With warmer weather approaching, we leave last year’s ski season behind, but don’t worry as spring is the best time to get ready for next year’s adventures. Season passes are out, gear is on sale, and resorts aren’t booked up yet. Here are three things you should be doing now to prep for ski season 2020 – 21:

1. Buy your season passes 

It’s that time of year – Ikon, Epic, and other season passes are on sale. Even if you only ski a few times a year, a season pass could save you lots of time and money. They also come with great perks like discounts on food, lodging, gear, and tuneups. The hard part is deciding which pass is best for you. Here’s a breakdown of the two major passes:

Epic Pass

The Epic Pass gets your unrestricted access to mountains across the country from the Northeast to the Rockies and more. This season, you’ll see new access to three mountains in Australia, along with 7 days in the Canadian Rockies, 5 days each at Kakuba Valley and Rusutsu in Japan, and access to 26 more European resorts. 

The sooner you buy your pass, the more discounted guest passes you get for family and friends – right now it’s 16! Passholders can also download the EpicMix app where you can see how many vertical feet you’ve skied, check lift line times, and access your professional photos taken on the mountain. 

The Epic Local Pass offers access to almost all of the same mountains, but with restrictions on holidays. There are also regional passes and day passes where you can choose to load up to 7 days on your card. Learn more about the different passes here.

Ikon Pass

The Ikon Pass offers access to over 40 destinations across the United States to South America, Europe, Oceana, and Asia. Want to après in a hot tub in Chile? Or ski with a perfect view of the Matterhorn? The Ikon pass is a great choice for people who want access to these unique locations. 

There are some great deals this spring for the ²⁰⁄₂₁ season. If you had a pass last year, you can renew for $100 less. Stratton has also gone to unlimited access. There is also a new pass this year, the Ikon Session Pass 4‑Day. You can choose to use the days consecutively, or space it out over 30 possible destinations. You can also save $200 each on up to 2 child passes for each adult Ikon Pass or Ikon Base Pass you buy. Check out all the different passes here.

2. Book your resort

Take advantage of early booking offers by planning your ski getaway ahead of time. Park City has deals on hotels including ski-in/ski-out locations with the best possible rates if you book before ⁷⁄₃₁. Heavenly Resort in California has the same deal (before ⁷⁄₃₁). Aspen Snowmass also has local experts available to help you put together the best vacation deals. Lots of resorts have updated their cancellation and rescheduling policies to be much more relaxed, meaning there is less risk in scheduling now if you decide to change your plans. Check your favorite resort to see what type of deals they have going on right now.

3. Grab new winter apparel 

Spring is a great time to search for sales on winter clothing. Check out our online store for discounts on some of the best winter brands. Lots of other brands and stores are having end of season sales right now, like REI, Helly Hansen, and Burton. Not sure what you need? Check out our guide for choosing the right gear from helmets and jackets down to the right socks! Now you’ll be ready as soon as the first flakes start to fall.

Ski the world with Ski Butlers

We can’t wait to get back to the mountain! Since 2004, Ski Butlers has been catering to people who love fresh powder as much as we do at our locations around the world. Check out what customers think of us, and read our Trustpilot reviews too.