By Evan Johnson
Killington Resort’s parent company, Powdr Corp., has joined forces with other ski industry giants to offer a new pass valid across 23 destinations in nine U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.
The new Ikon Pass is a collaboration of seven ski industry leaders including Powdr, Altera Mountain Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Alta Ski Company, Boyne Resorts, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snowbird.
“Killington Resort is excited to have partnered with Alterra Mountain Company; Copper Mountain and Eldora Mountain Resort, our sister Powdr resorts; and a number of other mountain destinations, on the inaugural Ikon Pass,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. “The Ikon Pass will provide phenomenal cluster access to the best destinations in the Northeast, California, Utah, and the Rocky Mountains and will offer another way for guests to access our resort.”
For the 2018-2019 winter, Killington Resort will continue to offer its season pass but will no longer participate in the M.A.X. Pass, a multi-resort pass that gave skiers and riders access to 44 ski areas across North America.
Pico will not be included in the Ikon pass.
“In creating the Ikon Pass, the focus was on developing mountain clusters with iconic regional and destination resorts with diverse terrain for skiers of all abilities. Pico offers an amazing big mountain skiing/riding experience with small mountain charm, but it does not align with this particular pass product. We look forward to continuing the tradition of Pico Mountain’s community focus through continued partnerships with local schools who participate in the Junior Explorer Program, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports and BROC Community Action,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain.
The pass is an offering of the newly created Altera Mountain Company, a joint venture of KSL Capital Partners and Henry Crown and Company, which together operates 12 destinations in North America, including the world’s largest heli-skiing operation. The company’s headquarters is in Denver, Colo.
The pass has also earned reigning World Cup champion ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin as an investor.
“I grew up skiing on mountains big and small with my family, so when I’m in the mountains, I’m home. They each play an important role in my career and hold a special place in my heart,” said Shiffrin in a prepared statement. “I’ve spent more time training on snow at Ikon Pass destinations than anywhere else in the world, since first skiing the World Cup in 2010. It is a huge honor to be an owner in Alterra Mountain Company and to represent the Ikon Pass.”
Altera’s eastern destinations include Stratton, Killington in Vermont; Tremblant in Quebec, Canada; New Hampshire’s Loon; Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine; and Snowshoe in West Virginia.
Details on the pass, including its cost and availability date, are expected to be released in the coming weeks.