There’s a new way to experience the best skis and snowboards on the market for an entire season without owning them.
Say, what?
Yes, you read that right. It’s all due to Vail Resorts who launched My Epic Gear this week.
According to the press release, it’s a new membership program that provides the best benefits of gear ownership but with more choice, lower cost and no hassle.
My Epic Gear provides its members with the ability to choose the gear they want, for the full season or for the day, from a selection of the most popular and latest ski and snowboard models, and have it delivered to them when and where they want it, guaranteed, with free slopeside pick up and drop off every day.
But wait, there’s always more. My Epic Gear will also offer name brand, high-quality ski and snowboard boots with customised insoles and boot fit scanning technology.
You’ll find it all through the new My Epic app in time for the 2024/2025 season launch. The program will first roll out at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain, Crested Butte, Heavenly, Northstar, Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. Further expansions are expected in future years.
Sounds a long way off, but a limited number of Epic Pass Holders will also be able to pilot the membership at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone during the 2023/24 season.
“Having the right gear is essential to the experience of every skier and rider, however, the traditional model of gear ownership and gear rental has not changed in decades,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts.
“My Epic Gear reimagines gear ownership and gear rental, whether guests want the certainty of their gear for the season or for the day, transforming the quality, service, convenience and cost of one of the most critical parts of the mountain experience.”
How does it work? Members choose a model of ski or snowboard at the beginning of a season, and are guaranteed that model will be available any day of the season, fully tuned.
They can also try a different model of ski or snowboard any day, such as powder skis, based on availability.
My Epic Gear will have 15 different leading brands and more than 50 of the most popular and latest ski and snowboard models available, including personalised recommendations to help guests determine the right gear for their needs.
Members have their gear delivered to where they are staying in resort, as well as slopeside pick up and drop off every day, at every participating mountain resort.
A full season My Epic Gear membership for adults will cost USD$50, which will unlock the benefits of all the premium gear and convenience and enable daily gear reservations for USD$50 per day. Child pricing will be introduced as part of the full launch of the program for the 2024/2025 season.
