarders on the slopes, so it may be a better option to keep riding at Snowbird. Alta has stated the no snowboarding policy is a key part of their image and marketing so dreams of riding Baldy on a snowboard will have to wait for now.
Vail will never have reasonable day ticket prices again.
Although the EPIC pass has greatly reduced the cost of buying season passes, day skiers are taking the burden at Vail instead. While a single day ticket may have cost you only $10 in 1979, today’s skiers are paying $180 to ride. With fewer people taking up skiing and riding in 2018 it seems this business model would be doomed to fail, but most skiers will agree they are just waiting to see $200 plus day tickets at Vail and other resorts.
Also Read: Lift Ticket Prices Back In The Day Vs. Today
Housing in Jackson Hole won’t get any easier.
As one of the preeminent places to ski and ride in the world, Jackson Hole has faced a housing crisis well before many other ski towns were hip to the issue. Finding a place to rent, let alone one that is affordable has hurt the workforce in Teton County tremendously. However, with rising visitor rates and even more demand for vacation rentals, it seems that affordable housing for skiers and riders may get even more limited in the coming decades.
Also Read: Jackson Hole Has The Largest Income Gap In The United States
Yellowstone Club will never go public.
The playground of wealthy elites bordering Big Sky resort will likely remain a place for ‘Private Powder’. With a growing list of famous residents and more housing construction underway, unless you strike it rich you may never get the chance to ski the terrain at Yellowstone Club. At this point it almost seems worth becoming an employee to ride a coveted day at the private mountain, otherwise, you’re probably not going to get in.
Season Pass Prices Will Get More Expensive
While the detractors of multi-resort season passes will decry the growing length of their home hill’s growing lift lines, proponents of options like The Ikon Pass and Epic Pass will argue that season passes have never been cheaper. In some cases, season pass prices have been cut in half as the ski industry consolidation trend continues to exploit a travel obsessed market. That trend will continue for the foreseeable future.