Vail Valley Partnership Announces New Board Members

by: Paul Swansen - June 5th, 2013   Filed under: Colorado, Current Events, Vail Add Comment

Vail Valley Partnership Announces New Board Members
Mark Herron and Gary Woodworth Join Partnership’s Board of Governors

North side of Vail Mountain, and Vail Valley.

North side of Vail Mountain, and Vail Valley. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vail Valley Partnership (VVP) is pleased to announce that Mark Herron, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Vail and Gary Woodworth, CEO of Gallegos Corporation have joined the Partnership’s 12-person Board of Governors. Vail Valley Partnership’s Board of Governors is the principal governing and policymaking body of the organization. The Board’s membership is as diverse as the Vail Valley business community, with business leaders serving from a variety of business sectors and with representation throughout Eagle County.

The Board of Governors provides strategic guidance in the fulfillment of Vail Valley Partnership’s mission to take the leadership role to create and manage collaborative programs that encourage economic development and result in increased destination tourism in Eagle County. The addition of both Herron and Woodworth help to further diversify the group and provide perspective from two significant Vail Valley professional industries.

“Mark and Gary represent two important business sectors to the Partnership board: hospitality and construction. Both bring a variety of community involvement to the Partnership and we look forward to their involvement and strategic engagement in the organization to help us continue to achieve our mission,” said Chris Romer, president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership.

The other 10 individuals who serve on the Board of Governors include: Glenn Davis – Regional President of Alpine Bank, Tim Baker – Executive Director of Beaver Creek Resort Company,
Doug Lovell – Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts, Inc., James Wear – President of Sherman & Howard, Johannes Faessler – General Manager / Owner of Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, Mike Brumbaugh – Owner of Venture Sports, Doris Kirchner – President & CEO of Vail Valley Medical Center, Laurie Mullen – Owner of West Vail Liquor Mart, John Shipp – Owner of Dusty Boot Saloon & Luigi’s Pastahouse and Beth Slifer – Owner of Slifer Designs.

To learn more about Vail Valley Partnership and its Board of Governors, please visit http://www.vailvalleypartnership.com/index.asp.

About Vail Valley Partnership:

Vail Valley Partnership is a 501(c) (6) non-profit organization that serves as the chamber and destination marketing organization for Eagle County, Colorado and the Vail Valley. Vail Valley Partnership (VVP) is a regional leader in sustaining and enhancing the Vail Valley as a tourism destination. Through group and leisure sales efforts, the VVP takes on a leadership role to bring groups, meetings, events and visitors to the Vail Valley for both the economic benefit of the member businesses we serve and the overall economic vitality of the community. In 2012, the Partnership’s destination sales and marketing efforts resulted in $69,000,000 of direct spending in the Eagle River Valley. For more information on the Vail Valley Partnership, please visit http://www.vailvalleypartnership.com/.

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Mountaintop Express Lift Replacement

by: Paul Swansen - June 4th, 2013   Filed under: Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment
  • Mountaintop Express

    Mountaintop Express (Photo credit: sevenblock)

    New Mountaintop Express Lift (#4) will feature first loading conveyor system for a high-speed, six-passenger lift of its kind in North America

  • Gopher Hill Lift (#12) replacement also approved
  • Both lifts will open to the public for the 2013-2014 winter ski and snowboard season

Vail Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States, announced that it has received approval to construct a new high-speed, six-passenger Doppelmayr chairlift, replacing the four-passenger Mountaintop Express Lift (#4) from Mid-Vail to Patrol Headquarters. Construction will begin immediately and the lift will be operational for the 2013-2014 ski and snowboard season.

The Mountaintop Express Lift (#4) will feature loading gates with a right angle load and a loading conveyor system, which has been shown to reduce the number of lift stops and slows, thereby increasing the efficiency of the lift. The systems have been widely used throughout European resorts for years and this will mark the first loading conveyor on a high-speed, six-passenger lift of its kind in North America. The new lift will result in a 33 percent increase in capacity, or 3,600 people per hour, which is the same capacity as Vail’s new Gondola One. The old Mountaintop Express Lift (#4) was installed in 1985 and provides access to Patrol Headquarters and a number of surrounding areas including the legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin.

“The Mountaintop Express Lift is one of the busiest lifts on Vail Mountain,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “Upgrading it to a six-passenger lift and adding capacity will make a noticeable improvement in wait times and skier/snowboarder circulation. The use of the loading conveyor, which is a common feature at top European resorts, is an added luxury and reduces the frequency of misloads as well.”

