Winter Park US Alpine Championships with Lindsey Vonn

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Chris

Lindsey Vonn at Winter Park Resort

Winter Park Resort will be in the national racing spotlight when the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships follow the Nastar National Championship to create The Championships presented by Nature Valley, March 22 – April 1, 2012.

Lindsey Vonn is expected to race in the Alpine National Championships. The Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships serve as the culmination of a five-month season that crossed continents and countries so America’s best alpine skiers could go head-to-head with the world. Top athletes from over 400 U.S. Ski Team club programs throughout the U.S. and the U.S. Ski Team will converge on Winter Park for the five-day event. Among those expected to compete are four-time World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), three-time World Cup giant slalom champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) – all of whom are Olympic gold medalists. This is the best place and time to see the United States gold medal ski racers.

The Championships Event Schedule
March 22-25: The Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships
March 26: Return of the Champions Family Challenge and U.S. Ski Team Reunion
March 27: U.S. Ski Team Pro-Am Team Race
March 28-April 1: Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships

The Alpine Championships will be the grand finally of a great week of skiing and fun at Winter Park Resort. This is a great way to usher in the spring skiing of April here at Winter Park and Mary Jane.

To get your NASTAR Championship Lodging or Nature Valley US Alpine Championships Lodging make sure to check our primo digs here at Winter Park Lodging Company.

A great week of skiing and ski racing are here at Winter Park/Mary Jane so get up here and enjoy some snow and sun with the likes of Lindsey Vonn, Julie Mancuso and Todd Ligety.

Winter Park Jazz Festival

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Chris

Jazz Fest Winter Park, CO

The 30th annual Winter Park Jazz festival will be held in Winter Park, Colorado on July 21 and July 22. The WP Jazz Fest is the premier summer music festival in Winter Park, CO and maybe the whole of the Rocky Mountain West.

Now is the time to book your Winter Park Jazz Festival lodging if you haven’t already done so. The premier jazz festival lodging usual goes quickly so now would be the time to get your lodging in order.

Check out last years Winter Park Jazz Festival lineup.

This year marks our 30th year for the Winter Park Jazz Festival! Stay tuned for a line up and ticket sales. Want to be the first to find out about the Winter Park Jazz Festival? Follow the Winter Park Lodging Company FaceBook page for all the latest updates.

There are some rumors going around about who will be in this years jazz fest lineup. There are a couple of big names that you jazz lovers out there are not going to want to miss. This years festival will be held in Hideaway Park in WP as have the last seven years or so of shows.

There is a jazz festival part held up at Winter Park Resort on the Saturday after the first day of the show and that will be taking place again this year. The Winter Park Jazz Festival weekend is a full weekend of music, fun and sun in the mountains. We have had good weather the last few years and are hoping that trend continues.

Again, save the dates July 21 and July 22 for the Winter Park Jazz Festival and make sure to check out the best Winter Park Music Festival Rentals.

Winter Park Spring Splash

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Chris

Spring Splash at Winter Park Resort

The Coca Cola® Spring Splash is April 22nd this year celebrating the end of the 72nd ski season at Winter Park Resort. Spring Splash is a party at both sides of the Resort at Winter Park and Mary Jane.

On the Winter Park side:

Winter Park Resort’s Coca-Cola® Spring Splash is the oldest tradition of its kind and on its 44th year. Athletes begin at noon as spectators watch skiers and riders struggle through obstacles on the Larry Sale trail race course and attempt to skim across an icy pond to reach the finish line and post a time. Live music sets the tone for a closing day party that is fun for everyone! This is a family friendly fun time with music, giveaways with a festival like atmosphere.

On the Mary Jane Side:

It is rockin’ with a center stage and makeshift tail gate parties that lasts from early in the day till past sundown. Lots of locals sharing their best bbq, adult beverages and celebrating the end to another ski season is what you get at the Challenger lift just up from the base of Mary Jane. Jane side is not for the faint of heart as you will see all the good and bad of the youthful ski culture of today.

Make sure to get your spot picked out early on either the Winter Park or Mary Jane side as there is a very large crowd on both sides by 11am.

Looking for Winter Park Spring Splash lodging be sure to book now to get your first choice of accommodations.

Check out some of our photos from last years Winter Park Resort spring splash celebration. A whooping good time with sun and snow throughout the day.

Winter Park CO Spring Skiing

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Chris

Winter Park Mary Jane spring skiing deals

Photo by Scott Hefel

Spring Skiing Winter Park Mary Jane

The weather is starting to warm up some here Winter Park and we are in our snowiest month of the year, March. This means that the famous Colorado spring skiing is knocking at the door.

With the slow start of the snow falling this year this should can we will be getting great snow from mid March thru the very end of April and probably beyond into May. Not a great thing to hear for a mountain bike perspective but it should make for some of the best spring skiing conditions in years.

Spring is the best time of year to visit Winter Park Mary Jane Resort. The skies are blue and there is nothing more fun than Après on the patio of Lunch Rock or Club Car on the Jane side.

Lodging at Winter Park Resort is a great deal come April and most of the crowds are staying down in the lowlands. For those wanting to get the best skiing of the year spring is the time to head up to Winter Park.

The Winter Park Spring Splash is April 22 this year of 2012 and that is a day not to be missed. Usually great skiing and some of the best snow of the year should be around if things go as they have the last few years. March is the snowiest month here in WP and April is usually the third snowiest month of the year so there is always plenty of good skiing come springtime.

Check out the Winter Park Resort Lodging Lodging Deals and book now to get your first pick on your Mary Jane spring skiing vacation lodging digs.

Powder Addiction Backcountry Cat Skiing

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Chris

Cat Skiing in Winter Park, CO

Who out there is a skiing junky? We have the fix for you powder junky. Powder Addiction Backcountry Cat Skiing is the skiing drug you are looking for. Powder Addiction operates on Jones Pass on the East side of Berthoud Pass and runs daily snowcat skiing trips.

Powder Addiction offers guided snowcat skiing and riding for the powder addict. The terrain consist of high alpine bowls, gladed meadows, rock bands, open chutes and gullies. The high altitude combined with good Northern exposure keeps the snow cold and light. Operating in the Jones Pass area with an operating permit of 2,600 acres, there is the powder, vertical and adventure for an epic powder experience. Holding true to powder addiction trips are run seven days a week.

All Powder Addiction cat ski trips include transportation to and from the Village at Winter Park, powder demo skis, safety gear, lunch, and 2 free beers at the end of the day, compliments of Steamworks Brewery.

The above was a trip of Winter Park locals and a couple of Winter Park Lodging Company staffers playing a day of hooky. It was a little windy for the ski trip but boy was there some fantastic un-skied powder. The guides at Powder Addition know how to get un-skied fresh powder shots while offering a safe and fun trip. In the video above you can see the small avalanche that went before our ski crew hit that slope.

If you have any inclination to do any backcountry skiing you should look into a cat trip with PA. An amazing ski will be had and it is such a different skiing experience than can be a had at Winter Park/Mary Jane ski resort.

Looking for lodging and a deal on your Powder Addiction trip? Make sure to book your Winter Park ski lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company. And also book your Powder Addiction trip with WPLCo to get the best deal through our EasySki concierge service.

Check out the Powder Addiction website to get the lowdown.

The Smokehouse BBQ Winter Park, CO

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Chris

Winter Park, CO Restaurants

BBQ Winter Park Colorado

Winter Park has a new restaurant that opened this past weekend. The Smokehouse is located right on US Highway 40 (main street) in the building that housed Pizza Hut until the end of last ski season. Being true to the Smokehouse name all meat served are dry rubbed and slow smoked with natural, untreated applewood.

There are approximately 25 tables in the snazzy redone dinning room and a bar serving beer and wine. Favorites look to be pork ribs, Texas Style Brisket and the pulled pork shoulder. The Smokehouse BBQ is available for dine in , take out with catering options available.

The Smokehouse is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

The Smokhouse contact info:

phone 970.722.0227

website www.wpssmokehouse.com

Winter Park Resort Snow History

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Chris

Snowfall At Winter Park/Mary Jane

We have had an odd year of snowfall here in Winter Park, Colorado this 2011/2012 ski season but things are looking on the very bright side now, as this February been one snowy month. So far this year we have had 126″ of snow and that is low for this time of year. However, what a blessing this could turn to to be.

Winter Park and Mary Jane has averaged around 340″ of snow the past 11 years (during ski season). So what does this mean? Well, I’m reading the tea leaves with the idea that WP is in for some monster late winter and spring snowfalls. My prediction is that by the scheduled closing of WInter Park Resort on April 22 there will have been one 300″ of new snow at the Mary Jane snow station. That will be over 175″ of new snow in the next 10 weeks.

So look out! I’m saying we are going to have one of the best late winter anmd spring skiing seasons ever. We did all the snow dances, put the trail maps in the freezer and we are going to get the fluffy white snow falling all season long.

Here is snow history for last year and the ten years previous:

2010/11 SEASON
MONTH	SNOWFALL (INCHES)	PERCENT OF 10 YR. AVERAGE
October	18.0	246.4%
November	57.7	97.6%
December	51.1	82.8%
January	62.0	95.9%
February	58.6	101.8%
March	81.6	126.3%
April	59.0	156.9%
TOTAL	388.0	110.0%

And here are the previous 10 years of snowfall history at WInter PArk and Mary Jane:

PREVIOUS 10 SKI SEASONS

SNOWFALL (INCHES) / PERCENT OF 10 YR. AVERAGE
SEASON	OCT.	NOV.	DEC.	JAN.	FEB.	MARCH	APRIL	TOTAL
2000/1	3.0 / 58.9	76.2 / 120.1	82.1 / 135.8	45.4 / 66.9	65.5 / 114.6	57.3 / 84.8	32.5 / 85.3	362.0 / 100.5
2001/2	4.0 / 78.5	45.6 / 71.9	59.8 / 98.9	67.7 / 99.8	35.7 / 62.5	27.2 / 40.3	6.2 / 16.3	246.2 / 68.4
2002/3	28.2 / 553.3	71.6 / 112.9	52.0 / 86.0	37.6 / 55.4	68.1 / 119.2	114.2 / 169.0	39.0 / 102.4	410.7 / 114.1
2003/4	0 / 0	72.1 / 128.9	59.6 / 102.1	30.9 / 41.6	55.3 / 90.9	40.2 / 67.6	10.6 / 27.9	268.7 / 74.6
2004/5	18.0 / 365.8	48.2 / 75.6	38.3 / 63.4	47.5 / 71.3	43.1 / 75.5	68.1 / 102.2	29.5 / 79.4	292.7 / 82.0
2005/6	11.0 / 205.4	79.5 / 125.8	87.0 / 145.8	68.0 / 103.1	50.6 / 89.4	51.6 / 77.4	17.3 / 46.9	365.0 / 103.0
2006/7	42.0 / 758.3	28.2 / 44.2	54.1 / 89.3	28.2 / 42.7	69.6 / 123.4	46.7 / 70.6	33.7 / 93.0	302.5 / 85.3
2007/8	14.0 / 209.6	15.1 / 24.1	86.8 / 143.8	75.1 / 115.8	73.1 / 128.6	70.0 / 108.3	55.1 / 152.3	389.2 / 110.2
2008/9	7.0 / 101.4	34.6 / 56.5	93.2 / 152.4	73.5 / 112.8	59.3 / 103.4	41.2 / 62.7	70.0 / 190.5	378.8 / 107.0
2009/10	21.0 / 304.2	16.0 / 26.5	49.3 / 79.4	39.4 / 60.2	64.1 / 111.7	52.2 / 80.3	33.5 / 88.8	275.5 / 77.6
AVERAGES	14.8 / 121.5	48.7 / 118.5	66.2 / 77.2	51.3 / 120.8	58.4 / 100.3	56.9 / 143.5	32.7 / 180.2	329.1 / 117.9

So there is a silver lining to the slow snowfall start here in Winter Park: we will be getting a bunch of snow in the next two and a half months. Maybe some of the best ever spring skiing here in Winter Park, Colorado.

So make sure to get your Winter Park Spring Ski Lodging early and have some grate spring skiing fun.

NASTAR Winter Park Resort 2012

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Chris

NASTAR Ski Championships Winter Park, CO

The Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships and Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships combined to create The Championships presented by Nature Valley at Winter Park Resort, March 23-April 1. The NASTAR Championships are now a full week here at Winter Park/Mary Jane.

The NASTAR race course is a dual race course where skiers and riders can race side-by-side against friends and family or against the clock. The course is set on Lower Cranmer, just above Snoasis, making the race course accessible to all skiers and riders at an intermediate level or better. Groups of any size and nearly any skill level can enjoy a fun and spirited competition catered to their needs. Ski clubs and councils, business retreats, family reunions, school ski trips, and other groups should give our NASTAR race course a try. Using a pacesetting system, participants can compare their results to other racers of all ages and abilities from across the country as well as with members of the U.S. Ski Team.

NASTAR Winter Park Schedule of Events

March 23-25 The Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships
March 26 Return of the Champions Family Challenge and U.S. Ski Team reunion
March 27 U.S. Ski Team Pro-Am Team Race
March 28-April 1 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships

NASTAR racers must qualify for the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships within their age category, division and discipline at any NASTAR resort. There are more than 120 resorts that offer NASTAR racing and a top five rankings as of Feb. 21st at any resort qualifies racers for the Nationals. The overall Champions, fastest male and female, will earn forerunner positions for the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships GS and a trip to a U.S. Ski Team training camp.

Winter Park Lodging Company is offering 5th night free on stays of 5 nights or more or 15% off 2 to 4 night stays. So, make sure to book your NASTAR Winter Park lodging with WInter Park Lodging Company.

Airfare Deals to Get on the Winter Park Slopes – Feb 2012

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Chris

Cheap Flights to Denver and Winter Park, CO

We want to get you on the ski hills for cheap, cheap, cheap. We try to get you the best deal on lodging and with Winter Park Lodging Company’s EasySki service you get the most convenient, lowest prices on everything from lift tickets to ski rentals and ground transport from Denver International Airport. There are a couple things we can not control and that is airline flight costs and gas prices. But in our attempt to keep it cheep cheap cheap we bring you the monthly airfare watchdog with the best deals to DIA from around the country.

Winter Park/Mary Jane is the closest destination resort to DIA. With traffic clogging the Eisenhower Tunnel every weekend it will be a wise decision to get off of I-70 before the traffic gets bad and head over to Winter Park.

Check out the airfare watchdog for you deal to Winter Park, Colorado.

February Flight Deals as of 1/31/2012:

$79 RT	Amarillo, TX (AMA)
$230 RT	Atlanta, GA (ATL)
$148 RT	Austin, TX (AUS)
$172 RT	Chicago, IL (MDW)
$221 RT	Dallas, TX (DFW)
$238 RT	FT. Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
$170 RT	Houston, TX (IAH)
$180 RT	Indianapolis, IN (IND)
$139 RT	Kansas City, MO (MCI)
$199 RT	Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
$292 RT	New Orleans, LA (MSY)
$138 RT	Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)
$270 RT	Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
$161 RT	Rapid City, SD (RAP)
$172 RT	San Antonio, TX (SAT)
$202 RT	San Jose, CA (SJC)
$202 RT	St. Louis, MO (STL)
$202 RT	Tulsa, OK (TUL)
$161 RT	Wichita, Kansas (ICT)

Be sure to check with WPLCo for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park, CO for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Recipe of the Month: Slow Cooker Carnitas

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Chris

Carnitas Tacos

Are you looking for that perfect meal for the family that slow cooks all day while you are out on the ski slopes? Well, here is one of the best that we here at Winter Park Lodging Company have had this year. Slow Cooker Carnitas, with 15 minutes of prep time before you head out will result in a delicious meal for the whole family that is satisfying and simple to serve.

The popular “little meats” of Mexican cooking are traditionally made by slowly simmering large chunks of well-seasoned, sometimes marinated pork shoulder in hot lard, then coarsely chopping the meat and eating it wrapped in warm tortillas. In the following version, the fat content of the finished dish is dramatically diminished by simmering the meat in flavorful citrus juices. The results taste marvelously authentic. Add some tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole and some cold Coronas and you have a perfect after skiing feast.

Ingredients:

2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 boneless pork shoulder roast, 3 to 4 lb.
1/4 cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups Mexican lager-style beer (12oz)
Grated zest and juice of 1 large orange
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
1 Tbs. dried oregano

For serving:

Warm corn or flour tortillas
Lime wedges
Chopped yellow onion
Hot or mild salsa
Chopped fresh cilantro
Green Tabasco sauce

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the salt and pepper. Season the pork roast generously with the mixture.

In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the pork and cook, turning frequently until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and set aside.

Pour off all but a thin layer of fat in the pan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté just until they begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the beer and deglaze the pan, stirring and scraping up the browned bits from the pan bottom with a wooden spoon.

Oven method: Preheat an oven to 350°F. Transfer the pork to a large Dutch oven and pour in the beer mixture. Add the orange and lime zests and juices and the oregano. Cover and cook until the pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.

Slow-cooker method: Transfer the pork to a slow cooker and pour in the beer mixture. Add the orange and lime zests and juices and the oregano. Cover and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the pork is very tender, about 5 hours on high or 10 hours on low.

Transfer the pork to a carving board and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Using a large, shallow spoon or a ladle, skim as much fat as possible from the surface of the cooking liquid. Using a large, sharp knife and a fork, coarsely cut and shred the pork into small bite-size pieces.

Arrange the meat on a warmed platter or individual plates, moisten it lightly with the cooking juices, and serve immediately with the tortillas, lime wedges, chopped onion, salsa and cilantro. Serves 6 to 8.

Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s list of recipes of the month.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Slow Cooking, by Melanie Barnard, Charles Pierce & Denis Kelly (Oxmoor House, 2008).