Cat Skiing with Powder Addiction Winter Park, CO

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado Cat Skiing

Ski season is coming upon soon here in Winter Park, CO and I was reminded today of how much fun the ski season is here in Colorado. First ,we awoke to snow on the hills above Winter Park and Mary Jane. Then I’m reading the Google Winter Park news and there is an article from an Aussie that we skied with last year in one of our times up with Powder Addiction. In fact the photo to the left was taken the day that we skied with the Aussie.

Here is a little bit of what they are reading about Winter Park, CO down-under:

It is early and still cold in the mountains of Winter Park, near Denver, Colorado. The last of the overnight snow is lazily making its way to the ground as a timid sun inches above the peaks.

Today, I am going back-country snowcat skiing at Berthoud Pass with a bunch of hardcore skiers from the area.

Inside, Jamie Wolter’s sun-wizened face is creased into a toothy smile. Our lead guide doesn’t share my nervousness. He lives for days like this.

One by one, my new mountain allies wander in from the cold. They are old skiing buddies and have spent countless hours together on skis. Some have moved away to Denver and other towns but most still live close and ski these hills regularly. They chat happily, discussing gear, conditions, jobs and families.

Skis and packs sorted, we squeeze into the van and head up Berthoud Pass to the Front Range slopes in the Arapaho National Forest.

The Aussie is Ben Doherty who is the travel writer for the Sydney Herald. Ben has a pretty sweet gig as Colorado Ski Country and Winter Park Resort set him up to fly out to Colorado and…… ski. His article about cat skiing with Powder Addiction got me jonesing to make some turns in some nice fluffy powder. Oh well, it shall be here soon.

Check out Ben’s article about Winter Park Cat skiing with Powder Addiction and if you are not getting the ache to get on the skis then you are not powder addicted in the correct way. And if you did not make it up to Jones Pass to make some turns with Powder Addiction last year, make sure to check them out this year.

Warren Miller’s Wintervention in Winter Park, CO

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Chris

Ski Movies in Winter Park, CO

Ski season is on the way. The hills around Winter Park were covered with snow this morning and the annual celebration of skiing is almost here in WP. That celebration is the Warren Miller ski film and this years edition is Wintervention.

Date of Show
10/28/2010

Show Times
Show times: 6pm and 9pm

Location
Silver Screen Cinema in Winter Park, Colorado

970.726.5390

Narrated by skiing icon Jonny Moseley and presented in striking high-definition, Warren Miller films showcase incredible cinematography that will get you craving vertical lines, deep powder and epic adventure. This year’s film takes you on a breathtaking global tour of some of the world’s most impressive terrain, including Canada, Antarctica, California, New Zealand, Utah, Austria, Alaska and more. Warren Miller film premieres are an experience and a phenomenon not to be missed.

Check out the Wintervention trailer . If this doesn’t get you psyched for ski season then you may want to put the boards out on the curb and call it quits.

Wintervention features acute cases of classic snow-diction from across the globe. There are the skiers who sail from Argentina to Antarctica searching for some of the last untouched descents on Earth; there are confessions from a man whose six ski passes simply aren’t enough. There are the skiers and riders who venture deep into the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, chasing rumors they overheard in a language they don’t speak. And there are the skiers who tour far into the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle… where they won’t just climb peaks — they’ll reach the top of the planet.

Make sure to get your tickets early as the Silver Screen Cinema is very intimate and the Warren Miller show almost always sells out.

Lets go ski season.

Winter Park, CO Ski Tune

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Chris

Get the Skis Ready Ski Season is Coming

It is getting that time to go through the ski bag and check out all of the ski equipment. Take a look at the skis and see if there is any wax left on the boards and is that the Grand Canyon there on the bottom of the snow stix?

Well, it is time to get your skis tuned and ready to go for the early season snow. What are your options on getting those boards ready up here in Winter Park, Colorado?

Lots of options here. There are lots of ski shops here in WP and almost everyone of them offers a ski tune of some sort. My experience is with a couple of these shops and they are good.

