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For those looking to ski or ride locally as well as hit the slopes out west, the Epic Local Pass offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing or riding at Afton Alps, as well as Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; with limited restrictions at Park City in Utah – now the largest ski resort in the U.S. after being combined with nearby Canyons Resort – and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe. It also includes a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek in Colorado with holiday restrictions.
 
To assist guests in getting the most out of winter, Afton Alps has compiled this handy “Back to Ski” checklist:

1. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just four days and features unlimited, unrestricted days at Afton Alps, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin – plus 10 total days at Vail and Beaver Creek. The Epic Local Pass also provides season-long access to Park City in Utah and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe. Sunday, Oct. 11 is the last day to purchase it for $599.
2. Buy your season pass in person at Afton Alps and enjoy its Fall Fair, one of the Midwest’s largest ski and snowboard swaps, to be held Oct. 2-4 and 9-11. The season’s kick-off event will feature fun activities for the whole family such as free chairlift rides and hayrides, music, slope side movies, refreshments, as well as a beer and wine festival, on Saturday, Oct. 10.
3. Enroll kids in the Mountain Explorers instructional program, a five-week series for kids ages four to 12. Students will learn at their own pace and are grouped with others of similar ages and abilities. This program features terrain and specially-skilled instructors trained to ensure a fun and fulfilling time on the snow for participants. This season, Afton Alps has remodeled the dedicated learning center for children, providing an unparalleled ski and snowboard school experience in the Twin Cities. Instructors, facilities and learning terrain are all focused solely on teaching kids to ski and snowboard in a safe, fun, positive atmosphere, with a variety of lesson options for every ability level.
4. Check out the Ski Girls Rock program at Afton Alps. A Vail Resorts-exclusive program, inspired and designed by Lindsey Vonn, the three-day program for girls ages seven to 14 is led by Afton Alps female instructors focuses not only on improving skiing and racing skills, but also empowering girls through the sport and building their confidence while developing friendships, teamwork and social skills.

 Afton Alps offers multiple pass options for the 2015-16 season:

• The Epic Local Pass™:  Perfect for people who can navigate a pass with restrictions out West. For $599, get unlimited, unrestricted skiing or riding at Afton Alps, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with limited restrictions at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. Also includes a total of 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in less than four days. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $309.
• The Epic Pass™: Ski as much as you want, whenever you want for $789. The Epic Pass pays for itself in less than five days of skiing or riding out West. With more than 32,000 acres of terrain, this pass can’t be beat. Unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Perisher in Australia for the 2016 season there; Afton Alps; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and up to five free consecutive days when staying at in-resort accommodations at Verbier, Switzerland. No restricted dates. A child pass is $409.
• Afton Alps Pass: For those who plan to ski or ride solely at Afton Alps, there is the Afton Alps Pass. At $419, pass holders receive unlimited access to Afton Alps with no restrictions. A discounted rate is also offered for seniors at $289 and college students for $269.
• Afton Alps Family Pass: Families enjoy all of the benefits of the Afton Alps Pass while saving up to 20 percent. Families of four receive unlimited access for $1,149 and additional children and teens can each be added for $134. Kids (ages five to 12) who receive their passes via the Afton Alps Family Pass are one step ahead to a visit out West; kids’ passes are automatically Epic Local Passes and offer access to eight of the best western mountain resorts. 
• Afton Alps Night College Pass: Offers unlimited, unrestricted access at Afton Alps for college students after 3 p.m. for only $149.
• The Epic 4-Day™: Is optimal for guests planning one ski vacation out West during the 2015-16 winter season. $419 for adults and $229 for children (ages five to 12). Ski any four days at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Arapahoe Basin, plus four days at Afton Alps. This pass pays for itself in just over two days out West and offers a savings of over 35 percent compared to lift tickets. And, for a little over $1,200 a family of four can ski or ride for four days at the world’s best ski resorts.
• The Epic 7-Day™: Is ideal for guests planning to ski seven days out West throughout the winter season. $599 for adults and $309 for children (ages five to 12). Ski or ride a total of seven unrestricted days at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Tahoe, plus seven days at Afton Alps.

Season Pass Insurance Option
Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase pass insurance. All of the Company's season pass products are non-refundable and non-transferable; however, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Coverage applies for all Epic season passes, valid for the 2015-16 winter season, starting at $10 for adults and $5 for children.
 
For more information, please visit AftonAlps.com. To talk to a season pass expert, call (800) 842-8062 or (651) 436-5245.
 
About Afton Alps
Afton Alps is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the U.S. For over 50 years, Afton Alps has delighted Twin Cities’ families as one of the Midwest’s premier winter destinations. Nestled in the scenic St. Croix River Valley just outside Minneapolis and St. Paul, this sprawling resort recently invested $10 million into re-imagining the guest experience with renovated base area facilities, a powerful state-of-the-art snowmaking system, and a cutting-edge terrain park.
 
With nearly 300 skiable acres, 50 trails, 18 lifts and four terrain parks, there is enough terrain to challenge experts to beginners, day or night. Accessible, affordable and fun, this big-time resort with a small-town feel has converted thousands of first-timers into lifelong skiers and riders, and now with the opportunity to take that passion to Vail Resorts’ iconic western mountains, Afton Alps is truly the place Where Epic Begins.