Another shot was fired in the ongoing ski area pass wars with the Friday announcement that Ikon Pass has added Arapahoe Basin Ski Area—which only a few months ago split from Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass—for the 2019/2020 season.
Ikon Pass holders now have access to 40 global destinations, including six in Colorado.
A-Basin is located just 68 miles from Denver and boasts the longest season in Colorado, many seasons running through the 4th of July.
Affectionately known as “The Legend,” A-Basin sits on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains and offers a high-alpine, big-mountain experience, paired with a laid-back atmosphere. Its 1,428 acres of iconic terrain includes the East Wall and Montezuma Bowl, plus The Beavers and The Steep Gullies, some of North America’s newest terrain. The Beach, a stretch of prime real estate near the lower-mountain chairlifts, transforms into a Colorado après tradition.
Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day access to A-Basin on the Ikon Pass with no blackout dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, with selected blackout dates.
“Arapahoe Basin is a beloved brand among skiers and riders and we are proud that the destination has joined the Ikon Pass community,” said Erik Forsell, CMO of Alterra Mountain Co., which operates Ikon Pass. “We can feel winter around the corner as we offer skiers and riders another iconic reason to hit the slopes in Colorado.”
“Arapahoe Basin is thrilled to partner with the Ikon Pass and join its community of like-minded mountain destinations. A-Basin is a bold, aspirational mountain with a legendary character that invites skiers and riders to find adventure at every turn, an ideal fit for the Ikon Pass,” said Alan Henceroth, COO, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.
The move might come as a surprise based on Henceroth’s comments in February when A-Basin left Epic because it was “feeling a pinch on parking and facility space. Due to these constraints, Arapahoe Basin believes its staff can take better care of its guests by separating from Vail Resorts.”
“We are very proud of how wonderful Arapahoe Basin has become from the unparalleled skiing and riding to the incredible scenery,” Henceroth said at the time. “With diverse ski runs including some of the most intense terrain in North America and a culinary operation that is regularly listed among the top ten in the country, the ski area has developed a very special community that feels like home. In order to continue to build on this spirit and the experience we have created, Arapahoe Basin and Vail Resorts will not be renewing their pass partnership for the 2019/2020 season.”
Photo courtesy Arapahoe Basin