The new lower lift terminal of the Mountaintop Express Lift (#4) will be located approximately 90 feet to the east of the previous terminal, resulting in a lift maze configuration that will decrease cross-traffic of skiers and snowboarders in the surrounding area. The upper terminal location will undergo minor adjustments to accommodate a more efficient circulation of skiers and snowboarders.

The resort has also received final approval to replace the Gopher Hill Lift (#12), a fixed-grip double chairlift, with a fixed-grip triple chairlift. The Gopher Hill Lift (#12) in Golden Peak – a fixed-grip double Riblet chairlift installed in 1974 – will be replaced by the old Rose Bowl lift (#4) from Beaver Creek, which was removed in the spring of 2011. The fixed-grip triple Doppelmayr lift will increase capacity by 50 percent over the existing lift, which predominantly provides access to the Golden Peak area for beginners as well as access to Vail Village. The lower terminal will be adjusted slightly in both location and elevation to allow beginner guests easier access to the lift and to facilitate better use of both the west and east lift mazes.

“The new triple lift in Golden Peak will allow for twice the capacity of our three to six year olds enrolled in lessons, as they are required to ride the lift with an adult,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “While this upgrade may seem small to our more experienced guests, it’s a critical improvement for our newest and youngest visitors to get them on the hill and learning faster.”

The majority of the both old lifts will be recycled and some components will be kept as spare inventory for Vail or other Vail Resorts mountains.

For more information about Vail Mountain, visit Vail.comor contact the Mountain Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

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Vail’s Annual Mountain Cleanup Scheduled

by: Paul Swansen - May 30th, 2013   Filed under: Colorado, Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment

Vail’s Annual Mountain Cleanup Scheduled for Tuesday, June 18

Ski Runs

Vail Mountain and Vail Resorts Echo invite community volunteers to join employees for the annual mountain cleanup, scheduled for Tuesday, June 18.

“Vail’s mountain cleanup is a great opportunity for employees and the community to give back and get our beautiful mountain ready for summer guests to enjoy,” said Adam Bybliw, environmental manager for Vail Mountain. “We look forward to seeing a great turnout of volunteers to lend a helping hand this year. With the cleanup based out of Vail Village via Gondola One we’re also looking forward to accessing different areas of the mountain than in years past.”

Volunteers are highly encouraged to pre-register with the Mountain Information Center and complete release waivers prior to cleanup day. On cleanup day, all volunteers should meet at the base of the Gondola One in Vail Village by 9 a.m. with their own work gloves, water, sun block, hat, snacks, sturdy hiking shoes and clothing for inclement weather. A limited supply of gloves for cleanup will be made available. Teams will be transported up the mountain at 9 a.m., provided with trash bags and directed to specific cleanup sites. In the case of severe weather, a decision will be made the morning of the clean up whether or not to continue or postpone the cleanup.

Beginning at 12 p.m., the Vail Mountain dining staff will host a complimentary barbecue at Sarge’s Grill at Mid-Vail for all volunteers, at which time a single-day complimentary lift ticket voucher for the 2013-2014 winter season will be distributed to volunteers. After lunch, teams will meet again to continue cleaning and hike down to the base area on assigned trails. Those who choose not to walk down the mountain may download the gondola.

To pre-register, provide your name and the number of people in your party to the Mountain Information Center in Lionshead, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and daily beginning Thursday, June 20. Or, call (970) 754-VAIL (8245). All volunteers will need to complete and sign a liability release form and bring it with them on the day of mountain cleanup in order to participate. Liability releases are available in the Mountain Information Center or online at www.vail.com/mountaincleanup.

Vail Resorts Echo, the Company’s social responsibility and environmental stewardship program encompasses three core efforts – charitable giving, volunteerism and environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.vailresortsecho.com. For more information about Vail visit www.vail.com.

All volunteers will receive a single-day lift ticket voucher for 2013-2014 winter ski season

  • Guests are encouraged to bring their own gloves, water, sun block, hat, snacks and sturdy hiking shoes.

 

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Canyons will be included in the Epic Season Pass

by: Paul Swansen - May 29th, 2013   Filed under: Current Events, Customer Service, Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment
View from the Short Cut fixed triple chairlift...

