OT: Annual Ski Trip

Sea2Ski · October 2016

Eggcelsior said:

I just realized, like @fishlessman said, you need to hit a place like Mad River Glen if you want to grow hair on your chest. I'm a snowboarder so I'll have to hike it. Ski it if you can!

Mad River Glen - that place is awesome. Have not been there in several years. They still have that single chair? man, what a great place....

DoubleEgger · October 2016

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

jeffwit · October 2016

DoubleEgger said:

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

My wife learned at Breck and my kids learned at Steamboat. Both had good instruction. I took an advanced lesson at Jackson Hole that was really good.
If you are looking for a place with a lot of good intermediate terrain, I really liked Winter Park. Didn't take a lesson there, so I can't comment on that.

YukonRon · October 2016

SLC. Plenty of slopes of multiple grades to accomodate any skill level from kids to super pros. Reasonable rates and lots of instructors.
Easy access from the airport, 60 mins or less for most courses.

bhedges1987 · October 2016

DoubleEgger said:

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

For someone who has never been, it's breckenridge hands down. Some of their greens are so flat you have to push yourself.

SmokeyPitt · October 2016

DoubleEgger said:

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

I think Keystone would be another good place to consider, and right now they have a really good deal on a 4 day lift ticket ($199)
http://www.snow.com/epic-pass/passes/keystone-four-pack.aspx

If you haven't started pricing it out you might look at this and ask "This is a good deal?". Lift tickets are like $120+ per day these days, with only a marginal discount for multi-day. So a 4 day ticket to the big resorts are usually closer to $500.

DoubleEgger · October 2016

SmokeyPitt said:

DoubleEgger said:

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

I think Keystone would be another good place to consider, and right now they have a really good deal on a 4 day lift ticket ($199)
http://www.snow.com/epic-pass/passes/keystone-four-pack.aspx

If you haven't started pricing it out you might look at this and ask "This is a good deal?". Lift tickets are like $120+ per day these days, with only a marginal discount for multi-day. So a 4 day ticket to the big resorts are usually closer to $500.

I knew it was expensive. I never got into skiing because I figured it would take $10-15k to get good at it being on the East Coast.

KiterTodd · October 2016

DoubleEgger said:

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

There are certainly many great areas for newbies (Copper, is a known good one) but I'll throw out DURANGO again. Why? Good snow, not too steep, and it's a small enough area that it doesn't get too crowded but big enough that you'll have some diversity. Plus, the people are nice and being an egger, you likely enjoy good food and pubs and it has both of those, at fair prices. (some ski areas with villages built at the base are all pretty heavily overpriced).

2nd thing I'll add, is if you go on the east coast, go when the snow is soft. Don't go on a bitter cold day when everybody is thinking snow...it'll be crowded and the snow will be hard and fast (it's mostly man-made stuff out here). Either go the day it is snowing or some mid-week sunny day or warmer day. No crowds and the snow will be softer, slower and more forgiving for newbies.

Or, let her get a lesson and just pick a place with a pub at the base.

Eggcelsior · October 2016

@KiterTodd I'm a Ski Patroller at Liberty Mountain Resort, so I can spot you lift tickets if you happen by. Nice part is I can get into any resort in the country free or quite cheaply.

Foghorn · October 2016

DoubleEgger said:

Let me ask you skiers a question. The wife wants to go skiing. She's never been. I've been once here on the east coast and it sucked. I'm tall, lanky and not interested in breaking bones. I see how steep some of those ski hills are and I think only lunatics would go down them! Where's somewhere good for first timers? I'm sure we'll both need some instruction.

I'll add that Whistler and Big Sky are both great and uncrowded places that would be good for beginners. Whatever you do, go for at least 5 days of skiing. I learned one weekend at a time and in two days you can basically just get your feet under you and get comfortable getting on and off the lifts. I didn't get how fun skiing really was until I started taking longer trips. The fun really starts on day 3 - after you have gotten used to the snow/temperature/altitude.

KiterTodd · October 2016

Eggcelsior said:

@KiterTodd I'm a Ski Patroller at Liberty Mountain Resort, so I can spot you lift tickets if you happen by. Nice part is I can get into any resort in the country free or quite cheaply.

What!?

We'll definitely connect then. In the winter I head up to WT once or twice a week (solo and then with kids) and throw Liberty in the rotation as well. I have a pass, but wouldn't turn down vouchers for the kids. Those buggers get expensive.

By the way, I'm making up a big batch of your mojo park carnitas today.

stonewh · October 2016

Update: Our group dwindled from 10+ to 4 in a matter of days and after discussions we are going to Steamboat CO. Big Sky was a close second but we have decided next years trip will be 4-5 days of skiing and will more than likely be Big Sky.

bhedges1987 · October 2016

stonewh said:

Update: Our group dwindled from 10+ to 4 in a matter of days and after discussions we are going to Steamboat CO. Big Sky was a close second but we have decided next years trip will be 4-5 days of skiing and will more than likely be Big Sky.

Can't go wrong there. World class mountain for sure.

stonewh · October 2016

Anyone have a good recommendation on restaurant for Steamboat? @Mantoothian recommended Briar Rose in Breckenridge for us last year that was very good if anyone is heading that way this winter.

OT: Annual Ski Trip

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