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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Ikon adds early access

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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
They’re calling it first tracks, limited days, limited resorts, I for one like it I’ll benefit, just gotta be ahead of the tourists stealing and f in up all the pow , bet a lot of you are pissed tho huh 🤔
https://www.ikonpass.com/en/shop-passes
4 years ago
9 2
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7415 - Karma: 79,475
Where's the bene's for late lift access tho. I wanna be on the lift till the sun goes down damnit. @ikon
4 years ago
20 0
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2563 - Karma: 4,144
I'll be more interested when they release more details. Once per month on designated days doesn't get me that excited yet.
4 years ago
3 0
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guelah_papyrus
Posts: 122 - Karma: 841
Meh I'll take it as long as it's free.
4 years ago
4 0
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9615 - Karma: 71,533
This is basically just an early opening for solitude. Everywhere else in the cottonwoods said fuck off to Ikon when they tried to get them to do that.
4 years ago
4 6
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Jems
Posts: 7722 - Karma: 101,053
please remove the massive fucking ikon add
4 years ago
16 1
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8093 - Karma: 64,459
Jemsplease remove the massive fucking ikon add


Fr I keep clicking on it when I’m tryna see my notifications on mobile
4 years ago
3 0
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weastcoat
Posts: 6503 - Karma: 75,388
WoFlowzFr I keep clicking on it when I’m tryna see my notifications on mobile


I have yet to actually touch that mf and it still pops up every time
4 years ago
4 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
Does anyone actually enjoy their first run? I feel dogshit at skiing until I’ve done like 3k vert at least with some bumps. Like untracked pow is cool, and I’ll get there early sometimes and skin up if it’s great snow but idk, don’t really start loving skiing until an hour or two in and then it’s time to get sendy. Maybe I’m just an old man.
4 years ago
9 1
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hdubs
Posts: 1133 - Karma: 11,690
ericformanDoes anyone actually enjoy their first run? I feel dogshit at skiing until I’ve done like 3k vert at least with some bumps. Like untracked pow is cool, and I’ll get there early sometimes and skin up if it’s great snow but idk, don’t really start loving skiing until an hour or two in and then it’s time to get sendy. Maybe I’m just an old man.

If that makes you old then idk what I am. I've pushed myself way harder than I should've too early in the day too many times. Warm up laps are good for the soul as well
4 years ago
6 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
For real tho too many resorts close too early and that sucks
BiffbarfWhere's the bene's for late lift access tho. I wanna be on the lift till the sun goes down damnit. @ikon

Yes remove that crap ive clicked on it so many times
Jemsplease remove the massive fucking ikon add

You must be patient, soon as page loads I try to click the bell and BAM! Fuckin ikon
weastcoastI have yet to actually touch that mf and it still pops up every time
4 years ago
2 0
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9615 - Karma: 71,533
I have heard from an inside source that this is not going to be everyone with an Ikon pass gets this but instead a select 50 who reserve it on some part of Alterras website for each day at each area.
4 years ago
1 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
Well I think it would be a nightmare anyway, I remember saying in previous threads that if this happened it should be limited and cost more, but we’re getting it for free, it will be available to all ikon pass holders but the # of days ea. resort participates is limited, and maybe they will limit how many times ea. user can, I for one would like a day or two “first tracks” for myself, and a few days here and there for my kids and friends to teach would be nice that’s all I’d want.
id really like to see extended ski times at resorts that’s what would benefit me the most, I need to be able to get kids out without cys being up my ass
BigPurpleSkiSuitI have heard from an inside source that this is not going to be everyone with an Ikon pass gets this but instead a select 50 who reserve it on some part of Alterras website for each day at each area.
4 years ago
3 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10062 - Karma: 76,207
BigPurpleSkiSuit. Everywhere else in the cottonwoods said fuck off to Ikon when they tried to get them to do that.