View from the Short Cut fixed triple chairlift at The Canyons resort in Park City, Utah (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Canyons will be included in the Epic Season Pass for the 2013-2014 winter season.
Vail Resorts enters into a long-term lease with Talisker for first mountain resort in Utah.
Vail Resorts today announced that the Company has entered into a long-term lease with affiliate companies of Talisker Corporation for Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah. Under the lease, Vail Resorts has assumed all of the resort operations of Canyons while Talisker has retained its development rights for four million square feet of real estate at the resort.

“With 4,000 skiable acres, easy access to the town of Park City and $75 million in recent resort improvements, Canyons is a perfect complement to our collection of world-class mountain resorts,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. “I commend the Talisker and Canyons team for the outstanding work they have done to redevelop the resort, which is reflected in a top 10 ranking by SKI Magazine and #4 ranking by Outside Magazine. We look forward to building on that momentum and including Canyons in our industry-leading season pass products, which next season will offer guests access to Colorado, Tahoe and Utah on one season pass, a first in ski industry history. We will also leverage our guest database and domestic and international sales and marketing efforts to continue to drive Canyons’ growth. Talisker has an outstanding track record of high-end resort development and we look forward to working together to create something truly extraordinary with Talisker’s four million square feet of remaining approved residential and commercial density at Canyons.”

The transaction also incorporates the potential for the lease, without additional consideration, to include the land under the ski terrain of Park City Mountain Resort that is adjacent to Canyons and is currently owned by Talisker and is subject to pending litigation. “We look forward to the litigation being resolved and hope that Vail Resorts can play a constructive role in helping to arrive at a solution that offers the best outcome for guests of both resorts,” Katz added.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring in Vail Resorts to partner with us on our vision for Canyons,” said Jack Bistricer, chief executive officer of Talisker. “Vail Resorts is the clear leader in the mountain resort industry and I am confident that they can replicate at Canyons the success they have delivered at resorts such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Northstar. I am incredibly proud of all that our team has accomplished at Canyons over the past five years and am confident that together with Vail Resorts, we can create one of the greatest mountain resorts in the world.”

The Company also announced that purchasers of the Epic Pass for the 2013-2014 winter season will receive unlimited and unrestricted access to Canyons, as well as to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood. The 2013-2014 Epic Pass is on sale now at $689 for adults, compared to the season pass price of $849 at Canyons this past year.

The lease has an initial term of 50 years with six 50-year renewal options. The lease provides for $25 million in annual fixed payments, which increase each year by an inflation linked index of CPI less one percent, with a floor of two percent per annum. In addition, the lease includes participating contingent payments to Talisker of 42 percent of the amount by which EBITDA for the resort operations, as calculated under the lease, exceeds approximately $35 million, with such threshold amount increased by an inflation linked index and a 10-percent adjustment for any capital improvements or investments made under the lease by Vail Resorts. The Company will be finalizing the accounting for the lease in the coming months but expects to record an obligation on the balance sheet of approximately $305 million in long-term debt (including capital lease obligations).  The Company expects incremental annual Resort EBITDA from Canyons of approximately $15 million in fiscal year 2014 (excluding transition and integration costs) increasing to approximately $25 million in fiscal year 2017, not including any potential benefit the Company may receive from the Park City Mountain Resort land which is subject to ongoing litigation.

Conference Call
Vail Resorts will host a conference call at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, in which Vail Resorts executives will discuss the Canyons transaction.

The call will be broadcast over the Internet at www.vailresorts.com. To listen to the call, go to the website and select the Investor Relations section. Those wishing to participate via telephone should dial (877) 941-0844 to be connected. Participants outside of North America should dial (480) 629-9835.

In addition, a replay of the call will be available two hours following the conclusion of the conference call through June 12, 2013, at midnight. To access the replay, dial (800) 406-7325 (domestic) or (303) 590-3030 (international), pass code 4618918. The call also will be archived at www.vailresorts.com.

About Canyons Resort
With thrilling adventures across thousands of acres and nine mountains of majestic terrain, Canyons Resort is Utah’s largest and most dynamic ski and snowboard resort. Located in stunning Park City, Canyons is ranked as a “Top 10 North American Resort” in SKI Magazine’s annual reader survey. Canyons’ lively resort village bustles with nine hotels including Talisker’s Waldorf Astoria Park City, and two dozen dining restaurants like the award-winning farm-to-table venue, Farm at Canyons. The Orange Bubble Express, North America’s only enclosed and heated chairlift; Ski Beach, a lively après ski gathering area; Iron Mountain, featuring 300 acres of new terrain; and the fast-paced Zip Tour make Canyons a must-visit year-round resort. With Salt Lake City International Airport just 35 minutes away, Canyons is conveniently accessible from anywhere in the world. For more information, visit www.canyonsresort.com.

