Skiing Just Got Cheaper: Here’s How to Score Discounts with Vail’s Epic Friend Tickets!

Vail Resorts has pulled off quite the ski season surprise with its new “Epic Friend Tickets.” For the upcoming 2025/26 season, Epic Pass holders can now share 50% off lift tickets with their guests, making it easier than ever to hit the slopes without breaking the bank. Depending on when you snagged your pass, you could get either 6 or 10 tickets to share. That’s right—just in time to finally convince your buddy who only skis once a year that it’s worth it to hit the slopes together.

This new perk replaces the older “buddy tickets” and is an attempt to make skiing more accessible, which is a clever move as ski passes aren’t exactly pocket change. The Epic Pass costs $1,075 for adults, while the Epic Local Pass comes in at $799—that’s still a good chunk of change! But hey, if it means your friends have some skin in the game when going downhill, it sounds like a win-win to me.

Vail’s CEO Rob Katz mentioned that it’s all about encouraging a shared love for skiing. He gets it—often, it’s that one enthusiastic friend who lures you into the exhilarating chaos of skiing. And now, not only can you shred those slopes together, but you can save some cash while you’re at it! So, who’s on the hook to join you this season?

With the low prices lasting until September 1, there’s no time to waste. Pack your gear and book those passes because skiing together is much more fun—ideally with a discount in hand, right? And if your friends were reluctant before, they might jump at the chance for half off, especially when you can say, “If you wipe out, it won’t cost you a full-price ticket!”

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