Earlier at the moment, Vail Resorts unveiled a brand new profit for the 2025-26 ski season referred to as Epic Buddy Tickets. These tickets present a set low cost of fifty% off window fee elevate tickets for companions of Epic Go holders throughout all 37 North American resorts within the firm’s portfolio, together with main locations like Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, and Park Metropolis, in addition to regional and native areas akin to Stowe, Heavenly, and Hunter. Most season go merchandise are lined by this profit, however Epic Day Go holders are excluded.
The brand new Epic Buddy Ticket system provides a brand new profit not beforehand seen in related merchandise provided by Vail prior to now: buddies who purchase an Epic Buddy Ticket can apply your entire value of that ticket towards buying a 2026-27 Epic Go. Consequently, those that purchase a go for the season following this one can successfully ski or trip without cost for the day(s) they use a Buddy Ticket.
Entitlements differ primarily based on buy date: go holders who purchased earlier than April 14, 2025, obtain 10 Epic Buddy Tickets, whereas later purchasers get 6 tickets. This initiative replaces the older “Buddy” Tickets, which provided much less constant worth. The lesser-value “Ski With a Buddy” tickets carry over for many who bought a go earlier than Could 27 this yr.
All 2025-26 Epic Go merchandise are on sale now on the Epic web site. Costs rise on September 1.
Our Take
Window elevate ticket costs at most Vail-owned mountains have reached ranges that many skiers discover absurd, so halving that value for buddies of Epic Go holders is a welcome change. Whereas even at half worth a day ticket will nonetheless be costly, this transfer makes it way more attainable for individuals who won’t decide to a full season go, and it’s an particularly whole lot if you find yourself shopping for a go for the next yr utilizing the ticket credit score.
This all being stated, it’s arduous to not see this as a strategic response to the droop in Epic Go gross sales over the previous yr. Whereas this technique looks as if it could possibly be efficient to win again new or lapsed clients on paper, the advertising alone gained’t be sufficient; Vail Resorts might want to pair this initiative with seen enhancements in capital funding, upkeep, and total visitor expertise if they need these guests to return yr after yr. If this low cost is supported by tangible enhancements on the mountain, it could possibly be a real turning level. With out that follow-through, it dangers being simply one other short-term promotion.
Contemplating the Epic Go? Try our detailed comparability towards competing Ikon, Mountain Collective, and Indy choices. You can even examine this comparability out in video kind beneath.
