New Terrain, Technology, and Teaching Facilities Spotlight Improvements Across Colorado Ski Country This Winter

Denver, CO – Many Colorado resorts have invested in improvements for the 2010-11 ski and snowboard season. According to Colorado Ski Country USA, which this week announced improvements at its 22 member ski areas in the state, they’re adding new lifts, updating lodging and base areas, improving park and pipe profiles, and expanding into new terrain.nFour of the most popular ski resorts in the state — Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Breckenridge — are owned by Vail Resorts and are no longer members of the Colorado Ski Country USA marketing group. Improvements at those four resorts are expected to be announced shortly.

Arapahoe Basin

A-Basin Ski Area began construction this summer on Black Mountain Express, a new detachable quad chairlift that is scheduled to be up and running for the 2010-11 ski season. The new $4 million ski lift will replace the Exhibition fixed grip triple chair located in the base area, which was installed in 1978. Black Mountain Express will have a capacity of 2,000 people per hour, a length of 2,877 feet and have a vertical rise of 719 feet. The ride time will be just under three minutes, half the time of the current lift ride from base area to mid-mountain.

The top terminal of the new lift will be realigned slightly uphill and to the west of the old lift, away from Black Mountain Lodge. The lower terminal will remain in the same location.

Leitner-Poma is contracted for the project. The new detachable lift will enable beginner and intermediate guests to load and unload more easily, resulting in fewer stops and starts on the ride to mid-mountain. In addition, with the new quad chairlift, Black Mountain Lodge will be more accessible for weddings and special events, such as A-Basin’s popular Full Moon Dinners.

Aspen/Snowmass

Aspen/Snowmass is well-known for its 22-foot Olympic-sized superpipe at Buttermilk, home of the ESPN Winter X-Games. Snowmass is augmenting its 18-foot superpipe this winter with a new 12-foot pipe in the Lowdown Park, bringing the total number of pipes amongst the four Aspen-area resorts to three this season. Under the direction of Mountain Division Executive Chef Jim Butchart, the on-mountain dining at the four ski mountains will now feature more local cuisine and an enhanced dining experience.

From hands-free gates to the Aspen/Snowmass iPad application, Aspen Skiing Company will continue to bring the latest technology to guests this winter. In addition to last year’s new hands-free RF system on all lifts, Aspen/Snowmass will now offer guests the ability to link their credit card to their lift ticket/ski pass, valid for use at any Aspen Skiing Company-owned businesses, from restaurants to rentals, ski school and more. Additionally, Aspen/Snowmass is currently developing an iPad application, which will bring the resort to life from anywhere in the world. The Aspen/Snowmass mobile application – which works on 97 percent of smart phones from the iPhone to BlackBerry – is now available for download and provides live grooming, snowfall and weather information, as well as offers guests the ability to book lunch or dinner reservations from the chairlift.

Copper Mountain

Under the new ownership of Utah’s Powdr Corp. or the 2010-11 ski season, Copper’s plans include $6 million in capital improvements for expanded snowmaking and parking both in the free lots and at Union Creek. This focus on infrastructure enhancements sets the stage for future on-mountain improvements, Powdr officials indicate.

This year, Copper is increasing its snowmaking capacity by 25 percent. The resort anticipates better early season coverage for race camps, training, and early November skiers and riders. Also new this season, Copper purchased a 22-foot pipe cutting Zaugg, which means the resort will be able to have an Olympic sized superpipe the entire season.

Copper is undertaking a 40 percent increase in free parking in the expanded Corn Lot. Additional parking at the base of Union Creek will add easy access to the beginner area at Copper. The resort is also investing in improving the arrival experience in Union Creek and The Schoolhouse.

Crested Butte

The focus is on the hill this season at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). Improvements designed to maximize the skiing and riding experience are taking place in preparation for the resort’s celebration of 50 years of skiing.

CBMR is adding the Columbine trail from the top of Painter Boy/Gold Link to the base area. The addition includes 15.3 acres of intermediate terrain on the main mountain. Crews also are in the process of glading Horseshoe Springs, opening up the area and making the terrain more accessible to upper intermediates.

