There’s a lot to unpack in that video.
Not mentioned in this thread is the income of the average millennial, which is lower than the average baby boomer.
Multipasses are a great value, IF one can afford the time and money to travel.
Vail just purchased two small, old ski hills in the Poconos, Jack Frost and Big Boulder. These 2 areas cater to two different populations: Families from the metro NYC/Philly area who have 2nd homes and disposable income, and working class people from northeast PA. If the Epic pass becomes the only pass offered to skiers of these 2 hills, then many of the working class people will get priced out. These people largely only ski locally, maybe up to 10 days a season.
As a result of Vail’s ownership. ski industry employees (shop employees, ski hill employees) have seen a decrease in ski benefits along with increased prices. As a ski shop employee, I used to get a pass good for those 2 hills only....now, all the employees at my shop (about a dozen) have to share 2 passes that are only good on weekdays and also have blackout days. If more than 2 employees want to ski together, you’re out of luck. Because the pay is crap, the incentive to work there was the pass....now, that has evaporated.
I teach part time at my local hill, and also work at the ski school desk. It doesn’t take many days of booking lessons to discover that those who regularly get instruction are high wage earners.
Another local hill, Blue Mountain, now charges weekend rates for Thursdays and Fridays. So only Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are weekdays, according to them.
Climate change is a factor that will increase in influence over time, even in the West. Locally, there were several small ski hills that enjoyed steady participation in the 50’s to 80’s......now, many people are surprised to learn they even existed.
If the industry keeps tending towards multI passes with no local pass option, even if we reside in the West, I may revert to Nordic skiing as my on snow sport....