New ‘Maine Pass’ is latest multi-mountain option; Which is right for you?

Season passes have never been as affordable as they will be heading into the 2021-22 ski season.

There’s a new ski pass on the market to help make your decisions easier (or harder) for the 2020-21 skiing and riding season. 

Boyne sister resorts Sunday River and Sugarloaf have teamed up to offer the new “Maine Pass,” available Sept. 1-Oct. 12. The pass will be available with varying levels of season-long access, as well as Maine Four-Day ticket packs. 

After the 2019-20 skiing and riding season ended with a whimper of immediacy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is, understandably, a certain hesitancy in making plans for the upcoming season. After all, there are no guarantees that coronavirus won’t interrupt another winter campaign, which may lead to plenty of uncertainty when it comes to purchasing a season pass. 

Many resorts have offered refund and credit assurances and have extended deadlines for purchase. 

Here’s a rundown of how some of the region’s most popular season passes are planning for next season:

Maine Pass — Like the New England Pass (which was only on sale until June 15), the Maine Pass comes in different levels of access. The gold pass ($1,399 adults) features unlimited access in addition to Boyne Western ski resort access. The silver pass ($899) has only 12 blackout dates. The bronze pass ($649) is a weekday pass that also includes four friend tickets. The four-day ticket package options include an unlimited four-day for $349, and a limited four-day for $279 (12 blackout dates). College passes ($449 gold, $299 silver) are also available. www.sundayriver.com, www.sugarloaf.com 

Epic Pass — After handing out credits to users who were only able to use their season pass on a limited basis prior to Vail Resorts’ shutdown of all operations mid-March, Epic Pass is offering free insurance for all pass holders during the 2020-21 season. The Epic Coverage will provide a full or prorated refund should the user lose a job, suffer an injury or sickness, or receive a stay-at-home order. The coverage also further protects purchasers in the case of natural disaster or more restrictions due to COVID-19, or other diseases. Epic Pass without restrictions is $979 for the 2020-21 season. The Epic Local, with restrictions, is $729.

New this season is the Northeast Value pass ($599, $449 midweek), good at 16 resorts. The pass provides unlimited, unrestricted access at New Hampshire locations Wildcat, Attitash, Mount Sunapee, and Crotched. There is limited access (holiday-restricted) at Okemo and Mount Snow, and 10 holiday-restricted days at Stowe. 

Reminder: Pass-holders who received credit toward a 2020-21 season pass have until Sept. 7 to apply their balance. www.epicpass.com 

Ikon Pass — In the wake of COVID-19, Ikon introduced “Adventure Assurance,” with which pass holders may elect to defer the purchase price paid for their unused pass to the 2021-22 season. If passes are used and there is an eligible COVID-19-related closure at any North American Ikon Pass destination, Ikon Pass holders will receive a credit toward a 2021-22 Ikon Pass based on the percentage of days closed. Pass holders can decide to take full credit for their unused pass at any point between Sept. 10, 2020 and April 11, 2021. No questions asked. 

The Ikon Pass ($1,049, $949 renewal price) offers unlimited access at 15 destinations across North America. In New England, that includes Sugarbush and Stratton. It also includes up to seven days at other New England locations including Killington-Pico, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon. The Ikon Base Pass ($749, $699 renewal) has blackout dates at Sugarbush, and only provides five blackout dates at the other New England locations. — www.ikonpass.com 

Indy Pass — Entering its second season, the popular Indy Pass has added seven new ski areas to its list of offerings for the 2020-21 season, including Cannon Mountain. The pass ($199, $299 for the Indy+ with no blackouts, both on sale Sept. 1) provides access to more than 50 resorts, allowing users two days at each destination. New England participants include Bolton Valley, Berkshire East, Black Mountain (NH), Magic Mountain, Mt. Abram, Mohawk Mountain, Pats Peak, and Suicide Six. 

Indy Pass is also promising credits if users are able to use their pass fewer than four times. Zero days will receive an 80 percent credit. Three days will receive a 20 percent credit. One day is 60 percent; two days 40 percent. — www.indyskipass.com

Mountain Collective — For only $469 ($99 children 12 and under), Mountain Collective users receive two days each at 23 different locations. In New England, this includes only Sugarbush and Sugarloaf. But the Mountain Collective can also be used at such premier destinations as Chamonix, Aspen Snowmass, Grand Targhee, Squaw Valley, and Jackson Hole. There are no blackout dates, and users can also choose a bonus third day at the resort of his or her choice (while supplies last). — mountaincollective.com

White Mountain Super Pass —Valid every day of the 2020-21 season, this pass offers unlimited skiing at New Hampshire resorts Bretton Woods, Cannon, Cranmore, and Waterville Valley ($1,159 adults, $709 teens, $609 children ages 6-12). Prices increase to $1,259, $809, and $709, respectively, if purchased after Nov. 30.  www.brettonwoods.com, www.cranmore.com, www.waterville.com, www.cannonmtn.com

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