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Epic Service Award Winners.

by: Paul Swansen - May 28th, 2013   Filed under: Beaver Creek, Colorado, Current Events, Customer Service, Vail Add Comment
English: Gore Creek Drive, Vail, CO

English: Gore Creek Drive, Vail, CO (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vail Resorts announced today the winners of the 2013 Epic Service Awards, recognizing 11 employees across all resorts and lines of business within the company. Five of the 2013 recipients reside in Eagle County and include Bob Long from Vail Mountain, Richard Knapp from Beaver Creek, Paul Gorbold from Colorado Mountain Express, Jennifer Pope from RockResorts and Anna Townsend from Specialty Sports Venture.

The Epic Service Award is the highest level of recognition for guest service at Vail Resorts and it is earned and awarded to those employees who exceed expectations, have innovative guest service ideas, and embody the company’s service mantra, “Own it. Personalize it. Elevate it.” Each of the five Eagle County award winners has a personal story that demonstrates the ways in which he or she went above and beyond to provide an exceptional experience or service for a guest.

Bob Long, an employee with the Golden Peak Ski & Snowboard School at Vail, received the Epic Service Award at Vail Mountain. When a local school brought students to the resort during Learn to Ski Week, Bob was assigned to work one-on-one with a young boy who had been having a hard time at school and at home. While it had taken many months for the student to open up to staff at school, Bob and the young boy hit it off immediately, becoming fast friends and allowing the boy to feel comfortable enough to open up and confide in Bob. The boy ultimately became very attached to Bob by the time the program ended. So much so that Bob immediately inquired about volunteering at the boy’s school. He emailed the school principal, filled out a volunteer application and went through the necessary protocol, and shortly thereafter Bob was reconnected with the boy again. He volunteered at the school with the boy throughout the entire ski season and not only did he continue to develop a great relationship with the boy, but the rest of his family as well.

Richard Knapp, an employee with the Beaver Creek Adult Ski School in winter and a High Mountain Adventure Jeep Tour guide in summer, received the Epic Service Award at Beaver Creek. Last summer while he was out with guests on a tour, thunder began to echo through the resort and lightning crashed overhead as a fast-moving storm rolled into the valley. With a full load of guests in the jeep, Richard began to make his way down the mountain when he spotted a family hiking down, drenched from the storm. He called Patrol but recognized they were working in a distant area of the mountain and so after dropping off his tour group, Richard immediately turned around and went back up the mountain to find the family. They were grateful as he picked them up and drove them safely back down the mountain to shelter.

Paul Gorbold, health and safety manager for Colorado Mountain Express, also received the Epic Service Award. During the winter Paul was notified of an accident that had taken place with one of the CME vans while transporting some guests. No one was injured but it was later realized that there had been damage done to a guest’s ski bag. The guest was obviously upset by this and therefore reservations followed up with them and Paul was asked to stay in the loop so he could update the claim with the details of the resolution. Instead of just updating the paperwork though, Paul took ownership of the recovery by reaching out to Vail Resorts’ contacts at Specialty Sports Venture and then offering to visit the guest personally and assist with purchasing a replacement ski bag.

Jennifer Pope, a concierge at The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, received the Epic Service Award for Vail Resorts’ hospitality division, RockResorts. When an excited yet nervous guest approached Jennifer about helping him plan a special marriage proposal to his girlfriend, she happily obliged. They decided that the sleigh ride to Beano’s Cabin for dinner would be the perfect opportunity to pop the question. Jennifer called in some co-workers around the resort to help her build a snowman that the sleigh would stop at on the way to Beano’s, complete with a carrot nose and red scarf. She also arranged for rose petals and glittering candles to be set out on the sparkling snow, a Cadillac ride for the couple to their private snow cat, and a photographer and videographer to help capture the event. In the end the guest’s proposal was accepted and the newly engaged couple topped off the evening celebrating with family, champagne and a meal to remember at Beano’s Cabin.

