US Alpine Ski Championships Return to Colorado at Winter Park Resort

US Alpine Ski Championships 2011

Winter Park Resort will bring the US Alpine Ski Championships back to Colorado for the first time since 1994 this spring 2011.

The four-day series opens Thursday, March 31, with mens giant slalom, followed by womens GS on April 1, mens and womens super G on April 2 and finally slalom on April 3. The U.S. downhill championship will be held earlier in the winter in conjunction with the NorAm stop at Aspen, on Feb. 16, in order to ensure solid winter snow conditions.

Winter Park hosted a string of championships from 1992-94 and has been an integral host to early season technical races on the NorAm circuit for over a decade. The U.S. Alpine Championships opens the weekend following the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships, a culmination of the largest recreational ski and snowboard race program in the world.

Expected to race at the championships is Lindsey Vonn, pictured above.  And in addition to top local ski racers, celebrity athletes expected to compete besides Olympic medalists Lindsey Vonn of Vail are Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley, Calif., Ted Ligety of Park City, Utah and Andrew Weibrecht of Lake Placid, N.Y.

2011 U.S. Alpine Championships at Winter Park Resort Colorado

Wednesday, Feb. 16: Men’s and Women’s downhill*
Thursday, March 31: Men’s giant slalom
Friday, April 1: Women’s giant slalom
Saturday, April 2: Men’s and Women’s super G
Sunday, April 3: Men’s and Women’s slalom
*The U.S. downhill championships will take place at Aspen

The last few years the snow has been great in late March and April. Now is the time to plan your ski trip and take in the US Alpine Ski Championships.

Crankworx Colorado at Winter Park Resort

Crankworks Colorado

Crankworx is here at Winter Park Resort this week starting Thursday the 29th.  This is the premier downhill bike festival in the United States and if you have not had a chance to check it out, you are missing out.

Crankworx Winter Park Colorado

Check out the above link to get an idea of what the downhill course is like at Trestle Bike Park that the athletes will be riding.  We here at Winter Park Lodging Company had a chance last week to give Trestle Bike Park a ride and it is a rush and those that are professional in this sport are amazing athletes.

Here is the schedule of events for Crankworks Colorado 2010:

Thursday, July 29

Dual Slalom

Slopestyle Qualifiers

Friday, July 30

Super Downhill

Best Trick

Saturday, July 31

Cross Country

Slopestyle Finals

Sunday, August 1

UCI/PRO GRT Downhill

This is one of the coolest festivals of the year with a great feel, live music, great athletes and Trestle Bike Park is open so you can give the downhill bike a try and see what all the rage is about.

While the temperatures are hitting the high 90′s down in Denver and Boulder here in Winter Park we are in the 70′s and 80′s with nice cool night temps of 50 or so and surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains.  Lots to do up here this time of year. If you have any appreciation of bicycles at all you do not want to miss Crankworx.  This is the bike festival of the year!

Take a Carriage Ride around Winter Park

Cooper Creek Square has started a new, fun activity for the summer – carriage rides. And guess, what? They’re FREE.

Grab the fam and head down to the Cooper Creek Square outdoor mall in downtown Winter Park on Saturday afternoons from 1-3 pm or from 5:30-7:30pm. Then hop in a buggy for a horse-drawn carriage ride around town.  

While you’re waiting for a ride, there will also be face painting, street performers and musicians for a full evening of entertainment.

Of course, there’s also lots of great shops for souveniers – jewelry, Winter Park memorabilia and even women’s fashion clothing. If you get hungry, you can eat at one of the Cooper Creek restaurants, including the Mountain Grind Cafe & Bistro, New Hong Kong Chinese and India Star (with an excellent lunch buffet).

Every Saturday of the summer you can enjoy the free carriage rides and entertainment and every Friday, check out Music on the Mall with great live music on the patio. Have a great summer in Winter Park!

