Vail Highlights Sharing Slopes With Epic Friend Tickets

Snow is falling, and ski resorts are opening! In North America, Keystone Resort in Colorado celebrated being the first ski resort on the continent to welcome back skiers and riders.

• Friends save this season and next with new Epic Friend Tickets, redeemable all season long because you can’t put a timeline on friendship
• Ski season is here! Keystone Resort in Colorado marks the first ski resort to open in North America; Hurry, Epic Pass prices go up after 16 November
• Exclusive Epic Friend offers, on-mountain après and surprise mountain moments waiting to be shared at iconic resorts like Whistler Blackcomb, Park City, Vail, Breckenridge and more

More world-class ski resorts are preparing to open the slopes before December including Gemsstock at Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis (15 November) and Crans-Montana Mountain Resort (29 November) in Switzerland. North America’s largest ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb, plans to open 21 November. Epic Pass prices are set to increase after 16 November, so now is the time to buy a Pass for the 2025/26 winter season and take advantage of a new benefit designed to celebrate the social side of skiing, Epic Friend Tickets. Give the gift of 50% off lift tickets this winter across Vail Resorts’ 37 North American resorts, redeemable all season long, plus savings toward a Pass next winter.    

Start Planning the Perfect Trip with Friends
Take the back-and-forth out of the group chat and get serious about planning the ultimate slope-side reunion. Unwrap the season’s most exciting news and events to share with your best travel mates:

• Pass Holders and their mates can celebrate winter together with exclusive Epic Friend offers, like buy one, get one drink deals at select resort events this season. More details to be announced.   

• All about après-ski? Hop across the pond and take your time on the self-guided Après Route at Whistler Blackcomb, following pre-planned paths so no one in the group gets left behind. Plan a trip to Colorado and Après All Day at Vail Mountain. Vail’s après scene turns up the volume this season, with headliners worth the trip including Sofi Tukker on 13 December and more exciting main-stage acts announced soon. The mountain itself becomes a stage with spontaneous, pop-up live music experiences throughout the season above 10,000 feet.

• Inspired by the Winter Olympics? Send it like the pros and explore the Gold Medal Route at Whistler Blackcomb – an intermediate-to-advanced trail tracing the legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.It’sone of seven Wonder Routes - a self-guided network of trails, way-points and stops designed to help guests discover the wonders of both mountains. Even better, book the Ski With An Olympian program and receive top-tier tips and stories along the way.

• Celebrate winter traditions like Breckenridge’s Ullr Fest, returning for its 62nd year on 18 December. The three-day celebration honours Ullr, the Norse god of snow, with the world’s largest shot ski and a lively festival atmosphere. Winter Pride returns to Park City on 28 February for a fun day celebrating inclusivity both on and off the slopes. This season also marks milestone mountain anniversaries including Whistler Mountain’s 60th, Heavenly’s 70thand Okemo’s 70th. Expect birthday parties and nostalgic mountain moments to honour decades of skiing and riding coast-to-coast.

• Learn new skills together in a group lesson and challenge one another to a friendly competition. With new, connected Ski & Ride School launching across Vail Mountain, Keystone, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge, guests can track their progress in the My Epic app and receive milestones, badges and photos. At Women in Powder events, find new connections and progress skills, whether it’s solo or on a girls’ trip.

• New culinary pairings at Vail Mountain celebrate Epic Friends, from The Two Martini Lunch at The 10th to The Alpine Duet at Two Elk Biergarten. Ski, eat, repeat at Park City with a new Mountain Bites Tour inviting guests to literally eat their way across the mountain at eight unique lodges, including the newly renovated Historic Summit Lodge in partnership with celebrity designer Jasmine Roth. At Beaver Creek, gather around The Alpine Table for a continuation of fine dining collaborations, with a curated meal hosted by a MICHELIN-recognized Colorado restaurant and Beaver Creek’s acclaimed fine dining cabin culinary team.

Pick The Pass That’s Right for You Before 16 November

Skiers and riders have until 16 November to purchase an Epic Pass before prices increase. Epic Passes offer significant pre-season savings compared to lift ticket prices, plus exclusive savings all-season long with Epic Mountain Rewards, and now, new Epic Friend Tickets.

Plan to ski as much as possible? Epic Pass ($1,121 USD adults; $572 USD children) offers unlimited, unrestricted access to 42 mountain resorts including Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, Crans-Montana, Whistler Blackcomb, Vail and Park City, plus access to more than 90 resorts worldwide with partners like Verbier 4 Vallées, Les 3 Vallées, Sölden and more. Epic Passes come with Epic Mountain Rewards, which offer exclusive discounts to save on the rest of trip planning, including 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals, and more, at Vail Resorts destinations across North America.

Plan to ski just a few days? Epic 1–7 Day Passes save up to 65% vs. lift tickets, starting at $50–$106 USD (Epic Friend Tickets not included).

The One Where Friends Save This Winter and Next: 50% Off Lift Tickets All Season Long

New this season, season-long Epic Pass Holders who buy now receive six Epic Friend Tickets, giving friends 50% off lift tickets. Even better: what they pay can be applied as credit toward a 2026/27 Epic Pass.** Plus, with Epic Friend Tickets there is no timeline on friendship –their 50% off lift ticket can be redeemed all winter, perfect for surprise powder days. 

Ski Season is Here! Resort Opening Dates*

Travel with Epic Pass to experience more mountains this winter.

• October 25: Keystone (CO)

• November 7: Breckenridge (CO)

• November 14: Vail Mountain (CO)

• November 15: Gemsstock at Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis (Switzerland)

• November 21: Heavenly (CA), Northstar (CA), Park City Mountain (UT), Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia)

• November 22: Stowe (VT), Okemo (VT), Mount Snow (VT)

• November 26: Beaver Creek (CO), Crested Butte (CO)

• November 29: Crans-Montana (Switzerland)

• December 5: Kirkwood (CA), Stevens Pass (WA)

*All opening dates are subject to change, based on weather and conditions.

**Friends who do not hold a 2025/26 Pass can apply the full cost of a single redeemed Epic Friend Ticket towards eligible 2026/27 Passes including Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, and other regional passes for a limited time. The full list of eligible Passes will be available once 2026/27 Passes are on sale. 2025/26 Pass Holders are not eligible for this promotion.