Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and Keystone Resort might have just became each other\u2019s biggest competitors.<\/p>\n
For years, the resort and ski area only 5 miles apart have worked together under an agreement that allows Keystone\u2019s pass holders the opportunity to carve turns on A-Basin\u2019s high-elevation runs.<\/p>\n
However, Arapahoe Basin and Vail Resorts, which owns Keystone Resort, are severing ties for the 2019\u201320 ski season. Considering the proximity of the two ski areas, the dissolved partnership could set up an a new round of competition in Summit County come spring.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Arapahoe Basin announced it will discontinue its pass-partnership program with Vail Resorts next season. A-Basin officials cited \u201ca pinch on parking and facility space\u201d as the reason for the breakup.<\/p>\n
At the base of the ski area, A-Basin\u2019s chief operating officer Alan Henceroth talked about how Arapahoe Basin has invested $40 million in on-mountain upgrades over the last 15 years. He also cited the \u201ctremendous growth\u201d in skier and snowboarder traffic the ski area has seen over the last several years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone who skis and rides here knows that,\u201d Henceroth said of the increasing traffic. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of space out there on the hill \u2026 but we\u2019re really feeling a pinch in other places, parking in particular, and at some of our facilities, restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n
While problems with parking have been frustrating A-Basin\u2019s guests for some time now, the situation hit a boiling point<\/a> earlier this year when A-Basin was warning drivers that cars illegally parked over the white lines on Highway 6 leading up to the ski area were getting towed.<\/p>\n On Monday, Henceroth said parking has gotten so bad that the ski area has to do something about it. He said there\u2019s no room to build more parking lots and a multi-million-dollar parking garage isn\u2019t a viable option right now. Instead, they severed ties with Vail Resorts. Henceroth declined to say exactly how many people are visiting A-Basin\u2019s slopes on Vail Resorts passes but conceded it\u2019s a big number.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think we\u2019re ready to go this on our own and handle this in a different way than we have the last 22 years,\u201d Henceroth explained. \u201cIt\u2019s a tough time in that we\u2019ve had a long, great relationship, but it\u2019s really time for us to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n In the announcement, A-Basin officials also said they are discussing \u201copportunities\u201d with other resorts and resort groups. Many people would like to see some kind of agreement with Loveland Ski Area or have A-Basin join the Ikon Pass offered by Alterra Mountain Company, but there are no new partnerships to announce at this time.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we were to enter into a partnership with another place, we\u2019re months and months away from that,\u201d Henceroth said. \u201cI think it would be before the next ski season, but it won\u2019t be in time for spring pass sales.\u201d<\/p>\n Almost on cue, Vail Resorts followed A-Basin\u2019s Monday announcement by releasing details about its new \u201cKeystone Plus Pass,\u201d which will replace Keystone\u2019s season pass that has been good at A-Basin.<\/p>\n The one currently offered for Keystone and A-Basin has been a popular choice, especially among some locals, who get access to the ski areas for less than $400 a season.<\/p>\n But Vail Resorts\u2019 new Keystone pass is baiting the hook by offering access to Keystone Resort (with some restrictions), unlimited late spring skiing at Breckenridge Ski Resort starting April 1 and five days at Crested Butte with holiday restrictions next season.<\/p>\n Additionally, all of Vail Resorts\u2019 unlimited season pass products will come with 10 buddy tickets next season, up from the six previously offered for the Epic, Epic Local and Summit Value passes this season.<\/p>\n And Vail Resorts is also looking to have Keystone Resort start competing to be the first to open in the U.S., a designation that has often gone to Arapahoe Basin, which typically opens in October and runs lifts into June. At the same time, another Vail Resorts property in Summit County \u2014 Breckenridge Ski Resort \u2014 will look to extend its winter seasons through Memorial Day every year starting this year, which will elongate its season by more than a month.<\/p>\n With earlier early season skiing at Keystone and later late-season runs at Breckenridge, Vail Resorts is pointing to both moves<\/a> and saying that the two Summit resorts are now poised to offer pass holders \u201cone of the longest ski and snowboard seasons in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Seeing Keystone\u2019s efforts to compete with A-Basin for early season skiing, Henceroth acknowledged that A-Basin might have to start going head-to-head with Keystone.<\/p>\n However, he thinks Arapahoe Basin has a lot to offer, from terrain to culinary options, and he hopes that A-Basin will put a dent in Keystone\u2019s pass sales, too.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know a lot of the A-Basin faithful are on Vail Resorts passes, and we hope to convert some of them to our passes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n