Ski Independence Blog
Posts Tagged ‘heavenly’
An Epic adventure…
December 19th, 2011Superlatives can be overused in the ski industry. We are sometimes guilty of bigging-up things as ‘awesome!’ or ‘fantastic!’ and that means that when you need a really big impact word – well… where do you go?! So with this in mind I headed out to Colorado to check out some of the Vail Resorts family and see if their ‘Epic’ tag rang true…I wasn’t disappointed.
The Vail resorts portfolio includes Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone and the Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, as well as Heavenly and Northstar in California. Each resort has its own character so there’s no ‘production line’ feel to things but the Vail Resorts brand does assure the guest of consistently high levels of customer service and excellent on-mountain facilities. Their Rock Resorts hotel brand maintains these standards off the slopes too.
My trip was an organized familiarisation for Tour Operators from all around the world (this is otherwise known as a jolly – heck, no one works in travel for the money!!) and the aim of the game was to experience as much as we could in the space of the week.
Our first stop was Breckenridge. This is a fun ski town with a long heritage that began with gold mining and while 100 year old buildings are ten-a-penny in the UK, they are a rarity in the USA so Breckenridge has an authenticity that many modern resorts lack. This month marks the 50th anniversary of skiing in Breckenridge and there are lots of events planned to celebrate throughout the season! It’s easy to walk around the village, but it’s even easier to use the on command shuttle service offered to guests staying in Vail Resorts properties! Until 11pm you can summon a shuttle to take you out or pick you up from anywhere in town! This means that it doesn’t make too much of a difference where you stay in the village – everything is within easy reach. From the on-mountain ski-in / out luxury properties of One Ski Hill Place, Crystal Peaks Lodge and Blue Sky Breckenridge, to the slope side convenience of the Doubletree by Hilton or the Village at Breckenridge – there is a lodging option to suit anyone. On mountain we enjoyed the smooth grooming that Colorado is famous for – and the crisp cold that keeps the snow light! Off the slopes we checked out some of Breckenridge’s other attractions: the roller coaster at One Ski Hill Place is like a toboggan run on rails and is great fun for all the family. We also sampled some of the whiskey and vodka made by the local distillery – they are producing some good stuff! The casks the Breckenridge Distillery are using have produced a malty wee dram that tastes more Scottish in character than a typical bourbon. Whisky enthusiasts should definitely leave a space in their luggage!
Christmas comes to Breckenridge
From Breckenridge, and with slightly fuzzy heads, we headed to Keystone. Keystone is hugely popular with the American market, but less so with the Europeans. We are missing out! With a larger ski area than Breckenridge, lower prices and a convenient slope side village of the style that Brits go mad for in the Alps. The resort prides itself on being family friendly, but it also has a cool vibe and is popular with the hip young things from Denver. They also have regular free concerts in the River Run Plaza for Après ski.
In-between Breckenridge and Keystone, and accessible from both by public transportation are the Silverthorne shopping outlet malls. This close to Christmas it was impossible to resist a bit of shopping – and with up to 60% off normal US retail prices you can get some great bargains from the likes of Gap, Ralph Lauren, Guess and many more. Shops are open late at least one night a week so it needn’t interfere with your skiing time!
Back on the road and over to Vail. Now I have a confession to make… last time I visited Vail there was a lot of construction going on. There seemed to be holes everywhere and it was very disjointed. I wasn’t that impressed with the village at all. Now, five years on, I am pleased to say that Vail has won me over. Vail village looks great now, and what used to be a hotchpotch of hotels punctuated by gaps and construction sites now flows like a proper resort. The biggest change has been in Lionshead – the unfashionable ugly duckling has become a very chic and stylish swan with enough shops, restaurants and bars to rival the main village. Staying in Lionshead used to mean compromising on dining and après options, now it’s the location of choice. The Arrabelle at Vail Square is the flagship Rock Resorts hotel and it’s a stunner! The rooms are huge and are modern with lots of luxury touches (TV in the bathroom anyone?). It’s definitely on a par with the Four Seasons – and I actually preferred the character of the rooms at the Arrabelle. Getting to the slopes could not be easier. The ski valet sits at the base of Lionshead and is less that a minutes’ walk from the lobby. They warm your boots, put sunscreen on your nose and feed you energy bars to get you pumped, and then after you’re finished for the day they’ll dry all of your gear and swap your skis for hot chocolate. Great service!
