It’s called “My Epic Gear”, and it allows skiers and riders to reserve the same boots, skis or snowboard for an entire season at participating Vail Resorts destinations.
Skis and boards are top models from top manufacturers. Boots are fitted with customized insoles and boot fit scanning technology. Everything offers free slopeside pickup and drop off, and there’s a new app to guide you to choose the ideal gear.
The My Epic Gear program launches in the 2023/24 season as a pilot program to Epic Pass holders, at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.
The following season – 2024/25 – Vail Resorts plans to expand the program to Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain, Crested Butte, Heavenly, Northstar, Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow, with further expansions planned for future seasons.
Of course, it all depends on the success of the pilot program next season.
How it Works
Choose a model of ski or snowboard at the beginning of a season, and be guaranteed that model will be available any day of the season, fully tuned.
Try a different model of ski or snowboard any day, such as powder skis, based on availability.
Select from the most popular and latest skis, snowboards and boots.
Choose from name brand, high-quality ski and snowboard boots with customized insoles and boot fitting process. Or, opt out of the boot offer and use your own.
The plan includes free slope side pickup and drop off every day, at every participating mountain resort.
The new My Epic app will manage the entire experience, from gear selection to boot fitting to delivery.
What it Costs
A full season membership for adults will cost $50, plus a $50 per day rental fee.
My Epic Gear also promises to keep your reserved skis or board properly tuned and waxed.
Depending on how often you ski or ride, that’s less than the average daily cost per season for owning gear, including paying airline baggage fees or shipping costs, and waxing and tuning during the season.
And, the $50 daily fee is about half the daily demo price premium equipment just about anywhere in snow country.
By my limited math skills, it sounds like the gear program will pay back in one week of skiing or riding – just like the Epic Pass and/or IKON Pass.
Child pricing will be introduced as part of the full launch of the program for the 2024/2025 season.
Choose Your Gear
At the beginning of the season, members can select a favorite model of ski or snowboard, and that gear will be tuned and available to them every day, at any participating resort, guaranteed.
There are 15 different leading brands and more than 50 of the most popular and latest ski and snowboard models available, including personalized recommendations to help guests determine the right gear for their needs.
Customized boot fittings leverage scanning technology, and members will have access to name brand, high-quality boots with insoles for a customized fit. Members can also opt out of choosing boots, if they prefer to use their own.
In addition to choosing favorite gear for the season, members can sample other brands and models of skis and snowboards for all terrains, weather conditions and skill levels, subject to availability.
My Epic Gear will collect guest feedback throughout the season and will recommend the best option for a guest based upon their experience level, conditions, and the latest equipment choices, as well as reviews from members in the program.
SeniorsSkiing Feedback
We welcome your comments, too. Do you think this is a good deal? Why? Why not?
This is another example of Vail Associates purposely killing long time local businesses
I am skeptical that an App will be able to do as good a job as a human being fitting boots (I have some experience with ski equipment rental shops having managed a rental shop in Frisco, CO during the 1976-77 season)
I am skeptical that Vail will be able to fully staff their new program…..they have enough problems staffing lift ops, cleaning crews, restaurants, etc
Where are they going to store this stuff when it isn’t in use?
Etc
My wife and I gladly own and Schlep our personal ski gear and will continue to do so next season
I’m a little skeptical of the boot fitting technology, but for someone with no issues, why not. I think it is a,great idea for the average casual participant who only participates a few days a year. Vail has probably already hovered up most of the local competition anyway.
I think this is a great idea for someone like me who only takes a few trips out west each season. I’ve always liked to demo skiis and this would give me that chance at a great price. And it basically wouldn’t cost me anything because it generally costs $50 to bring your skiis on an airplane. Plus living in the Midwest I could buy a pair of skiis specifically for Midwest skiing and not have to worry they would not be appropriate for my trips west. And I would probably use my own boots so mo worries there. I think this program is a home run.
This is typical Vail Resorts approach to business. Over Promise and Under Deliver. I seriously doubt it will work due to so many variables. Who would rent ski boots without trying them on first? Everyone’s foot is different, you can’t base a correct boot fitting on a cell phone image.
Worst of all, it takes business away from local businesses who have been in Vail for many, many years. Bruce’s reply above, is correct.
Based on $750 I just paid for a great pair of skis with bindings, I would break even with 15 days of skiing, after which I would be overpaying to ski at a Vail resort. Plus I certainly don’t have to buy skis every year. The convenience likely would be outweighed by standing in line to pick up equipment every day.
I don’t buy the boots part at all. Skis are fungible, but boots are not, especially given the age and condition of senior feet.