I sat out 3 seasons now...I must go skiing this year. My new husband does not ski. Does anyone know a good Colorado resort that has a ski buddy system - or if there are any groups that will be there around Jan 15-20, 2009? My local ski club doesn't have any trip dates that work with my schedule.

I like Vail, Breck, and Steamboat Springs...I will try Keystone, A Basin (oof - Florida girl lungs!) or Beaver Creek...etc. I am fair game. I don't snow board...can do blue/black but don't want to push a knee replacement!

Ever heard of meetup.com? I'd look for a meetup at one of the areas you mentioned and see if there are any events scheduled for the weekend you are interested in. I joined meetup.com when I moved to a new city last year, and it was a great way to meet new people. No reason why you can't tag along in a city that's not your own.

Yes, our local ski group and other clubs use meetup...but I have not used it enough to try...good advice. I will look into it.

Florida has a zillion ski clubs--I'd recommend trying one a little farther from you.

The Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council has many clubs, and more than once we've joined a club just to take a trip with them. Nomad is going to Beaver Creek over your dates. www.chicagonomads.com

I'd guess that many cities and/or states have a bunch of clubs.

Thanks, Abram!

Have you thought about taking a lesson? Our kids took lessons even though they were excellent skiiers, and we had friends who were ski patrol back east that would take a lesson every year when going to Colorado.

Check the ski resorts' websites to see if they are having women's ski weeks (some are just 4-6 days long)that week. It's a group lesson but you have the same instructor and classmates for the week. You might also consider Taos. It runs co-ed ski classes for a week during which you have the same instructor and classmates. I think it's the (St.?) Bernard Inn in Taos that has its own similar week long package with same ski instructor and all meals included.

Thanks, Gretchen,I have been there done that with the ski lessons, but don't really need/want them right now. I do take lessons occasionally, but want to just ski...no messing around or stuck in a group. Just trying not to fly into CO and ski, eat, drink all alone.

Thanks to Bean and Abram, I have had some success with outer area ski clubs...seems like all of Florida are somewhat linked...and have a joint Snowmass trip that won't really work for me. Worse case, I show up in Colorado alone...been to Paris alone on my birthday and had a great time..so this won't suck either!

Find a place that has other stuff going on and bring him with you. He can rub your sore muscles.

I do think your best bet is a women's clinic. I think every place in Vermont has those so I bet most places do.

http://tellurideskiresort.com/TellSk...-week-one.aspx

A friend and I did a girl's ski trip to Telluride and had a blast. We didn't do the women's group, but we were there at the same time.

I saw the chick telluride thing...FOUR hours of skiing. Not quite for me...I need about 4-5 more hours per day...interesting though!

I am getting some local responses...think I am going to pull this off....without the hubby back rubs!

I belong to the Far West Ski Assoc-
membership is free
They have ski trips around the country and even Europe -
might check that out for a ski weekend

http://www.nwskiers.org/contact/joinnwscc.htm

I agree -- take him along with you. Pick a place that isn't all skiing with no town. Park City would be a good option -- there's shopping, restaurants, bars, galleries, a day spa, nearby outlet malls, SLC isn't far, etc ....

Leslie, I'll be your buddy. Leaving for CO Dec. 27 and returning Jan. 3 Will try my hand at snowboarding near Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. Scott

Do consider a group lesson if other, more "social" resources don't work out.

I've done a lot of lessons at Breck - they have an unadvertised unlimited lesson pass, so lots of locals go week after week, and it becomes much more a social thing than just learning - though my experience is only for the upper-level skill levels (7, 8, 9). There are always people in the classes who lunch together, but others who do their own thing. And the "regulars" are always glad to meet out-of-towners. I don't know if the other resorts have this sort of thing, as I've only done it at Breck.

Some mountains, Copper I know, have a mountain tour, where you can tour the mountain (free) with a local guide. It's not a lesson, but a good way to get a good overview of the place, learn some good places to ski that you might not see otherwise, and it's divided up by skill leval (intermediate, advanced). I think I've seen the same thing at Steamboat. I'll bet there would be other people on their own who participate in a mountain tour.

Thanks for the offer Scott and others...going on Jan 19 through 24...staying in Leadville Hostel....I may be lucky and have a friend from the west coast show up...but in case they don't - I am skiing anyway. I will do 1 day of a class at Copper or Breck...and see how the rest turns out. Hubby is not going, but bought me some nice ski wear...maybe next year he will! Thanks all.