Colorado First Timers need ski information
 

Hi,

We want to head out to Colorado in two weeks and are totally lost. We will only have a couple days and are going on a weekend. We are looking for a place with minimal crowds and is good for beginner skies. We will be flying into Denver. I was think possibly Loveland but I am not sure if it has that much beginner terrain. Any information would be appreciated.

Some time ago, when it was I and lots of beginners, I believe that they headed us to Snowmass at Aspen.

But logistics and lessons are both important. Do not underestimate them.

This is prime time. You need to have set reservations for lodging, especially on a weekend.

IMO Snowmass is too far to go for only a couple of days. I think Loveland would be fine although I haven't skied there in years.

Another possibility for beginner skiers and small crowds might be Sol Vista just the other side of Winter Park.

Thanks for the advice. I checked out Sol Vista and it says it is only 1000ft drop. Is that a little small or am I missing something. Devil's head in Wisconsin is 500ft. Please excuse my inexperience.

We would even consider going to another state as long as United flys direct to there. We are not commited to CO. My wife cannot make any extra landings on a flight and united doesn't go to Salt Lake directly.

Where ae you flying from?

Chicago

I think Winter Park has excellent beginner terrain and I find it less crowded than the resorts in Summit County (Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain). I strongly recommend taking a lesson. Winter Park offers the following class for "first time" skiers, but it is great for any beginner skier that needs a refresher. Plus it is a bargain, considering that the package (class, lift ticket and rental) costs less than a lift ticket purchased at the window.

http://www.skiwinterpark.com/rentals...i/easy_ski.htm

No matter what your age, and what condition you are in, if you are a beginner, you need a lesson.

You need to absolutely learn, and it takes practice, in how to "fall" when you fall and how to get up. ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

IMHO, skiing, quite differently than skating, is not a "natural" sport, despite what people believe for the most part.

Each and every time we have had beginners in an old ski club of mine, and they didn't listen, and did not take instruction- they got hurt.

And a few times, it wasn't even after or during a run, but on the way up or some such area. You need practice and instruction for entrance /exits to chair lifts as well, IMHO.

I wouldn't recommend Loveland for beginners. It gets very windy there, for one thing. And you might want a bigger, nicer lodge, too. No lodging there, either. Closest place to stay is Georgetown.

Winter Park is an amazing area. The first-timer package is the best deal around: a lift ticket, a lesson and ski rentals for one very low price.

Definitely take at least one lesson. Otherwise you can get hurt, and create very bad skiing habits you'll have a hard time dropping in the future.

Good snow now in Colorado! Have fun, and please report back on your plans and your trip.
:)>-

Thank you all for your help. I bit the bullet and decided to go to the Summit County Area. We are staying vail and probably will ski keystone the first day, beaver creek the second, and breckenridge the third. That is where my wife wanted to go. Of course, it is the most expensive of the places on our list.

As far as lessons, we have taken a few and I consider myself an experience beginner but my wife is still more of an inexperienced beginner with a couple of lessons under her belt. Do you think we should still get lessons after having taking a few in the past couple years.

thanks

Why stay in Vail if you aren't going to ski there for even one day? On the weekends, the Summit County areas will certainly not have the minimal crowds you're looking for. Becasue they're so close to Denver, they're weekend trips for many locals. Beaver Creek will be the least crowded of the three.

You can fly non-stop from Chicago to either Steamboat Springs or Aspen, both of which would be less crowded.

well, the first day is Sunday and Keystone has night skiing so we plane on getting there around noon and skiing until after four when the other resorts close. The second day is MLK Day and will be busy and that is why we chose BC. The third day is a tuesday and we will take the chance on the crowds at Breckenridge. We are staying at that Marriott in Vail and not skiing Vail because the lift pass is only good for one day at either BC or Vail and with it being a holiday I chose the one with hopefully less crowds.

My wife is now hearing, from her clients, that your not supposed to fly and ski on the same day. Also, she is worried about the height of the lifts compared to the midwest lifts...are they a lot higher? Are the greens in Colorado harder than the blues in the Midwest?

I would stick with one place. If it is strictly skiing you are after consider Winter Park. If you are wanting more variety of shops and dining consider Breckenridge. At Breckenridge you could head to Keystone for some night skiing. Since you are a beginner, I doubt will be able to ski all day and then at night. You will be totally exhausted. You should allow a day to adjust to altitude, drink plenty of water, not consume high fat meals, and stay away from caffeine and liquor. Winter Park, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail. All plenty big enough for a weeks worth of skiing without having to go anywhere else. You will not have a problem with lift lines, except for an occasional line at the bottom. I haven't skied anywhere but Colorado, so I can't compare. The greens are fairly calm at most places. All of these places have an abundance of something for everyone.

thanks for the sound advice

I think it's good advice to stay at one area. Each one town has plenty to keep you happy each ski day.

Your current plan would have you driving from your place in Vail, to Breckenridge. The drive, plus parking, will eat up a fair amount of time (about an hour, best case, I think). And parking can be $17 or $20/day at those two areas.

I'd go to one area and use the free shuttle system to get right to the ski area, without parking hassles and without carrying equipment. And without paying for parking.

P.S. I wouldn't recommend Sol Vista, which is a further drive than Winter Park, and offers so much less.

I have read half way down and here is my take.
YES, you should both take lessons all the days you are there. You will progress more than you can imagine and you will enjoy the terrain of the ski area FAR more than if you try to dud along yourself--particularly on a week-end when the crowds will be large.
If you are at Vail, ski Vail. It has absolutely beautiful beginner terrain--at the top of the mountain. Just bit the bullet one more time, rent your equipment and sign up for lessons at Vail. You can leave your equipment overnight and just come back the next day.
IF you don't do this at Vail, then choose the other ski area and do it there. You will have continuity, you know how to get to the ski school, you may even have the same instructor.
Parking is not an inconsequential part of getting into Keystone and Breckenridge, let alone the 30 minut drive. If you are in Vail, you just take the bus.

I agree with the previous posters' suggestion that you stay put. You have an ambitious schedule with all the driving to different resorts. Stay in one place and go to one other resort at the most. You don't know what the weather might be, and if you hit a snow storm that will delay your travel and cut into ski time - especially if you are trying to get to a lesson.

Also, if you are not familiar with these areas, then you will spend a certain amount of time each day just getting oriented with each resort and getting tickets, finding rest rooms, reading maps, etc.

It is generally advisable not to exert yourself at altitude on the very day your arrive. Drink lots of water starting when you arrive in Denver. And, by the way, skiing at night at 10,000 feet is more than just chilly.

OH, yes. The water. Do not go anywhere without a water bottle in your hand or you will risk the worst headache of your life. Force yourself to drink water the minute you get off the plane.

I agree that you should definitely ski and stick with Vail/BC. There's plenty of beginner terrain at Vail to keep you busy. If you do decide to drive to the other resorts, be prepared. Conditions have not been great on I-70 the last couple of weeks, and they've closed it down in the areas you'd be driving several times. Why risk getting stuck?