Celebrating Our Independent Skiing Community

From the very first flakes of snow, our passionate community continued the Indy tradition of uniting on the slopes of independent resorts. As the snow melts and the 22/23 ski season ends, we want to highlight our most memorable year yet.  

A Growing Community:

Four years ago, the Indy Pass was born with a simple mission: to connect people who ski and snowboard authentically, supporting local mountains and independent ski areas across the country. We are proud to say that this season has been a resounding success, we witnessed an incredible surge in the number of Indy passholders, reinforcing our belief in the strength of the independent skiing community.

A Celebration of Independence:

In pursuit of showcasing the independent spirit of the Midwest ski and snowboard community, Indy Pass partnered with Teton Gravity Research to release "In Pursuit of Soul II: Midwest Independence" a short film celebrating the resilient and ragtag crews of truly grassroots ski areas. It highlights their sense of camaraderie, affordable passes, after-school programs, and volunteer-led race clubs to showcase the true nature of riding independent. The film focuses on the heart of the Midwest: Buck Hill, Granite Peak, Lutsen Mountains, Nordic Mountain, The Rock Snowpark, and Tyrol Basin.

Mt. Hood Meadows, Photo Credit: Richard Hallman

Expanding Horizons:

This year, we were thrilled to announce that our roster of partners grew larger than ever before with the addition of 40+ more independent resorts like the volcanic hillside of Mount Hood Meadows in Oregon, and the northern mountains of Black Mountain Maine. We also expanded on the Sierras adding Dodge Ridge (who touted 757" in the 22/23 season), and grew across the Pacific with the Japanese resort of Aomori Springs.  

Cat Skiing in Japan, Photo credit: Josh Laskin

Breaking Boundaries:

In a significant milestone for the Indy Pass, we successfully embarked on our first official year of independent skiing in Japan. Thanks to the loosening of travel restrictions, Indy Passholders had the opportunity to explore the powder-filled hillsides of the Tohoku region. Our team checked out the magic of Japow and can confirm top-notch face shots and sashimi are both on the menu in Japan. It's never too early to book your next Japan ski trip. Head to our latest blog for more. Ski Japow: Your Next Winter Adventure Awaits.

Jay Peak, Vermont

Strengthening Relationships:

We are committed to fostering strong relationships within the skiing community, not just between passholders and resorts but also with regional retailers. That's why we launched our Independent Shops program which aimed to strengthen the ski community even more and provided a discount on 22/23 passes at specific retail locations. This initiative allowed us to support local businesses and further connect with passionate winter sports enthusiasts. 

Magic Mountain, VT

Whether big or small, our team truly believes that independent ski resorts are the lifeblood of the sport. The community that comes with these resorts is unmatched, and we're beyond excited to play a small role in this story. Learn more about the future of the Indy Pass on Local Freshies and on our site. 

Sign up for our waitlist to receive exclusive early access and be the first to know if more passes are released for the 23/24 season, as well as information on 23/24 blackout dates and new resort additions.