Club Colorado  

Kids. Sure, they look innocent, but they’ll turn on you. I’m about two hours in to a day skiing with a couple of kids at Echo Mountain Resort, and I’m in trouble. I shot myself in the foot by failing to share my Hershey’s Kisses on the chairlift. As I swallow the last of my tasty chocolate morsels, I can feel the morale plummeting. I worry they can smell the my fear… (continue reading…)

One gets a sense of the vibe at Arapahoe Basin long before you hit the slopes. Signs in the parking lot direct you with a playful, distinctive, and markedly human tone; “Almost There!”, “Keep Going!” Soon enough I ease my car in to a spot and being to slip my boots on carside. Adjacent me is a group of weary locals, all soggy socks and smiles as they load their boards in to their car after a half day at A-Basin.

I meet Kimberly Trembearth, the area’s marketing guru, at the base lodge. After briefly discussing what’s going on at the Basin today, Kimberly shows the area’s true colors: “The oyster bar doesn’t open for another two hours, so go ski. Have fun!” she orders. Yes ma’am.

Arapahoe Basin is one of Colorado’s Gems ski areas, which in essence means it appeals to those who will forego valley parking if it means they can have the whole place to themselves. Works for me.

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When you’re the lucky owner of a flying, reindeer-powered sleigh and only work one month a year, you can take your pick of ski destinations around the world. So where does Santa Claus choose to go snowboarding? Wolf Creek Colorado. Recently I caught up with the jolly old elf to take a few runs and learn why Santa rides Colorado.

Dashing through the snow...

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When you purchase your lift ticket at Copper Mountain, you’ll have to decide between a full-day, or a half-day ticket. Obviously you go with the full day (you couldn’t even scratch the surface of Copper in a half), but the whole question itself is misleading. You see, the team at Copper works around the clock, so even if you ski from open to close you’re really only skiing a half day in the eyes of those who work behind the scenes. For my most recent adventure in Colorado Ski Country, I tagged along with one of these everyday heroes, a man named Curt Bender, a Level-3 Operator on the Copper Slope Maintenance team.

Some folks call him "The Blademaster", but I just call him sir.

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Big snowfall brings the US Ski Team to Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek is usually near the top of the list for snowfall in Colorado, but that doesn’t mean “Wolfie” is only for powderhounds. Those that like to bang bumps flock to Wolf Creek too – namely the US Freestyle Ski Team.  According to Scott Rawles, the team’s head mogul coach, Wolf Creek is “The place to be, pretty much in the whole world right now”. With the most fresh snow in the country waiting for them, the whole US Freestyle Ski Team headed for this southwest Colorado mecca.

Check out the video of the US Freestyle Ski Team at Wolf Creek

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Who says nothing is free anymore? We’ve rounded up 61 free things in Ski Country that you can take advantage of this winter. Your welcome.

Arapahoe Basin
Rail Jams – Reflecting its commitment to enhancing the experience of freestyle skiers and riders, Arapahoe Basin will host rail jams throughout the 2011/12 season. In May, rail jams will be held every Saturday in the Treeline Terrain Park. Registration and attendance are free.

Spring Splash – Don’t miss Arapahoe Basin’s annual Spring Splash competition at Lake Reveal. Lake Reveal is a natural lake that forms to the side of Dercum’s Gulch trail. Participants who successfully ski or snowboard across the lake will win free prizes. Categories include best costume, best trick, best dunk, best run and many more. Registration is free.

May Concert Series – Every Saturday in May A-Basin will heat things up with free live entertainment in the base area. Guests are invited to head down to the party after the free rail jam.
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When you’ve been in the industry as long as we have, you think you’ve seen it all. But, once and a while, something unbelievable comes along. This year it comes from Aspen/Snowmass, The Ultimate Ski Pass.

What price would you put on an infinite number of guaranteed powder runs? For a mere $25,000, the Ultimate Ski Pass grants the holder unlimited first runs before the chairlifts open to the public.
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