Note - I'd check back regularly and offered to ski at that level. First person I've ever skied with who really just didn't like it. Excellent athlete (state champion in tennis and played sports through college). Maybe it was the cold ;)

I have a "friend" who should be very motivated to ski at least a bit, good athlete, FIT, and just doesn't like it. And the cold enters into it. Impacts family!!! LOL
And the last time I skiied Breck it was REALLY cold!! Even for me. I SO love to ski, and wish I could to this day. Not good by any means, but I can get to the places our kids are, enjoy lunch, and LOVE the scenery.

Me too, Gretchen.

I grew up skiing on the frozen slush that is man-made (and refrozen) snow in north GA and western NC. I skiied every year or so with friends with no lessons. I'm surprised I didn't kill myself. I was pretty sure I almost did when I hit a big patch of ice on Sugar.

The first time I skied on REAL snow (at Buttermilk) I was amazed at the difference. It was spring break and the temps were as warm as the SE - but it was POWDER! Amazing :-)

I've started off every trip taking a lesson and it's amazing how an instructor can tweak just a little or give a tip/visual image that makes all the difference. I've been lucky not to have to fight really long lines. Breck was the last place I skiied and it was busy. I'm not sure I'll ski again but I really want to go down the long runs on Mary Jane. I think I'll be disappointed if I never ski Winter Park. Dunno. Getting old. :-(

I am just jealous that you guys even live remotely close to any skiing at all. I would just love going to work and then hitting the slopes afterwards. A dream! Maybe one day....

Buttermilk!! Starrs, still there.

http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmount...365e447ae50383

Yep, I linked it above. ^ It was a GREAT beginner's mountain - at least it was way back when. Very relaxed. Nice long runs for beginners - at least for someone who had only skied in the SE. :-)

I am just sitting here dreaming about skiing. This is awful....

Jill, a lot of Floridians have second homes in north GA/ western NC. Atlanta friends have season passes to Cataloochee and drive up for the weekends. It's not western snow, but it's pretty good skiing for that far south -
http://www.cataloochee.com/

Oh, didn't open links.
Jill, you'll be hooked, believe me. Enjoy your western adventure. Did you say when you're going?
We also liked Vail for beginner skiing, and the kind of neat thing was you could do it on some runs near the top of the mountain--and then if you didn't want to do catwalks, etc. take a lift back down. Just another thought.

Gretchen - I am going in February. Can't wait! Thanks for all your tips.

Also, thanks to everyone else at well! So many different ski discussions here and different places....

If you are going to get on a plane to go skiing, DEFINITELY head to the rockies. President's weekend? Keep in mind that is among the busiest weekends of the year no matter where you go, but the further you get from Denver/i70, the better off you'll be. As much as i like Breckenridge, it's a zoo on weekends. Besides some of the other spots mentioned you, might also consider Park City. Easy to get to, easy to get around, nice town, and lots of skiing nearby.

I am going to weigh in ONE more time, and say, yes, the holiday weekend will be a "zoo". these folks are going to take lessons, which will allow them onto the lifts in good time. EVEN if they don't take lessons after two days, the lift lines, for those of us who are flat landers sometimes let us catch our breath. My very dear husband, when out west,might take two runs,and rest or retire. The runs are long, the altitude is high, and the exhiliration is GREAT.
What westerners call lift lines we call "a short wait" and thanks.
BUT to us east coast skiiers, it is NOT a zoo.

ttt because Jill has two HUGE threads going, and it IS where I got the idea she had "chosen" Breck.

Breck vs Ober Gatlinburg TN:
Just got an email from my friend who lives in Breck. No snow! Meanwhile, my State Farm agent who is a ski patrol at OG says that the folks there are busy making snow and the place is open for skiing.

Some Colorado mountains desperately need snow, that's for sure. Most all of them have extensive snowmaking, but it doesn't help in opening the entire mountain.

Winter Park is the mountain we know, and it got pretty thin after holiday crowds and no natural snow. BUT, it is snowing there now. Supposed to get about 6", but you never know.

Pray for snow!

There is a huge difference between "No Snow" at Breck and snowmaking at OG. When we say no no snow we really mean no new snow. Hundreds of people were skiing yesterday on no snow. Granted conditions were not the best, some skied off bear spots A few minutes of new stuff and no one will be complaining.

Where did you decide to go? I missed this thread but I live in Calgary and would have voted for Banff in a heartbeat. Esp since its a quick 20 min drive to sunshine from banff and only 40 to lake louise. hope you had fun!