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.

La Niña is Back, That little B****!

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Chris

La Niña Ski Season 2011/12 Winter Park Resort

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 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.

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”.

NASTAR National Championships at Winter Park Resort

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Chris

2011 Nastar Champioships Winter Park, Colorado

The Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships will return to Winter Park, March 24 – 27, 2011. Winter Park Resort is proud to host the 2011 NASTAR National Championships. The 71st Anniversary season at Winter Park Resort will be celebrated with over 1,200 Nature Valley NASTAR qualifiers from across the country coming here to the Colorado Rockies for three days of competition, exciting events and world-class skiing and riding.

The top three finishers in each division at each of the NASTAR resorts will come to Winter Park to compete in the NASTAR National Championships. With over 95,000 races in 28 states the NASTAR champions will be decided on the slopes of Winter Park.

This is the second year for the competition to take place here in WP and last years NASTAR event was a complete success. If you are looking to come to NASTAR Winter PArk championship now is the time to book your stay. Winter Park Base Lodging was sold out last year and this year is getting there also. The No. 1 provider of Winter Park Resort Lodging is Winter Park Lodging Company. So let WPLCo book your NASTAR Championship Lodging-Winter Park for you today.

NASTAR National Champioships Event Schedule:

Thursday, March 24

7:30am – 9:00pm Competitor Check-In* (Vintage Hotel)
9:00am – 3:00pm Optional Race Clinic
5:30pm – 8:30pm National Championships Opening Ceremony (West Portal Plaza) » Winter Park welcomes Nature Valley NASTAR competitors and their guests with an evening filled with exciting activities! » 5:30-7:00pm Complimentary food and beverages for credentialed competitors and guests with bracelet). »
6:00PM – 6:45 Warren Miller Screening of the Directors Cut of Wintervention »
7:00pm – 8:30pm Live music by band TBD! » Chance to meet your fellow competitors from across the country.
8:30pm Fireworks and torch light parade!

Friday, March 25 National Championships Competition Begins (DAY 1)

7:30am – 12:00pm Competitor Late Arrival Check-In* (Vintage Hotel)
9:30amRace Start Times Ages:
- 21-44 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers right)**
- Ages 45-54 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers left)
- Ages 55-74 Platinum & Gold (Hughes Meadows)
- Ages 21-49 Silver & Bronze (Upper Cranmer)**
- Ages 50-74 Silver & Bronze (Middle Cranmer)**
- Ages 75-95+ All Divisions (Lower Cranmer)**
- Snowboard Division – all ages (Lower Cranmer)**
11:15am
- Ages 1-4 Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze Divisions (Lower Cranmer)**

12:30pmRace Start Times Ages:
- 5-8 Platinum & Gold (Hughes Meadows)**
- Ages 9-12 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers left)
- Ages 13-20 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers right)
- Ages 5-10 Silver & Bronze (Middle Cranmer)**
- Ages 11-20 Silver & Bronze (Upper Cranmer)**
3:30pm Friday’s Competition End

3:30pm – 6:00pm Post-Race Ceremony (West Portal) »
3:30 – 5:00pm Live music »
5:00 – 6:00pm Introduction of U.S. Ski Team stars and competitor raffle to win great gear
5:30pm Family Challenge Awards Ceremony

» Guests are welcome to attend (no bracelet required).

Saturday, March 26 National Championships Competition Begins (DAY 2)

9:30am Race Start Times Ages:
- 5-8 Platinum & Gold (Hughes Meadows)**
- Ages 9-12 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers left)
- Ages 13-20 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers right)
- Ages 5-10 Silver & Bronze (Middle Cranmer)**
- Ages 11-20 Silver & Bronze (Upper Cranmer)**
- Ages 75-95+ All Divisions (Lower Cranmer)**
- Snowboard Division – All Ages (Lower Cranmer)**

11:15am Ages 1-4 Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze Divisions (Lower Cranmer)**