My latest favorite is the Montana Crystal Glide tune system that is employed at Winter Park Resort Base Rentals. The Crystal Glide system provides one of the best tunes that I have had an my skis. The skis were doe overnight and the staff at the Base was very friendly.

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company have also had ski tunes done by the Ski Broker, Epic Mountain Sports, Winter Park Ski Depot, Grand Sports and Christy Sports. All the above shops do a great job with ski and board tunes and you will not go wrong wih any of them for your ski or board tune. But the Montana Crystal Glide is pretty spectacular.

Lastly, there is the option of doing your own tune on your skis or board. This way will be much cheaper once you have the equipment. You will also learn what works for you with a little experimentation. Here is a video from Skiing Magazine on how tune your own skis.

Yes it is getting that time so get the boards out and take a look and get ready for the ski season with a little waxing and a file.

Winter Park Resort Improvements for 2010/2011

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Chris

On Mountain Upgrades Winter Park Resort

As of three years ago there was huge talk of all the upgrades that were to be done at Winter Park/Mary Jane. From a gondola to a new base hotel to opening up adjacent mountains for new ski terrain. There were going to be lots of new additions to our beloved ski hill.

Well, the sub prime mortgage mess and the great recession have put a kabash on most of that talk but there are ski hill improvements for ski season 2010/2011 that we can talk about. Nothing as earth moving as new ski terrain or a gondola linking WP Mary Jane to town of Winter Park, CO but we have improvements.

Upgrades for 2010/2011 at Winter Park/Mary Jane Ski Resort

While still developing the recently completed Village at Winter Park, the 2010-11 season will reveal investments in infrastructure and raising the level of guest service throughout Winter Park Resort. Enhancements include the purchase of two new snowcats, additions to the ski, snowboard, and bike rental fleet, trail maintenance, new mountain web cameras, and upgrades in IT and on-mountain infrastructure. A significant project for 2010-11 includes paving 822 marked spaces at The Vintage Hotel parking lot to improve guest experience as they walk from free parking to the Village Cabriolet. Attention will also be given to updating the resort’s radio system with technologically advanced radios, in turn improving internal communication and with emergency management personnel.

The Lodge at Sunspot, atop Winter Park Mountain and the premier dining property, will be receiving a facelift both inside and out. Stonework, entry doors, environmentally friendly deck and exterior stain, and new carpet and furniture will be completed in preparation for The Lodge at Sunspot’s 20th anniversary in 2012.

Pine Beetle mitigation is another major on-mountain investment. Along with capital, Winter Park and local water provider stakeholders were awarded a grant from the Colorado Community Forest Restoration Pilot Grant Program to improve forest health. The objective is to decrease fire hazard, encourage new tree growth for a healthy, stable watershed, and reduce safety hazards to skiers and mountain bikers. Environmentally, Winter Park is increasing efforts in recycling programs for guests and employees, composting, and reduction of water waste.

Winter Park has greatly improved from the above postcard from the 1960′s and each year brings more updates to keep the resort up with the times.

Lets hope for a wicked La Nina winter this year with lots of snow. Let Winter Park Lodging Company help you with any lodging or ski related needs on your visit to Winter and Mary Jane Ski Resorts.

US Alpine Ski Championships Return to Colorado at Winter Park Resort

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Chris

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.

Winter Park Season Pass|Rocky Mountain Super Pass

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park 2010/2011 Season Ski Pass

It is time to get your season ski pass for Winter Park! As of April 5th prices will go up so get your ticket for fun and freshies all next season. Ski Colorado and Winter Park are offering a deal that you pay $49.00 down now and the rest isn’t due until next September. Do not procrastinate the time is now to get your ski season in the pipeline.

Hurry, this price only guaranteed through April 5, 2010.

Winter Park || Coper Mountain || Steamboat

Get your 2010/11 Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus at the lowest guaranteed price of the season

^$409
Prices guaranteed through April 5, 2010

Unlimited skiing and riding
at Winter Park and Copper
and six days at Steamboat.

