Contact CU Independent Winter Reporter Julia Spadaro at julia.spadaro@colorado.edu
LOVELAND
Loveland Ski Area received more snow this week and the conditions are prime. With more flakes in the forecast for this weekend, this season will just keep on getting better.
Terrain along the Continental Divide has opened up this week. The Ridge Cat, which offers free snowcat skiing, is now running Wednesday through Sunday as conditions permit. Gilson Snowboards will also be at Loveland from Friday, Jan. 29 through Sunday, Jan. 31 with their newest lineup of boards. The demo is free, but make sure to have a lift ticket or season pass and a valid ID.
If you want to get in on the action but you’re a beginner, the Ski & Ride School is ready to help you improve your technique with affordable lesson packages for every age and ability level. Get a lesson, lift ticket and equipment rental for the price of an average lift ticket. Full day adult lift tickets are $65, or ski any four consecutive hours with Loveland’s Flex ticket for $53.
COPPER
Copper’s busy season continues, and the Feb. 1 deadline is coming soon, so save big now — up to 53 percent off — and get your lift tickets for spring break. Subaru Winterfest returns to Copper Mountain Feb. 13 and 14. Nordica and LibTech will be giving demos of their new gear. Subaru will be sponsoring events, such as the scavenger hunt and the chance for a picture in Copper’s trademark Adirondack chair.
And for all of you lovers out there, it’s time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day. Copper has its Valentine’s Moonlight Dinner event on Saturday, Feb. 13, and it’s the perfect combination of romance and a spectacular mountain setting. Ride up the lift to Solitude Station, where you will have a hot apple cider and one alcoholic beverage. Enjoy a buffet dinner, along with dessert and live music. Then take in the beautiful evening mid-mountain before skiing or riding down a groomed run back to Center Village, where you will then have the option to enjoy a drink at one of Copper’s dining locations. The cost is $90 plus tax and surcharge.
There are also $3 drinks for happy hour. Hit up Jack’s, JJ’s, or Endo’s for some cool refreshments.
WINTER PARK
One of the biggest weekends of the year is here for Winter Park, which celebrates the 40th birthday of its Mary Jane Mountain with a variety of activities going on from Noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. If you want to test your speed on the moguls, be there at 1 p.m. for the Mogul Duel at Rainbow Cut and stick around and enter for your chance to enter the raffle drawing for 2 pairs of CUSTOM Mary Jane’s 40th HG Powder Skis (pick up raffle tickets from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Club Car).
You’ll see a lot of groovy scenes at Winter Park throughout the ’70s-themed day with all kinds of drink specials and sponsor giveaways, and then the après-ski party kicks into high gear in downtown Winter Park with a parade and a fireworks show.
KEYSTONE
It’s still National Safety Awareness month at Keystone! The month is coming to a close, get as educated as you can before you hit the slopes hard. Hungry after a long day of shredding? Grab the good eats during Keystone’s Savor the Slopes. Lunch specials, IPA tastings, and chef demos will all be taking place throughout the week at some of the mountain’s best restaurants.
Don’t forget about the fireworks and parade every Saturday, it’s free!
BRECKENRIDGE
February special at Breckenridge starts soon! If you’re planning a long weekend with your homies, lodging is 25 percent off for four nights or more. If you haven’t seen it yet, the Budweiser Snow Sculpture Championships are still going on! Check it out through Feb. 7th.
ASPEN
The big event is here and popping off! The X Games are in Aspen this weekend and, as always, includes crazy stunts from some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the world, college aged kids from all over the state, and incredible concerts like Deadmau5, Nas, Twenty-One Pilots, Kygo and more. This is the Colorado lifestyle at its fullest.
Writers Pick: X games in Aspen is always going to be high up on my list of personal favorites, but my choice for this week would have to be the Mary Jane Party at Winter Park. Birthday parties are always a fun time, especially when they involve mogul contests, free giveaways, and fireworks!