Crankworx Colorado Bike Festival

Crankworx Winter Park, CO

Crankworx Colorado is again back at Winter Park Resort this year and this is the premier bicycle festival of the year in Colorado.

Crankworx Colorado is one of the largest gravity-fueled mountain bike festivals in the United States. Come up and check out the action for FREE*!! During four intense days, spectators are awed by some of the world’s best mountain bike athletes battling it out for over $35,000 in prizes. Some of the biggest names in mountain biking like Semenuk, Basagoitia, McCaul, and Berrecloth will be on site. Don’t miss the mountain biking event of the summer; make your plans now. You won’t regret it.

Crankworx Colorado is Intrawest’s US version of the Whistler BC’s Kokanee Crankworx. This is the premier downhill biking event in the world.

Last year the all the lodging booked up at the Winter Park Resort base, closest lodging to the Crankworx area, and this year is looking like the same will happen.  Book your lodging now to get the convenient digs for the bike fest.

Schedule of events is as follows:

2010 Crankworx Schedule

Thursday, July 29

Dual Slalom

Slopestyle Qualifiers

Friday, July 30

Super Downhill

Best Trick

Saturday, July 31

Cross Country

Slopestyle Finals

Sunday, August 1

UCI/PRO GRT Downhill

If you have never seen or heard of Crankworx you are missing out.  There are some amazing athletes and these guys do some crazy stuff on a bicycle.  If you have kids they will surely be able to tell you what this whole Crankworx thing is all about.

Again book your lodging now for a great time and a great festival in the mountains.  Let Winter Park Lodging Company take care of all your Winter Park CO lodging needs so you can Play Hard, Rest Easy.

Winter Park, CO Music Festivals

Summer Music in Winter Park Colorado

Music is in the air this year in Winter Park, Colorado.  The big festivals are back and there is a smattering of some new events to make this a great year up here in Rockies.  There will be jazz, blues, rock and country festivals through the season at the Hideaway Park venue in downtown Winter Park, CO.

The Winter Park Jazz Festival - A Colorado tradition for over 20 years and it just keeps on getting stronger.  This year featuring Chaka Khan and Norman Browns Summer Storm. The Jazz Festival is the premier summer jazz fest in the Rocky Mountain region.

Blues From The Top Music Festival – From the Grand County Blues Society this is one rockin’ show that blues lovers do not want to miss.  Tis’ is a full weekend of music with a Friday night show at Smokin’ Moe’s to get the party started right.

The Fox Classic Rock Music Festival – Featuring that ‘80′s hit producing machine Night Ranger, tell me you don’t remember the high school classic Sister Christian.  Come out for a day of Music, Food, Beer Pavilion, Vendors and Fun.  103.5 The Fox brings a GREAT line up of music and fun.  Gates and Vendors open at 10 am for this FREE EVENT!  Yes it is free, not something you hear very often when it comes to live music!  Show is 8/7/2010 from noon to 6PM. Contact winter Park Lodging Company for your tickets.

KYGO High Country Music Festival – Another free festival featuring Chris Cagle, The Josh Abbott Band and Kory Brunson. No editorializing here as I’m not a Country Music aficionado. I bet though it would be a great time and a lot cheaper than the $300.00 U2 is getting for their Denver show this summer.

There is also the season long High Note Thursday free shows in Hideaway Park. Artists have not been released yet.  Also there is the season ling Fraser Picnic In The Park Series with Denver and local artists.

We have a lot of music going on up here in winter Park, CO along with great weather and more outdoor activities than you could name.

Come have a great summer time in Winter Park, Colorado.

See Winter Park Lodging Company for tickets to all events and the best music lodging available.

Winter Park Colorado Fourth of July

4th of July in the Colorado Rockies

Looking for somewhere to spend the fourth of July weekend up in the Colorado mountains? Winter Park is the place to be for fourth of July. Come celebrate summer in Winter Park and the Fraser Valley this 4th of July Weekend.

