Club Colorado  

This ski season we welcome guest blogger Amber Johnson who blogs at TheMileHighMama, is a Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of the Denver Post’s MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor.

Some snow enthusiasts say the ski/snowboard season kicks off with all the Labor Day sales. For my family, it’s at the annual Denver Ski & Snowboard Expo at the Colorado Convention Center.

This ski and snowboard emporium goes from November 2-4, 2012 and we checked out the action on Friday night. And believe me when I say there was a lot of action for snow-lovers of all ages.

From the mature-types.

Bernie from Loveland

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Extended due to popular demand, the Winter Park Resort “Winter’s Best Deal” lodging package will now be offered until September 14, 2012.  With this great package guests get a third night free on stays as low as $40*pp/pn with a 33% savings off 3 or more nights. Another special offering of Lift and Lodging Packages start from just $98/day.

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Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) recently announced the launch of the Double Down pass, the ski industry’s first two-season pass product. With the Double Down pass, skiers and riders have the advantage of locking in the pass price for two seasons at a great rate without worrying about a price increase.

This adult two-season pass is valid for unlimited skiing and riding at Arapahoe Basin for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. The Double Down pass costs $499 and saves regular A-Basin adult season pass holders at least $99 over two years.

“With an average of 233 ski days per season, our A-Basin guests can now get two very long Colorado ski seasons at a very affordable price,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO. (continue reading…)

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) will be hosting an Open House to share its vision for improvements and changes to the ski area over the next decade. The Open House will take place Wednesday, August 29, 2012, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Keystone Center in Keystone, Colo.

Join A-Basin Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth in a conversation about the concepts and ideas in A-Basin’s Proposed 2012 Master Development Plan. Projects under consideration include a zipline tour, a surface lift to access Montezuma Bowl, increased snowmaking reservoir storage, and lift-served skiing in The Beavers. U.S. Forest Service staff from the Dillon Ranger District will also be present to answer any questions. (continue reading…)

Photo by Zach VanCamp

Woodward at Copper has piloted a Public Park Session, opening up the opportunity for summertime shredding in Summit County, CO. For just $10, Copper invites snowboarders and skiers to hone their tricks using various boxes and rails at the Playground Terrain Park. Sessions take place on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and will continue through the remainder of July, as conditions permit. (continue reading…)

If you’re a gear geek and recovering ski bum like myself (and, I presume that you are, since you’re here) the prospect of unlimited free stickers is enough to drive cross country, call in sick to work, and lie about your profession in order to get access to the biggest ski and snowboard tradeshow in America, the Snowsports Industries America trade show in Denver, CO.

Thankfully, you don’t have to claim to be a Bosnian journalist to get in – Colorado Ski Country’s got all the goods, right here, free.

Trolling for stickers

My goal today is to take the pulse and gain access to the heartbeat of the snowsports industry: Colorado-based companies. I’ve got my press credentials, my camera and a full cup of coffee. Game on.

Colorado company FlyLow Gear's 2012 lineup at SIA

First stop is FlyLow Gear. The good folks at FlyLow keep me looking, uh, fly on the slopes. Founded by Colorado skiers looking for gear rugged enough to hold up to their demands, they put a different spin on nature vs. nurture success story; nature did the nurturing, and the result is a very cool and fast-growing company.

Sunglasses grow on trees in Colorado

Another company based in CO is Native Eyewear. They’re so busy today that their PR person can’t talk to me. I snap some photos, marvel at their shade(s) tree, and move along.

A distant corner of the tradeshow thumps with bass. Music blares, beers are cracked open at 2pm, and the amount of stickers increases exponentially. I’ve wandered in to the snowboarding zone.

Dang snowboarders.

Venture Snowboards is a proud mom-and-pop shop from Silverton. They’re globally revered for the quality and aesthetics of their boards, all of which come in a split board option. I’ve had the pleasure of riding handcrafted wagons, drinking bizarre Indian beers, and taking bellydance lessons alongside the folks from Venture, and can personally verify that these are pure Coloradans, producing a pure Colorado product.

Pretty skis at Icelantic

The last stop I make before heading to Winter Park to ski bumps is at the Icelantic booth. Here is another company taking the passion, culture, and geography of Colorado and producing an amazing product. I’ve been riding the Nomads all year, and have found them to be pretty close to a one-ski-quiver.

Ben, Icelantic’s founder, tells me he took a community-focused approach when he started the company, and it’s been fun to stay in Colorado, build skis, and watch the company grow. He’s not the only one.

-John Trousdale, Mountain Correspondent, Colorado Ski Country USA

One-point-two seconds. That is the time it takes for me to see a fur coat after stepping out of my rusty Subaru. I’m parked semi-legally in front of the Sky Hotel in Aspen, Colorado. I’m here on a holiday weekend with one goal: to see if it’s possible for the average skier to ski Aspen on the cheap. Here goes…

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