The Mountain Collective Pass is back for the 2014/15 season, and the perks are pretty unreal. Two free days of riding at every one of the pass’ 12 supreme resorts— think Mammoth, Jackson Hole, Squaw— on the pass, plus, for those who jump on the deal this spring, TMC is offering up a bonus day at the resort of your choosing, including Valle Nevado, Chile, and Thredbo, Australia.
We’re pretty stoked on what TMC is offering, so we thought we’d give you a little run down of what this “bonus” day could look like for you. From back bowl laps in Aspen to an endless day of ripping up Thredbo down under, that extra day may just be the highlight of your season.
Snowboard Mag Bonus: We’re giving away a 2014/15 Mountain Collective Pass. Click here to enter!
Jackson Hole:
Jackson’s lift-served backcountry terrain is vast and unparalleled, a mecca for powder chasers and those looking to fall off the grid for bit. Home to some of snowboarding’s most notorious talents, Travis Rice and Bryan Iguchi among them, Jackson Hole is the place for hardcore riders.
Your bonus day: Exploring unreal backcountry and slashing through endless powder stashes with Rice and Iguchi. Priceless.
Snowbird:
With a nice mix of groomed and un-groomed terrain, Snowbird’s famous tram brings riders directly to the front steps of some of Utah’s most serious terrain. If more proof is needed, consider the fact that the world’s top extreme snowboarding competition— The Freeride World Tour— was just held on Snowbird’s Silver Fox steeps.
Your bonus day: While your buddies are stuck nursing horrible hangovers at the hotel, you’re using your bonus pass to snag a spot on the Aerial Tram; nothing like untracked powder to cure your morning-after struggle.
Squaw Valley/Alpine:
Squaw not only played host to the 1960 Winter Olympics, but “Hot Dog The Movie” was filmed there in the ’80s (arguably the best soft-pore ski movie of all-time) so clearly this place has some serious historical chops. Standard Films is well connected to the resort as well, further proof that the terrain is next level and well worth getting acquainted with.
Your bonus day: Time to re-live the glory days: grab that neon jacket we know you’re still holding onto, throw on a pair of rad shades and huck a few cliffs for good measure. You’ve got a free day, so why not make it a Squaw-style throwback?
Whistler/Blackcomb:
Peak to peak, Whistler/Blackcomb offers over 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receives on average over 469″ of snow annually, and has one of the longest ski seasons in North America. Plus, with over 90 acres of terrain parks, Whistler/Blackcomb should be at the top of every jump-fiend’s bucket list.
Your bonus day: Your friends booked an early flight, and you’re stuck with a day to kill. Prime time to put that bonus pass to use — the peaks are calling, the powder is bitchin’ and you’ve got nothing slowing you down.
Aspen/Snowmass:
Four mountains – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – 5,500 acres of terrain, 40 lifts and a nightlife that will blow your socks off.
Your bonus day: Step 1: Hit Highlands for a day of bowl laps; 2: Pit-stop at the pop-up champagne bar for a little mid-day motivation; 3: Hot tub & apres at 39 Degrees; 4: Shooting shots and shooting the shit with the locals at The Red Onion — we promise, a bonus day at Aspen is one you’ll never forget.
Mammoth Mountain:
One of the most popular resorts in the country, Mammoth Mountain is famous for its inbound terrain, and Unbound Terrain Parks. The highest summit of any California resort, Mammoth’s season often extends well into the summer, a veritable mecca for spring snowboarding.
Your bonus day: If your crew are more about the corduroy than a jib park, put your bonus day towards a full day of hitting Unbound’s rails, spines and booters when their days dry up; California sunshine plus a smorgasbord of features? Doesn’t get much better than this.
Thredbo:
Located at the heart of the Australian Alps, Thredbo’s season runs from early June to early October, making it a prime summer snowboarding destination. Famous for long runs and unique natural features, Thredbo also boasts the most extensive snowmaking coverage in the Southern Hemisphere.
Your bonus day: The beautiful thing about a bonus day at Thredbo, is that its not your standard 9-4 day of riding. A powder day spent ripping around Thredbo’s best kept secret, Golf Course Bowl, segways perfectly into an evening of twilight boarding. Swing it so that your extra days falls on a Saturday, and you’re in for Saturday night flare runs and fireworks— not a rough way to cap off a dawn to dusk day of snowboarding.
Valle Nevada:
One of South America’s premiere resorts, Valle Nevado sits 10,000 feet high in the Andes Mountains, the second tallest peaks in the world. 7,000 acres of varied terrain, plus world-class heli-boarding; escape the heat of the North American summer and get waist deep in Chilean powder.
Your bonus day: While temps are stretching towards 100 in the US, you’re flying high above the Andes, getting ready to drop in on one of the world’s highest peaks for a day of carving turns and popping pillows. When your legs finally give out, a Chilean bar and a gaggle of Spanish senoritas will be waiting to help you kick back and reflect on another glorious day in the life.
If this all sounds like something up your alley, head over to themountaincollective.com and snag your pass. And if you’re feeling lucky, we’re giving a pass away to one lucky Snowboard Mag reader. Enter here.
