Epic and Ikon pass preliminary results...

Park City is unique in that it plays host to both the Epic pass (Park City Mountain) and the Ikon pass (Deer Valley) and the net result is that both products are bringing much more people to town.

The bad news are more crowded roads, filled parking lots, greater slope traffic and, in some places, longer lift lines.

The resulting business question is, which businesses are really benefiting? Lodging and eating places probably, perhaps equipment rentals? But how good a clientele does it bring and does it help ski school and other ski resorts services?

Early February, I skied Jackson Hole and was stunned by the mobs I saw at that rather isolated place. I asked pass-checkers and they told me that a “majority” of users were Ikon pass holders. 

Officially, Jackson Hole says that 14 percent of their skier-days so far this season are attributed to the Ikon pass. A recent press article quotes a local saying "I haven't seen Jackson this busy in 30-plus years of skiing this mountain, there's no doubt the Ikon Pass is part of that."

Jackson Hole looks to have a high visitation this year with about 700,000 skier days. Based on current trends, the same article claims that 100,000 of them are traced to the Ikon Pass, while only 300,000 is from locals.

In my opinion, these multi-area passes may well increase North America's skier days, benefit local businesses, but aside from providing early cash-flow to the participating resorts, I see little benefits to them, particularly in view of the extra wear and tear placed on their infrastructure.

So, for both the Epic and the Ikon passes, the jury is still out and one may wonder if the diminished quality of the visitor experience will be offset by enough economic benefits to make it worthwhile...