Slopes

: Upstate slopes provide top-notch skiing

: Upstate slopes provide top-notch skiing
Don’t go to the Rockies for good snow when there are plenty of great slopes in upstate New York. Valarie D’Elia filed the following report.

Read more on YNN Rochester

Slopes

Snowmass Ski Resort Boasts of USA?s Steepest Slopes

The 3,128 acres of land on which Snowmass is situated is part of the White River National Forest near Aspen, in Western Colorado. This sheer size makes Snowmass the largest ski resort of all the Aspen/Snowmass Mountains areas. The mountain is noted for its wide cruiser trails, a pleasant atmosphere, and extensive ski-in and out lodging.

What You Get At Snowmass Ski Resort
The Snowmass Ski Resort contains 3 terrain parks, named Pipeline, Makaha and Scooper. Apart from an extensive and extreme skiing terrain, there is a superpipe, a minipipe and 88 wonderful ski runs — the longest being 5.3 miles! The level of elevation at the top is 12,510 feet, while the base elevation is 8,104 feet. With a vertical dropoff of 4,406 feet, this is the longest top to bottom skiing in the entire US.

Snowmass Resort is also known for the range of adventure sport and family-friendly activities one can indulge in during a visit. Ranging from ski and snowboarding, dog sledding, tobogganing and tubing, this resort also has ballooning, ice skating and hockey. Quieter evenings can be organized around Sno-Cat dinner tours and campfire storytelling.

There are several eating options and restaurants such as the Cirque Bar and Grill, Café Suzanne, Gwyn’s High Alpine and Krabloonik. Lynn Britt Cabin and Burlingame Cabin offer Sno-Cat dinner rides.

Snowmass Ski Resort Facilities
Snowmass Ski Resort provides a number of facilities to its lodgers, such as the free Bus Service for easy commute: The skier shuttle runs every 10 to 15 minutes from Rubey Park in Aspen. Shuttles run from Snowmass to Aspen regularly all day and well into the evenings.

Free parking facilities are available in Town Park Station. Paid parking lots cost around $13 per day. Permits are available for the winter season only and they can be purchased from the parking attendant between 7:30a.m and noon daily in Lot C. Two Creeks permits can be bought from the parking attendant between 8a.m and noon daily.

This resort has been rated as one of the best family ski areas in the US. It is currently undergoing massive changes, including the construction of a new gondola and a new Base Village along with extensive improvements to the now outmoded mountain infrastructure.

Slopes

This year, what’s off the Utah ski slopes will count

This year, what’s off the Utah ski slopes will count
The ski industry and tourism boosters are counting the state’s less-restrictive liquor laws and two new marquee hotels to brighten the season. The physical face of Utah’s ski industry has changed little heading into this second winter of the deep downturn.

Read more on The Salt Lake Tribune

Slopes

Notebook: Parity on the slopes, Italian trifecta and more

Notebook: Parity on the slopes, Italian trifecta and more
It was another wild weekend on the slopes. The U.S. men did not make the podium as the Italians swept the giant slalom medals. Askel Lund Svindal returned to the mountain after an injury, and he won the super-G at Val Gardena. Werner Heel hit a gate and will miss 20 days. Alpine writer Brian Pinelli checks in from Europe on these topics and a whole lot more.

Read more on NBC Olympics

Slopes

What are the best ski slopes to go to in the USA in March?

Planning on taking a ski/snowboarding vacation in Mid to end March 2008. Looking for the best slopes for snow.

Slopes

Relaxing After Braving the Slopes of Breckenridge

Beautiful snow covered mountains calls Breckenridge home, a skier’s paradise. No wonder that any avid skier might want to spend every waking moment with the snow. But even professional skiers take a break every now and then, you should too! So what to do? Breckenridge have sports bars so you don’t miss the important game. Spas to relax, shops, clubs, bars, and a local beer brewery; why not! You will certainly be kept entertained while away from the snow.