There are a bunch activities happening, including the long-going Rendezvous Run for Independence, the Hi Country Stampede Rodeo and of course the spectacular fireworks display.  There is also a great fireworks display over in Grand Lake, a short 25 minute drive from the friendly confines of Winter Park and Fraser.

Sunday, July 4th
3:00pm – 10:00pm
Every year, locals and visitors alike bring their families, BBQs and blankets to the Fraser Ball-fields to play & relax out in the gorgeous mountain air for the 4th of July. Kids run & play on the huge grassy fields, live music sounds for listening and dancing, and everyone enjoys the day as we wait for the spectacular fireworks display at nightfall. At the Fraser Ball-fields, just north of the town of Fraser. For more information call the Winter Park & Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce 800-903-7275 or 970-726-4118.

Grand Lake Fireworks
Grand Lake boasts the largest fireworks display in Colorado on the 4th of July, with gorgeous colors exploding over and reflecting in the lakes.

Run for Independence
Saturday, July 3rd
8:00am – whenever the last racer crosses the finish line!
This is a five-mile race course from the base of Winter Park Resort to the Town of Fraser. With an elevation loss of over 600 feet, anyone can enjoy walking or running on the scenic and paved Fraser River Trail to help raise money for the Scott Hughes Endowment Fund. This foundation provides scholarships for children on kidney dialysis to attend Camp Chief Ouray at Snow Mountain Ranch-YMCA of the Rockies. Registration will be available online soon or you can register at the starting line from 8:00am – 9:00am at Winter Park Resort. For more information call the Winter Park & Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce 800-903-7275 or 970-726-4118.

These are only a few of the activities that can be had here in Winter Park for the 4th of July weekend.  Check out Winter Park Lodging Companies full activity schedule for this years Fourth of July in Winter Park Colorado.

United States Mountain Bike National Championships at Solvista

2010 US Mountain Bike Championships Winter Park

The United States Mountain Bike Championships are making a return to Solvista ski and golf club for the second year.  This a huge event for the Winter Park area and Solvista specifically, another feather in the cap for “Mountain Bike Capitol, USA”

SolVista Bike Park is proud to host the 2010 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Granby, Colorado.  On July 15-18. 2010 thousands of professional and amateur races will come battle it out on world class terrain in Cross Country, Downhill, Super-D, Mountain Cross and Short Track races.

The four day event will be held on July 15th thru 18th, 2010.  It is a great way to see some spectacular athletes competing on some great terrain.  It also is a good week to bring up the n=bike and do some great riding and check out the event.

The resort will again host national championships for downhill, cross country and four cross events for elite, junior, master and amateur categories.

Sol Vista has huge potential. They’re going to tweak some things in the basin area this year. For example, they will re-do the cross country course, so you’ll be able to see more of it as your watching.

SolVista move the expo area over and open the main area up for teams and vendors. Hopefully, it’ll be even more of a festival like atmosphere than last year.

In an effort to reduce the contracting and administrative logistics involved in constantly moving the nationals, USAC has been moving toward a model in which hosts serve as venues for multiple years, though perhaps for different disciplines.

Hopefully, we will see SolVista hosting these championships in years to come. SolVist Bike Park is a great venue and the exposure it brings to the Winter park area for mountain biking is fantastic.

To keep up to date on the schedule for the Us Mountain Bike Championships got to www.solvistanationals.com for info.  As of April 2010 the info is still about the 2009 event.

For lodging to the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Championships check out Winter Park Lodging Company rentals.

Winter Park Colorado Mountain Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Looking for something to do in to celebrate Mardi Gras?  Well look no further, there is much to do up here in Winter Park, Colorado and this is the perfect time to head to the hills and get away from the February blues.  The snow is falling and we should have around ten inches of new snow by this coming Monday, Feb 8th, if the forecasts are to be believed.  So come check out the Winter Park Mountain Mardi Gras.

Saturday February13

12:00-5:00pm at the Winter Park Village

High Altitude Style! Come join the party in the Village to celebrate this New Orleans tradition Winter Park-style! This event features bands, street performers, festive decorations, food and plenty of beads to go around!