Anna Townsend, assistant manager at the Beaver Creek Sports location at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch received the Epic Service Award for Vail Resorts’ retail division, Specialty Sports Venture. One day during the winter a guest arrived at Anna’s store to inquire about rentals and mentioned that the group was travelling with eight children, all of whom needed equipment. Knowing that parading that many children through the rental shop could be a potentially stressful situation, Anna offered to visit the group’s hotel room for an in-room fitting. The guest loved this idea and also asked if Anna could pick out a full outfit for each child. Anna put together head-to-toe outfits for all the kids, and also brought along full outfits for the parents too. The guests were thrilled by Anna’s attentive customer service.

Employees from across all lines of business at Vail Resorts are recognized each month for Epic Service. The final Epic Service Award winners are chosen from each resort and line of business across the company and are awarded with an all-expense paid, multi-day trip to one of the company’s resorts, lodging and activities, an exclusive dinner with Vail Resorts’ chairman and chief executive officer, Rob Katz, and members of the Vail Resorts executive committee, as well as other surprises. This year’s trip will take place July 15-18, 2013 at Breckenridge.

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Vail Resorts Names Taylor Ogilvie General Manager

by: Paul Swansen - May 25th, 2013   Filed under: Colorado, Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment
English: Mt. Brighton Ski Hill, Mt. Brighton, MI.

English: Mt. Brighton Ski Hill, Mt. Brighton, MI. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vail Resorts today announced the appointment of Taylor Ogilvie, as general manager of Mt. Brighton, where he will oversee the ski area operations at Mt. Brighton. He will begin his new position on June 10.

Ogilvie is originally from the Chicago suburbs and grew up skiing Midwest ski areas.  After attending college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Ogilvie started his career at Vail Resorts as a ski instructor and worked his way through the ranks at the Vail and Beaver Creek Ski & Ride Schools and most recently held the position of general manager where he oversaw all operations at the Vail Mountain Children and Teen Ski & Ride School in Lionshead.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Taylor’s ski resort management experience become general manager of Mt. Brighton,” said Eric Simon, Vice President and General Manager of Urban Ski Areas at Vail Resorts.  “Taylor has had tremendous success working across all mountain operations and will bring remarkable insight on the Vail Resorts guest experience to Mt. Brighton. Plus, growing up skiing in the Midwest, Taylor understands how special ski areas like Mt. Brighton are and will work to preserve its legacy and enhance the ski and snowboard experience.”

Ogilvie will also oversee Vail Resorts $10 million capital improvements at Mt. Brighton this summer which will significantly enhance the ski and ride experience for next season. This includes improvements in snowmaking to open the ski resort earlier, extend the season and provide a more consistent and high-quality snow surface; make lift upgrades including a new quad chairlift; create state-of-the-art terrain parks with extensive new features and rope tows; energize and modernize the base area facilities; and add Vail Resorts’ signature EpicMix and EpicMix Racing technology to personalize the guest experience.

Ogilvie will soon relocate to the Mt. Brighton, Michigan area with his wife and two daughters.

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Vail Resorts Closes on Sale of Land

by: Paul Swansen - May 24th, 2013   Filed under: Breckenridge, Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment
English: View of Lake Chutes at the Breckenrid...

English: View of Lake Chutes at the Breckenridge Ski Resort from the top of Peak 8. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vail Resorts Closes on Sale of Land

 

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) finalized the sale of approximately 2.1 acres of land at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 8 to an affiliate of Breckenridge Grand Vacations Inc. The sale price was $11.1 million in cash.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations is the developer of several premier timeshare properties in Breckenridge, including the popular Grand Timber Lodge and Grand Lodge at Peak 7. The Peak 8 property will be developed as a 75-unit, ski-in/ski-out timeshare resort with a host of amenities including a public restaurant and full-service spa. The project will also improve skier circulation at the base of Peak 8 by widening certain key ski trails.

The timeshare development is the latest addition to the overall master plan and vision for developing vibrant base areas on Peaks 7 and 8 and creating a strong connection to Breckenridge’s historic Main Street. To date, The Breck Connect Gondola, One Ski Hill Place, Crystal Peak Lodge and The Grand Lodge at Peak 7 have been developed under the Peak 7 and 8 Master Plan.

Breckenridge Ski Resort also recently announced its plans to greatly enhance on-mountain summer activities, subject to applicable regulatory approvals, and is in the final stages of the Peak 6 expansion accessing 543 acres of new terrain which is scheduled to open next ski season.

“This is an exciting time for Breckenridge Ski Resort, with continued investment both on the mountain and at our base areas,” said Alex Iskenderian, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Vail Resorts Development Company. “Improving the bed base at Peaks 7 and 8, and having a gondola taking our guests to and from town, has transformed the Breckenridge experience.”

