European Skiing is far cheaper than skiing in North America, and especially in the United States. The answer actually isn’t so complicated..
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Most skiers don’t know the real reason as to why skiing in Europe is often much cheaper than skiing in the United States for instance a day pass for one of Switzerland’s nicest ski resorts zermat is $96 and the luxury resort in France charmane is just $72 but then if we go
Out to Vil in Colorado a DAT pass here is a whopping $269 and Vil certainly isn’t alone during the holiday season Steamboat Springs Beaver Creek and Deer Valley in Utah were charged an insane $299 for a single day pass while other Resorts were also well into the 200s
Across Colorado and Utah so how exactly did skiing in the United States become so expensive well this trend first began when Savvy businessmen entered the ski industry gradually replacing the true Mountaineers that started the sport the veil Mountain Resort opened in 1962 but the owners of this Resort wanted to
Expand their presence to a much broader scope across much of North America in 1997 the company Veil mountain resorts bought their first three ski resorts Keystone Breen Ridge and Beaver Creek originally this didn’t have much of an impact on the ski industry prices still stayed the same Breen Ridge Keystone and
Beaver Creek were now just under a new management the Empire started forming just two short years later however when Veil mountain resorts started expanding out of Colorado and purchased Northstar Kirkwood and Heavenly three resorts in the Lake Tahoe region although these Resorts were all under the same management their lift ticket prices
Still didn’t begin rapidly increasing until Veil made a big move in 2008 arguably the greatest shift of the ski industry came in 2008 when Veil mountain resorts came out with their legendary epic pass this ski pass was the first of its kind where skiers could purchase one
Pass that gave them lift access to multiple different Resorts this Epic Pass was also a season pass so the skiers and Riders could access these different resorts on any given day that the mountains were open once this Epic Pass came out the daily rates at these Resorts skyrocketed while the Epic Pass
Was priced at what was supposed to be an affordable rate for most families by incentivizing families to buy the Epic Pass over purchasing a single day pass this would hopefully increase the number of skiers and Riders to visit these Resorts they realized that the lift ticket was actually just a small part of
The puzzle veil’s goal was that when people arrive at the airport they’re being picked up in a veil owned shuttle staying at a veil owned Hotel eating at a veil owned restaurant and skiing on rental equipment from a veil owned rental company although customers may think they’re saving money on lift
Tickets by purchasing the Epic pass because they are spending more days on the mountain each winter they are paying for it big time in other areas this season pass model was very attractive to many skiers and Riders so Vale only skyrocketed after the release of this Epic Pass veale continued purchasing
More and more ski resorts s across the United States and even expanded internationally they now offer skiing in France Switzerland Austria Italy Japan and even Australia not all of these resorts are fully owned by Veil but certain epic passes work with most of these ski destinations abroad for the
Most part many of these European destinations have still been rejecting veil’s offer to join the Epic Pass however and although it may seem like a monopoly where Veil mountain resorts is by in practically every ski area in North America another massive competitor has recently emerged Altera Mountain
Company which is based in Denver began their own season pass known as the icon pass in 2018 Altera quickly added a number of resorts to their icon list across North America which included unlimited access to Mammoth Mountain Palisades Tahoe Solitude in Utah Copper Mountain Winter Park and many others
This pass also includes 5 days of skiing at Steamboat aspman snow Mass Deer Valley Big Sky Ulta Jackson Hall and many other Resorts that are even abroad essentially any mediumsized to large resort in North America you could think of is now covered by either the veil owned Epic Pass OR Altera owned icon
Pass with these two companies owning most of the ski areas in North America they’re able to set the price of a lift pass to whatever they want where there’s very little competition to take skiers and Riders away from these mountains but while Veil and Altera have been attempting to expand worldwide many of
The ski resorts Europe have been rejecting their offers of acquisition many of these European Resorts have deepr rooted cultural ties to the area and local ownership that they don’t want to give up when Altera or Veil comes in and buys a resort this typically leads to surrounding infrastructure growing
Including the construction of new hotels restaurants and homes many of these European ski areas don’t have any intentions of expanding into the corporate style that North America has adopted many of these European Resorts have also stated that that they value making decisions for their own favorite
Ski area rather than giving control to a larger Corporation one of the aspects that these European ski owners want to continue to control is how expensive their daily lift passes are as we mentioned in the beginning of this video it typically costs well over $100
Cheaper a day to ski in Europe than it does in North America Europe doesn’t feel the need to pressure their customers into buying a season pass and want to keep their daily rates as affordable as possible the dining options on these European mountains are also much different than the veil and
Altera owned mountains many of these restaurants on the mountain in Europe are family-owned and have been passed down from generation to generation they don’t have the massive overhead that Veil and Altera Mountain restaurants have lodging is typically also much cheaper in Europe than it is in North America for a similar reason there’s
Many hostals and more affordable housing options close to these mountains in Europe than there are in North America specific specifically in the United States many of these ski towns have become some of the most expensive real estate you can purchase in the entire country another reason that often gets
