She’s Baaaaack! The National Weather Prediction Center has made an updated outlook on the La Niña weather pattern for fall and winter 2011/2012.  Looking like we are in for another strong La Niña weather pattern bring some great snowfall.  Come on La Niña, you little b****.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center officially upgraded the La Nina Watch to a La Niña Advisory, which in essence means La Nina conditions are forecast to return for the fall and winter.

During September-November 2011, there is evidence that La Niña favors an increased chance of above-average temperatures across the mid-section of the country, and an increased chance of above-average precipitation for the Central and Northern Rockies.

Forecasters said La Niña contributed to extreme weather around the globe during the first half of this year and then faded, but has now re-emerged and is expected to gradually strengthen and continue into winter.

NOAA says there is a standing 50 percent chance of a secondary La Niña to follow a strong event as we had last winter. Usually the second dip is weaker than the first.

That said, last fall and winter didn’t really follow a typical La Nina script – La Niña didn’t really rev up until February and March. Perhaps this winter could be different since we have a head start now.

So, it’s good news for skiers, snowboarders, and rain lovers. It’s not good news for the south because La Niña has the opposite effect of maintaining very dry weather there. La Niña‘s also typically enhance the hurricane season, as we’ve already seen this year.  If the La Niña of last year could be followed by another early one this year we will be looking at some great skiing.

Winter Park Resort had a great snow year last ski season with snow early and late combined a steady flow of storms.  We did not have that one huge storm that we have become accustom to but the good flow of storms more than made up for that.

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.

Opening day is upon us this week and the snow should be the best opening day snow that we have had in years.  What does Winter Park and Mary Jane have new this year and what is to be expected from this 72nd ski season here at The Winter Park Resort?

Winter Park is in year two with its joint cloud seeding program with Denver Water.  This La Niña year should prove to be more worthwhile than last years cloud seeding and poor snow results.

Are you excited for ski season?  Well, here is a top 10 list of why to get excited about Winter Park and Mary Jane this year (from Sky Hi Daily News).

10 Reasons to get pumped about ski season 72 at Winter Park Ski Resort

1. 20 new rail features:
Two propane tanks-jibs,
“Kid” the horse feature who is back ‘from pasture’,
20 single-barrel rails with a variety of configurations of flat, kinked, C-rails and rainbows.

2.Mobile me
Smart phone access to mobile website for live webcams, trail maps and weather and trail conditions.

3.Blog this
Articles highlighting terrain parks, youth programs, events, multimedia, interviews with staff and guests and news at skiwinterpark.com.

4.Learn in Style
Opening Dec. 11, the new private lesson center at the base of Zephyr Express: The center includes complimentary lockers for full day private lessons guests, a full concierge service, private lift line to Zephyr Express Chairlift, snowmobile shuttle to the award-winning Sorensen Park for beginners, customized boot fitting service and a VIP lounge.

5. Improved Parking
Bye-bye mud bog! Over the summer WPR paved 822 marked spaces at The Vintage Hotel parking lot. Jump on the Village Cabriolet without mud on your boots.

6. More tree runs
Winter Park and Denver Water were awarded a grant this summer to improve forest health by decreasing fire hazard, encouraging new tree growth for a healthy, stable watershed and reducing safety hazards to skiers. The end result — more tree runs!

7. Greener WP
The resort has appointed a new employee council tasked with refocusing the resort’s sustainability efforts — including an improved recycling program for guests and employees, composting, and reduction of water waste. Meeting monthly, the council will work on projects such as ‘Zero Waste’ at its mountain top restaurant.

8. Free babysitting (sort of)
Spend $30 eating out in the village on Thursdays from Dec. 16 to April 14 and the babysitting is free. Open to kids 4-12, the night includes games, crafts, movies, dinner and s’mores by the firepit for the kids, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

9. Longer season
Thanks to Jesus, the season will be longer this year. With a later Easter, the season will run through Easter Sunday, April 24.

10. Dilly Dally Alley
An old logging road is now WP’s newest blue run. The 200-yard-long offshoot of lower Lonesome Whistle on Vasquez Ridge will keep young riders giggling with its big rolling waves and “whoop-dee-doos.” Surrounded by large Fur Trees and the East Fork of the Little Vasquez Creek, parents may also be enticed to take a run or two.