They only did it for places they own so I think it's safe to say that situation never played out otherwise there would be random other non-alterra ikon resorts across the country.
4 years ago
4 0
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12704 - Karma: 120,015
still aint buying
4 years ago
1 0
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CLQ
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 11,271
9am is way to fucking early to be at the mountain and that’s just when it normally opens. They expect me to want to be there earlier?? Hahaha
4 years ago
7 1
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donotreply
Posts: 256 - Karma: 2,242
Jemsplease remove the massive fucking ikon add

i swear im not even touching the link and it’ll open up now i get that add on every single media platform smh
4 years ago
1 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38066 - Karma: 129,415
I mean like yeah kinda but not really cuz you can get lucky and ski some powdays when its an Ikon blackout (like this season before that Extreme avy hazard week in UT), but I've been skiing snowbird for a few years and its been my go-to from march till closing day later on in the spring/summer and have had some of the best days ever without any crowds cuz all of the Ikon days are used up. Mid winter is fun but really only on the mid weeks if you can manage.

Wasatch bene blackouts are kind of lame though, DV on a sunday is dank as hell

**This post was edited on Apr 30th 2021 at 1:46:23am
4 years ago
2 0
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jakeordie
Posts: 665 - Karma: 3,281
https://fatminmin.com/pages/minminguard.html
4 years ago
0 0
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 34,159
Jemsplease remove the massive fucking ikon add


❤AD Block❤
4 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52607 - Karma: 174,404
Honestly the increased hype for first chair is fucking annoying. Every year it gets worse. I'll still get in eqrly or wait in line for a pow day but it's fucked.

Everyone needs their shitty pic of them for social on the pow day or whatever. Idk, maybe i was oblivious but I never remember the hype being nearly this bad.

If the parks good first chair can fuck off.
4 years ago
3 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
I’m not “yet” fortunate enough to live in a place that experiences that increase, I just wanna ski, ngl, I do like pictures to frame and put on a wall, but I’m never in them I take pictures of the “view” etc, I can remember the experiences I live, but it’s nice to have pictures they cheer me up when I walk by etc..guess when I get a true touring setup , and a crew, I won’t be as excited about first chair etc...pow is hard to come by over here, and for those of us that travel out west, targeting a pow day is a craps shoot, one things for sure, if there’s pow you will never see my camera out, I’ll be waaay to busy shredding, rolling around in it, making snowballs, tomahawking and throwing new tricks. I got a go pro but it’s rarely used, I’d love to film for some people tho
theabortionatorHonestly the increased hype for first chair is fucking annoying. Every year it gets worse. I'll still get in eqrly or wait in line for a pow day but it's fucked.

Everyone needs their shitty pic of them for social on the pow day or whatever. Idk, maybe i was oblivious but I never remember the hype being nearly this bad.

If the parks good first chair can fuck off.
4 years ago
2 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10062 - Karma: 76,207
theabortionatorHonestly the increased hype for first chair is fucking annoying. Every year it gets worse. I'll still get in eqrly or wait in line for a pow day but it's fucked.

Everyone needs their shitty pic of them for social on the pow day or whatever. Idk, maybe i was oblivious but I never remember the hype being nearly this bad.

If the parks good first chair can fuck off.

Yeah agreed and I think we can partially attribute this to the need to be glorified on social media. I can't remember the last time I took a photo on a pow day lol... 2016???- too busy skiing.

For pow days though, I am and always will be a first chair person who shows up to the lot before anyone else. I think it's partially because the first times I ever skied, we had to leave my house at 4am, drive 3 hrs to ski resort, get rentals (lol) and tickets, and be ready for a full day of skiing. It's kind of engrained in me now to be there early..... But having folks trashing up the fresh snow with their side shuffle down the mountain for an hour is gonna be a bit harsh to stomach. Kinda surprised they extended this to the (3-4 day) multi-day ikon passes cuz that will be basically everyone skiing those resorts on vacation.

Then again it might not be so bad cuz the majority of people will probably be staying on greens and blues anyway.


Regardless of all this some things for this upcoming season:
-Make those reservations early cuz those families going on trips will be doing that asap once this first tracks comes out.
-Utilize mountains with uphill access that basically allow you to get first tracks without paying for some bullshit pass.
-Consider skiing non-Alterra owned resorts on pow days. Just one more reason to ski that little known place.
-Go straight to advanced and expert terrain and consider parking locations. Probably already doing this but will be more imperative when fuckers have had an hour before you on the hill.
4 years ago
1 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52607 - Karma: 174,404
HypeBeastYeah agreed and I think we can partially attribute this to the need to be glorified on social media. I can't remember the last time I took a photo on a pow day lol... 2016???- too busy skiing.

