Ski-Blog.comApril 01, 2008
Opening Day, NBA Playoffs, and the End of the 2007-08 Ski Season
A little time to reflect on the last ski season. This year, I skied Beaver Creek for the first time, skied Wolf Creek for the first time in three years, and got my usual days in at Brian Head. I got in about half as many days this season as last--12 versus 25--but enjoyed it far more.
Couple great memories for me. First was
Jarrett skiing his first black diamond. He isn't even in the same ballpark as Jake, but that is a function of being 7 versus 11. But he discovered a love for skiing this season and now looks forward to it. I am excited about this year and looking forward to going from having two skiing boys to having three kids that rip it up when Lindsey gets a couple years older.
Second was Jake and me going to Wolf Creek with Tim, Erich, and JP. It has been far too long since I took at trip to Wolf Creek and this trip magnified how Jake has improved from our last trip three years ago when he was a Wolf Pup. When we hiked Alberta Peak and he left me behind, I had a new sense of humility and some pride that all the time and money that I have spent on gear and passes and gas and hotels and condos has paid off. We have something that both boys enjoy and that helps us bond.
Finally, there was my trip to Beaver Creek. I have rarely enjoyed a ski day that much.
I am going to try to get one more weekend in before the season is over.
Posted by Justin at 02:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 20, 2007
Running the Numbers
I use Beaver Creek as an example, but in reality I am referring to any major megaresort--you know, the ones that the ski magazines drool about. This is more an illustration of the pros and cons of major destination skiing at a high end resort (Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breck, Keystone, Park City, Whistler, etc.) versus skiing at a smaller resort in the Rockies that costs half as much but also offers less. I am going to run down the resorts that I have skied and compare and contrast them:
Colorado - Wolf Creek, Beaver Creek, Loveland, and A-Basin
Arizona - Snowbowl, Sunrise
Montana - Red Lodge, Big Sky
Utah - Alta, Brian Head
What you find is that once you find a place that you really like, you tend to go there until you find a better deal, get bored, etc. So I am an Alta guy because I just like it so well because of the price, location, skiers only policy, snow quality, and experience that I never drive to the other resorts in the area. Now, I am probably going to have a tough time ever going to Vail because Beaver Creek is so awesome and I have yet to even scratch the surface of all that is there. I am not sure how to compare Beaver Creek to Vail to Keystone to Breck when you couldn't touch all the mountain on any of them in a week or solid skiing.
I am assuming that for folks with the Colorado Pass, they choose their resort based on snowfall numbers, location, or just plain familiarity. So since I haven't skied all the resorts, I leave it open for more comments and info. This is somewhat generic, but there are just too many resorts to know everything about. For the most part though, the mega resorts are that way for a reason--they have a lot to offer and all compare very favorably to the next tier or resorts.
In my mind, there are three categories of ski resorts. Megaresorts. Midsize resorts (and this is a broad category). And places that just plain blow. First, let's talk about the mega resorts. You are going to get a well developed base area, great restaurants, touristy bars, lots of high end shops, and a few high end hotels. Expect lots of folks that are crazy rich and have really nice stuff. Expect people in $1000 jackets riding $2000 worth of gear on groomers who look crazy pimped sipping lattes at the base area. Folks from the East Coast can't get this kind of snow or experience so expect most folks are destination skiers or locals that get really good pass deals or work at the resort. Lots of folks from Europe, etc. Just a different kind of guest. But folks don't come for just the base area. The mountains are massive, but you gotta have the skills to relly enjoy it. And the money to spend because it ain't cheap. EVEN WHEN YOU GET A GREAT DEAL.
The next category is the smaller Rocky Mountain resorts and most East coast resorts. Places like Wolf Creek or Bridger Bowl or Brian Head. Usually these resorts are smaller mountains and do not offer the same level of amenities as the big guys. Not as much vertical. Off the beaten path. Poor airport access. No development rights. Less snowfall. But far lower prices. So then it is a matter of what you are willing to sacrifice. All of these resorts are missing something and it is up to you to decide what you are willing to sacrifice. I am willing to sacrifice shopping, dining, amenities, and nightlife but not snow. I would rather ski powder at a small resort that offers nothing (i.e. Wolf Creek) than ski crap snow at a more developed resort.
I won't get into the third category of places that just plain suck, but they are out there. Usually they have a couple old doubles that some other resort took out 20 years ago.
Beaver Creek was the first place that I didn't have to worry about a sacrifice. I look at the things that I usually am willing to give up. First, I give up base area amenities. I like to stay in town where I can afford it anyway. Then I give up nightlife. Then I give up some of the massive areas and vertical. What I usually don't give up is snow.
I can't get over the $92 price tag. So now it really highlights how good the Colorado Pass is. Season pass at Key, Breck, A-basin, and then the free days at Vail and Beaver Creek. I am just hating that I don't live in Colorado. The Beav and the Colorado resorts are so affordable for locals due to VRI's passes. I can't help but sing their praises. If you want to ski these resorts, you just have to look for deals and I am able to ski Vail and the Beav for the same price as Brian Head.
Posted by Justin at 09:40 AM | Comments (3)
December 15, 2007
BEST... DAY... EVER! - Beaver Creek, CO
I owe massive debts of gratitude to a couple friends... one that hooked me up with a condo for the night and the other that hooked me up with a half price lift ticket at Beaver Creek.
It has been probably three years since I skied something other than Brian Head when they were more than partially open and had good snow. I think that I forgot what real skiing is. I think in my little myopic world view, that skiing at a Brian Head is actually real skiing. It is family skiing. Taking cruisers with my kids and friends isn't the same as ACTUAL SKIING. The last real skiing moment that I had was Alberta at Wolf Creek.
Clay and I left Phoenix at 9:00 PM last night in the Avy. We had two things on the agenda--some IT work at Beaver Creek and a training class in Denver on Monday. If we left on Friday night and drove all night, I could squeeze in a day of skiing. But I would be crazy tired when we got in. Got into Beaver Creek at 9:30 AM and I was on the slopes by 10:30 AM.
I met Bermuda Bob on the second run I took. I was looking for something over off to the far left side of the mountain and ended up taking several laps on the Rose Bowl lift on Spider and Ripsaw and Web. We cut across on Harrier to the Grouse Mountain Lift.
I was a gaper. I couldn't get over it. 10 degrees. Crystal clear. Blue Skies. Fresh snow. Had to stop over and over just to admire the view. And then I got to the top of Osprey. We have all kinds of "play" black diamonds and an occasional fake double black. Sunrise calls some runs double blacks that are a joke. This was no joke. Almost 2,000 vertical feet of double black diamond goodness. One run that has double the vertical drop of the entire mountain at Brian Head. The resort just kept rising and rising. 4,000 vertical feet. It was the first time I rode a high speed quad since Alta two years ago. That is how sad and sheltered my life has been since we bought the condo and got season passes.
I have rarely felt truly humble. Bob humbled me. 60 year old man who just burned my quads and kept stopping and looking over his shoulders to make sure I was still there. And I was. He kept asking me which way we should go, but it is his mountain. He knows it. He skis it. So it was "where are we going, show me the way, I'll keep up".
I couldn't walk up the stairs to the condo and had to take the elevator. I can't even lay down because I am so worn out. BEST DAY EVER. It has been a while since I pushed myself at all. I may spend the rest of the year with the kids, but as of right now, I actually feel like a skier again. It just rocked. Beaver Creek rocks. (And so do Caroline and Daren who hooked me up today)
Posted by Justin at 06:16 PM | Comments (7)
