Ski Giants Sued for Antitrust, Hiking Ticket Prices

0:00It's April 2nd. This has been Cooper News today, powered by AI. A new class action lawsuit in Denver hits Vale Resorts in Altera Mountain Company hard, accusing them of anti-trust violations by jacking up. Single-day ski lift tickets to over $300 to shove their pricey megapasses down skiers throats. These giants own spots like Whistler Blackcomb for Vale and Grouse Mountain for Altera, where adult single-day passes hit $305. At Whistler this week, while a 10-day card runs $8.74. Meanwhile, Grouse charges $104 on weekends, and their icon passes have jumped 40% in five years to $1,399. Skiers and snowboarders say this scheme kills competition. Doubles average ticket prices since the mid-2000s and squeezes out small regional. Hills that can't keep up. The lease folks facing sky-high costs, or megapass crowds, at over 160 resorts these

1:01companies control. The suit claims buyers think they're saving with passes like Vale's epic, which exploded from $60,000 to $2 million sales yearly. But really, they're coerced into bundles that cut options and quality for everyone. Vale calls the claims baseless, pointing out epic passes slash season costs by 60% at launch and offer deals for locals or early birds. As this legal battle brews, watch for shifts in how we hit the slopes without breaking the bank.