PeakRankings

2 months ago | peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub

Eastern Canada’s Le Massif de Charlevoix will be joining the Ikon Pass for the first time for the 2025-26 season, according to a press release put out by Ikon’s owner Alterra this week. This Quebec ski resort, which directly overlooks the St. Lawrence River, will become the second provincial ski resort to join Ikon following Tremblant. The resort will also join the much smaller Blue Mountain, Ontario in Ikon’s Eastern Canada suite.

2 months ago | peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub

Part 1: The Original Growth of Skiing in AmericaBut before we take a look at what stopped ski resorts from being built in America, we have to cover how their development started in the first place. Skiing in America began as a niche activity introduced by Scandinavian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early adopters practiced the sport in snowy regions like the Northeast and the Sierra Nevada, where rudimentary skiing facilities began to appear.

2 months ago | peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub

That said, media attention alone doesn’t explain the sharp rise in both the number of people affected and the severity of casualties this season. On top of the Red Lodge fatality, the Heavenly chair collision on Comet Express hospitalized five skiers, while the Flying Bear detachment at Attitash incident hospitalized another—far exceeding the injury counts of previous years.

Mar 6, 2025 | peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub

Earlier today, Alterra released the Ikon Pass product suite for the 2025-26 season. Adults can purchase a full Ikon Pass, which comes with unlimited access to 18 resorts and no holiday blackout dates, for $1,329—an increase of 6% from last year. An Ikon Base Pass, which offers unlimited access to 14 resorts with holiday blackouts, goes for $909, an increase of 5% from last year.

Mar 5, 2025 | peakrankings.com | Sam Weintraub

On Tuesday, Vail Resorts announced its suite of Epic Pass products for the 2025-26 winter season. Access will remain similar to last year, meaning Epic’s terms will likely continue to undercut its main competitor, the Ikon Pass, although prices have increased across all levels of passes. The top-of-the-line Epic Pass, which offers unlimited access with no blackouts to all resorts owned by Vail, will start at just $1,051—an increase of 7%, a slightly lower rate hike than last year.