| The Rocky Mountains - the first sight I saw when I | | | | Vail |
| drove into Colorado. My first drive in the mountains | | | | You've heard of Vail - the largest ski resort in the |
| overwhelmed me. The snow-capped mountains of | | | | United States, the most groomed terrain on the |
| Colorado, the trees, and streams and lakes so blue | | | | planet, three huge faces with 193 ski trails over 5,289 |
| and green, you'd think Mother Nature was fooling | | | | acres, all with an average 300 days of sunshine and |
| with food coloring. | | | | perfect snow, perfectly groomed. The resort prides |
| Copper Mountain | | | | itself on offering exemplary customer service, which |
| On the drive up to Copper Mountain, I passed by | | | | is also a driving force behind the award-winning Vail |
| some a couple resorts on the way, Arapahoe Basin | | | | Snowsports School experience. With a guest return |
| and Ski Cooper. But Copper Mountain is considered | | | | rate of more than 80 percent, the Snowsports |
| by many of my friends as a local's mountain; although | | | | School also provides the opportunity to customize |
| they have a ski school and beginner's terrain, I feel | | | | the ski or ride experience through its private |
| Copper tends to be frequented by us, Coloradans | | | | instruction program. And privates aren't just for |
| rather than out-of-state tourists. Unlike resorts like | | | | adults- the popularity of kids' private lessons is on the |
| Vail or Winter Park, Copper tends to have fewer | | | | rise. Spend a day or week with one of the school's |
| lines and shorter wait times, even at the height of | | | | top pros and discover why at Vail there is no |
| tourist ski season (exceptions to this rule are during | | | | comparison. |
| Holidays, which often experience long lift lines due to | | | | Here are some options for skiers to enjoy at Vail. |
| so many families just out to enjoy the skiing. Copper | | | | Vail's Back Bowls are the stuff legends are made of. |
| has a combination of green and blue runs, Copper's | | | | Make sure you allow more than a day to explore the |
| Superpipe, and its premier terrain park, Catalyst. | | | | seven diverse bowls that stretch across six |
| Although virtually every lift at Copper can be directly | | | | breathtaking miles. Whether it's gliding down |
| skied to from the top of either the Eagle or the Flier, | | | | Poppyfields in China Bowl or making tracks on |
| many tourists unfamiliar with the resort tend to | | | | Genghis Khan, the Back Bowls offer a huge amount |
| funnel into Center Village. | | | | of terrain to challenge and satisfy the experienced |
| Winter Park Resort | | | | skier. |
| My family and I spent a few days just enjoying the | | | | Located two miles away from civilization, Blue Sky |
| resort, I found the resort to consists of three | | | | Basin offers a whole different type of mountain |
| interconnected mountain peaks - Winter Park, Mary | | | | experience. With trees, rocks and natural terrain |
| Jane, and Vasquez Ridge - which share a common lift | | | | everywhere, skiers and boarders can enjoy gladed |
| ticket. Mary Jane, is known for its moguls, tree skiing, | | | | runs at a variety of levels. Blue Sky Basin is filled with |
| hidden huts and generally more difficult terrain. It | | | | both intermediate and advanced runs, allowing skiers |
| encompasses the above-tree line terrain of Parsenn | | | | of at least mid-level ability to enjoy its unique |
| Bowl. | | | | scenery and terrain. |
| Winter Park is also home to the National Sports | | | | Like the other two faces, Vail's Front Side has |
| Center for the Disabled with its featured ski program. | | | | something for everybody. The Front Side offers 127 |
| The vision for the NSCD program is "to provide | | | | marked runs as well as all four terrain parks. Choose |
| skiers of all levels the opportunity to achieve their | | | | to cruise down the powder-filled blues next to the |
| dreams and goals through skiing." | | | | Mountaintop Express or challenge yourself to the |
| Beaver Creek Resort | | | | four-mile long Riva Ridge. Whatever your level, Vail's |
| This is a great resort for beginners. With 1,805 acres, | | | | Front Side will keep you entertained throughout your |
| the resort dedicates a significant portion of its terrain | | | | stay. |
| to teaching beginner skiers and snowboarders. In | | | | After the ski day is done get to Adventure Ridge at |
| fact, Beaver Creek Mountain is virtually laid out upside | | | | the top of the gondola for snow tubing, ski biking, |
| down with most of the prime beginner runs located | | | | kids snowmobiling, dining and more. |
| at the top. This layout gives beginner skiers a true | | | | With all this terrain and a host of other activities both |
| "ski-down-the-mountain" experience, not to mention | | | | on and off the mountain, time and again Vail is |
| spectacular views of the nearby Gore Range. | | | | recognized as one of the top ski resorts in North |
| What Makes Beaver Creek's terrain conducive to | | | | America. There's no comparison - you've got to get |
| teaching? | | | | here and experience it now. |
| As a mother of children ages 3, 4, and 7 years old, | | | | Aspen Mountain- Ajax as the Coloradans would say, |
| the new children's gondola and ski school offers | | | | is known as one of the world's classic ski mountains. |
| excellent beginner teaching terrain for kids and teens. | | | | Known for steeps, powder and bumps the mountain |
| I am told by the staff that beginner areas are | | | | also holds some great wide-open blue cruiser runs. |
| serviced with the best beginner-lift technology, | | | | The mountain rises straight out of the heart of |
| including surface carpet lifts, which are easier to ride | | | | downtown Aspen and is a must for anyone who calls |
| and cut down on fatigue. | | | | themselves a skier or snowboarder. |
| Slope maintenance crews move and shape the snow | | | | The newly renovated Ajax Tavern, steps from the |
| in the resort's beginner areas for optimal learning | | | | base of the Silver Queen Gondola, will have more |
| opportunities, creating sculpted terrain features | | | | space and updated menu this season. With an |
| including burms, knolls and rolls that help ease the | | | | expanded bar area and deck, Ajax Tavern will |
| learning curve for beginning skiers and riders. | | | | continue to offer a French Bistro menu at lunch, with |
| Learning snowboarders have their own section of the | | | | favorites such as Truffle Fries. This is the place to |
| beginner area on which to learn that is specifically | | | | see and been seen. New this year, Ajax Tavern will |
| sculpted for optimal beginner riding conditions. | | | | be open for dinner. |
| Three terrain parks and a Superpipe mean plenty of | | | | After last year's record-breaking season, powder will |
| beginner to expert level FUN. Park 101 and Zoom | | | | be in high demand once again. Get your cat skiing fix |
| Room are an integral part of the Park-ology learning | | | | with Powder Tours on the backside of Aspen |
| program for kids and teens. | | | | Mountain. Luxury snowcats take you to prime, |
| For the more Advanced and Expert terrain and | | | | untracked stashes. Fresh tracks guaranteed and |
| powder hounds set their sights on The Talons and, in | | | | gourmet lunch included. |
| its second year, the Stone Creek Chutes extreme | | | | Here's a best-kept secret: Groomed, intermediate, |
| terrain. The Talons advanced to expert area is | | | | cruising runs under Ruthie's and Shadow Mountain lifts. |
| served by three high-speed quad lifts and offers | | | | Carve long, smooth turns on the very runs where |
| enough steeps, bumps and glades to challenge the | | | | World Cup racers do. |
| most seasoned skier or rider. Ride the high-speed | | | | Would you love to get to these great places, but are |
| quad in Larkspur Bowl to ski the Stone Creek Chutes. | | | | uncertain how much if will cost or don't know where |
| Stone Creek offers 180 acres short, steep glades | | | | to stay? |
| runs for experts. | | | | |