Pumped to ski this year…. I am ready to hit the hill early and often and hope to get in 60 days this year.

What is going to be open on opening day ?

Here you go straight from WP Resort:

Opening day news: Limited terrain openings on Wednesday, November 17 – check the snow report on opening day for more info. We will start with a mid-mountain opening Wednesday on the Arrow and Gemini, plus other mid mountain lifts (Endeavour, etc.). Zephyr + others projected to open midday on Wednesday.

There will also be a new restaurant in the Winter Park Village called the Pizza Pedal’r (no typo) serving pizza by the slice.

Opening day is here and for six glorious months we have grand Colorado skiing at our doorstep. Lets thank the snow gods for the white we have so far and may they continue to unleash the powder on the Winter Park hills.

We were able to get out of the house and out of WInter Park and the Fraser Valley to get the first day of this ski season in at Loveland Basin.

Loveland received an inch of new snow Sunday night to go on top of the 40 or so they have gotten so far this year.  The snow conditions were awesome for November 1st and the weather could not have been better.  There was no wind, very un-Loveland like, and the temps were around 35 degrees.  Check out the pix above, it was as close to a bluebird day as you can get in early November.

Loveland had about five runs open, two of them were bump runs, and two lifts operating.  All in all a great first day of skiing since last April.

There is more skiing to be had in the next couple of weeks.  Copper Mountain opens this Friday, November 5th, and we will be trying to head over the pass and through the tunnel to get some early Copper skiing on Friday.  If you want to follow Winter Park Lodging Company’s skiing exploits this season follow us on the Winter Park Lodging Company Facebook Page.

More importantly, drum roll please, Winter Park/Mary Jane will be opening in two weeks.  That is November 17th so set your watches and calendars because the snow is looking to be great early season this year.  La Niña is expected to give us lots of wet, wet snow often this 2010/2011 ski season.  So if you haven’t already get your skis tuned, equipment washed up and your season pass ready for some skiing.

Ski Season is here and there is no better feeling than knowing the snow is on its way.

]]> http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/11/02/colorado-first-day-of-skiing-ski-season/feed/ 0 http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/10/01/new-winter-park-resort-trail-maps/ http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/10/01/new-winter-park-resort-trail-maps/#comments Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:01:13 +0000 Chris http://www.wplbo.com/news/?p=3595 Continue reading →]]>
Ski Trail Map Winter Park Colorado

The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here….. ahhhh, no its the new trail map for Winter Park Resort.  If Steve Martin, in The Jerk, was a skier he would be yelling that the new Winter Park Resort trail map is here though.

So, yes the new Winter Park trail map is here and what that means is ski season is on the way, 48 days away to be exact, and are we ready for some white fluffy and some turns on the hills.  Summer is great, fall is beautiful but the reason we are here in Winter Park, Colorado is for the glorious, glorious snow and the skiing and winter fun that comes with it.

The new trail map is similar to last years and was created by O2 Creative.  Not huge on-mountain changes for Winter Park Resort this year but there are improvements.  Here’s hoping that the biggest improvement will be a killer year of snowfall and snow late through April.  Winter Park Resort is open a week later this year than in the past.  There is nothing better than spring skiing in late April with killer snow.  Spring Splash this year is April 24th, 2011, make sure to mark the calendars.

To get your new trail map stop by Winter Park Resort and ask for the newest, latest and greatest trail map yet and get ready for an awesome year of skiing at Colorado’s Favorite, Winter Park Resort. Come on winter, let’s get it on.

The time has come to get your season ski pass for Winter Park Resort. As of next week September 2, 2010 the prices of Winter Park and Steamboat lift prices will go up.  If you buy before Sept 6 the season pass prices are as follows:

Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort Passes

Rocky Mountain Super Pass

This includes unlimited skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane and Copper Mountain Resort.

Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus

This includes unlimited skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane, Copper Mountain Resort and six free days at Steamboat Resort.