In addition to enhancing the look and experience at Peak 8, the timeshare project is expected to generate $2.5 to $3.0 million to the Town of Breckenridge through real estate transfer tax revenues, said BGV’s Rob Millisor. “I would like to thank Vail Resorts for the opportunity to bring such a visionary project to life, as well as the Town of Breckenridge for its partnership and thorough development review process,” Millisor said.

The Peak 8 timeshare development will be at the site of the Bergenhof Day Lodge, which will be torn down this spring. Vail Resorts has committed to partnering with the Summit County Recycling Center to recycle materials that are eligible for recycling and Breckenridge Grand Vacations plans to incorporate reclaimed materials into its new building. Some grading and utility work in the area will begin this summer and vertical construction of the timeshare project will begin in the spring of 2014.

“Breckenridge Grand Vacations has been a great partner at the Grand Lodge at Peak 7, and we look forward to continuing that partnership at Peak 8,” said Iskenderian.

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Austria Is Now Epic.

by: Paul Swansen - May 8th, 2013   Filed under: Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Colorado, Customer Service, Keystone, Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment
English: St. Anton am Arlberg as seen from the...

English: St. Anton am Arlberg as seen from the Galzig slopes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Austria Is Now Epic

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced an epic partnership with the one of the most famous ski regions in the world, Arlberg, Austria, home to legendary mountain resorts of St. Anton, Lech-Zürs, St. Christoph and Stuben. The Epic Pass now features five free consecutive days of skiing and riding in Arlberg, bringing the total access to 15 world-class mountains in three countries and further enhancing the already exceptional value of the world’s greatest ski pass. At only $689, the Epic Pass is the best value on a lift pass in the industry. Epic Pass holders have the opportunity to extend their winter from the U.S. to Europe—for the second consecutive year—and experience both Verbier, Switzerland, and now Arlberg, Austria, in addition to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Eldora in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe. Boasting an average annual snowfall of 23 feet, the Arlberg area is legendary among skiers and riders from around the globe as the cradle of skiing, revered for the world-class experience and innovation in the sport that it affords while maintaining its traditional, Alpine character.

“We are pleased and proud to announce our partnership with Arlberg as Epic Pass holders can now ski the best resorts in the world in three countries on one pass. Vail Resorts continues to look for opportunities to enhance the incredible value of the Epic Pass that our guests already receive and enjoy. In March, we announced that we increased the number of free days of access to Verbier, Switzerland, from three to five for the 2013-2014 season and we added, Eldora, a local Colorado ski area to the Epic Pass,” said Kirsten Lynch, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “Epic Pass holders already enjoy an incredible experience with unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail Resorts’ seven world-class resorts in the United States, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, as well as Arapahoe Basin and now Eldora, but the addition of world-class skiing in both Austria and Switzerland makes the Epic Pass even more compelling for our guests looking to take a ski vacation to Europe.”
Boasting 174 miles of marked ski runs, 112 miles of open free riding terrain, 94 gondolas and lifts, and approximately 23 feet of annual snowfall, The Arlberg is arguably Austria’s most popular mountain resort group. Modern and vibrant, St. Anton am Arlberg also maintains its traditional Tyrolean charm. The Arlberg ski area will be open from Dec. 6, 2013 – Apr. 27, 2014.

“Arlberg and Vail Resorts are arguably the world’s premier ski resorts, offering exceptional experiences on the mountain and an unparalleled level of customer service,” said Hermann Fercher, chief executive officer of Lech-Zürs. “We are looking forward to a successful partnership and welcome Epic Pass holders to Austria next winter”, chief executive officer of St. Anton am Arlberg, Martin Ebster, went on to say.

Skiers and riders can lock in the lowest guaranteed prices for only $49 down on next season by purchasing their passes before May 27, 2013. The following is a guide to help skiers and snowboarders choose the best season pass options for them, based on how much they plan to ski and ride. All passes are available for purchase at www.epicpass.com.

Take Multiple Ski Vacations in the United States and Europe Throughout the Winter Season for a Great Value

· The Epic Pass™: Ski as much as you want, whenever you want at $689 for adults and $359 for children (ages 5-12). The Epic Pass provides unlimited skiing or riding at nine resorts including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and now Eldora in Colorado and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe. New this year, the Epic Pass also comes with five free days of skiing or riding at the renowned Verbier Resort in Switzerland and an additional five free days of skiing and riding in Arlberg, Austria. No restrictions. At this spring rate, the Epic Pass pays for itself in just over five days.