$319 college† $319 teen (13-17)
$219 child (6-12) $219 senior (70+)

Season – long benefits:
• Double your $59 Friends & Family discount tickets to 20 to be used anytime during the 2010/11 season**.
• 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).

Visit skicolorado.com or call 800.977.SNOW to purchase*.

Also Available:
Rocky Mountain Super Passes, Winter Park season passes and Copper season passes. Click here for details.

Pay only $49 now, don't pay the rest until September. Prices guaranteed through April 5, 2010. Get yours NOW!

Winter Park Resort Spring Snow Storms

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Chris

Spring Snow Spring Snow Spring Snow

If I say it enough times we should get one of these storms to hit us head on, no? After being missed by last weeks storm that some forecasters had us getting us much as 15″, we got .1″, I am strarting to believe that thrownin’ darts at a board is better than any of the snow forecasters ability to predict when we here in Winter Park will get snow.

That great 16″ snow storm that crushed Winter Park Resort, not one forecast predicted anywhere close to that. Now we have a couple of snow predictions for snow storms to hit this week. I’m seeing anywhere from 4″ to 15 inches for the Tues/Wed storm and 3″ to 12″ for the Fri/Sat storm. Bring it on. It looks like, if these predictions are a even a little bit correct, that this Thursday and Sunday should be good bluebird ski days.

It looks like winter made sure to leave good snow storms for spring. After a Monday – Wednesday (29th – 31st) break (partly cloudy/ mostly sunny, milder), we may see a strong late week storm, and another snow storm that weekend, for frequent snowfall during the first several days of April. Pacific storms (with snow) should move through with good frequency right into mid April, to finish off the season on an improved note we believe (improved weekly snow amounts compared to weekly mid winter totals).

Join Winter Park Resort Thursday, March 25th in West Portal Plaza as they kick-off the Nature Valley NASTAR National championships. The opening celebration begins at 6:00p.m. with a Warren Miller screening of the directors cut of Dynasty, followed by a live performance by The Greyboy Allstars at 7p.m.! Enjoy the movie, enjoy the music, and stick around for the huge fireworks display after the sun goes down!

Come and enjoy the last three weeks of this ski season. The big storms will be hitting us soon, Y’all keep your fingers crossed.

Winter Park Colorado Spring Skiing

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Chris

Colorado Spring Skiing in the Rockies

Not to beat a dead horse, but my favorite time to ski in Colorado and specifically Winter Park and Mary Jane Resort is the awesome months of April and March. March is Colorado’s snowiest month and April is true spring skiing with a light jacket and sunglasses. So far this March Winter Park Resort has been getting hit with some very big storms and some great weather.

Here is the snow totals as of March 9, 2010:

New Winter Park Resort Snow (In Inches)
24 hrs	48 hrs	72 hrs	Season
5.0″	6.5″	6.5″	218.9″

Winter Park averages over 350″ a year so we should be getting some great storms the next six weeks. Here is an article from the San Francisco Chronicle about spring sking in Colorado. So the secret is getting out about the quality of skiing here in the spring.

Did you get a chance to watch the Olympic skiing events? Want to see how well you stack up next to the pros before the snow melts? Bump (mogul) runs can be tough to navigate midseason – the lack of fresh powder (and hard snow) can wreak havoc on your knees – but spring skiing is a great time to take a few turns and work on being able to ski the whole mountain. Winter Park Resort, located here 95 miles from Denver International Airport, is widely considered one of the best places to ski bumps in North America.

To play on Winter Park’s signature terrain, start early and head up the Zephyr Express. Warm up by heading down Outhouse and Mary Jane before heading up a variety of lifts providing access to tight glade runs, hellacious black diamonds and steep bumps. The mountain, however, isn’t all wild ups and downs. Kids ski school and a variety of intermediate terrain provide skiers of all levels with enough options to fill any vacation.