 

 

How do you spend a relaxing day away from the slopes? The best way to enjoy and take advantage of your Breckenridge vacation time is to have your body in its best shape. You do it by keeping a well rested and relaxed body, it is not only a sure way that you get most out of your vacation but also a guarantee you’ll be enjoying the whole experience. You may have neglected exercise (who doesn’t) back home in your regular schedule but skiing requires you to move muscles in ways you are not used to, and then you get the requisite muscle pain. If you’re a fan of acupuncture, you can visit the Breckenridge Acupuncture; it’s a safe, effective and natural alternative therapy to medicine and can be used to treat numerous conditions like muscle pain. You can visit spas in Breckenridge and sign up to relaxing workouts like Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga to stretch and tone your muscles; learn the art of Kung Fu while you’re at it. So, how does a massage sounds like? You can choose from the great spas in Breckenridge like The Lodge and Spa at Breckenridge, Oasis 9600, Blue Sage Spa, Sacred Tree, Movement and Wellness Center, A Mountain Sanctuary Day Spa, Alpine Spa and Salon. Remember that you cannot only get relaxing massages in spas but a number of pampering treatments like facials, manicures, pedicures, and different body treatments. It all sounds relaxing already.

 

After relaxing in the spa, you can curl up under a blanket and read a book; Hamlet’s Bookshoppe most probably has a book from your favorite author. If being cooped up in your room just doesn’t suit you, you can walk Main Street from end to end, stopping by various shops along the way since almost all of it is located in Main Street. Maybe you can even catch a movie or watch a play in the theater, there is always something playing there. If you’re with your special someone and want to explore Main Street in a romantic way, hire a horse-drawn carriage and bring along a thermos of hot choco.

 

 

If you brought your kids along, a great way to spend a day with the whole family is to go sledding in the town’s hill. Go crazy and start a snowball fight, build a snow fortress, or make snow angels. If you’re avoiding crowds, drive south of town for 15 minutes to the top of Hoosier Pass. Hoosier Pass has steeper hills, more exciting for sledding. Explore the mountain wilderness in a quieter and peaceful setting by renting snowshoes or cross country skis. If you want to take a break from the snow, rent ice skates and visit the local skating rink. A great family outing day.

 

 

Explore Breckenridge and indulge in the charms of this mountain town.

 

 

Slopes

Even non-skiers can enjoy the slopes

Even non-skiers can enjoy the slopes
Skiers want nothing but to be on the slopes this time of year. But what if they bring friends or family along who don’t ski?

Read more on Toronto Sun

Slopes

More Brits Head to the Slopes For 2008 Winter Skiing

The 2006/2007 ski season saw a nice rise in numbers of Brits taking a ski holiday. Last year’s 3% rise is expected to increase through the 2007/2008 ski season.

Just over 37% of UK skiers choose to ski in France while 19% choose Austria and 13% choose to ski in Italy. France seems to be the favorite ski destination for most Britons. Crystal Holidays already reports a 10% increase in bookings in its resorts.

The 2006/2007 ski season was more challenging than previous years due to poor snowfall at the start of the season. Lower-altitude ski resorts could face the same challenges this year, according to predictions, but early snowfalls in Austria and Andorra have been encouraging.

Inghams, another popular UK ski holiday company, also reports bookings ahead of last year at this time.

Litsa Constantinou, Chief Executive of Inghams, said: “We expect growth in many of the popular destinations and also that the trend for people taking multiple ski holidays will continue.”

High-altitude, snow-sure resorts with Neilson Ski are also selling very well this 2007/2008 ski season. Andy Harmer, head of product and planning at Neilson, said: “Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish resorts are proving attractive, as are the Canadian resorts, which enjoyed fantastic snow last winter.”

Crystal Holidays is the UK’s leading holiday spot for year round travel, especially during ski season. Crystal features a network of 140 resorts in 14 countries worldwide. Gareth Crump, product and marketing director for Crystal Holidays, said: “France benefits from the popularity of the chalet and club hotel product and its high-altitude resorts. Austria lost out (last ski season) because its low-lying resorts suffered from poor snowfall.”

