Ski pass holders will get Coronavirus shut-down credits
HUNTER – Skiers and snowboarders who purchased Ikon passes for the 2019-20 winter season are eligible for credits toward the 2023-24 passes, thanks to a court settlement stemming from the shortened season.
In March 2020, amid the growing pandemic, Ikon resorts and other ski areas closed down, several weeks to a month short of their customary closing dates.
That led to a class action lawsuit, settled earlier this winter in U.S. District Court in Denver. Overall, Ikon’s owners, the Denver-based Alterra Mountain Co. will award $17.5 million in credits to pass holders.
Ikon passes in the Northeast allow access to a number of resorts including Stratton, Killington, and Pico in Vermont as well as Windham in the Catskills. They also cover resorts in Colorado, Utah, and the Sierras as well as several spots in Europe.
The suit was a class action in which a dozen separate actions were consolidated into one case. The California-based Dovel & Luner law firm represented the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs recently received a notification that read “Due to COVID-related closures during the 19/20 season, you or someone in your Ikon Pass My Account has been issued a Covid Class Action Credit that can be used toward the purchase of a 23/24 or 24/25 Ikon Pass. Covid Class Action Credits will expire when the 24/25 Ikon Pass is no longer for sale.’’
Credits will vary depending on how much the pass was used, ranging from $150 to as little as $10.
Ikon is one of two major “multi-mountain passes” that have revived the winter sports industry over the last decade.
Prices range from $439 to $1,159, with the most expensive allowing unlimited skiing at a list of resorts. The lower-priced tickets allow fewer days.
The other major pass is the Epic owned by Vail Resorts, which also owns Hunter Mountain in New York as well as Mount Snow, Okemo and Stowe, Vermont.
According to news reports, skiers with Epic passes also sued, although that case was dismissed since Epic had offered credits as well.
A group of those plaintiffs are still appealing the dismissal, however.
Ikon spokeswoman Kristin Rust said she didn’t know how many New York skiers are affected by the court settlement. Industry sources, though, have said that one of the company’s best markets has been in New York City.
rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU