Winter Park Resort Improvements for 2011/2012 Ski Season

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park/Mary Jane Upgrades 2011/12 Ski Season

Winter Park and Mary Jane are making some improvements for this coming ski season. Even with the economy in the doldrums the last few years ski visits in the US and particularly Colorado have been on the upswing.

According to National Ski Areas Association, the United States had more skier visits in 2010-11 than any previous ski season in history, surpassing the 60 million mark. Colorado resorts accounted for more of these visits than any other state in the nation with more than one in five skiers choosing to ski at a Colorado resort.

Winter Park Resort had a good year last year as well and the Resort is plowing the money earned back into the resort to improve the on hill experience. Beginner skiers will see the biggest improvment this year with the Sorenson Trail Bypass. Beginners will now have an easier trail to the Village at Winter Park with the opening of the new Sorensen Trail Bypass.

Winter Park/Mary Jane is also adding a new snowcat for the groomed runs. Other capital at the resort has been re-invested into improving existing infrastructure and services.

This year looks to be a great year in WP. The weather pattern is looking to be neutral or another La Nina year with the same weather pattern as last years epic snow fall.

So lets get ready for November 16th when Winter Park Resort opens for ski season. The summer has been nice but we are ready for some snow.

SIA Snow Show at Winter Park Resort, CO

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park, CO SIA On-Snow Demo and Festival

The SIA On-Snow Demo makes its return to Winter Park and the Fraser Valley for the third year. The alpine part of the show will be based at Winter Park Resort and the Cross Country will be out at Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

2012 On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest
Monday, January 30 | 9A – 4P
Tuesday, January 31 | 9A – 4P

The on snow demo follows the indoor show at the Denver Convention Center that runs from Thursday January 26th to Sunday January 29th.

In conjunction with Western Winter Sports Reps Association’s (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo and in partnership with Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA), buyers can try out the latest gear for ski, snowboard, AT/tele, backcountry, cross country and snowshoe while all other attendees can get some time on the hill with the brands, reps and media. Attendees of the SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest get free lift tickets and entry to Winter Park and Devil’s Thumb.

The 2nd annual (2011) SIA On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch wrapped up with a record turn-out of 1,750 buyers and two days filled with gear testing, parties and a little competition among friends. The Demo provides the perfect transition onto the slopes after four days of meetings and product demos at the SIA Snow Show in Denver, Colorado. During the two-day Ski-Ride Fest, snow sports retailers and media tested out gear and accessories they just previewed at the Show including ski, snowboard, AT, telemark and backcountry products.

The last two years were packed and lodging was scarce that SIA weekend. Make sure to book your SIA on snow demo lodging now to get the accommodations you will need. This year looks to be bigger with more attendees and more new ski and board products. Plan ahead and plan on a good time at the Winter Park SIAOn-Snow Demo and Festival.

Winter Park Resort Opening Day Ski Season 2011/2012

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park, CO and Mary Jane Opening Day Ski Season 2011

Summer is still upon us here in Winter Park, but the bite of fall can and already has been felt. There are even some clumps of aspen trees that are already changing to yellow. And what does all this mean? It is time to get ready for the opening of Winter Park and Mary Jane.

This year opening day is Wednesday, November 16th 2011 at 9am. Let the countdown begin! Last year we had an incredible opening with 7 inches of snow the night before opening and that led the way with a great snow season all year long. Let us rejoice in La Nina. The La Nina weather is supposed to stay with us through early winter and into the new year and we can only hope that it brings us the snow of last year. It looks like we may have an ENSO Neutral, or weak La Nina in store for the fall/ winter period.

So as of today we have 97 days until the slopes of Winter Park are open for our skiing pleasure. In that time we will get to see the newest Warren Miller ski movie, hit up Sniagrab for the some new ski schwag and hit the gym for the preseason ski conditioning classes. Don’t forget to get you Winter Park/Mary Jane season ski pass before it is too late, 97 days we will be gone before you know it.

Wednesday, November 16th 2011 is the opening day for Winter Park Resort.

Hallelujah.

Spring Spash 2011 at Winter Park Resort

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Valarie

When you see two guys skiing in jock straps, you know something crazy must be going on. Not to mention a bunch of people lining up to ski an obstacle course with a pond at the finish line. At least the guy in the bunny costume was thinking about staying warm and dry!

