It’s that time of the year, when sales of the Epic Australia Pass come to a close. If you don’t have one by June 11, then you won’t have one for 2019 as Vail Resorts announce the final date for purchase.
The Aussie snow season is already off to a stellar start and the chairlifts haven’t even started turning. Victorian resorts are calling 30 plus centimetres in the last 36 hours and New South Wales are not far behind with even more to come.
The Epic Australia Pass allows Aussie skiers and snowboarders unlimited unrestricted access to Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham (subject to certain approvals), as well as ten total days of Japanese access across the ten resorts in the Hakuba Valley in Honshu and Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido. Add unlimited access to world-class resorts in Colorado (Breckenridge and Keystone), Utah (Park City), Lake Tahoe (Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood) and more.
But wait, there is always more. Epic Australia Pass holders get ten combined days at Whistler Blackcomb, Vail and Beaver Creek (some peak restrictions apply).
The Epic Australia Pass starts with the 2019 Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham snow season and concludes with the 2019-20 ski and snowboard season in the Northern Hemisphere, which is generally from November 2019 to May 2020.
Epic Australia Pass holders can also protect their plans from unforeseen circumstances by purchasing Pass Refund Protection at a new low price of only AU$25, AU$15 for Students and AU$20 for Seniors.
Australian skiers and snowboarders who do not want to navigate holiday restrictions in the U.S. and Canada or who want more than 10 days combined at Whistler Blackcomb, Vail and Beaver Creek, can upgrade to the Epic Australia Plus Pass for unlimited, unrestricted access to the Best of U.S. and Canada during the 2019-20 ski season.
Perisher upgrades
In time for the 2019 season, pass holders can look forward to AU$4.2 million of capital investments into Perisher, including the new Leichhardt Quad Chairlift and a significant snowmaking project from the bottom of the Happy Valley T-Bar through the load of the new quad chairlift.
This new chairlift will increase lift capacity by 75% in one of Perisher’s most popular areas and will access fantastic beginner, intermediate and advanced runs as well as the famous Leichhardt Terrain Park. The new snowmaking project will link Happy Valley to the base of this new chairlift and will ensure that terrain in this part of the resort can be opened earlier, providing great conditions all winter.
Opening weekend events
Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham open for the 2019 snow season on 8 June, 2019. Opening weekend events include Perisher’s Peak Music Festival, now in its eleventh year, which will get the party started with more than 30 international & domestic acts performing across the entire weekend. The Rail Rampage at Perisher’s Terrain Park will have an Opening Weekend progression session on Sunday 9 June, open to skiers and snowboarders, ages 6+.
Falls Creek will celebrate the opening of The Ski & Boot Co, located within Base One, allowing guests to take advantage of their full boot fitting service and expertise on the latest range of skis and ski boots.
Hotham kicks off another memorable season with a range of events and activities from fireworks and live music, to a new restaurant opening at Jack Frost.
Existing pass holders
In addition to the season pass options currently on sale, existing 2018-19 Epic Pass holders will now have access to Falls Creek and is expected to include unlimited, unrestricted access to Hotham in the 2019 season.
Vail Resorts will continue to honor 2019 season pass products for Falls Creek and Hotham through the duration of the season, with the ability for guests to upgrade to an Epic Australia Pass.
Epic Australia Pass and Epic Pass access to Hotham is dependent on an amendment to the lease, which requires additional governmental approval.
How much
Epic Australia Pass: For AU$909 for Adults, AU$511 for Students (up to year 12) and AU$681 for Seniors (65 years and over).
Check out Epic Australia Pass for all the benefits and details.