Unlimited Skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane and Steamboat Springs Ski Resort

Here are some of the pass benefits that come with the above passes:

• Rocky Mountain Super Passes – Double your $59 Friends & Family discount tickets to 20 to be used anytime during the 2010/11 season*.
• Winter Park Season Pass – 10 Friends and Family $59 lift ticket coupons, valid at Winter Park/Mary Jane only.
• Winter Park Four Pass – 4 Friends and Family $59 lift ticket coupons, valid at Winter Park/Mary Jane only.
• Discounts on Rental/Retail, Food & Beverage and Ski & Ride School.
• Receive special passholder offers via the Pass Perks email.
• Discounts off full-window rate lift tickets at most Intrawest resorts including Whistler Blackcomb, BC (excluding Colorado resorts).

The SIA Snow Show returns to Denver and Winter Park Resort for the second year after a long run in the desert community in Las Vegas.

After 37 years in Las Vegas, the SIA Snow Show reported a six-year attendance high for the inaugural Snow Show held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from January 28-31, 2010. The sold-out Snow Show attracted 18,045 attendees and featured over 3,100 exhibitors representing 845 snow sports brands, including 125 new exhibitors.

For four days in 2011, the snow sports industry returns to Denver, Colorado to do business, socialize and network.  With over 18,000 all under one roof, the snow sports community comes together once a year to see the latest trends, styles and innovations from ski, snowboard, cross country, AT/tele, backcountry, snowshoe and fashion.

The SIA Snow Show is two parts.  One spent in Denver at the Convention Center and the other spent at Winter Park Resort with an on snow component.  The Snow Show schedule is as follows:

SIA SNOW SHOW
Thursday, January 27 — Sunday, January 30, 2011
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado USA

The SIA Snow Show, January 27-30, 2011 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, delivers the largest, most concentrated and authentic trade event in the snow sports industry. It is the first time globally that the styles, technologies, innovations, culture and energy of snow sports is presented. Close to 20,000 industry professionals will meet to engage in business, networking opportunities, parties, brand events and seminars to feel the true essence of snow sports.

On January 31 and February 1, 2011 the industry will head up to the mountains for the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch. 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 SIA snow show is the place to check out the new trends in everything SKI. Up at Winter Park Resort all the latest will be tested on the hills.

Looking for lodging for the on snow demo session in Winter Park, CO? Look no further than Winter Park Lodging Company for SIA Snow Show lodging.

The mornings are getting colder and the evenings are getting a little shorter up here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and this all points to the upcoming 2010/2011 ski season getting closer.  Summer is not out the door yet but she has spied her jacket is tugging on her dates arm to get ready to hit the road.  Have you purchased your ski pass for the season yet?

Most Colorado ski resorts are boosting their season pass prices by modest amounts for the 2010-11 winter after holding firm or even dropping prices to spur business last season, according to a survey by The Aspen Times.

There are lots options for ski passes to Colorado ski resorts now.  Besides each individual resort offering there own ski pass there are also multiple resort passes. The Epic Pass from Vail Resorts offers unlimited skiing at all there resorts and A-Basin. The Rocky Mountain Super Pass and RMSP Plus offer unlimited ski at Winter Park and Copper Mountain, which Intrawest no longer owns, and the Plus offers 6 anytime days at Steamboat Springs Resort.

Steamboat offered its adult season pass for $899 if purchased by June 1. It’s being sold for $999 through Aug. 15, when the prices ratchet up again. Last season the pass sold for $879 before June 1, and $999 through Aug. 14.

Steamboat also sells a pass that combines unrestricted, unlimited skiing at the resort plus Winter Park for $1,049.

Crested Butte is selling its adult gold pass for $949. The price was $849 for skier and riders who made the purchase by April 4. The price for the full-pass was $849 last season.

Jackson Hole is touting its “new low pricing” for 2010-11. The ski area, run by former Aspen Skiing Co. President and CEO Jerry Blann, dropped its season pass price 25 percent, from $1,675 last season to $1,255 this year.

Back in Colorado, resorts competing for Front Range skiers remained locked in a pass war. Vail Resorts made a marginal price increase to its Epic Pass, from $579 last season to $599 this season.  The pass is good for unlimited skiing and riding at Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapaho Basin as well as Heavenly in California.

