Planning a trip and would appreciate some input - Snowboarding Forum

razzle · 12-12-2010, 01:52 AM

Ok. I'm planning a trip to the US in about Feb 2012. I'm starting this far out because I'm in Oz and I also have to try to get a group fired up to come with me once I have some details.

I've been reading through the review threads here and they have helped me a lot in knowing where to look and places that I hadn't heard of. Originally I had Aspen in mind (as most foreigners probably do) but I think we can do better.

I'm looking for several features that I think are important:
1. Good beginner/school set up. I want them to have fun and most will be first timers.
2. Plenty of size. I'm looking at about 10 days riding and I would like plenty of terrain to explore and progress through.
3. Powder would be lovely obviously. Found some in Japan a couple of years ago and got a little addicted.
4. Lodging very close to the lifts. You know what groups are like when you have to get everyone into the car at once. First tracks are long gone waiting for someone with a sore head.
5. Nightlife will not be the main priority. It wouldn't hurt but it's definitely not a deal breaker.
6. Close to an airport would be good too. I'm not that keen on driving any more than necessary. I'm sure I'll wind up on the wrong side of the road at some point and someone will be yelling about silly bloody Aussies that can't drive.

Now from the research that I've done from this site, I'm thinking Utah sounds like the area I'm looking for, maybe Powder Mountain? From the websites it seems to tick most of the boxes. Lodging isn't right there but sounds fairly close?

Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

Shocktroop531 · 12-12-2010, 02:12 AM

Salt Lake City , Utah.

nowhere is better for finding powder. and nowhere is better when it comes to having world class resorts within an hours drive of the airport. Come stay in Park City and hit the town at night.

either that or head to Lake Tahoe.

razzle · 12-12-2010, 02:55 PM

Thanks Shocktroop. It looks like we will be somewhere around there. It has the best combination of the stuff that we need that I can find. The skiutah website was excellent with maps and a good comparison of the resorts stats.

tripper · 12-12-2010, 04:09 PM

Another two places you could consider are: Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Mammoth Mountain Cali. Both are huge mountains with plenty of powder.

razzle · 12-12-2010, 04:23 PM

I looked at Mammoth the other day and it looks good too. Haven't checked out Jackson Hole yet. I can see that I'm gonna have to make more than one trip.

Toecutter · 12-12-2010, 04:48 PM

If I were traveling in from abroad my first choice would be Utah, followed by Colorado. Utah has very light, fluffy snow and is the stuff of movies. There are several resorts all within range of one another and you could fill ten days of riding pretty easily. Colorado has several resorts along the Interstate-70 corridor that would fill ten days.

If most in your group are beginners though, I doubt you will all actually be able to snowboard ten days in a row. People will get very tired and sore. Muscles will be cramped by day three and people will need to rest. It will take two to three days before your legs will feel recovered, so plan on some downtime.

Edit: Park City might be worth looking into. There is lodging near the two resorts (there are actually three resorts but Deer Valley doesn't permit snowboards). From the airport at Salt Lake City you can catch a shuttle and be at your lodging within 30-45 minutes. The city has a bus network that is very good, so you wouldn't need to rent a car the entire trip.

Park City is one of my favorite places. From where I live in Oregon I can catch an early 75 minute direct flight, grab a shuttle, then be at my hotel by 9am. On the day of arrival if you present your boarding pass they give you a free lift ticket for that day. I never even have to drive the entire time. I bus and walk to meals and riding.

http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter

http://www.thecanyons.com/

kysnowboarder · 12-12-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toecutter

T If most of your group are beginners, I doubt you will all actually be able to snowboard ten day in a row. People will get very tired and sore. Muscles will be cramped by day three and people will need to rest.

This is good advice, I took my first trip out west (Telluride CO) last year. It was a solo trip, so I planned for 4 full days of riding, this was in a role. I can tell you that by the third day I was fatigued and by the 4th day I was barely functional on the board. I am a pretty fit person, lots of mountain biking in the summer, but don't have good access to snowboarding, have to travel, so it is pretty much just a weekend thing.

The trip I do this year I at were ever will be for minimal of 5 days, so I can have at least one off day in between snowboarding says or at least a day where I don't do a full 8 hour day of snowboarding. I would defiantly recommend a couple of off days on a ten day trip, unless you are able to snowboard that frequently at home.

razzle · 12-17-2010, 05:47 AM

Thanks guys. I've been away for a couple of days. Had to go and watch the Bon Jovi concert in Brisbane. You are right that the beginners will probably want a day or two off but I'll be keen to spend as much time on the hill as possible because it will be a couple of years until my next trip. I have never gotten very sore boarding, not like skis anyway. Anyway if we do have a day off then Salt Lake City will be close so there will be plenty to do. I like the sound of the shuttles and bus network.

ev13wt · 12-17-2010, 06:48 AM

Austria, Europe.

No seriously. It will be much cheaper, everyone speaks english anyhow and I can hook you up with a group deal.

Austrian girls love Australians, and they have huge tits. (I'm being that guy okok. :P)

razzle · 09-04-2011, 04:42 AM

Thought I'd update this now that I'm organised.