· The Epic Local Pass™: Perfect for people who can navigate a few more restrictions on their winter vacation. The Epic Local Pass at $529 for adults and $269 for children (ages 5-12) offers unlimited and unrestricted skiing at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with limited restrictions at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. The Epic Local Pass also includes 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. At this spring rate, the Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just over four days.

Ski or Snowboard Any Day of the Season for a Great Value

Vail Resorts also offers options for guests who don’t plan to ski or ride more than seven days next winter:
· New this year, The Epic 4-Day™:Perfect for people who only plan to take one ski vacation. The Epic 4-Day at $349 for adults and $199 for children (ages 5-12) offers four unrestricted lift tickets for skiing and riding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Arapahoe Basin. At the spring rate, the Epic 4-Day pays for itself in less than three days.

· Epic 7-Day™: Perfect for people who don’t plan to ski more than seven days. The Epic 7-Day gives skiers and snowboarders a total of seven unrestricted days of skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, plus Arapahoe Basin, anytime during the season at $529 for adults and $269 for children (ages 5-12). At this spring rate, the Epic 7-Day pays for itself in just over four days.

Pay $49 Down Now and Lock in the Lowest Price Available

Vail Resorts is making it as easy as possible for guests to lock in the lowest guaranteed pass prices with a $49 down payment now and the remaining balance due in mid-September 2013. The lowest guaranteed 2013-2014 season pass prices with the option to put $49 down are only available through May 27, 2013.

Season Pass Insurance Option: Protect Your Pass Investment in the Event of Unexpected Circumstances

Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase pass insurance. All of the Company’s season pass products are non-refundable and non-transferrable; however, pass insurance covers pass holders in the event of unexpected circumstances including sickness, injury and job loss. Pass insurance is $20 for adults and $10 for children (ages 5-12). Coverage applies for all season passes and the Epic 7-Day and Epic 4-Day valid for the 2013-2014 ski season.

Prices on Vail Resorts season passes are guaranteed for a limited time only, so act now. For more information or to purchase your pass, visit www.epicpass.com.

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Breckenridge Extends Ski Season

by: Paul Swansen - April 16th, 2013   Filed under: Breckenridge, Current Events, Ski Colorado 1 Comment
Breck_jan_31_snow

Breck_jan_31_snow (Photo credit: paulswansen)

Breckenridge Extends Ski Season

 

Excellent snow conditions allow for one extra weekend of skiing

All 2012/13 Vail Resorts season passes will continue to be valid during the extended season

$25 lift tickets for season pass holders from other resorts; $50 lift tickets also available

Free parking

 

Breckenridge Ski Resort officials announced today they will extend the resort’s ski season one additional weekend, April 19-21, due to the large amounts of snow the resort has received over the last part of the season. Breckenridge has received over five feet of snow so far in April, including a foot since the official closing on Sunday. Additional snow is in the forecast this week.

“After skiing some amazing powder turns on Closing Day and more heavy snow in the forecast this week, we just don’t have the heart to shut down Breck’s lifts just yet,” said Pat Campbell, resort SVP & COO. “We can’t deny how great the conditions are, so this is a great opportunity for all of our guests to take advantage of a few extra days and enjoy more of the spring skiing and riding we all love here in Breck.”

Breckenridge will open 1180 acres, lifts and terrain on Peak 8 only this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 19-21, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day. Lifts open will include: The BreckConnect Gondola, Colorado SuperChair, Rip’s Ride, 6 Chair, T-Bar and the Imperial Express SuperChair; Park Lane and Trygve’s Terrain Parks will also be open.

Current 2012-13 Vail Resorts season passes already valid at Breckenridge will be honored this extended weekend. In addition, Vail and Breck will have a special $25 lift ticket for guests who hold season passes from non-Vail Resorts owned and operated resorts, and a $50 lift ticket for those without passes for purchase at the ticket windows. Free parking will be available all three days this weekend in the gondola lots.

Additional services for Breck’s guests during the extension include special lesson prices, with half-day adult lessons starting at $59 and full-day children’s lessons for $99. Discount private lessons with a reservation will also be available.

Some restrictions to regular season promotions and discounts may apply. A full list of services for the extended weekends is up online now and will be updated at www.breckenridge.com.

Extended Lodging Deals
April lodging is 40% off! Book lodging for Breck’s extended weekend and save up to 40% on your stay. Additional rates and lodging deals are available at www.breckenridge.com.