12:30pm Race Start Times :
- Ages 21-44 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers right)
- Ages 45-54 Platinum & Gold (Lower Hughes, skiers left)
- Ages 55-74 Platinum & Gold (Hughes Meadows)**
- Ages 21-49 Silver & Bronze (Upper Cranmer)**
- Ages 50-74 Silver & Bronze (Middle Cranmer)**

3:30pm – 4:45pm Live Music
5:00pm – 8:00pm Awards Ceremony (West Portal Station) » U.S. Ski Team & Olympic stars will present medals to the first, second and third place winners in each age & gender category in each division. » National Title winners (i.e. the first place finisher) in each age & gender category in each division will receive an invitation to race on Sunday. » Guests are welcome to attend (no bracelet required).
- Awards will be prensented to age categories in the following order:
  - 95+, 90-94, 85-89, 80-84, 75-79, 70-74, 65-69, 60-64
  - 1-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-20
  - 55-59, 50-54, 45-49, 40-44, 35-39, 30-34, 21-29
6:30pm – 10:00pm Awards Reception (West Portal) » Complimentary heavy hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages for all National Championships competitors and their guests (cash bars available). » Swap stories with members of the Nature Valley NASTAR community, autograph session with U.S. Ski Team & Olympic stars and more!

» Guests are welcome to attend (guest bracelet required for admittance).

Sunday, March 27 Nature Valley NASTAR Race of Champions (National Title Winners Only)

10:00am (Lower Hughes)
- Non-Alpine Female – All Ages (snowboard, telemark & physically challenged)
- Alpine Female – All Ages
- “Race of Champions” Awards Ceremony (Lower Hughes finish area)
11:00am (Lower Hughes)
- Non-Alpine Male – All Ages (snowboard, telemark & physically challenged)
- Alpine Male – All Ages
- “Race of Champions” Awards Ceremony (Lower Hughes finish area)
12:00pm Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships Ends

Winter Park Resort Lodging Deal

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Chris

New Year Lodging Deal Winter Park, CO

Our new Winter Park, CO mascot ZB is so excited for 2011 and the snowfall we’ve gotten, he’s convinced us to offer the 2nd night free on any stay in January. Book a weekend trip to Winter Park this month & get your 2nd night absolutely free. Even better, visit for 4 nights or longer & you’ll get two nights free.

What better way to celebrate the new year? Some options to get you thinking:

Get five of your friends together and stay two nights at our beautiful Rendezvous #130three-bedroom town house for only $38 per night, per person. A steal!

Come on up for the weekend and snuggle with your honey in Zephyr 2006, a one-bedroom ski in/out condo at for under $400 all in. Plus we can get you skiing with $65 lift tickets if you don’t have a season pass.

The New Year lodging sale is only good for booking made before January 15th so get started now on your Winter Park Lodging search. In addition, we’ve lowered our minimum night stay requirement to two nights for the rest of the ski season, minus Spring Break dates of 3/11/11 to 3/26/11.

The snow has been incredible so far this year and the lodging deals are the some of the best that you will ever see. Now is the time to come up to Winter Park and Mary Jane for a ski getaway.

Looking for cheap Winter Park Resort lift tickets? We have you covered! There is no reason to pay the walk up window rate to ski Winter Park and Mary Jane. Let us help you save on your lodging, lift tickets and ski/board rentals here at Winter Park Lodging Company.

Mary Jane Powder Skiing – Pine Cliffs

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Powder Skiing Video

Man, have we had the snow up here at Winter Park and Mary Jane. The Pineapple Express moisture pattern has dropped a bunch of snow on us here in the Colorado Rockies. Winter Park Resort’s snow totals for the year are above 125 inches and Santa hasn’t even been around to hand out his presents to the little girls and boys (and where are my new skis, Kringle?) The snow looks like it will be flying pretty much all through the new year. Yeaaaaahhh La Niña!

