Exercise to Prepare for Ski Season if You Don’t Ski Winter Park Resort

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Chris

Ski Prep for those NOT coming to Winter Park Resort

We have a bit of a comical exercise program for all those that are planning to ski somewhere other than Winter Park Resort. While skiing can be a trying endeavor for all it is much more convenient and easier on the wallet here at Winter Park Resort.

SO if you plan on hitting the hills this year make sure you come to Winter Park, Colorado to avoid the exercise regimen below:

1. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for a half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 dollar bills to warm up.

2. Soak your gloves and store them in the freezer after every use.

3. Fasten a small, wide rubber band around the top half of your head before you go to bed each night.

4. If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses.

5. Throw a hundred dollar bill away-now.

6. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car and sporadically drop things.

7. Place a small but angular pebble in your shoes, line them with crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes.

8. Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.

9. Secure one of your ankles to a bed post and ask a friend to run into you at high speed.

10. Go to McDonald’s and insist on paying $13.50 for a hamburger. Be sure you are in the longest line.

11. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.

12. Drive slowly for five hours – anywhere – as long as it’s in a snowstorm and you’re following an 18 wheeler.

13. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. Let it drip into your clothes.

14. Dress up in as many clothes as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.

15. Slam your thumb in a car door. Don’t go see a doctor.

16. Repeat all of the above every Saturday and Sunday until it’s time for the real thing.

The real thing would be November 16th, 2011 at Winter Park Resort this year. So book your lodging now with Winter Park Lodging Company and avoid the painful exercises above.

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.

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 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!

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.

Winter Park Resort Private Lesson Deals

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park private ski lesson deals Winter Park Ski School Deals

The Winter Park Resort Private Lesson Center continues to receive rave reviews! Presidents weekend is right around the corner and the skiing is looking to be fantastic the rest of February and March.

The Winter Park Private Lesson Center has many new promotions that they will be offering Private Lesson Guest from he Thursday before Presidents weekend February 17, 2011 and will run through the end of March. Please feel free to stop by the PLC with any questions.

- The new online rate for the Full Day Private Lesson will be $499; No other discounts apply.

- There will be a $25 discount for ALL Full Day Private Lessons booked 7 days in advance over the phone.

- All Season Pass holders will be offered last year’s rates at $489 for the full day and $365 for the half day if they book their lesson(s) by February 28, 2011; no other discounts apply.

- If 3 consecutive half day lessons are reserved 48 hours in advance online or 7 days in advance by phone the guest will get the three lessons for a total of $1035; that’s $345 each lesson.

If you are looking to improve your skiing or have just taken up the sport, there is not a better way to improve than a private lesson at Winter Park Resort. Group private lessons are also a great way for the family to experience the thrill of skiing together and improving your skiing and boarding skills. winter park resort ski instruction

Ask for Tom Gulden (pictured at right) one of our favorite Winter Park Resort private ski instructors or one of the other Winter Park Lodging Company recommended private ski instructors.

La Nina has delivered a wintery punch this season with incredible snow conditions at Winter Park and Mary Jane. Check out the snow conditions, lodging deals, photos and videos at winterparklodgingcompany.com.

Mary Jane and Winter Park Ski Video

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Chris

Mary Jane Powder, Bumps & Trees

It is time for another Winter Park Lodging Company ski video. We have been getting so much great snow this year the video opportunities have been close to endless. We have not been crushed by a huge storm this year in Winter Park but we have been getting a steady flow of good shots of moisture. It’s been 10 inches, 7 inches, 8 inches, 13 inches of snow about two to three days each week. Truly, this has been the best start to a ski season that I have seen in the last fifteen years.

Anywho, the above video is another after about eight inches of snow on a really cold day. Temperature high for the day was maybe 5 degrees at Winter Park Village. It was so cold the snow was screeching at us and was kinda sticky. I finally had someone else wear the camera besides me and Mr. Ed was the lucky guy who got to film my exploits. We skied Little Ten under the Challenger lift and Rainbow Cut on the video.

