Pass....

Pass
By Tyler Graves

As of this week, the Vail Ski Resort has created a season pass that would be considered the “epic” pass. The epic pass can be used at all Vail owned resorts. The pass includes unlimited and unrestricted skiing and snowboarding at all Vail owned resorts such as Beaver Creek, Keystone Breckenridge, Heavenly and Vail itself. The Epic pass will be on sale until November 15, 2008. Vail will have a total of 17,400 acres of ski-able terrain with 128 chairlifts and 722 trails. Ironically, the State has chosen to put in a toll way at the base of Eisenhower Tunnel going both directions, in order to put in an extra lane by the Empire exit. Vail’s pass could be seen more along the lines of losing money rather than gaining. Since the average cost of a lift ticket at Vail costs about 92 bucks for an all day ride, eventually this 92 bucks will start adding up the more times a person goes up the mountain. For instance, if I were to buy a ticket every other day to ski Vail, it would only take me about five lift tickets before I reached the season pass cost. If someone were to just pay the 579 dollars for the epic pass, then don’t you think that you would get more of a bargain rather as time goes on? However, it’s the skiers’ choice on whether they want to get the “epic” pass. Personally, I don’t like any of the ski resorts on that side of the mountain because most of them treat you based on your social status and the way you look. So all I can say is if you like the big rich and fancy resorts then go buy yourself the Vail Epic Pass for the 08-09 ski and snowboard season.