Overlooked as to why European skiing is much cheaper is that many of these European ski areas are built on glaciers that can provide skiing well into the summer months specifically in Austria mountains like Hunter tuck Soden and Pistol and other areas in Austria can usually provide reliable ski well into
The late spring and early summer months with more days available for the ski area to operate the ski areas have much more time to make their revenue and don’t have to make as much in a single day as Resorts that are only open for 3 or 4 months the next reason European ski
Resorts are much cheaper is arguably the most important and that’s that the local European governments actually assist these mountains financially so that they can remain open at an affordable cost the European governments view these ski resorts as valuable for the region because of the economic and social
Benefits that they bring to the country many of these resorts are located in remote or economically challenged regions by building up ski areas this brings in more infrastructure with it including hotels restaurants bars shops and even Transportation avenues like roads and train lines this newly added infrastructure also requires workers
Which is another positive economic benefit for countries when jobs are added to the market these ski destinations also don’t just need workers for the winter as many of these areas are popular destinations year round mountain biking is growing in popularity in Europe and the Alps are often just as beautiful in the warm
Months as they are in the winter European governments are also subsidizing these ski areas because these Outdoor Sports lead to an overall healthier lifestyle for their population Europe is also said to have nearly three times as many skiers as North America has skiing has a much bigger culture in
Europe where the television companies often cover ski racing and jumping events a sport that is isn’t on TV too much in the United States it’s much more common for European children and teens to want to become an Olympic skier one day than it is in the United States if
You’re not afraid of the higher ticket prices or looking to just buy a season pass well there’s still many extremely underrated ski resorts in North America that you probably never heard of here are the top 10 underrated ski resorts in North America that you should check out before they become too popular
48 Comments
You americans stay out of our beautiful alps
Mmhh daily ticket prices seem crazy but 1000/1300$ for season passes are actually very good (unless I missed something). Here in Italy I pay 1000ā¬ for a seasonal pass (Monterosa) which is an average resort
Because in italy we have 1/4 of usa revenue monthly?
I skiied in Mayrhofen this year. About ā¬350 for 6 days if i remember correctly and a good meal is about ā¬20 on the top of the mountain. An alcoholic drink is ā¬5. No tipping. Everyone is nice and european. Not snooty rich types.
The thing is, people are still going in DROVES. People are snatching up multi-million vacation homes in the ski towns and surrounding areas. It's hard to wrap your head around all the money being spent on skiiing in the US these days. All I can figure is the rich got WAY richer during the pandemic.
Hahaha what a lie about your prices and pictures!
Zermatt wow 80$ š
Its not only ski ticket!
Clown?
Some all cost same and switzerland even more!
At the moment, we are looking at places to stay next year and the house prices in Austria are 5000-7000ā¬. It could be cheaper in Switzerland š
I don't know if the footage in this video shows the current situation in Vail.
But those slow 2- or 4-seaters certainly look VERY dated to my European eyes. (Not to mention that they all seem to miss foot rests). I even spotted some cross bar lifts which have long been phased out in the top European ressorts such as Zermatt.
And this is crucial: faster lifts mean you can get much more action out of a day pass.
You're paying for the price of FREEDOM everybody knows that š¦
We had a Native Americans friend come over from NY
He was staggered at the severity of Chamonix
We also had blizzards for most of his stay
He never came back
It was 30 years ago and he never mentioned the cost difference
the seasonal skipass in my region cost 500ā¬ full price, but there are a lot of discounts for young or old people, and a daily skipass is 45ā¬ per day in all of my region, friuli in italy, not the best resorts, but they are still valid and beautiful
Subsidies and glaciers then. It makes no sense that free market causes higher prices
How can you argue that it is cheaper to ski buying day passes compared to a season pass? I only have to go 20 or 30 times a year for the price of a season pass to be far lower than a day pass.
Those prices are just crazy. Even in Europe i would not say skiing is cheap at all. Prices went up quite a bit the last years. It is hardly a hobby for the average income family. What i am wondering in the US: They can only ask for these prices because aparently enough people are willing to pay these prices. If no one would go there they would have to lower them.
Thats true. In many places in Europe the local community profits, not big corporations. We always stay ar a private flat in Austria, owned by a very charming old lady that lives in the flat above. This is a million times better than any hotel i can think of.
Greedy American corporations, stay away from Europe!
1 day skipass in saturday for ages under 19 in kitzsteinhorn is 10 dollars!
Skiing is just a traditional "middle class" activity in Europe. It just isn't considered anything special. Why that is, is probably a culture thing first and foremost. Most Europeans get somewhere around at least 5 weeks of payed leave. And spending that time on holiday is generally regarded as a good thing and very much encouraged. The idea is that having a couple of "resets" during the year is beneficial both mentally and physically. So that helps you to perform better the rest of the time, which does makes a lot of sense to be honest. Therefore wintersports holidays come in all shapes and sizes, from cheap organized bus trips, to all out luxury 5 star resort type vacations to make sure there is something available for any budget.
Ooh, ooh – let me guess! Is it unchallenged capitalism combined with a grovelling legislature in their pockets?
