Skiing and snowboarding are to Colorado and Colorado College as Kim is to Kanye—with less drama and fewer tabloid headlines. Okay, more like sand is to beaches. Or like aspens are to autumn in the Rockies.
If you’re a beginner and new to the slopes, it can be more than intimidating to go skiing with your friends who competed in high school and have spent their weekends on famous slopes across the West.
If you’re like me and come from a very small town that did not have access to a large resort, places like Breckenridge and Keystone can be overwhelming. And when you’re used to lines that never amount to more than a five minute wait and a lodge the size of East Rastall, these resorts can seem massive.
My first time skiing in Colorado was last Block Break, and the size of the mountain and the numerous chairlifts threw me for a loop. I was used to a mountain with one three-person chairlift you could ski to from a small parking lot.
Breckenridge is a family-oriented resort, which means there are countless blue runs, good for beginners and intermediates. However, it’s also a great place to test your limits.
Once you get above tree line, there are some challenging runs and hidden areas where you can discover fresh powder that hasn’t been tracked. The resort itself has a touristy feel and is often pretty crowded, but the variety of slopes make up for it in my opinion.
Last weekend I drove to Arapahoe Basin with two other friends, and the feel was much more local than Breckenridge. There were three major lifts open: Pallavicini, Black Mountain lift, and Lenawee Mountain lift (which takes you all the way to the top).
I’m assuming the lines were a little longer than usual because I heard quite a few locals slurring, “Go back to Breck! Go back,” and another slipped next to me on the chairlift with an open beer in his pocket, mentioning how Arapahoe Basin was a “diamond in the rough.”
Overall, the people on the slopes were friendly and talkative on the lifts, and it had much more of a small-town feel. If you’re a fan of moguls, A-Basin is a good place to get your fix. Looking down from the lift, I watched little kids who were way better on skis than I’ll ever be.
Really, you can’t go wrong. I have also heard from friends that Keystone has a lot of variety in terms of runs and they have quite a few bowls that are accessible if you’re willing to hike up (do it for the pow!).
All in all, if you are a beginner, I would recommend trying to get up to one of these resorts this year. You will fall in love with the mountains and being surrounded by beautiful views and snow, with crisp, cold air filling your lungs. If you get a chance to check them all out, chances are you’ll find one more to your liking, based on what you like—powder, moguls, crowds, familiar runs, etc. The feeling is one I can’t really describe with words, you have to experience it for yourself.
So don’t worry if you are from Florida and the closest thing to skiing you’ve done is sliding on the kitchen floor in socks; you’re in Colorado now! You probably came here for a reason. Look west in the winter and tell yourself “I’m not going to stay down here on the Front Range for six months just because of a little snow!” Expand your comfort zone and find out if skiing or boarding is something you will pursue in your future!
One thing to consider is whether or not you’ll be renting gear (i.e. skis, boots, boards, poles, etc.), since that will make traveling to these resorts a bit of an expense. There is a great shop on S. Tejon called The Ski Shop (shameless plug-in for them) who offer rentals for a great price ($20 for skis for the first day, $15 every day after that. Snowboard rentals are a little more expensive, but it’s the same idea and certainly not exorbitant).
There are usually F.U.C.C. buses running on the weekends (more information at the Worner desk) and multiple cars that go as well. If you ask around, someone is bound to have an extra seat in their car, and if you offer to pay with gas money (and maybe some snacks). Typically, there are day lockers at the lodges that you can pay for and put your gear in if you don’t want to carry it with you while on the slopes.
However, the better option is to stack your pockets with half a sandwich and some snacks to last you through the day so you don’t have to worry about stashing gear anywhere.
Lastly, the drives to the resorts that are covered under the Epic Local College Pass are pretty long (between two and three hours with traffic). I promise, though, that at the end of the day when you’re taking off your boots and admiring the mountains, you will realize it was worth it!