Lionshead Village
Now I always thought that Lionshead was a long way from Vail Village – not so. As part of my extensive resort testing I can confirm that to walk from the Rivabahn at Golden Peak to the Eaglebahn at Lionshead takes 20 minutes. And from the centre of Vail Village to the centre of Lionshead is less than 10 minutes. However, I’m pretty hardy, minus 25 degrees wasn’t cold enough to deter me, there is a free shuttle bus which runs about every 10 minutes with stops every 100 metres or so. The times of the next bus are displayed at each stop and are ‘real time’ so you know whether it’s worth waiting a couple of minutes, or having another hot chocolate!
On the mountain we were too early in the season to ski the legendary back bowls of Vail, but the front side of the mountain was in fantastic shape – particularly after 9 inches of fresh snow fell overnight! We got some great turns in light fluffy powder with blue skies and sunshine. When lunchtime came we decided to check out Vail’s newest on mountain dining experience: the Tenth. This is an upscale restaurant at Mid Vail. Upon arrival you are ushered into the cloakrooms to store your jackets, hats and goggles and swap your ski boots for fluffy slippers. There are even hairbrushes, straighteners and hairdryers for victims of hat-hair. OMG!! Heaven is lunch in slippers – but be warned: it’s not pleasant putting the boots back on afterwards! The food and service was excellent, and the prices were not much more than you would pay in the regular on mountain restaurants, so I’d thoroughly recommend this to anyone fond of a slightly longer lunch! Reservations are advised – it’s going to be very popular!
The busy slopes at Lionshead!!
After a few nights in Vail we moved onto Beaver Creek. My previous visits to Beaver Creek were off- season, and that’s no way to really appreciate a ski-in/ski-out resort. It turns out early December is an ideal time to visit as they host the World Cup ski racing each year at the beginning of December. This created a buzz around the village, and concerts and events are planned to coincide with the races, so there was a real buzz about the place and it felt more like high season in town, but no lift lines and the slopes were empty. We had a great time! Curiously, the races did not seem to attract massive crowds – most people watching seemed to be attached to the sport in some way, making it really easy to get a good spot to watch. Ski racing fans will never have a better opportunity to get up close to the action.
Bode Miller completes the first run in the men's slalom race at Beaver Creek
Vail Resorts were keen to show off one of their more unique lodging options to us. Trappers Cabin is a 4 bedroom luxury cabin close to the top of the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift. We had lunch there and were treated to blue skies and sunshine once again. If only we’d had the foresight to bring our bathers and towels to make use of the hot-tub on the deck! The cabin can be hired for functions and lunches but it’s also available for lodging. A snowcat will bring you and your luggage up, and you can arrange to have the kitchen pre-stocked with groceries. There are four bedrooms, four bathrooms a large open plan living room and kitchen, and a games room with a pool table and big screen TV. For a get-together of family and friends this would be great fun! And the bears that have left claw marks on the trees outside are asleep in the winter, so it’s quite safe!
Aspen trees outside Trappers Cabin
Beaver Creek Village is quite small – but how much do you really need on a ski holiday? I think they’ve pretty much got it covered. There are a few cafes and restaurants, a couple of bars, some galleries and boutiques and a well stocked general store / liquor store. The centre of the resort is the outdoor skating rink and around 4pm there is a delicious smell of melted chocolate and marshmallows wafting around the place as s’mores are cooked up around the warming fire pits. Beaver Creek is a resort of luxury, but it’s not brash: the underground heating that keeps the pavements ice-free, the escalators that save your legs from climbing up onto the slopes, the friendly resort ambassadors who are present on every corner with bottomless pockets stuffed with tissues, trail maps and sunscreen. It’s all there – but it’s subtle. Vail shouts luxury; Beaver Creek just envelops you in it!
