Gondola One Opens for Scenic Rides

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

Vail’s Gondola One Opens for Scenic Rides this Weekend, June 7-9

Vail Gondola One

Vail Gondola One (Photo credit: proforged)

Vail Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States, will open Gondola One in Vail Village for scenic rides this weekend, June 7-9, during the GoPro Mountain Games. Guests are reminded that due to the events taking place, bike hauls will not be permitted for the weekend.

In addition, Sarge’s outdoor barbeque at Mid-Vail will be open for the first two weekends of Gondola One’s summer operation schedule.

Starting Thursday, June 20 the majority of summer operations, including signature summer activities at Adventure Ridge and on-mountain dining, will be based out of Eagle’s Nest atop the Eagle Bahn Gondola.

Scenic rides will be offered on both gondolas for the summer. Bike hauls will also be offered on both gondolas as soon as conditions permit and trails are opened. Both Gondola One and the Eagle Bahn Gondola will operate according to the following summer schedules:

Gondola One*

  • Weekends-Only: June 7-9 and 14-16
    • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday
  • Daily: Thursday, June 20 – Monday, Sept. 2
    • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

*Bikes will be allowed up the gondola until 4 p.m. (except during the weekend of June 7-9).

Eagle Bahn Gondola and Adventure Ridge**

  • Daily: Thursday, June 20 – Monday, Sept. 2
    • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday
    • 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday
  • Weekends-Only: Sept. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29.
    • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday

**Bikes will be allowed up the gondola until 6 p.m.

For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, or stop by the Mountain Information Center, open daily from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

About Vail Mountain
Coveted as the largest ski resort in the United States with more than 5,200 acres of skiable terrain, seven legendary Back Bowls spanning seven miles, and the most groomed terrain on the planet, Vail has been an extraordinary winter vacation destination for passionate skiers and snowboarders for more than 50 years. It is home to world-class athletes during the U.S. Ski Team early-season training sessions in Golden Peak, the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships and the future 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships. Under blue skies more than 300 days each year, friends and families reconnect and celebrate here from year to year and generation to generation. The vacation experience is exceptional, from the Vail Ski & Snowboard School to events, activities and festivals, shops and spas, abundant culinary experiences and luxurious accommodations. Coupled with the vision inherent in the spirit of Vail’s founders, and a modern day commitment to excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail is a mountain resort like nothing on earth. www.vail.com.

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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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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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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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Vail’s Extended 50th Anniversary Season

by: Paul Swansen - April 19th, 2013   Filed under: Colorado, Ski Colorado, Vail Add Comment

Vail’s Extended 50th Anniversary Season

Ski Runs

Vail’s Extended 50th Anniversary Season.  After extending the season for one additional weekend due to fantastic snow conditions, Vail Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States, will celebrate its second closing day of the 50th anniversary season on Sunday, April 21. With nearly five feet of fresh snow reported in the past seven days, skiers and snowboarders can look forward to great conditions and more than 2,400 acres of terrain when making their final turns of the season at Vail.

“With so much snow having fallen since closing day we are thrilled to extend the 50th anniversary season and allow guests to enjoy one more weekend on the mountain,” said Davy Ratchford, director of marketing and sales at Vail Mountain. “It’s a privilege to be able to celebrate closing day for a second time this season and we hope that guests will respect this opportunity and focus the celebration on enjoying some great skiing and snowboarding at Vail.”

On the mountain, all operating lifts and decks will close for the season at 4 p.m. Unlike last Sunday, guests will be asked to leave the mountain promptly at that time.

Resort officials ask everyone for their continued cooperation with ski patrol and other Vail Mountain staff on closing day Sunday. For those picnicking on the mountain, trash and recycling containers will be provided. Skiers and riders are also reminded that variable late-spring conditions exist and are encouraged to descend or download early. Once Vail Ski Patrol sweeps the mountain, it will remain closed until summer operations resume in early June.

U.S. Forest Service and local law enforcement officers will be on the mountain Sunday to help facilitate a safe end to the ski and snowboard season. Guests are expected to abide by the laws and rules of skiing and snowboarding and risk fines or arrest for irresponsible behavior. Skiers and snowboarders must continue to abide by the Colorado Ski Safety Act and “Your Responsibility Code” and observe all posted signs and closures.

Guests are reminded that using any ski lift or trail while impaired by alcohol or controlled substances is prohibited under the Colorado Ski Safety Act. Guests are also not permitted to ride lifts, ski or snowboard on Vail Mountain with open containers, coolers, suitcase-like carriers, barbeques or similar items. One daypack per person will be permitted on closing day, provided the bag fits in a five-gallon container.

