Snowboarding Options

[iamsam]

Hey guys,

Two of my brothers and my sister in law are coming out here from Maryland in January and they want to know what is the best option for a good day of snowboarding. They only want to snowboard for one day, so they only need a one day pass.

Thanks!

[Bimmerman325i]

Here's the problem with CO- ask 10 skiiers/boarders what their favorite resort is, get 13 different answers.

Better question: what skill level are they? Are they looking for terrain park, tree skiing, groom slopes, bowls, moguls/technical stuff.....?

Winter Park/Mary Jane, Copper, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Steamboat are my faves, but you can't beat how close Eldora is.

[iamsam]

Here's the problem with CO- ask 10 skiiers/boarders what their favorite resort is, get 13 different answers.

Better question: what skill level are they? Are they looking for terrain park, tree skiing, groom slopes, bowls, moguls/technical stuff.....?

Winter Park/Mary Jane, Copper, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Steamboat are my faves, but you can't beat how close Eldora is.

gosh, there are that many places?? well they are intermediate snowboarders i would say, i am sure they want a great Colorado experience, they have never been here before, they have only snowboarded in MD on Blue Mountain, whose peak is a few thousand feet below the flatlands here, and they only want a one day pass, and it would be nice to go to a place relatively close to Loveland.

Does that narrow the choices any? ;)

[Bimmerman325i]

Ha not really no. Loveland's kinda the opposite direction from all the resorts....just about everything is off of I70. Steamboat can be reached via Fort Collins, but it's at least 3hrs away from you. For a good time, I'd just go to whichever has more snow. Loveland ski area (I70 @Eisenhower tunnel), Keystone (other side of tunnel), Breck (5 min further from Keystone), Copper (5 more min) are all more or less the same price and all are good resorts. Keystone and Copper I prefer personally. Winter Park/MJ is also a very good place, but requires you to turn off I70 to Empire before the Tunnel.

A quick Google maps says you're at least two hours from any of the above.

I think there's something like 20 ski areas in Colorado, maybe more. We're certainly not spoiled for choice!

[iamsam]

can you get a one day pass at Breck?

[Alkasquawlik]

can you get a one day pass at Breck?

yes.

[Bimmerman325i]

^^ what he said. You can't buy them online, but you can there and at King Soopers/Safeway/Albertsons before you go up (sometimes also rental places down here). It's usually a few bucks cheaper to buy in town than there at the resort, budget $50/person.

[Bimmerman325i]

EDIT: looking at the multi-day passes, budget $65 or so per person unless you can get a student or military discount....if you buy there at the slope. Call up King Soopers or Safeway to get a good price, only idiots buy at the ticket office there at the slope.

Also, some good reading (and a great local ski rental shop):

http://blog.crystalskishop.com/articles/enjoying-the-slopes-without-breaking-the-bank/

http://blog.crystalskishop.com/articles/you-are-from-colorado-when/

Edit 2: Winter Park is the only one that lists single day tickets, and they're $75. Again, buy before you go from not-the-resort!

Edit 3: read the weather conditions before you go, and make damn sure you have proper snow tires on your car!! (and sandbags) The weather down here and the weather up there is guaranteed to be considerably different...even more so when you cross the Continental Divide. Read this before you go: http://blog.crystalskishop.com/articles/winter-driving/

[iamsam]

awesome guys thanks so much!! I will send the link to this thread to my brothers for them to read.

[Bishop]

Ho hum, I dunno how I missed this. I agree that CO has a ton of places to choose from. I agree that you'll be going down I-70 to get to some snow. I agree you'll be spending at LEAST 2.5 hours on the road from Loveland (1 hour 50 minutes for us to get to Copper, and thats stopping quickly in Boulder at Moe's Bagels for breakfast, eat in the car). Also, might take 4 hours depending on conditions....

When are they coming? If it's soon you're going to have to settle with whoever has snow, which isn't terrible. Loveland is fun, but small in comparison to Copper, and Winter Park / Mary Jane (same resort, 2 mountains). If the weather is crap, I'd advise avoiding the pass taking you to Winter Park, even if you know how to drive, others don't and it always takes longer... Under similar conditions, its the same time spent driving going to Copper and Winter Park (my favorites, hence my pass is for both mountains). I've been to Copper 5 times already because of decent conditions, but they don't have enough snow. Last I heard, WP / MJ had less than Copper, as did Loveland.... If they're coming later in the season (which they should, more runs / lifts open, meaning less crowding and less chance of running into assholes who dunno what they're doing), then they can pretty much pick any of the resorts... It's still really early in the season, after mid-Jan it gets really good. EDIT: Looks like they're coming in Jan, good lol... Hopefully we'll have more snow by then.

[joshw02]

I'd say Eldora in this case.. Closest to Loveland ,you don't have to mess with shitty traffic on I-70, most likely the least expensive lift ticket,and if the snow's good it can be a really fun Mtn. and not as crowded as summit county.Plus a pretty drive and plenty of terrain for one day. Just my opinion.

[325ix]

keystone or copper has good intermediate stuff

[miles318]

If they're used to riding east coast my guess is anywhere they go in CO they'll love. Anyways, Keystone has an awesome terrain park, and Vail is absolutely gigantic, I'd recommend both of them highly

[machined]

Copper.

Do they still have the little mini park right at the top of the lift? It's like eagle or flyer or something - I can't remember...

[Bishop]

Yeah but it's not up yet this season. They just finished the super pipe, and have a few other terrain park areas open, but the one at the top of the lift, like right under it, isn't up yet