Exciting things are happening at all of these resorts – but one of the most exciting developments in skiing has been introduced at all of them. Last year ‘Epic Mix’ was launched: This was a way to track your ski days, which lifts you had skied, and connect with your friends on the mountain: bringing après ski bragging rights bang up to date. This season they have taken the concept one step further and introduced Epic Mix Photo. This is the most fantastic thing ever! Green suited photographers lurk on the mountain at strategic viewpoints and are on hand to capture your image, sending it straight to your Epic Mix webpage. You can even connect it to Facebook and Twitter and set it up to ping the photos straight to your profile. Let’s face it – this is designed to make your friends jealous – and it works! The best thing about it? It doesn’t cost a penny! You have the photos taken and can store and view them digitally without paying a penny, but if you want a hard copy you can order one from the website for $20 a pop. Not bad at all – and it saves you from getting cold taking your gloves off or chopping off people’s heads or feet because you can’t see the viewfinder through your goggles. Genius! Epic Mix is available to anyone with an Epic or Summit Season Ticket.
Karen after a day on the mountain!
Fact Files: Gareth
June 29th, 2011Over the years we receive superb feedback on the knowledge, passion and experience of team here at Ski Independence. So we thought it would be an idea to give you a bit of an insight into who’s who..
To start things off, here’s Gareth, our Sales Manager:
For the benefit of our readers could you explain your role at Ski Independence and what you’re responsible for?
I do a bit of everything which keeps my days varied. The bit I enjoy the most though is booking the most amazing holidays for our clients (and myself). Another enjoyable aspect of my job is working with a great bunch of hotel, transfer and on mountain suppliers from all over the world. You get to meet some fantastic people and I think they like working with us too – hence the reason we get some of the best ski deals in the market! We have a fantastic team here in the office and the job wouldn’t be the same without them – I love every minute of my working week with them. Don’t quote me on that over the busiest parts of the season please…!
Gareth (left), Sales Manager, enjoying Aspen & the view of the Highland Bowl
Bigger & better resorts in Colorado & California
May 30th, 2011Vail Resorts, the management company who own Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe are going to be busy over the coming months making their resorts even better for the coming season. Here’s a few details on what’s new in their resorts throughout Colorado and California.
Northstar-at-Tahoe™ is going to be bigger and better for the 2011-12 season.
Located on the North shore of Lake Tahoe, the resort of Northstar-at-Tahoe™ is receiving $30 million of improvements on and off the mountain. On the mountain, there is going to be a new high-speed quad chairlift on the “Backside”, new snowmaking facilities and a new restaurant at the top of the Tahoe Zephyr Express Lift. In resort, those who like to shop will be pleased to hear that there are going to be new Patagonia and Burton retail shops and a larger North Face store – perfect for picking up some kit for your holiday – and also a new restaurant in the Village which hopes to brings additional energy and entertainment to the resort.
California – 4 Resorts in 4 Days
April 6th, 2011I’m just back from a ski trip to California – yes there is skiing in California and it’s amazing!
During our visit we had epic conditions and certainly some of the best snow I have ever seen! 5ft of fresh powder in Mammoth and 4 days later 8ft in Squaw Valley… it was perfect powder as well – so light and dry (a bit unusual so late in the season!). Hope I’ve not made you too jealous!?
United Airlines operate a direct flight to Los Angeles from Heathrow which takes about 11 hrs. It ‘s often thought that California is much further away than the likes of Denver or Vancouver but in fact it’s only an additional 1 ½ hours. The flight arrives into LA in the evening so the best option is to spend a night in LA before making your way up to the ski resorts. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills, which is located about 30 minutes from the airport, in the right direction to catch the Highway 395 towards the snow. So the next morning we loaded up our 4x4s and headed to Mammoth Lakes.
Conditions on arrival into Mammoth
The Best 5 Views In North America
January 11th, 2011We’re talking jaw-dropping, OMG moments in and around ski resorts in North America – the views to die for. The USA and Canada is renowned for some pretty staggering scenery and their ski destinations don’t disappoint. These are my favorites, why not tell us yours?
Experience breathtaking and contrasting views of Lake Tahoe to your left, and to your right the arid desert plains of Nevada. Above your head a bluebird sky and underneath your skis, stacks of creaky dry Heavenly snow. If this doesn’t put a smile on your face then nothing will. You’ll think you’re the luckiest person alive, something the casinos in town will be keen to disprove!
View from the Gunbarrel Grill in Heavenly
Ultimate Convenience For Ski Rentals
December 7th, 2010What could be better than having someone come directly to your hotel room to fit your skis & boots? Well here is your answer for many of our North American resorts.