2013-14 Season Passes now on Sale!
Breck’s extended season are just two reasons to have one of Vail Resorts’ popular ski and snowboard season passes, including the Epic Pass at $689 for adults, now on sale for the 2013-2014 winter season. Ski or snowboard eight world-class resorts across three states and 24,980 acres, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Tahoe, more than five to six days in one season and all of the passes pay for themselves. Visit www.epicpass.com for more information

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Lindsey Vonn to Award Six Ski Race Scholarships.

by: Paul Swansen - March 31st, 2013   Filed under: Beaver Creek, Vail 1 Comment
Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn holds the crysta...

Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn holds the crystal globe she won for taking the season long Audi FIS World Cup downhill title after the final downhill race of the season in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (Doug Haney/U.S. Ski Team) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lindsey Vonn to Award Six Ski Race Scholarships for Aspiring Young Racers in Colorado and Lake Tahoe As Part of EpicMix Racing Program.

Olympic champion skier and EpicMix Race pacesetter Lindsey Vonn today announced she is awarding six youth ski racers scholarships to local race programs at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Northstar. Vail Resorts donated a portion of its revenue from the new EpicMix Race program across the six resorts to support Vonn’s commitment to giving back to the skiing community for future generations. Two scholarships will be given to Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, for Vail and Beaver Creek racers; two scholarships will be given to Team Summit for Keystone and Breckenridge racers; and one scholarship each will be awarded to the Heavenly Ski & Snowboard Foundation and the Northstar Ski Racing Club.

“Lindsey is one of the most dominant athletes of her generation and we’re thrilled to work with her to help aspiring ski racers from our communities have the chance to become a champion like her,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. “We know Lindsey’s unfaltering work ethic, preparation and dedication to excellence both on and off the mountain are simply unstoppable and we will be supporting her on her road to recovery this summer and look forward to watching her comeback at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.”

“Making ski racing fun, engaging and accessible for kids and families is an exciting opportunity and a deep passion of mine,” said Lindsey Vonn. “As ambassador and official pacesetter for Vail Resorts’ new EpicMix Race program, I’m thrilled to be able to offer six scholarships to local ski and snowboard clubs to help young racers work towards achieving their dreams.”

About Lindsey Vonn

Already one of the most decorated athletes of her time, Vonn is the first American to clinch four overall World Cup titles and 13 in individual disciplines. This year, after being sidelined with a knee injury, Vonn still had enough points to win the FIS Alpine World Cup Downhill title this season whichgave her a World Cup record 17th crystal globe, overtaking Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell. She has secured 59 total World Cup wins to date second only to Moser-Proell’s record of 62 career World Cup race wins. Vonn was also the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the downhill in 2010 and also took home a bronze in the Super G.

While she was born in Burnsville, Minn. in 1984, Vonn considers Vail her “hometown” as she and her family commuted to Vail for training for several years before finally moving there permanently in the late ’90s to further her racing career. Lindsey spent her formative years on Vail Mountain, honing her racing skills in all alpine disciplines with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, then went on to achieve success in major U.S. and international events such as the Junior Olympics, Junior Worlds, NorAms and Europa Cup before entering the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup circuit. When she’s not rigorously training or garnering medals, Vonn makes her home at the The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail.

Vail Mountain has supported Vonn throughout her career and Vonn now represents all Vail Resorts’ world-class mountain resorts–Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone in Colorado and Heavenly Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe. She also represents Vail Resorts’ two urban ski areas Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan.

About EpicMix Racing

The new EpicMix Racing program provides Vail Resorts guests a new way to experience ski racing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone in Colorado and Heavenly and Northstar in California and Nevada. With EpicMix Racing, skiers automatically have their race times compared to ski racing great, Lindsey Vonn, with gold, silver, bronze and racer medals awarded based on achievement. Race times, digital medals, overall leaderboards and leaderboards with just family and friends are available on both the EpicMix website and mobile application at www.epicmix.com. Race results and medals can then be easily shared on Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, the new EpicMix race courses are designed to be fun and approachable and help engage more kids and families in ski racing.

The season finale of EpicMix Racing, The Lindsey Vonn Race Series Finals, is taking place at Beaver Creek on March 30, 2013. The top EpicMix Racing skiers and riders of all ages who raced at least 10 races and qualified among the top of their category, will compete for top honors as the fastest racers in the country on the EpicMix Racing circuit.

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