Inappropriate behavior that may jeopardize the experience of other guests is not tolerated. As in recent years, violators who are ticketed or arrested or caught throwing snowballs will lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for the 2013-2014 season. Those who disobey posted signs and closures or engage in other inappropriate behavior could lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for up to the entire 2013-2014 season.

Vail Mountain staff thanks all guests, employees and the Vail community for a fantastic, extended 50th anniversary season.

For more information about Vail Mountain and closing day visit www.vail.com, stop by the Mountain Information Center in Lionshead, or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

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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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Vail Mountain’s 50th Anniversary Season Closing Week.

by: Paul Swansen - April 5th, 2013   Filed under: Colorado, Vail Add Comment
English: Gore Creek Drive, Vail, CO

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

Vail Mountain’s 50th Anniversary Season Closing Week.

Due to great spring conditions, Vail Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States, will keep more terrain open than originally planned for the final week of its 50th anniversary ski and snowboard season. Terrain and operations are usually streamlined significantly for the final week of the season due to snow conditions and limited guest volumes. This year, more than 4,600 acres of skiable terrain will remain available, including portions of Blue Sky Basin and China Bowl as well as Tea Cup, Sun Down and Sun Up bowls and the majority of front-side terrain through Sunday, April 14.

“After the conditions we experienced last season and the first half of this season, we felt it would be a shame to close down as much as we typically would with the great snow we still have on the mountain,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “Keeping Blue Sky, Tea Cup and half of China Bowl open in addition to Sun Up and Sun Down bowls, plus virtually the entire Front Side is a thank you to our passholders for a great season.”

The majority of lifts on Vail’s front side will continue to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Back Bowls will close at 3:30 p.m. Lift operating hours are posted at the base of all open lifts and guests are advised to check mountain terrain and lift status reports on www.vail.com or the mobile site, http://m.vail.com for most up-to-date information.

Beginning Monday, April 8, the following lifts are expected to operate for the remainder of the season:

Gondola One;
Eagle Bahn Gondola;
Avanti Express Lift (#2);
Wildwood Express Lift (# 3);
Mountaintop Express Lift (# 4);
High Noon Express Lift (#5);
Riva Bahn Express Lift (# 6);
Born Free Express Lift (# 8);
Highline Express Lift (#10);
Northwoods Express Lift (# 11);
Gopher Hill Lift (# 12);
Sourdough Express Lift (#14);
Little Eagle Lift (# 15);
Sun Up Lift (#17);
Tea Cup Express Lift (#36); and
Skyline Express Lift (#37).

In addition to the Siberia, Mongolia and Game Creek areas, the Cascade Lift (#20) out of Cascade Village and the Pride Express Lift (#26) in Lionshead will be closed beginning Monday, April 8.

Adventure Ridge will be open for afternoon and evening operations through Saturday, April 6 via the Eagle Bahn Gondola; Adventure Ridge will be closed for the season beginning Sunday, April 7. EpicMix Racing will be offered through Sunday, April 7.

Spring conditions exist and skiers and snowboarders must continue to obey posted closures and observe the Colorado Ski Safety Act and Your Responsibility Code for their safety and the safety of other guests. All on-mountain closures and schedule modifications are subject to change based on snow and weather conditions.

Vail Ski & Snowboard School
The Vail Ski & Snowboard School will continue to operate from its Vail Village and Lionshead locations through Sunday, April 14. The Golden Peak Children’s and Adults School will be open through Sunday, April 7; the Small World Nursery in Golden Peak will remain open through Sunday, April 14.

On-Mountain Dining
The 10th, Game Creek Restaurant and Bistro Fourteen will offer dinner service through Saturday, April 6. The Dawg Haus and Belle’s Camp in Blue Sky Basin, Wildwood, the Terrace level of Mid-Vail, the Golden Peak Grill and the Grand Press at Eagle’s Nest will be open for normal operations through Sunday, April 7 before closing for the season.

Daytime dining at The 10th, Two Elk, Buffalo’s, the Look Ma level of Mid-Vail, the Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest and Express Lift at Mountain Plaza will be available to skiers and snowboarders through closing day, Sunday, April 14.

Spring Back to Vail
Spring Back to Vail returns April 8 through 14 with free concerts from national headliners, on-snow events, street parties and more. Don’t miss performances by O.A.R, Sublime with Rome, and Jimmy Cliff. The annual World Pond Skimming Championships also returns on Sunday, April 14 in Golden Peak. For the complete schedule of events and pond skimming registration, visit www.vail.com/springback.

For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com or stop by the Mountain Information Center, open daily from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

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