Black Tie Ski Rentals provide a delivery service for ski and snowboard rentals that is second to none. All you need to do is provide your requirements and we will arrange for Black Tie to deliver your rentals to you at your accommodation at a time convenient to you – usually the morning of your first ski day.
Black Tie service is the perfect compliment for your Aspen ski holiday
North America Snow Update
November 19th, 2010North America’s 2010-11 ski season is off to a great start with many areas opening early and reporting healthy snow falls.
Among the resorts already open are Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain Colorado; Snowbird in Utah, Killington on the East Coast in Vermont and north of the border Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta. Whistler has announced it will open nearly a week early, later today, thanks to the great pre-season conditions there.
In California, Mammoth is the latest to open (On Thursday 11th November) with more than 2,000 people arriving to enjoy skiing and boarding down from the 11,053 foot summit via Cornice Bowl. Six lifts were operational and 2,000 vertical feet (about 650 metres) of vertical terrain were open on a base of 18 to 36 inches (45 to 90cm).
First Chair 2010 - Mammoth Mountain
How do you decide?
October 25th, 2010Hurrah for autumn! There’s a chill in the air, the first frosts make the world look white again, and in the Ski Independence office we start each day with a barrage of emails with photos of early snowfall. It’s also the time of year that suppliers from various ski resorts come to visit and remind us why theirs is the best ski resort!
It’s an exciting time for all the reservations team – we spend all day, every day, all year long spouting off all kinds of statistics and facts about snow and skiing, but at times we forget just how awesome getting out onto the snow really is. The visits from our overseas friends not only enable us to put faces to names and re-inforce our good relationships , but also remind us exactly what we’re missing when we’re sat behind our desks (thanks guys!) and we really appreciate the considerable effort it take to come to Edinburgh to see us. Read the rest of this entry »
TGR Light The Wick Premiere
October 4th, 2010Last Thursday night Vail Resorts hosted the UK premiere of the new Teton Gravity Research (TGR) film, Light the Wick at the 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London. Ski Independence was the official travel partner, having collaborated with Vail Resorts on the night’s big prize giveaway – a seven night trip for two to Breckenridge, Colorado, including flights, accommodation and transfers.
Things kicked off at 7pm with a DJ providing the soundtrack to an impressive still photo slide show from the previous year’s TGR adventures, and plenty of shots to whet the appetite for skiing from Vail Resorts’ six ski areas: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Heavenly. By 8pm 500 eager ski and snowboard fans were assembled, and after t-shirts were thrown into the crowd and winners of rucksacks, goggles & ski clothing had been announced, it was time for the main feature.
First 3D Ski Film
September 5th, 2010Teton Gravity Research is proud to announce the London premiere of their newest HD and 3D ski film, Light the Wick, which is hosted by snowusa.com.
TGR writes of the film:
“The award winning producers at Teton Gravity Research (TGR) present their newest ski film, Light The Wick. Shot using film, HD and 3D technology, Light The Wick is about sparking the flame and watching the world’s best athletes blast off. This year, the TGR crew of athletes and cinematographers were on a mission to capture the most jaw dropping footage to date and give the viewer an experience like no other. This pursuit led the team around the world to uncharted destinations, as well as some of their favorite stomping grounds. Follow the crew as they discover the completely unskiied big mountain mecca of Petersburg, AK, find the best snow Croatia has seen in fifty years, ski deep pillows in Italy, hit full throttle riding in British Columbia, and epic free-riding at Ripley Creek and North Cascades Heli. Don’t miss Sammy Carlson and the Stevens Pass 3D experiment, the first ever 3D snow sports segment. The groundbreaking dual RED One slow motion arial shots will make you want to reach out and touch the action. Light The Wick showcases the most talented and well-rounded athletes in the sport together in one must-see film.”
Light the Wick will premiere in the UK on the 30th September at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and as well as the film there will be talks, a prize raffle and the participation of many of TGR’s sponsors – as well as an after-film party. The event will be hosted by Snowusa.com – which respresents the resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
Doors open at 7:00pm and tickets are £12 - book here
There will be exclusive Ski Independence discountes available on the night for holidays to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
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