Heads up Ikon Pass holders in Utah, because the landscape at Wasatch ski resorts is about to shake up. Alterra Mountain Company announced changes to the Ikon Pass that is good news for Full Ikon Pass holders, and very bad news for Ikon Base Pass holders.
Snowbasin and Sun Valley Join Ikon
The big news is that Snowbasin (along with Sun Valley, Idaho) are both jumping ship from Vail’s Epic Pass to join Ikon. Sun Valley and Snowbasin are both owned by the same parent company. This means full Ikon passholders will get 7 days unrestricted at both Snowbasin and Sun Valley. The resorts, however WILL NOT be available to Ikon Base or Ikon Session passholders. Instead, only full Ikon or Base Pass Plus holders will be able to ski there.
Ikon Changes Deer Valley and Alta Pass Options
Another change to the Ikon Pass for Utah ski resorts is that Deer Valley and Alta will not be a part of the Ikon Base Pass. Instead, skiers will have to upgrade to the Base Pass Plus at a cost of an additional $200 to get five holiday-restricted days at each mountain. Snowbird, which in the past has been linked with Alta on the Ikon Pass, will now be separate and offer five holiday-restricted days to Base Pass holders.
To make matters more confusing, Snowbird and Alta ARE linked together as a single destination on the Full Ikon Pass, offering seven total days between them with no blackout dates. The other two Ikon resorts in the Wasatch, Solitude and Brighton, are unaffected by these changes.
Ikon Pass Price Increase
Of course, as it is every year, there will be a price increase to purchase an Ikon Pass for the 2022/23 ski season. The Full Ikon Pass will go from $999 to $1,079 ($979 with a renewal discount). The Ikon Base Pass will go from $729 to $769 ($719 with a renewal discount).
What This Means for Utah Ikon Pass Holders
For Utah skiers who purchase a Full Ikon Pass, you will see no changes other than a price increase and the addition of being able to now ski 7 days at Snowbasin. For Ikon Base Pass holders, you will not get to ski at Snowbasin, and will lose the ability to ski Deer Valley and Alta unless you spend an additional $200 to upgrade to the Base Plus Pass. Otherwise, Base Pass holders will only get unlimited days at Solitude, and five days at Brighton and Snowbird with blackout dates.
Seems to me, the Ikon Base Pass is the way to go for local snowboarders. But for local skiers such as myself, I’m pretty bummed about losing Deer Valley and Alta from the Base Pass. So if skiers want to keep those resorts on their itinerary, they might as well buy a Full Ikon Pass. Seeing as how the Base Plus will cost you a total of $969, might as well spend an extra $110 for the full pass and get more ski days and with no holiday blackouts.
Ikon Passes for the 2022/23 ski season go on sale March 10th. So everyone needs to make a decision of what pass to buy right now in order to get early-bird pricing.
For more about Ikon destinations, pricing and restrictions for nest season, go to ikonpass.com/en/shop-passes