Aside from great ski destinations, Crystal Holidays offers great family holiday getaways. Crystal has stylish hotels and chalets in some of the UK’s most popular resort locations. Many of these locations offer a wide range of holiday escapes in Europe and North America; some of Crystal’s holiday packages include; lakeside locations, mountain villages, beach resorts, walking breaks, city stays, touring and much more. You can truly enjoy your holiday at your own pace with activities like hiking, biking, climbing, rafting and paragliding.

The Principality of Andorra, more commonly known as Andorra, is a highly sought-after ski destination. Nestled in the eastern Pyrenees mountains bordering Spain and France, Andorra usually provides perfect ski conditions throughout the ski season. Crystal Holidays has three resorts in Andorra; Arinsal, Pas de la Casa, and Soldeu.

Andorra’s economy relies primarily on the estimated nine-million tourists who visit each year. Due to the tourist population and immigration, there are many languages spoken in Andorra. The historic and official language of the area is Catalan. Many nationalities have immigrated to Andorra, so you’ll also hear Spanish, French and Portuguese, as well as English.

Andorra is rich in culture and home to folk dances like the contrapas and marratxa. Andorran folk music shares similarities with all of its neighbouring provinces and countries but is essentially Catalan in character.

Skiing has become a very popular seasonal getaway during the last decade; more and more people each year book ski holidays as weekend getaways and week-long holidays. Where ever you plan your 2007/2008 ski holiday, keep these great destinations in mind.

Slopes

Signpost – Slipping and sliding down the slopes of Northern Utah

Signpost – Slipping and sliding down the slopes of Northern Utah
Grab that old sled out of the garage and get ready to fly by the seat of your pants down one of Northern Utah’s exciting sledding hills.

Read more on The Weber State University Signpost

Slopes

Snowmass Ski Resort Boasts of USA’s Steepest Slopes

The 3,128 acres of land on which Snowmass is situated is part of the White River National Forest near Aspen, in Western Colorado. This sheer size makes Snowmass the largest ski resort of all the Aspen/Snowmass Mountains areas. The mountain is noted for its wide cruiser trails, a pleasant atmosphere, and extensive ski-in and out lodging.

What You Get At Snowmass Ski Resort
The Snowmass Ski Resort contains 3 terrain parks, named Pipeline, Makaha and Scooper. Apart from an extensive and extreme skiing terrain, there is a superpipe, a minipipe and 88 wonderful ski runs — the longest being 5.3 miles! The level of elevation at the top is 12,510 feet, while the base elevation is 8,104 feet. With a vertical dropoff of 4,406 feet, this is the longest top to bottom skiing in the entire US.

Snowmass Resort is also known for the range of adventure sport and family-friendly activities one can indulge in during a visit. Ranging from ski and snowboarding, dog sledding, tobogganing and tubing, this resort also has ballooning, ice skating and hockey. Quieter evenings can be organized around Sno-Cat dinner tours and campfire storytelling.

There are several eating options and restaurants such as the Cirque Bar and Grill, Café Suzanne, Gwyn’s High Alpine and Krabloonik. Lynn Britt Cabin and Burlingame Cabin offer Sno-Cat dinner rides.

Snowmass Ski Resort Facilities
Snowmass Ski Resort provides a number of facilities to its lodgers, such as the free Bus Service for easy commute: The skier shuttle runs every 10 to 15 minutes from Rubey Park in Aspen. Shuttles run from Snowmass to Aspen regularly all day and well into the evenings.

Free parking facilities are available in Town Park Station. Paid parking lots cost around $13 per day. Permits are available for the winter season only and they can be purchased from the parking attendant between 7:30a.m and noon daily in Lot C. Two Creeks permits can be bought from the parking attendant between 8a.m and noon daily.

This resort has been rated as one of the best family ski areas in the US. It is currently undergoing massive changes, including the construction of a new gondola and a new Base Village along with extensive improvements to the now outmoded mountain infrastructure.

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