For pow days though, I am and always will be a first chair person who shows up to the lot before anyone else. I think it's partially because the first times I ever skied, we had to leave my house at 4am, drive 3 hrs to ski resort, get rentals (lol) and tickets, and be ready for a full day of skiing. It's kind of engrained in me now to be there early..... But having folks trashing up the fresh snow with their side shuffle down the mountain for an hour is gonna be a bit harsh to stomach. Kinda surprised they extended this to the (3-4 day) multi-day ikon passes cuz that will be basically everyone skiing those resorts on vacation.

Then again it might not be so bad cuz the majority of people will probably be staying on greens and blues anyway.


Regardless of all this some things for this upcoming season:
-Make those reservations early cuz those families going on trips will be doing that asap once this first tracks comes out.
-Utilize mountains with uphill access that basically allow you to get first tracks without paying for some bullshit pass.
-Consider skiing non-Alterra owned resorts on pow days. Just one more reason to ski that little known place.
-Go straight to advanced and expert terrain and consider parking locations. Probably already doing this but will be more imperative when fuckers have had an hour before you on the hill.


It sucks for me because where i live and work is Altera now. I also work nights. So I'm usually out till the last second resurfacing the parks so they ride. Whn I drive by on the way ti the shop there's a massive line in both directions.

I get it. But it's a bummer.

Also there's a lot of people waiting that can barely ski sometimes. The hype is greater than the skiing sometimes.

Idk i remeber in NZ years back people would always line uo on weekend even crappy days. A lifty friend was telling me this kid was hyped af that he got 7th chair. I got 7th chair!!!!! Did you have a good run. Well no, but i got 7th chair.

And i see that vibe not just in kids.

Idk. I'm not expecting people to leave snow for those showing up later but the hype is unreal. That's the kind of shit that caused that day in summit where vail had 3 hour lines.

I grabbed a few awesome pow days this year though. Also the day before my birthday there were very few people here, straight sleeper pow day. Hit all the obvious lines that get tracked out right away it was sick. Roommate wanted to hike to some terrain. I was like di whatever but youre an idiot. There's no line and nothing is tracked, fuck hiking to find pow and good terrain when even the features under the lift are deep blower.

Sick day though. Next day in my birthday was big lines but i waited a few times bcause sbow was great.

Idk I'm down to share, I just feel like the hype is greater than the snow sometimes. People want to be first to be first, not because it's going to help them have an awesome day. Even dust on crust days.

Idk. Maybe I'm just not stoked enough.
4 years ago
1 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
Pow days in the front range are overrated as fuck anyway. All about SPRING baby. A basin has been an absolute riot the last week.
4 years ago
1 0
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38066 - Karma: 129,415
Also what does this mean for patrollers and snow safety? Guys and gals gotta be up at 2-3am to run routes so that Daren and Karen can get 1st tracks down a blue? Lmao. Everyone knows the goods aren't firing off until mid day or post-storm.
4 years ago
2 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
This kills me, it’s sooo hard to not pack up and come rn, fuckin responsibilities 😡 and being 1589miles away on the east coast with no snow , aaah. , have fun dudes
ericformanPow days in the front range are overrated as fuck anyway. All about SPRING baby. A basin has been an absolute riot the last week.
4 years ago
3 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
SavageBiffThis kills me, it’s sooo hard to not pack up and come rn, fuckin responsibilities 😡 and being 1589miles away on the east coast with no snow , aaah. , have fun dudes


Ha all good man. It is starting to not freeze at night so they have to close all the steep stuff for wet slides.
4 years ago
2 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
Everything is closed here cause ykno , no elevation and no snow lol I’m fiending for some shred.
ericformanHa all good man. It is starting to not freeze at night so they have to close all the steep stuff for wet slides.
4 years ago
3 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8093 - Karma: 64,459
Vv happy HV isn’t ikon or epic and hopefully will never be
4 years ago
0 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10062 - Karma: 76,207
WoFlowzVv happy HV isn’t ikon or epic and hopefully will never be

Dude HV sucks lol; between safety patrol and ticket prices, it's not that great. Their parks blow as well. I think in terms of people, adding IKON (or epic) won't do that much to its volumes, but rather just allow me to ski there free. I'll usually make a weekday trip once or twice a year, maybe dress up as Santa with beers in a fannie pack, and then ski closing day there just cuz it's close. In terms of market, their next major market outside of Buffalo, Pittsburg, and NE Ohio is central Ohio and that's equidistant from Snowshoe. I think the impact would be minimal on volumes but that's just my opinion lol.

