VAIL ” Skiers and snowboarders have until Sunday to purchase Vail Resorts’ Epic Passes for last season’s price.

Vail Resorts said it would continue selling the six-resort, unrestricted ski pass for the 2009-2010 season at the price of $579 for adults and $279 for children ages five to 12 until Sunday.

Originally the price was only guaranteed until this Thursday. Now buyers can lock in the current pricing with a $49 down payment by Sunday, after which prices may rise, with the rest of the money due in the fall.

The pass is good for Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Heavenly in Lake Tahoe, and has no blackout dates. The popular pass will also come with discounts for lodging, airfare, rentals and lessons next year.

Any further changes in pricing won’t be announced until after Sunday, said Vail Resorts spokeswoman Kelly Ladyga.

Passes can be purchased or renewed online at http://www.epicpass.com.

The pass was introduced last ski season, and as of December, Vail Resorts reported that it had sold 59,100 Epic Passes.