Demo skis were from the Mountain Adventure Center in the Winter Park Village and courtesy of Winter Park Resort Base Rentals – Thank You! Ed and I were both on Salomon Shoguns. A little rippen’ ski that liked the powder and wanted to turn a bunch. With the cold temps and sticky snow it was a little tough telling what the ski could do until later in the day.

The song is Road Rage by Catatonia, an old favorite, and iI think it kind of gets the mood of the skiing that day. The movie was created in iMovie by Apple.

Hope you enjoy the video and it gets the skiing juices going enough to head up to Winter Park and Mary Jane and hit the slopes. If you are looking for lodging up in the Winter Park area make sure to Winter Park Lodging Company a shout.

Demo Skis at Winter Park Resort

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris

Mountain Adventure Center Winter Park CO ski demo sales Winter Park CO

Winter Park Resort Ski Rentals

Looking to demo some skis? Want to spend a day trying out some of the latest and greatest skis on the market? Winter Park Base Rentals and the Mountain Adventure Center offer some great demo skis and rentals and are very conveniently located in the Winter Park Resort Base.

We recently tried out a couple of pairs from the MAC (Mountain Adventure Center) and the staff was knowledgeable and very friendly. Charles was the man who steered me to a pair of Volkl Bridges that just screamed thru the trees and bumps and asked for more. Next day there was a bunch of powder and we took out a pair of the Salomon Shoguns for some great fun and a rippen ski that floated in the powder.

Check out the demo ski selection that they have at the MAC. The staff must get to ski these skis because they knew exactly what ski would be best for that particular days snow conditions. My favorites so far this year are the Rossignol S86, the above mentioned Salomon Shogun and the Rossignol S3. all are great skis that want to rip up the mountain. The demo package is about $50 a day and is well worth it especially if you are looking to purchase a pair of skis. One of the best ways to do the demo package is take out a pair in the morning and at lunch come back down and try out another pair. The MAC will let you switch out the demos to get a feel for the some different skis.

The Mountain Adventure Center is conveniently located in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge Riverside building and steps from the Zephyr Express chairlift. The MAC offers the latest demo skis from Salomon, Rossignol, K2, Head and Nordica. Try before you buy – Try one or try them all, you can exchange between models all day long for no extra charge. Find something you like? Apply up to 2 days rental to the cost of a new pair of skis! Open daily from 8AM – 6PM.

It would be nice to own a pair of skis for each days snow conditions but that gets a bit expensive. Let Winter Park Base Rentals and the MAC keep you on the skis that work best for your day. My buddies ask when I’m going to fill my quiver with another new ski. No need with the Mountain Adventure Center keeping the best skis on hand.

Winter Park, Colorado New Year Skiing

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Chris

winter park resort skiing Mary Jane CO skiing

mary jane co lifts

bump skiing mary jane co

Winter Park & Mary Jane Skiing

We have had unbelievable skiing so far in 2011. We started the new year out with some frigid days but the cold has left and the skiing has been great. The above photos are all from the Monday after the New Year with blue skies, sun on the shoulders and five inches of fresh powder. The storms are lined up this week to drop a couple of inches every other day until the coming weekend and then we are looking for another ten or more inch dump this weekend.

The Mary Jane chutes have been open for a day here and a day there with Runaway open the last couple weeks. Eagle Wind lift has been running the last couple of weeks and the skiing over there has been tremendous.

If you are looking to ski now is the time. Winter Park Lodging Company is offering the deal of the year for bookings made before Jan 15th. Buy one night of lodging and get the next night free. Half price to come up to Winter Park and Mary Jane and ski your heart out. Or go sledding, soak in the hot tub or have a night out with the wife and family at one of Winter Park’s fine restaurants. Lots of things to do here in WP and if you have three weeks or so you can fit them all in and what a blast of three weeks that would be.

Anywho, it is all about skiing this time of year and the ski conditions and weather have been cooperating. Winter Park and Mary Jane now have great conditions for skiing!