Ngl, HV has potential if they expanded into all their trees (I know some unmarked sections are skiable but there's some real nice spots I wish they would clear out the debris at minimum). They're wayyyyy too safety focused (in the wrong areas)... Same for snowshoe. There's never a ribbon of death outside of New England and out West. If people can ski it. Fuggin let em.

IKON/Epic passes imo are more of a threat to the west because it contrates people at specific resorts versus spreading out if there were no passes. If every resort was on a pass, it would probably alleviate it a bit but you would still have the issue of people simply skiing more. Multi resort passes are great because they make skiing more affordable for all and improves interest in the sport. It sucks for those who have to deal with more traffic or lines but what would you rather have? That or the dying of resorts one by one until skiing is obsolete?

Personally I try to do a combination of IKON and individual resorts. It costs me more but I gain a better experience from the variety. Also lines and what not is all about timing. People can cry but there's ways to avoid it, even if your resort gets fucked with a weekend pow day.
4 years ago
3 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8093 - Karma: 64,459
HypeBeastDude HV sucks lol; between safety patrol and ticket prices, it's not that great. Their parks blow as well. I think in terms of people, adding IKON (or epic) won't do that much to its volumes, but rather just allow me to ski there free. I'll usually make a weekday trip once or twice a year, maybe dress up as Santa with beers in a fannie pack, and then ski closing day there just cuz it's close. In terms of market, their next major market outside of Buffalo, Pittsburg, and NE Ohio is central Ohio and that's equidistant from Snowshoe. I think the impact would be minimal on volumes but that's just my opinion lol.

Ngl, HV has potential if they expanded into all their trees (I know some unmarked sections are skiable but there's some real nice spots I wish they would clear out the debris at minimum). They're wayyyyy too safety focused (in the wrong areas)... Same for snowshoe. There's never a ribbon of death outside of New England and out West. If people can ski it. Fuggin let em.

IKON/Epic passes imo are more of a threat to the west because it contrates people at specific resorts versus spreading out if there were no passes. If every resort was on a pass, it would probably alleviate it a bit but you would still have the issue of people simply skiing more. Multi resort passes are great because they make skiing more affordable for all and improves interest in the sport. It sucks for those who have to deal with more traffic or lines but what would you rather have? That or the dying of resorts one by one until skiing is obsolete?

Personally I try to do a combination of IKON and individual resorts. It costs me more but I gain a better experience from the variety. Also lines and what not is all about timing. People can cry but there's ways to avoid it, even if your resort gets fucked with a weekend pow day.


Oh yeah Ik holiday breaks or weekends place can be hell. Parks have started getting better this year and last. We need a new cat operator. There’s rly nothing around Buffalo that compares terrain or infrastructure wise. HM is all one face and most of the hill is old slow cold lifts but has amazing parks cause of Perks. It’s also mind boggling expensive for the skiing it has. KB and BSC are pretty much a dump except KBs parks the last two years we’re impressive for the young crew and terrible cat operators. HV isn’t perfect and is expensive but their lifts are fast, lodges are nice, parks are decent, openings and closings are usually the same times every season, the trees are decent if you know where to hike to or go to. Yellow jackets suck anywhere but I’ve actually had bigger issues with them at KB and HM. There’s zero crowds if you ski 2-3 weeknights and weekends in the morning or late at night. But yeah there’s tons of potential and HV even owns some of the land behind cindys/eagle so it’d be cool to see that developed also
4 years ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12704 - Karma: 120,015
BiffbarfWhere's the bene's for late lift access tho. I wanna be on the lift till the sun goes down damnit. @ikon


Society if the sun set late in the winter and early in the summer
4 years ago
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