Used to want to try the powder bowls in the US, definitely not for the arse-reaming US resorts combine it with. And what's with the oppressive ski-patrol crap?
Except culture, the biggest reason for the difference is not mentioned here. I'm talking about purchasing power. Americans have much higher wages/incomes at the top end, as compared to Europeans. In America, you can find enough people willing to spend thousands of dollars on a trip. Whereas in Europe, they can't get their resorts filled if they priced their tickets the same as their American counterparts.
It's just supply and demand, really.
Iāve gone skiing twice with friends who are very into it / have been skiing since they were kids. I learn a little more every time, but the cost is just way too insane for me. I would really like to learn and actually have fun on the slopes, but after lift tickets, flights, room and board, and gear, itās over $2000 for a weekend. So, guess I just wonāt learn to ski in this life.
Another factor that applies to Switzerland is that during the summer months the mountains are offten used for cattle grazing. This is a very old tradition that is very important in the alps as it acts as a form of field rotation.
This whole discourse is so dumb. Buy a pass in the spring. These headline day pass prices are a f-u price. If you pay it, youāre a sucker. Climate change killed the old business model. Ski areas need more consistent revenues, so now a season pass pays for itself in about 3 days.
If you really think a transatlantic vacation is cheaper, youāre really bad at this. Maybe consider hiring a travel agent instead of listening to Youtubers
Just came back from the alps in France and paid 190ā¬ for the skipass for whole week. was cheap resort though
Please keep in mind also the different buying power between Americans and Europeans.. salaries are not exactly the same š
Iām going glacier skiing in Stubai (Austria) and Paid 209 Dollars for 5 days. That makes 42 Dollars a day.
Why the fuck is skiing so expesive nowdays????? 15 years ago we paid 50ā¬ for a day pass for all 4 of our family members(including gas to get there) and maybe another 15 for food or we just packed sandwiches. Cmon bro only rich people can afford skiing now. Dont be smart and say "buy a year pass" because only rich people can do that. Its just sad
I think what helps is that there are so many resorts within reach in Europe, as most Europeans can reach anywhere in the Alps in a single day of driving. Therefore if you would raise the price drastically in one place, people would simply go to another. Buying all of them is not an option, as most European countries have legislation in place against monopolies.
If you fly across an ocean to ski, you are the reason why our children wont ski anymore at all.
Definitely not just the passes, the accommodation prices have gone way up since the pandemic. There are plenty of places in the US I would like to visit but it is simply not an option for people on an average income. I guess people are paying these prices but I expect it is lots of people doing short expensive trips, which makes things difficult for those who want to do a few months a year.
My parents were not rich, far from it, but when I was a child we were skiing at least 3 weeks every year. Another big saving is that it just takes 2 hours of driving from our place (Lyon, second largest city in France) to most huge ski resorts. Just last weekend, my 20 years son went skiing for the day, for under 100 ā¬ for the bus, the "day pass", the rent of all he needed (ski, sticks, shoes, helmet), insurances, etc. The bus leaves Lyon at 5h30 in the morning and leaves the resort when the night is falling. And of course it can be even cheaper if you have our own equipment.
in Europe we still consider our ticket prices as high
I think this is missing two core reasons Europe is cheaper.
1. Geography. On avarage Europe has much more skiable mountains and there for resports. There are 3950 ski resorts in Europe while only 480 in North America.
2. Skiing is not considered rich persons hobby in Europe. There are high end resorts like Chamonix but lot of these 4k resorts and catering middle and lower incomes.
Given that american trails are often ungroomed, which reduces maintenance, there is much more space in the country for skiing, which reduces competition, i see no reason other than the spirit of the Land Where Nothing is Free, that would explain the higher prices.
Vail ski resort company just bought the lifts in my own town of Crans-Montana Switzerland. I surely hope that the pricing will remain as is š³
Why would it cost so much more for worse slopes ?…
I about to watch the video I'm just shocked it's even possible
Yes cheaper here, but ski resorts or ski towns are old, boring and dirty places. Quality places with modern equipment, bars, shops, everything, they cost just as much and even more.
Australia is 1000 dollars per ticket šš¢š¢š¢
In Australia, ski season, $500 per night š
I'm paying 400ā¬ for a season pass where I can ski in dachstein west, feuerkogl and krippenstein XD
Skiing is fantastic, but I withdrew from it due to corporate greed, dependence on infrastructure and prices. Thank you, I prefer going by bike.
Even skiing turn into a monopoly in the usa thatās incredibly sad
The Usa is simply a scam in every regard
One other factor is that because European ski resorts are typically larger (sometimes much larger), and Europeans get much more vacation, people are far more likely to want to stay longer in a single resort, so there is less need to maximise the revenue from single day passes. This also probably means that Europeans will get more use out of season passes, hence making it reasonable that European season passes are typically a larger multiple of of the price of day passes.
Vail is the Death Star.
The short answer is because capitalism suck. Who would figure
Deer Valley is for rich people and you should always disregard those prices. Combination of Solitude, Brighton, Alta is a better indicator of prices in Utah.
Iām skiing in Andorra for 40$
Big corporations please stay in the USA