Happy Spring Splash Winter Park. Mud season has officially started with the end of the fabulous 2010/2010 ski season. What a celebration. Now, let the sun shine, the trails dry quickly and the mountain biking begin!

Spring Skiing Winter Park Resort

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado April Spring Skiing

The snow has been just unbelievable this spring and the storms keep on coming in. Here is a video of some of the skiing that we have had here in Winter Park this April. It is a good thing that Winter Park/Mary Jane os open a week later than the past few years as the storms look to keep on dropping this fluffy white powder right through closing day and hopefully we will have POW day Winter Park Spring Splash.

The video was shot the first week of April after a nice dump of 11″ of snow that closed Berthoud Pass and left a play day for those that were here. Skiing are some of Winter Park’s finest residents: Nick Meyer, Chas McConnell, Kelly Glancy, Sarah Bradford and one of the not so finest, me. The snow was deep, fresh and untracked and was a great day all around. The whole of Winter Park and Mary Jane were exquisite but we were skiing the front side of Eagle Wind, Bella Fourche and my favorite The Weather Station Cliffs.

April is the unknown ski month here in Colorado. The weather is a little warmer and snow is usually a bit wetter. We can get some very big snow storms moving through and it is a great time to be on the ski hill. April is usually the third snowiest month in Colorado behind March and December. If you are looking to have a good time skiing when the big ski resort prices drop, April is the time to come.

Here is to spring skiing!

Children Skiing Winter Park Resort, Colorado

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Chris

Learning to Ski Winter Park, CO

Here is out latest ski video here at Winter Park Resort, Colorado’s Favorite. We are highlighting children and the youngsters learning to swoosh down the hill this segment. The above video is staring WPLCo’s very own and my very own twins, Nicholas & Willem. This is Nicholas & Willem’s second year skiing and they are now able to ski from the very top of Winter Park Resort to the very bottom with only a little help from mom and dad.

The Winter Park Ski School and ski teacher Rosie have done great work with these two little tykes this year. The boys took a a series of four ski lessons with Rosie this January that totally turned around the skiing learning curve. They wen’t from heading straight downhill with no interest in slowing, stopping or turning to being able ski freely downhill stopping on command and turning pretty much anywhere they would like to go.

If you have kids or have someone that is learning to ski, Winter Park Ski School is a great investment of your time and money. A couple of days with group or private lessons will turn your skiing/boarding skills around and get you enjoying being on the slopes. As we learned with our twins trying to teach your kids yourself usually is not a good idea time-wise or for family unity. Going skiing with kids let a professional teach them and parents can have a peace of mind that they are being taken care of and being taught the proper way to ski and board.

Check out Nicholas and Willem skiing Winter Park at 2 years of age and look how far the little boogers have progressed.

Spring Splash at Winter Park Resort

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Chris

Spring Skiing Winter Park, Colorado

Spring break time is here and it seems the weather has heard and we are now in full spring skiing swing. We here at WInter Park Lodging Company were able to get out to the slopes and we hit 40°. There is nothing betetr than skiing with a light jacket and sunglasses. Check out the Winter Park mascot, ZB, to the right sporting all his spring skiing duds in celebration of old man winter hitting the road.

Here is what is in store for the next forty days of ski season her in Winter Park, Colorado:

There is a lot of fun things to do besides spring sliing here in Winter Park, CO but lets face it we are here for the skiing! The season ending Winter Park Resort Spring Splash this year will be on April 24th, Easter Sunday funday.

If Y’all haven’t made it up to Splash, as it is known locally, you are missing out. THere is pond skimming and lots of family fun on the WInter Park side of the resort. As for Mary Jane we have the party of the year for locals and all those that want to say goodbye to a close to perfect ski season.

Now that spring has sprung get up to Winter Park for the best skiing of the year. The weather is here wish yo were beautiful, or something like that. Head on up to WP and don’t forget the sunglasses and sunscreen!

Winter Park Resort Closing Day 2011 Ski Season

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Chris

Closing Day Winter Park and Mary Jane

Winter Park’s closing day for this 2010/2011 ski season is a bit later than usual. WP will stay open through most of April, for hopefully some huge spring snow storms, and close on April 24th – Easter Sunday. That is right Winter Park will be open through almost all of April this year.

