VAIL'S #1
Yet again, Vail secured the #1 ranking in SKI Magazine’s Top Ten North American... [more]
Before You Hit The Slopes – Preparing for Your Ski Vacation
Sure, it would be great to spend a couple of days researching your ski trip on the Internet, chatting with a travel agent and setting out a whole itinerary of what to do and where to ski while you’re in Colorado. But if you have that kind of time, you ought to be spending it skiing, not thinking about skiing.
So even if you find yourself in the middle of your resort destination with no car, no skis and no gear, don’t worry. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time veteran, last-minute plans won’t leave you stuck in the lodge while everyone else is on the powder.
No car? You don’t need one. Colorado’s ski towns are wonderfully walkable, whether you’re in an old mining town like Breckenridge, or a relatively young ski village like Vail. If you want to sample a couple of different resorts — say to compare the powder at Aspen and Snowmass Village, or to try both Copper Mountain and Keystone — you’ll find the local buses and shuttles both free and convenient, and less of a hassle than worrying about finding a parking spot.
Here for five days? Try five different pairs of skis.
No skis? No worries. Resorts abound with ski shops eager to rent equipment for every skill level. In fact, says Jodi Straugh, president of Lynx Ski & Golf Vacations in Denver, you might be better off with rentals. “With the advent of new ski equipment, which just happened really in the last five years, it’s more fun to try this new equipment,” she says.
If you’re used to straight skis, sampling the latest in shaped skis can make skiing feel like a whole new sport. The gentle curves at the front and back of the ski give you a big boost of control through your turns. If you’re an average skier, gliding through powder on shaped skis can make you feel like a superstar. If you’re an expert, they can make you feel like a Norse god.
For some visitors, Straugh says, part of the fun of the vacation can be trying out this new equipment. Here for five days? Try five different pairs of skis. Or take the opportunity to find out what all the snowboarding fuss is about.
No gear? No fear. Of course, ski towns are filled with shops eager to sell the latest in skiwear. For lots of visitors, that’s part of the fun, too, but it’s not your only choice. Many resorts have shops that rent ski clothes — from gloves to parkas. So if that down jacket won’t do you much good back in Florida, or your other glove is waiting for you back in Chicago, consider renting what you need, then leave it here and save the room in your luggage. Some shops will even deliver right to your room
Wherever your gear comes from, choose carefully. One of skiing’s biggest challenges is figuring out what to wear. It’s not just the slope-side fashion police. Colorado weather is hard to predict, except that it’s unpredictable. You might be shivering in a blizzard one minute, sweating in the sun the next. Blue skies in the morning could mean gray skies by afternoon. That means preparing for whatever Mother Nature throws at you. And that means dressing in layers.
“During the winter months, temperatures can fluctuate drastically,” says Chris Fauce, at the Lodge at Lionshead in Vail. “Thirty degrees on a sunny day can feel like 80. Fifty degrees on a cloudy day can feel colder than it is.”
The good news is that if you don’t have a Billy Bogner designer one-piece, you don’t need one. On most days, Fauce says, if you’ve got a warm layer of fleece over a set of good long underwear, add a powder jacket and pants to keep off the snow and you’re good to go.
Goggles are a good idea, too. On sunny days, they’ll cut down on the brutal glare shining from above and below. On blustery days, they’ll help block out the wind. And remember, thanks to the thin mountain air and all that white stuff on the ground, sunburn can be a problem even on the coldest winter day, so be sure to put on plenty of sunscreen.
While you’re strapping on gear, consider adding a helmet to the list. It used to be that only 7-year-olds setting off sonic booms as they barreled down the mountain wore helmets. These days, more and more adults are catching on, too. Even if you don’t ski like a bat out of hell, just knowing that someone else on the mountain does is reason enough to put one on. Expert skiers who love carving turns through the trees are strapping them on, too. Consider every stately aspen and spruce that breezes by another reason to protect your head.
“All the ski rental shops that we work with have helmets either for rent or complimentary,” Straugh says. “You know, you wouldn’t ride a bike for a full day without a helmet. Why would you ski for a full day without a helmet?”
Got your gear? You’re ready to ski. But take it easy. Remember, Denver’s a mile high and it’s at the bottom of the mountains. Altitude can affect everybody differently, and it can affect the same person differently at various times.
Patsy Pelaia, concierge at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, always tells her guests to pace themselves on their first day and save the more aggressive skiing for later in the trip. Hold off on the aggressive partying, too. “We tell them to drink as many fluids as possible,” she says. “Not alcoholic.
No matter how long you’ve been skiing, it’s a good idea to take lessons and get your ski legs back. If this is your first time, learning from an instructor can make a world of difference. Remember, you have some of the world’s best ski instructors here, so you might as well take advantage of them.
For beginners, lessons can be crucial to launching a happy ski hobby. Advanced skiers can use lessons to push them to the next level. For expert skiers, special clinics in bumps, steeps and powder can help them master the extremes. “We tend to recommend private lessons as opposed to group lessons for the more advanced skiers,” says Mike Noha, at Centennial Lodge in Beaver Creek Resort. “I think you get more in tune. You can handpick an instructor more attuned to your level.”
If you’re skiing in Aspen, Pelaia recommends taking advantage of the Aspen Skiing Co.’s ambassador program. At no cost, handpicked ambassadors will take visitors for a tour of the mountain, showing them the places that mesh best with their ability levels. It sure beats wrestling with a trail map on the lift.
No matter what resort you go to, you’ll find terrain that suits your needs, but some places fit better than others. If you’re skiing at Keystone, expect lots of terrain and lots of company. Copper Mountain and Breckenridge offer prime skiing, and are a bit more intimate. Vail is simply vast, with lots of terrain for all ability levels. Nearby Beaver Creek is smaller, but more family-oriented, with varied runs and shorter lift lines.
Aspen has four mountains to sample. Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands appeal mostly to experts. Beginners lean toward Buttermilk. Snowmass Village offers a banquet of cruisers, plus the daunting Hanging Valley Wall and the Cirque for experts, and lots of terrain meant just for kids.
Confused? If your lodge has a concierge, ask for specific recommendations about where to ski and things to do. Chances are, they’ve all sampled more than good taste would allow them to share. But the most important part of your vacation is having fun. The only real secret to skiing is pointing your boards downhill and enjoying the ride.
David M. Frey is a freelance writer in Carbondale, Colorado. His work has appeared in various newspapers and magazines, including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Denver Post and American Profile.
Lynx Ski & Golf Vacations books getaways throughout the American West, Canada and Europe. To contact them, call 800-422-5969, or visit their website at www.lynxskivacations.com.
Aspen and Snowmass
So even if you find yourself in the middle of your resort destination with no car, no skis and no gear, don’t worry. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time veteran, last-minute plans won’t leave you stuck in the lodge while everyone else is on the powder.
Wherever your gear comes from, choose carefully. One of skiing’s biggest challenges is figuring out what to wear. It’s not just the slope-side fashion police. Colorado weather is hard to predict, except that it’s unpredictable. You might be shivering in a blizzard one minute, sweating in the sun the next. Blue skies in the morning could mean gray skies by afternoon. That means preparing for whatever Mother Nature throws at you. And that means dressing in layers. 
For beginners, lessons can be crucial to launching a happy ski hobby. Advanced skiers can use lessons to push them to the next level. For expert skiers, special clinics in bumps, steeps and powder can help them master the extremes. “We tend to recommend private lessons as opposed to group lessons for the more advanced skiers,” says Mike Noha, at Centennial Lodge in Beaver Creek Resort. “I think you get more in tune. You can handpick an instructor more attuned to your level.”