DEEP SNOW SAFETY – SNOW IMMERSION SUFFOCATION (SIS)

Skiing and snowboarding off the groomed runs and in deep powder is one of the most exciting and appealing parts of our sport. However, if you decide to leave the groomed trails you are voluntarily accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. A deep snow, or tree well immersion accident occurs when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Deaths resulting from these kinds of accidents are referred to as a SIS hazard or Snow Immersion Suffocation.

Know the current conditions and ski or ride with a partner and keep your partner in sight at all times.

Dear Passholders,

To say that COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on almost every aspect of life as we know it is an understatement. We recognize this unique scenario has presented our passholders with previously unimaginable challenges, and we want to thank you for your loyalty and continued patience as we navigate these uncharted waters.   

After waiting for the extended high pressure to subside, the storm door finally opened mid-March only to be met with the escalating spread of COVID-19. With great reticence, we made the difficult decision, along with the rest of the industry, to suspend operations. We recognize that it was tough to see the fresh snow and not be able to experience it, but difficult decisions had to be made quickly for the safety of our guests and employees.

We took care of our seasonal employees by paying them through March to ensure they landed safely. We committed to retaining our full-time year-round staff and developed an industry-leading “Return to Work” plan for our essential employees when Stay-at-Home orders were initiated. These decisive actions were intended to help flatten the “curve” and make a difference in our community.  

Over the past several weeks we have been thinking deeply about next season and what the “new normal” may look like. Recognizing that most health professionals believe the virus could come back in winter, we want to take a cautious but optimistic approach to next season. Our team is working to develop operational plans that will be available to implement if health-related guidelines are required.  We will continue to provide you with updates as more details become available and as we get closer to the start of the season.

In the meantime, we want to assure you that our intention is to offer peace of mind when it comes to your season pass purchase. For this reason, we have extended the initial purchase deadline from May 31st to June 30th and we have made the following changes to our Season Pass Program for 2020/21:

100-Day Guarantee

Purchase with confidence knowing the same weather guarantee from last season, which assures you that the resort will provide lift-served access for at least 100-days, will be in place next season and also now provides protection for impacts from COVID-19.

2020/21 Season Passholders are Covered If:

• A shelter-in-place order at your primary residence prevents you from visiting the resort 100 days during the season.
• A state/county mandate prevents the resort from operating 100 days during the season.
• A lack of snowfall prevents the resort from operating 100 days during the season.

If we fall short of 100 days of operation, each day under 100 days that we do not operate will be applied as a 1% credit toward the purchase of a 2021/22 season pass. Some exclusions apply based on pass usage and pass type. The 100-Day Guarantee also includes trail access for Royal Gorge season passholders. Sugar Bowl is considered to be open if we have at least one detachable express lift operating for 3 or more hours. Royal Gorge is defined as open if at least 10km of groomed trail is available.

Daily Resort Access Assurance

If county, state or federal jurisdictions implement health-related guidelines that cause Sugar Bowl to limit daily visitation at the resort for passholders, and you decide this doesn’t work for you, we will honor a refund upon request. Refunds will be calculated based on length of season and pass usage.  The exact calculation can be found in our terms and conditions.  If such restrictions are implemented, passholders will have 30-days to request a refund from the day of notification.

Rewarding Your Loyalty

We understand that you may be reluctant to renew your season pass until the season gets closer. To thank you for your purchase, if you renew a season pass by October 31, 2020, Sugar Bowl will apply a resort credit of up to $150, based on pass type. This credit (approximately 20% of current pass rates) can be used beginning opening day of the 2020/21 season for food and beverages in resort cafes, retail, tuning and more.

New Pass Payment Plan

New this year, passholders may elect to pay for passes in three zero-interest installments to spread the purchase out over time. Guests will pay 50% at the time of purchase followed by two equal payments, automatically charged on August 31st and September 30th. Passholders must purchase by August 1 to qualify. Child passes (ages five and under) are not eligible for the Payment Plan.

While it’s difficult to know exactly what modifications to our operations will be necessary to continue to keep our guests and employees safe, we expect to open with physical distancing and other protocols in place. We also anticipate the need to adjust our winter operations schedule to match peak and non-peak visitation and demand.  

Peak Winter Operations:

• During Peak periods (Friday – Monday and holiday periods) we expect to operate all facilities and services at both the Village and Judah portals.
• We suggest that for services that tend to “sell out” such as hotel rooms, ski school and rentals that you make reservations well in advance.
• Village Gondola will operate 24 hours a day.

Non-Peak Winter Operations:

• Non-peak, mid-week operations (Tuesday through Thursday), will focus on lift operations and provide limited services. Subject to change.
• Lift operations will remain relatively unchanged. Crow’s Peak Chair will operate only as conditions permit, Summit Chair will operate on weekends and holidays when conditions permit.
• Services will include:
  • Private lessons available mid-week by advance reservation only.
  • Rentals and Retail will be available only at the Judah base area.
  • Midweek food services across the resort will be limited. Hours and menus will be reduced.  Judah Café, Nob Hill Café, and the Belt Room Bar will be open for lunch and après.
  • The Hotel will be closed Monday night through Wednesday night.
  • Village Gondola will operate 7am to 7pm.

We appreciate you being a Sugar Bowl | Royal Gorge passholder -- our passholders are vital to our community and to our future success. Lastly, we would like to thank you for respecting our request to avoid the ski area after the closure in March. Your support has kept our employees and staff safe and for that we are grateful. Thank you for your patience and understanding amidst this uncertainty and change. We look forward to making turns with you next winter when the snow starts flying!

Wishing you well,

Greg Dallas

President and CEO

Sugar Bowl | Royal Gorge