The above video above was shot over at Mary Jane after ten inches of snow the day before and another seven dropped as we were skiing. It was a spectacular day of skiing with most of the usual suspect locals out trying to find their own little private stash of un-skied powder. As they say – “no friends on a powder day”. Well, that’s not entirely true as it should be - “not many friends on a powder day, they do slow you down.”

The Mary Jane runs were the Pine Cliffs between Golden Spike/Arrowhead and Sleeper. The second part are the cliffs that run to skiers right of the Challenger lift (not sure what they are called).

As you can see by the credits I was following Mr. Ed Raegner of Tabernash, CO until he got a phone call from his mom and had to stop and take the call (is there a rule about calls from mom on a powder day?). That is ZB all dolled up in his Winter Park Lodging Company garb to start out the video. Music is by Mick and the boys on Loving Cup and Davis Allen Coe’s Jack Daniel’s if You Please.

As Mick so perfectly says “What a beautiful buzz”, I don’t think powder skiing Mary Jane could be described any better.

Best Snow in Colorado? Winter Park Resort – Of Course

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Chris

Powder Skiing Winter Park, Colorado

The snow gods have been very kind to Winter Park so far this year, maybe kinder to Winter Park than any other Colorado ski resort than Steamboat. That is nothing new to Winter Park and Mary Jane though as WP and MJ have the highest average snowfall of any destination resort in Colorado. Yes, Silverton Mountain may get more fluffy white as does Wolf Creek but, hey, those aren’t destination resorts.

The world is starting to take notice of our abundant snowfall this year also, as we are mentioned in The Denver Post article by Scott Willoughby.

Here is what Scott had to say about our little mecca of skiing here in Winter Park:

Winter Park: Another northern beneficiary, Grand County never seems to have a problem keeping winter cool. That’s 360 inches of cold smoke a year, preserved for your pleasure.

We were a bit shy of that 360 inch average last year but this year is looking like a 400 to 450 inches of snow year. I should knock on wood with that challenge to the snow gods. The snow should keep on coming WP’s way if the La Niña weather pattern holds as is forecast to through the 2012 ski season. Little La Niña favors the Northern Colorado ski resorts and Winter Park/Mary Jane and Steamboat have some of the best snow in the state to prove it.

So, if you are looking to get some great powder days in this year head on up to Winter Park and Mary Jane to find the best snow in all of Colorado.

Where to Demo Skis in Winter Park, CO

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park, CO Ski Demos

Are you looking to buy new skis or snowboard? I have been in the process the last few weeks and the whole experience has been so fun. Demoing skis is the way to go. When you demo skis you take out different brands and models and check out how the ski feels to you up on the ski hill. I have been working with Epic Mountain Sports here in Winter Park and it has been a blast.

Here is how Epic Mountain Sports Demo then Buy program goes:

Each demo day is $30.00
The $30.00 is deducted from price of skis/bindings when you buy your skis

This is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. I have demoed 4 pairs of skis so far and all ski very different and all have been a blast to ski. There are so many different nuances going on with skis nowadays. There is the traditional stiffness and flexibility, the width of ski underfoot related to width at tip and tail, rocker vs camber, twin tip or no twin tip and on and on. Many different skis that behave differently and perform in complete unlike ways in varying conditions. In the three ski adds above where all three (Olin, K2, Rossignol) skis look and act the same is a thing of the past. This would sound rather complex and it can be but it has been such a blast getting to know each ski up at Winter Park Resort. If I could just demo skis all year long I would be happy.

The guys in Epic have been great. The two Ryans, Ben, Chad and owner Katherine all rock. Take your pick of models from Volkl, Rossignol, Dynastar, K2, Nordica and Icelantic. The techs at Epic know the equipment and know the mountain and will help you pick something fun for you to try. Ask them about the new “rocker/early rise” technology in the new skis.

Needing new skis? Get to demoing with Epic and make an informed buy and have some fun doing it.