Best time to ski Winter Park/Mary Jane? That would be late March and April. Really April this year because so many schools spring breaks go into the first week of April. That means there are three weeks of blue sky, fresh powder, slopes to yourself skiing for those coming up to stay in April.

The last few years some of the best snow and best skiing has been on the very last weekend that Winter Park and Mary Jane was open. This year we have a whole extra week to let mother nature dump some fluffy white and give some blue skies for our skiing pleasure. And what a great way to celebrate Easter this year, skiing Mary Jane and heading to C lot for the end of ski season celebration, Winter Park Spring Splash.

The lodging is cheap, the snow is plentiful, and the skies are blue come up and stay with Winter Park Lodging Company and celebrate spring with some great spring skiing. In April of 2008/09 ski season we received 70 inches of snow when WInter Park Resort was open. That is 70 inches in 17 days that year! Lets do a snow dance and hope this year can repeat that snowfall.

Powder Addiction Snow Cat Skiing Video

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Chris

Back Country Cat Skiing Winter Park, Colorado

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company were able to finally get out and take our first, this year, snow cat skiing trip with Powder Addiction. Some very fun skiing and we had great weather and snow conditions. The trip was full with eleven guys and a gal with the cat driver and two powder guides. It was Winter Park local day at Powder Addiction.

It was almost everyones first trip cat skiing and there were some serious rippin’ skiers and boarders for all being newbies. The guides were Greg, Hogo with Mr. Adam Burke taking the control of the snow cat. I didn’t get all the names of the ski crew but I know I was there with, Pam, Nigel, Dave (dt), Paul, Pete birthday boy), Ryan, CW and Jeremy. I think we did about ten runs and we were all pretty worked at the end of the day. As I said it was a great day of skiing.

Tee above video was shot with the Contour HD 1080p helmet cam. The compression that You Tube does doesn’t do the quality of footage justice. Anywho, take a watch of the ski video I hope it gets you psyched to do some skiing. Most of the footage in the video is shot on the lower half of Jones Pass as I think tree skiing come across a little better on video. Artists on the video are Sun 60, X, Jesus and the Mary Chain and The Sugarcubes.

If you have not been Cat Skiing or haven’t been up to Jones Pass with Powder Addiction you are missing out. Just an hour drive from Denver this is some of the best skiing to be found in all of Colorado. As Warren Miller says” if you don’t do it this year, you will just be another year older when you do”.

Presidents Day Skiing at Winter Park and Mark Jane

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Ski Video

The busiest weekend of the year has come and gone but we have some video to commemorate Presidents Day weekend here in Winter Park and Mary Jane. The weather was absolutely fantastic for this years Pres. Day weekend with a bunch of new snow on Wed and Thurs before and blue sky sunny days all weekend long.

We had lots of guests here to enjoy the Winter Park Lodging Company’s digs and we even had some family visiting. Relatives from Minnesota way here to enjoy the three day weekend and they were very happy with the snow/weather conditions. Crowds were not that bad if you know how to travel Winter Park and Mary Jane and steep slopes with threes and boulders seems to keep the crowds down.

The above ski video is shot on Cheshire Cat, Pine Cliffs, and Buckaroo Trees. As you can see most of the skiing is on untracked lines with almost perfect weather. Skiing is done by Michael Allen and Mark Allen of Rochester, Minnesota. Camera work and skiing is by yours truly as is movie production and editing. So if you think the skiing and/or movie isn’t up to snuff leave your thoughts below.

This is our first movie created in Apple’s Final Cut so I’m just getting a handle on the complexity of this technology, almost like putting a machine gun in a toddlers hands. It may be a tad more power than is needed for our purpose but you can really create some cool videos. Music is an old, old favorite – Guadalcanal Diary from Athens, GA.

We have been doing quite a bit of skiing this past week with a Powder Addiction cat ski trip and have taken the Winter Park Lodging Company mascot twins to WP Resort a few time this past week. I will be working on a Powder Addiction video as well as a learning to ski at Winter Park video. I know Y’all are holding your breath. Anywho, stay tuned for some WPLCo skiing action.

And as Warren Miller says get out on the slopes because if you don’t do it this year you will only be another year older when you do.