Hardly any price hikes in Europe, a different story in North America: To mark the start of the new winter season 2016/17, we have once again taken a closer look at how ski pass prices have developed since last year. Our findings have revealed substantially divergent trends on either side of the Atlantic.
We compared over 280 ski areas across eight nations based on the price of a one-day lift pass for adults visiting in the main season. The results showed that prices have risen once again this year. In the Alps, skiers will have to stump up an average of one euro more for a day pass in the 2016/17 season, though the price hike in North America came in some five times higher.
$90 for a ski pass
The top three price increases this season where all in the USA – Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe (+15.9 percent), Deer Valley (+11.7 percent) and Mammoth Mountain (+10.7 percent). These price hikes represent new record levels in the continued trend of increasing prices in North America over the past few years.
On average, adults on the other side of the Atlantic will have to pay almost $6 more for a day on the mountain this winter. The average price therefore increased to $89 (approximately 84 Euro) in the USA and $92 (approximately 65 Euro) in Canada. The champagne powder which makes skiing in North America so unique certainly comes with a hefty price tag.
Small increases in Europe
The results were slightly more pleasing for anyone planning their ski holiday in central Europe. In this region alone, there were over 50 ski areas that didn’t adjust their prices whatsoever this season. More than half of these were in Switzerland, notably including Adelboden, Saas Fee and Gstaadt. Germany and the Czech Republic also boasted 15 ski areas that kept prices the same as last year, including Oberwiesenthal, Sudelfeld, Klinovec and Cerna Hora.
This year, many ski areas in France only recorded cautious price increases. In Isola 2000, Superdevoluy and Les Sybelles, the price of a ski pass has only increased by 50 cents over last year. 60 lift operators in Austria raised their prices by exactly one euro, including Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, top-ski region Katschberg and the Grossglockner Resort Kals Matrei.
However, around 80 ski areas in Europe made a substantial price hike this year, increasing the price of a one-day lift pass by two euros or more. For instance, one-day pass prices for adults have risen substantially in Italian0 ski areas, a region which recorded the lowest average price increases last year alongside Switzerland. This year, skiers and snowboarders will have to pay more for a day on the slopes in the ski region Via Lattea, in Cortina d’Ampezzo and in Kronplatz.
The most expensive ski areas in each nation compared
| ski areas | price of a one-day lift pass (adults main season) |
|---|---|
| Vail (USA) | 146 US-Dollar |
| Whistler Blackcomb (Canada) | 139 Canadian Dollar |
| St. Moritz and Zermatt (Switzerland) | 79 Swiss Frank |
| Chamonix Mont Blanc (France) | 62 Euro |
| Kronplatz (Italy) | 54 Euro |
| Kitzbühel (Austria) | 53 Euro |
Price increases for the 2016/17 season at a glance
| Price increases in percentage terms | Price increases in currency | average price of a one-day lift pass | average price per kilometres of pistes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 1,13 % (previous year: 0,72) | 0,69 CHF (ca. 0,64 Euro) | 58 CHF (ca. 54 Euro) | 0,91 CHF (ca. 0,84 Euro) |
| Czech Republic | 1,18% (new at comparison) | 10 CZK (ca. 0,37 Euro) | 732 CZK (ca. 27 Euro) | 41,67 CZK (ca. 1,54 Euro) |
| Germany | 2,10 % | 0,74 Euro | 34 Euro | 1,97 Euro |
| France | 2,42 % | 0,92 Euro | 38 Euro | 0,52 Euro |
| Austria | 2,72 % | 1,14 Euro | 43 Euro | 0,96 Euro |
| Italy | 3,22 % | 1,37 Euro | 43 Euro | 0,73 Euro |
| Canada | 6,04% | 5,43 CAD (ca. 3,81 Euro) | 92 CAD (ca. 65 Euro) | 1,10 CAD |
| USA | 6,81% | 5,91 USD (ca. 5,59 Euro) | 89 USD (ca. 84 Euro) | 1,22 USD |