We also have some great music festivals to go along with the great skiing in March and April. At the Winter Park Music Festival for the past 20 years, Winter Park has been inviting young musicians to compete in its organized music competition held over two weekends in April. Judged by professional adjudicators, individuals and groups descend upon the town to perform while capturing some end of season ski and snowboard.

What else is there? Great snow, warm weather and music – Spring skiing in the Rockies is what ski dreams are made of.

Winter Park Resort Skiing

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Chris

Skiing the Bumps and Powder at Winter Park Resort

After getting to ski some of the best powder we have had here in Winter Park in the last year I was doing some searches to see if any of the national media had picked up on how good our snow has gotten here in Colorado and especially Winter Park in the last month.

I didn’t find much besides an article in our local Sky Hi Daily News and a mention in the Westword blog about skipping work to go skiing. Too bad you Denverites would have had to drive the long way through Silverthorn to get to our pristine 16″ of new new powder yesterday. We love all the Front Ranger’s here in Winter Park, Colorado but sometimes it is very nice to have some of the skiing all to ourselves. Anyway there wasn’t much the national media was saying about the snow we have been getting here in Winter Park but with a couple of more good storms like this past weekend and I’m sure we will be all over the airwaves.

However, I did find a nice article that came out last week in the Winnepeg Free Press about Winter Park Resort skiing and Nordic skiing at Devils’ Thumb Ranch. The article could not have come out at a better time with all the powder we have gotten in the last month or so here Grand County.

Keep your eyes out for the next storm up here in WP because the forecast is calling for lots of snow from now until the end of the ski season. Here is the long range forecast from Snowforecast.com:

Next Monday (8th) we remain unsettled with some clouds/ sun, + light snow showers and little/ no accumulation as low pressure leaves and an unsettled northwest flow aloft remains. Mid next week (10th) we could see weak high pressure and mostly sunny skies. Late next week into Saturday, another low pressure system moves through with snow across the area. The rest of March and most of April still look potentially snowy.

Yes potentially snowy! We are at about 206″ of snow for the year and our average is 350″ so I expect that from now till the end of ski season, April 18 we should be getting lots of snow. Come on up and get your Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort bump skiing and powder skiing in before the season takes a bow for the year.

Top Five Ski Runs at Winter Park Mary Jane Resort

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Chris

Best Ski Runs Winter Park, Colo

With all the snow we have been getting here in Winter Park I thought it would be a good time to do a best of or favorites list of runs here at Winter Park/Mary Jane. There are lots of runs here in Winter Park so this was no easy matter coming up with a short five.

Here is a resort trail map to follow along with if you care to.

Well then, here goes my top five ski runs at Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort:

1. Runaway/Trestle – there are a couple of ways to ski this and it all depends on the snow which is better. If snow is thin take Runaway to the lower part of Trestle avoiding the rock face on upper Trestle. If the snow is plentiful do all of Trestle and enjoy the jump turns on the rock face.

2. Upper Arrowhead Loop/Rainbow Cut – You get to ski right past Sterling Way and Golden Spike where it seems all the other skiers are heading. Upper Arrowhead has some very steep bumps and usually great snow. The run then opens up after the “hero bumps” (that’s how you feel after you ski them) into Rainbow Cut. Nice and wide with good snow usually up against the trees.

3. Eagle Wind – Not a true run but all the runs off this lift kind of mingle together and there is always good snow and good tree skiing. The run out at the bottom can be hell on the legs but it’s usually worth the the skiing you were able to enjoy.

4. Belle Fourche ( Bella Foosh) – Thick thick powder, kinda hard to get to and the same crappy run out as Eagle Wind, equals some of the best skiing in Colorado.

5. The Trees – To be specific ‘Topher’s Trees or Buckaroo Trees. Not on the map and on opposite sides of the resort but some great fun tree skiing. Ask a local and you may get a guided tour.

I left out Panoramic Express terrain because that is where all guests seem to be heading these days. There is great skiing over there but anymore there are lots of people to go with them. And it is chilly on top of Parsenn Bowl.

Think I’m way off or right on? Leave a comment on what are your favorite runs at Winter Park/Mary Jane.