Broomfield, Colorado – Will Vail Resorts’ plan to revolutionize the ski/snowboard rental industry be successful?
This ski season marks the official launch of My Epic Gear. It ran as a pilot program last winter, with the test sites being Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone. This winter, the service is being offered at Vail, Breckenridge, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Crested Butte, Heavenly, Northstar, Stowe, Okemo, and Mt. Snow.
“Having the right gear is essential to the experience of every skier and rider, however, the traditional model of gear ownership and gear rental has not changed in decades,” said Kirsten Lynch, CEO of Vail Resorts in a March press release. “My Epic Gear reimagines gear ownership and gear rental, providing more choice, lower cost and no hassle. Travelers no longer have to haul their equipment cross-country; frequent skiers and riders can try the latest gear and get different gear for different conditions; and for kids, their gear grows with them.”
Here’s how the service works: a $50 membership fee per year, plus a fee for each day used, gives you access to a multitude of quality ski and snowboarding gear. Before you arrive, you reserve which gear you want to use for the day. You can either get the gear dropped off to where you’re staying or pick it up at a slopeside spot. When you’re finished for the day, there’s a drop-off spot.
My Epic Gear gives skiers and riders access to sixty 2024-25 models of skiing and snowboarding gear from 13 different brands. John Plack, who’s a spokesperson for Vail, described the benefits of the program to Colorado Public Radio:
“You get a great powder day, you want those powder skis. And if you have a carving day where it hasn’t snowed in a little bit and you want some carving skis.”
For each day used, there’s a $55 USD per day fee for people 13 & older. However this doesn’t include a helmet, which is an additional $10. If you bring your boots, you save $10 per day.
There’s also the matter of convenience. It’s no secret that putting on and carrying ski gear is challenging, especially for novices and children. Having a spot where you can pre-order your gear, grab it, and then be immediately ready to shred.
Jess Feaster, a Colorado woman who’s raising two twins with her husband Jay, described to Colorado Public Radio what appeals to them about My Epic Gear:
“When they’re little, getting them to the mountain is the hardest part of the day. There’s the traffic on I-70, that is a big part of skiing now in Colorado. But then also when you just get to the mountain, particularly a young kid, it’s just really tough when they have their poles, they have their skis, they’re walking in their boots… It’s kind of like camping. Sometimes you second guess the experience as you’re getting ready for it, but then once you’re actually there and doing it, it’s awesome, and it’s totally worth the ruckus.”
My opinion on this is that it’s a service that makes sense for people getting into skiing or riding or going less than ten days during the season. It’s hard to see an avid skier or rider committing to My Epic Gear, but it makes sense for those who are looking for the best way to get down the mountain, which is frequently dependent on the conditions.
Click here to learn more about My Epic Gear.
Image/Video Credits: Vail Resorts