My entire group evaporated so I'm coming over on my own. I found a tour for solo travellers (people with no friends) and it sounds awesome. 12 days in Park City with day trips to Snowbasin, Snowbird and Solitude as well as access to Park City and Canyons. If I can't have fun with that then I'll never be satisfied. Will be awesome research for future trips as well.

Will be there in early Feb.

12-12-2010, 01:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
razzle Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22	Planning a trip and would appreciate some input Ok. I'm planning a trip to the US in about Feb 2012. I'm starting this far out because I'm in Oz and I also have to try to get a group fired up to come with me once I have some details. I've been reading through the review threads here and they have helped me a lot in knowing where to look and places that I hadn't heard of. Originally I had Aspen in mind (as most foreigners probably do) but I think we can do better. I'm looking for several features that I think are important: 1. Good beginner/school set up. I want them to have fun and most will be first timers. 2. Plenty of size. I'm looking at about 10 days riding and I would like plenty of terrain to explore and progress through. 3. Powder would be lovely obviously. Found some in Japan a couple of years ago and got a little addicted. 4. Lodging very close to the lifts. You know what groups are like when you have to get everyone into the car at once. First tracks are long gone waiting for someone with a sore head. 5. Nightlife will not be the main priority. It wouldn't hurt but it's definitely not a deal breaker. 6. Close to an airport would be good too. I'm not that keen on driving any more than necessary. I'm sure I'll wind up on the wrong side of the road at some point and someone will be yelling about silly bloody Aussies that can't drive. Now from the research that I've done from this site, I'm thinking Utah sounds like the area I'm looking for, maybe Powder Mountain? From the websites it seems to tick most of the boxes. Lodging isn't right there but sounds fairly close? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

12-12-2010, 04:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Toecutter Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mt. Bachelor Posts: 1,512	If I were traveling in from abroad my first choice would be Utah, followed by Colorado. Utah has very light, fluffy snow and is the stuff of movies. There are several resorts all within range of one another and you could fill ten days of riding pretty easily. Colorado has several resorts along the Interstate-70 corridor that would fill ten days. If most in your group are beginners though, I doubt you will all actually be able to snowboard ten days in a row. People will get very tired and sore. Muscles will be cramped by day three and people will need to rest. It will take two to three days before your legs will feel recovered, so plan on some downtime. Edit: Park City might be worth looking into. There is lodging near the two resorts (there are actually three resorts but Deer Valley doesn't permit snowboards). From the airport at Salt Lake City you can catch a shuttle and be at your lodging within 30-45 minutes. The city has a bus network that is very good, so you wouldn't need to rent a car the entire trip. Park City is one of my favorite places. From where I live in Oregon I can catch an early 75 minute direct flight, grab a shuttle, then be at my hotel by 9am. On the day of arrival if you present your boarding pass they give you a free lift ticket for that day. I never even have to drive the entire time. I bus and walk to meals and riding. http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter http://www.thecanyons.com/ Last edited by Toecutter; 12-12-2010 at 07:30 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-12-2010, 02:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shocktroop531 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: park city , Utah Posts: 500	Salt Lake City , Utah. nowhere is better for finding powder. and nowhere is better when it comes to having world class resorts within an hours drive of the airport. Come stay in Park City and hit the town at night. either that or head to Lake Tahoe.

12-12-2010, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
razzle Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22	Thanks Shocktroop. It looks like we will be somewhere around there. It has the best combination of the stuff that we need that I can find. The skiutah website was excellent with maps and a good comparison of the resorts stats.

12-12-2010, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
tripper Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 68	Another two places you could consider are: Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Mammoth Mountain Cali. Both are huge mountains with plenty of powder.

12-12-2010, 04:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
razzle Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22	I looked at Mammoth the other day and it looks good too. Haven't checked out Jackson Hole yet. I can see that I'm gonna have to make more than one trip.

12-17-2010, 05:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
razzle Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22	Thanks guys. I've been away for a couple of days. Had to go and watch the Bon Jovi concert in Brisbane. You are right that the beginners will probably want a day or two off but I'll be keen to spend as much time on the hill as possible because it will be a couple of years until my next trip. I have never gotten very sore boarding, not like skis anyway. Anyway if we do have a day off then Salt Lake City will be close so there will be plenty to do. I like the sound of the shuttles and bus network.

12-17-2010, 06:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
ev13wt Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 446	Austria, Europe. No seriously. It will be much cheaper, everyone speaks english anyhow and I can hook you up with a group deal. Austrian girls love Australians, and they have huge tits. (I'm being that guy okok. :P)

09-04-2011, 04:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
razzle Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22	Thought I'd update this now that I'm organised. My entire group evaporated so I'm coming over on my own. I found a tour for solo travellers (people with no friends) and it sounds awesome. 12 days in Park City with day trips to Snowbasin, Snowbird and Solitude as well as access to Park City and Canyons. If I can't have fun with that then I'll never be satisfied. Will be awesome research for future trips as well. Will be there in early Feb.