Denver, CO – Is there any more passionate group of skiers and snowboarders than Denverites? The city’s avid skiers and snowboarders have one last chance next month to get pre-season sale prices on skis, boards, boots, clothing, accessories, and season passes during the 24th annual Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo, Nov. 6-8, 2015 in Hall F of the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver.
With discounts from 40 to 75 percent on gear from the 2014-15 season for adults and children, Expo is the place to snap up bargains on everything from skis and snowboards to helmets and outerwear. Admission is $15 for adults or $12 with a discount coupon available in The Denver Post or at any Colorado Ski & Golf or Colorado Ski & Sports store. Tickets can be purchased on the SkiSnowExpos mobile app or online at www.skisnowexpo.com. Admission is free for kids 12 and under.
The Expo is much more than a retail bonanza for outdoor gear and apparel. Dozens of resort representatives from throughout Colorado, the western United States and Canada are on site with lift and lodging offers, giveaways, and information about their resorts, dining, activities, and programs. Procrastinators can pick up their season passes or discounted lift tickets throughout the weekend, just before the prices go up.
For kids, a mix of both new and favorite attractions is more compelling than the shopping that lures their parents back every year. New this year in the Mountain Activity Center sponsored by Telluride Ski Resort, the Epic Adventure Park features a high ropes course with nine distinct obstacles to challenge the nerves and balance of participants on an airborne course that looms above the crowd. In the Slackers Slackline demo and competition area, pros enthrall the audience with their jumps and maneuvers on the wobbly cord. First-timers can test their agility and balance as they try to walk across the narrow and wiggly line. Adults wanting to test their inner cowboy or cowgirl can clamber up on the mechanical bull sponsored by Crested Butte Mountain Resort and take it for a spin. And energetic kids are always eager to find the fastest route up the indoor climbing wall.
The Nordic Village Interactive Zone returns with cross-country ski equipment for a dry land introduction, plus new this year is a Ski Erg machine for participants to try a simulation of cross-country movements and a new biathlon exhibit that includes a laser rifle and target. The Eliteam Training Center, sponsored by Purgatory Resort, is a perennial favorite with its timed and fast-paced obstacle course that measures basic fitness and flexibility. Kids can compete against the clock and their friends over and over…and they do.
Spectators looking for an athletic show can catch the high-flying Skyriders! with their double trampoline exhibition and aerial antics. After a long day of shopping and playing, adults can take a refreshing break with a cold brew while listening to live music from eight different artists and groups in the Coors Rocky Mountain Beer Garden.
The gently-sloped Winter Park Kid’s Slope offers kids an easy introduction to skiing with its artificial snow surface. The climbing wall is always a magnet for energetic youngsters. And once again, Burton’s Riglet Park returns to give little riders their first experience on a tiny snowboard. For more in-depth information about Vail Resort destinations in Colorado, Utah, and around the world, the Epic World Pavilion debuts at this year’s Expo with representatives from Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Park City with offers on lodging and special packages.
Expo hours are noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6; Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For details, activity schedules, and vendors, visit www.skisnowexpo.com.