Christmas '11 in Colorado - Snowboarding Forum

BigDouggieDoug · 10-20-2011, 01:26 AM

Hey guys,

Last Christmas my buddies and I had an awesome time in UT, hitting up Brighton, Snowbird, Solitude, PCMR, and Pow Mow.

This coming Christmas break, Dec 24-31, we want to check out the Colorado mtns. Where should we go???

I'm almost middle age (but can keep up with my two young'n boarding buddies on the slopes

) so need comfortable accomodations and good foods (doesn't necessarily mean fancy)! Would not mind driving between mtns to get to experience all we can cuz it'd be a long time before we can come back to CO due to work schedule.

PLEASE advise us on which resorts we should stay and play at! Thanks.

Milo303 · 10-20-2011, 02:55 AM

Aspen has a ton to offer, so does Vail, so does Breckenridge.

Breckenridge the hill is always over crowded, usually full of noobs, and I havn't given it enough tries to really find the good stuff because it pissed me off so quick.

Vail has every type of terrain you could possibly want, minus insane steeps. My go to hill personally

Beaver Creek is amazing, but I havn't explored it fully.

Keystone has crappy snow but I've found 2 really fun tree areas that fit my style well. Overall not that great of a place.

A-Basin has some nice steeps, low traffic usually, and a vibe unrivaled in CO as far as I've seen.

I've only been to Snowmass in Aspen, and its flippin amazing! Best resort terrain I've ridden in CO but I havn't been to Crested Butte yet.

Overall I recommend Aspen

BigDouggieDoug · 10-21-2011, 01:16 AM

Thanks Milo. How far are the drives from Aspen to Vail, Breck, A-Basin?

Argo · 10-21-2011, 01:29 AM

Aspen to Vail is 2 hours on clear roads. Break and abasin is close to 3 hours from aspen

Argo · 10-21-2011, 01:36 AM

If you want to stay central and drive to all of them you can get cheaper rooms in avon/Edwards area. I would personally get an epic pass and stay in Vail to ride 3-4 days then hit a couple break days and a day at beaver creek. The epic is going up so get it now. You can hit all these resorts on the same pass. Then take a late season trip to south lake table for heavenly or northstar on the same pass.

**killclimbz** · 10-21-2011, 09:21 AM

As far as terrain goes Aspen pretty much kicks the pants off of anything in Summit and Vail Valley. As far as the Apres scene goes Aspen pretty much kicks the pants off of anywhere except Whistler.

Crested Butte is pretty much the steepest overall resort in Colorado. Probably my favorite when I am spinning lifts. It is also damn near the rockiest and unless they get hammered, December is awfully early to go there. Core shots are almost a given there. The town is great, it is low key and very mellow. Not much of a party scene, but you can probably find a place or two to entertain you.

The thing is this La Nina year might a favor Summit/Vail, Winterpark, and Steamboat more.

Joel Gratz, our local guys who runs Coloradopowderforecast put up a nice review on what he is seeing for this La Nina winter. Of particular interest is the page on Colorado and Utah. The further south you go the worse your chances are. Also, Tahoe might get skunked this time, and Mammy does not look like a good bet. PNW, Northern rockies (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming) could just get nailed.

One thing about Joel that I've noticed is he's one of the best forecasters in the business. So sure it's looking into the crystal ball, but he's about as big of a weather geek as their is when it comes to snowfall.

BigDouggieDoug · 10-21-2011, 10:29 AM

So much great info. I appreciate it all, guys!

CheeseForSteeze · 10-21-2011, 01:32 PM

I am going to Summit, but eventually I definitely plan to do the Aspen/Snowmass/Buttermilk/Highlands tour. Absolutely beautiful looking terrain:

BigDouggieDoug · 10-21-2011, 11:41 PM

^ Nice!

Are there shuttle rides between Aspen and Snowmass? Should we rent a car?

bdrusse · 10-21-2011, 11:58 PM

so how about that nightlife in the summit area? is there one? We are going there just after Xmas too.

10-20-2011, 01:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
BigDouggieDoug Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 70	Christmas '11 in Colorado Hey guys, Last Christmas my buddies and I had an awesome time in UT, hitting up Brighton, Snowbird, Solitude, PCMR, and Pow Mow. This coming Christmas break, Dec 24-31, we want to check out the Colorado mtns. Where should we go??? I'm almost middle age (but can keep up with my two young'n boarding buddies on the slopes ) so need comfortable accomodations and good foods (doesn't necessarily mean fancy)! Would not mind driving between mtns to get to experience all we can cuz it'd be a long time before we can come back to CO due to work schedule. PLEASE advise us on which resorts we should stay and play at! Thanks. __________________ '08-09 Lib Tech Skate Banana '11-12 Never Summer Evo '11-12 Rome SDS Targa Last edited by BigDouggieDoug; 10-21-2011 at 10:32 AM.

10-21-2011, 01:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
BigDouggieDoug Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 70	Thanks Milo. How far are the drives from Aspen to Vail, Breck, A-Basin? __________________ '08-09 Lib Tech Skate Banana '11-12 Never Summer Evo '11-12 Rome SDS Targa

10-21-2011, 10:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
BigDouggieDoug Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 70	So much great info. I appreciate it all, guys! __________________ '08-09 Lib Tech Skate Banana '11-12 Never Summer Evo '11-12 Rome SDS Targa

10-21-2011, 11:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
BigDouggieDoug Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 70	^ Nice! Are there shuttle rides between Aspen and Snowmass? Should we rent a car? __________________ '08-09 Lib Tech Skate Banana '11-12 Never Summer Evo '11-12 Rome SDS Targa

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10-21-2011, 01:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
Argo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 1,951	Aspen to Vail is 2 hours on clear roads. Break and abasin is close to 3 hours from aspen

10-21-2011, 01:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Argo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 1,951	If you want to stay central and drive to all of them you can get cheaper rooms in avon/Edwards area. I would personally get an epic pass and stay in Vail to ride 3-4 days then hit a couple break days and a day at beaver creek. The epic is going up so get it now. You can hit all these resorts on the same pass. Then take a late season trip to south lake table for heavenly or northstar on the same pass.

10-21-2011, 09:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,169	As far as terrain goes Aspen pretty much kicks the pants off of anything in Summit and Vail Valley. As far as the Apres scene goes Aspen pretty much kicks the pants off of anywhere except Whistler. Crested Butte is pretty much the steepest overall resort in Colorado. Probably my favorite when I am spinning lifts. It is also damn near the rockiest and unless they get hammered, December is awfully early to go there. Core shots are almost a given there. The town is great, it is low key and very mellow. Not much of a party scene, but you can probably find a place or two to entertain you. The thing is this La Nina year might a favor Summit/Vail, Winterpark, and Steamboat more. Joel Gratz, our local guys who runs Coloradopowderforecast put up a nice review on what he is seeing for this La Nina winter. Of particular interest is the page on Colorado and Utah. The further south you go the worse your chances are. Also, Tahoe might get skunked this time, and Mammy does not look like a good bet. PNW, Northern rockies (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming) could just get nailed. One thing about Joel that I've noticed is he's one of the best forecasters in the business. So sure it's looking into the crystal ball, but he's about as big of a weather geek as their is when it comes to snowfall.

10-21-2011, 11:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
bdrusse Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 5	so how about that nightlife in the summit area? is there one? We are going there just after Xmas too.