Music (in Starbucks Plaza)

12:00pm-1:00pm:  Louisiana Clan Dogs
1:20pm-2:20pm:  Aden Harrell & Friends Jazz Quartet
2:40pm-3:40pm:  Otones Brass Band
4:00pm-5:00pm:  Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe
Performers (throughout the Village)

12:00pm-5:00pm:  Salida Circus Performers (includes flame throwers, jugglers, trapeze artists, jesters & unicyclists)
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Face-Painting and Caricature Drawings
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Children’s Crafts – masks and crowns
1:00pm-3:00pm:  Giant Puppetry
2:00pm-4:00pm:  Ear2Ear Photobooth

Food (in Starbucks Plaza)

Jambalaya, crawfish, etouffee, gumbo, crepes, bread pudding and beignets provided by Village restaurants

FAT Tuesday February 16th

• 6:30-8:30pm – Mardi Gras Parade at Cooper Creek
Square: Come in costume and participate in Fat Tuesday
(Winter Park style) in the shortest, craziest, coldest
Mardi Gras Parade on Earth!
• 9pm – The Grand County Blues Society presents
Trampled Under Foot w/Samantha Fish at Smokin Moes

All of this to be had while trying to get in all the runs at Winter Park and Mary Jane Resorts.

“Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez”

Winter Park, CO Winter Carnival

Winter Park Winter Carnival

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Winter Park Resort are putting on a carnival celebration for the 70th anniversary of skiing at Winter Park Resort.  On the January 22nd through January 24th there will be a Winter Carnival celebration at Winter Park Resort in the Town of Winter Park and at Grand Park in Fraser.

The Celebration will include:

Winter Park Resort

• Mary Jane’s Birthday Bash
• Winter Park’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
• 26th Annual Chef’s Cup
• Pancakes, snow sculptures, snow golf, live music

Downtown Winter Park

• Snowshoe Hikes
• PlayZone
• Human Bowling
• Lighted Parade including you and your pet!

Grand Park Saturday January 23, 2010:

Sled Dog races (Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club Inc.):

9am (8-Dog Sled Race)

10:30am (6-Dog Sled Race and 2-Dog Skijor)

12pm (4-Dog Sled Race and 1-Dog Skijor)

Dog Agilities: 10am, 11:30am

Grand County Pet Pals Stomp & Romp: 1:30pm-4pm

Skijoring Clinic: 2-3pm

The Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District is hosting the Grand Park Community Recreation Center Grand Opening: 10am-3pm Offering public tours, mini-exhibits, free coffee, cocoa and cookies

Other activities during the day:

Kids dog sled rides

Silent Auction for Pet Pals

Bon Fire/S’Mores/Hot Chocolate

Retail Vendors

Food Vendors

Grand Park Sunday January 24, 2010:

Dog races (Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club Inc.):

9am (8-Dog Sled Race)

10:30am (6-Dog Sled Race and 2-Dog Skijor)

12pm (4-Dog Sled Race and 1-Dog Skijor)

Awards to follow

Exceler8s at Winter Park Ski Resort

Exceler8s Festival Winter Park

The second annual Excler8s Festival will be held at Winter Park Resort February 24 – 26, 2010.  What is the Exceler8s festival? Well, here is from their website:

The Exceler8s Festival seeks to bring the community together in support of The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River Basin Project for a 2 ½-day charity ski event. While giving back to this organization, participants will have the option of having fun on the slopes of Winter Park Resort or experiencing the challenges of Jones Pass with guided back-country and Cat skiing.

The Exceler8s Festival is a fundraiser for the Colorado River Project.

Sounds like a good time for a worthy cause.  Ski Jones Pass with Powder Addiction or make some turns at Winter Park Resort in late February?  That is just up our alley here at Winter Park Lodging Company.  We wish the Ecceler8s team success with their second annual festival and hope they are able to raise lots of dinero for the Colorado River Project.

Good Luck!