For those wanting the ultimate in a season ski pass, Colorado Ski Country offers the gold medallion. The Colorado Ski Country USA Gold Pass is the state’s most exclusive season pass. This coveted pass provides unlimited access to Colorado’s world-class snow conditions and ski areas all season long. The Gold Pass is fully transferable so purchasers can share their pass with colleagues, clients, friends, family and more. With no blackout dates, the Gold Pass can be used at 21 ski areas any day of the season.  That is all the ski areas in the state beside those owned by Vail.

Only 100 gold passes are available for the 2010-11 season.

Whatever ski pass you end up purchasing don not forget if you are skiing at Winter Park Resort or Steamboat Resort use the Winter Park Lodging Company or the Steamboat Lodging Company for your accommodations.

]]> http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/08/16/colorado-resort-season-ski-passes-20102011/feed/ 1 http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/07/26/winter-park-resort-opening-day-ski-season-2010-2011/ http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/07/26/winter-park-resort-opening-day-ski-season-2010-2011/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:05:15 +0000 Chris http://www.wplbo.com/news/?p=3385 Continue reading →]]> Winter Park Resort Opening Day

Yes, I know it is July and sunny and beautiful here in Winter Park, CO but that is no reason to not be thinking of fluffy white snow and the reason we are all here in WP….. SKI SEASON!

So get ready for the 2010/2011 ski season in Winter Park with opening on November 17th, 2010.  It should be another epic year here in the Rockies with some great snow forecast already for this year.  They said that last year also didn’t those pesky weatherman?  Last year was an El Nino year which bode well for the ski resorts in the southern part of Colorado.  This year is being forecast as a La Nina year and here is what snowforecast.com has to say about this years La Nina:

a La Nina SST pattern will likely take over for this coming fall/ winter, through possibly the season following (through 2012). This usually bodes well for northern Colorado resorts, but we will work up some comparisons of analog years this summer to see what we may expect.

So, I’m thinking we will be making up for the sub-par snow year of 2009/2010 and have ourselves a killer year in 2010/2011.  so the countdown has begun for ski season opening day for the 2010 ski season.  It is Wednesday November 17th, 2010 that we can all strap those boards on our feet and hit the slopes with some of that white gold.

Powder Addiction will also be running for it’s sophomore year of cat skiing up on Jones Pass.  If you were not able to go up last year and you like cat-skiing (who skies and wouldn’t like to cat ski I’m not sure) you should take a ride up with Powder Addiction.

Anywho, Winter Park Resort opens November17th 2010 for this coming ski season.  Need lodging?  Winter Park Lodging Company provides the finest ski homes, cabins, condos, town-homes in the Winter Park and Fraser area with the best discounts on Winter Park lift tickets and ski/board rentals.

]]> http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/07/26/winter-park-resort-opening-day-ski-season-2010-2011/feed/ 2 http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/04/23/winter-park-spring-splash-pond-skimming/ http://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/2010/04/23/winter-park-spring-splash-pond-skimming/#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:46:58 +0000 Chris http://www.wplbo.com/news/?p=3037 Continue reading →]]>

Winter Park End of Season Pond Skimming

Here is a video of contestant #15 at Spring Splash.  From the time that we watched the pond skimming competition this guy by far had the best run.  The Spring Spash this year was was very good and very spring like.  Last year there was a ton of new snow on closing weekend but this year was just a bunch of spring-like slush.

The locals party over at Mary Jane C-Lot was  very fun with local musicians and people BBQ-ing,  having some drinks and  an all around good time.  The weather cooperated with no rain or snow and delightful sunny skies.  We will post some of the pictures from splash in the next day or two.

Now that Winter Park Resort is closed we are getting some spring storms that are just making me wish the resort was still open.  Maybe a trip up to Berthoud Pass for some back country skiing will end this ski season on a proper note.  Oh well it was a good ski season with some big storms followed by some dry periods but we got some very good days in and overall the season was not bad.  El Nino held for the entire year and we were a little short of our average snow fall.

Goodbye ski season and hello mountain bike season.  Well, after all this snow melts that has dropped in the last few days.