Epic SchoolKids Returns, Allowing Colorado Kids to Ski Free During the 2016-2017 Season
- Epic SchoolKids provides 16 free days of skiing and snowboarding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone for all Colorado kindergarteners through fifth graders
- Participants receive one complimentary full-day first-timer lesson, including free equipment rental
- No purchase necessary, registration ends October 9
BROOMFIELD, Colo. — August 15, 2016 — While not officially found on back-to-school supply lists, a must-have for all elementary school-aged children is the Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack, providing 16 free days of skiing and snowboarding at the premier resorts in Colorado. The 2016-2017 Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack does not require any purchases, and includes four free days each at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone, as well as one free first-timer ski or snowboard lesson with free equipment rental. Epic SchoolKids was first offered for the 2015-2016 season as Vail Resorts’ way of giving back to the local community, while ensuring future generations have access to the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Registration is open today through Sunday, Oct. 9, and can be done in-person at Colorado Ski & Golf, Colorado Ski & Sport and Boulder Ski Deals locations throughout the Front Range.
Skiing and snowboarding, unlike individual sports, allows entire families to take part in a lifelong activity together, leading to priceless memories and bonding experiences. More than 30,000 Colorado children registered for the Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack during the first year Vail Resorts offered the free program.
“Epic SchoolKids has been nothing short of epic,” said Laura St. John of Littleton, Colo. “It encouraged my husband and me to get our Epic Passes as well. We are back on the mountains now as a family and enjoying Colorado's best playground.”
“Our two boys are right in the age range for the Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack, and it made Vail Resorts a viable option for our entire family,” said Rachel Strickland of Denver, Colo. “We are planning to take our boys for the first time to each four resorts.”
Epic SchoolKids is available to all Colorado kindergarteners through fifth graders, with free first-timer lessons offered in December and January, allowing those new to the sport the opportunity to continue to take advantage of their pass for the remainder of the season.
“Epic SchoolKids is Vail Resorts’ way of giving back to the community and introducing kids across our state to the sport with free skiing and riding at our resorts,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “Absolutely no purchases are necessary to take advantage of Epic SchoolKids, but registration will only be available for a limited time.”
Additionally, families can save money on ski and snowboard gear with the Junior Trade-In Program at Colorado Ski & Golf and Boulder Ski Deals locations. Families can purchase new or used equipment for kids and then turn the gear in when the kids outgrow it and receive 50 percent off the purchase price towards the following year’s equipment.
For additional information about Epic SchoolKids and registration locations, visit www.epicschoolkids.com/colorado. For the most valuable season pass line-up in Colorado, visit EpicPass.com.
Vail Resorts Newsroom: https://news.vailresorts.com/
Images and b-roll may be viewed and downloaded here
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. The Company’s subsidiaries operate nine world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Perisher in Australia; Afton Alps in Minnesota, Mt. Brighton in Michigan and Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin. The Company owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