Guests to CBMR also will note increased snowmaking capabilities resulting in earlier terrain openings and a better late season base. Increased snowmaking at the base area will allow for Peachtree beginners lift and the Camp CB teaching area and magic carpets to open on the first day of the season. The resort is also eager to utilize its $40,000 National Ski Areas Association grant, which will translate to 10 new high efficiency tower snow guns.

There are new terrain park features on the Cascade trail planned for 2010-11. The new park and pipe lies in close proximity to the kids’ park on Painter Boy and the Prinoth Snowcat Experience. A new NASTAR race arena will be located on the Canaan trail just above the Paradise Warming House.

Finally, CBMR has added a new base area activity to the existing Adventure Park. The Flying Gopher 18 hole mini golf course is located under a weatherproof dome, which will convert to an ice skating rink during the winter season.

Echo Mountain

Echo Mountain Ski and Snowboard Area, entering its fifth season of operation this winter, recently announced a planned expansion that will result in a new top-to-bottom beginner run and increased access to glade skiing for 2010-11. The new terrain brings the total number of named trails to 16 and marks the entry into Phase II of Echo’s ten-year master plan.

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The beginner-friendly, “easiest way down” will branch off the existing Creightons to just below LC1. The trail will extend through Hideout, and new terrain will be cleared to the west of Echo’s current area boundary. In addition to the new beginner trail, the expansion will also increase access to gladed terrain in Lower Westside Glades.

The project includes minimal tree clearing, and the lumber will be reclaimed for erosion control, trail marking and feature construction.

Of the 240 acres of private property on which Echo is situated, approximately 35 percent of the land is currently developed for skiing and riding. This expansion is the next step as the ski area continues to grow.

Eldora

Eldora is investing in the skier experience this season with a focus on introducing new skiers and snowboarders to the sport by improving learning facilities. For the 2010-11 season, the resort west of Boulder is installing a new conveyor lift, otherwise known as a magic carpet, to help get first-time skiers up the mountain before they are ready to try a traditional chairlift. The new lift will replace the existing lifts Tenderfoot I and Tenderfoot II. The new magic carpet will simply be called “Tenderfoot.”

Eldora recently added two new snow cats to their fleet of groomers to improve the quality of the snow surfaces. One is a winch cat to groom the resort’s steeper terrain.

To cater to more experienced skiers and riders, Eldora is making a substantial effort to improve glade skiing and snowboarding through thinning and tree removal on expert terrain.

Loveland

Loveland has replaced their ticketing and point-of-sale system throughout the ski area. For the 2010-11 season, the resort is updating to a fully-integrated system that will facilitate a seamless guest transition throughout all departments.

Additionally, Loveland is working to upgrade and expand its snowmaking systems to augment its annual battle plan to be the first ski area to open in the U.S. each season.

Monarch Mountain

Monarch Mountain ski area is investing $1.2 million in area improvements for the 2010-11 season, following a record breaking 2009-10 winter season. Leading the list, a new and improved loading station, drive units and hydraulics on the Garfield lift will create an entirely new base terminal at Monarch Mountain’s most popular chair. The new base terminal will allow Garfield to run more efficiently with fewer stops for skiers and riders getting on and off the lift.

The Pioneer quad chair lift will see a new unloading ramp at the top, helping ease the unloading process. Both Garfield and Pioneer lift mazes will see new lane dividers to facilitate the flow of maze traffic.

The “highest Starbuck’s in the free world” will get even higher. Starbuck’s will be relocated to the top floor of the main lodge this winter as a new deli will inhabit Starbuck’s former location at the mid-level corridor.

Last year’s installment of the “Hydration Station” on the top level of the main building was such a success, so two additional ones will be installed for this winter. The Picnic Room on the lower level of the main lodge and the Rental/Lesson center building will now have Hydration Stations.

Rental and Lesson Center guests will appreciate the addition of 600 sets of new Head rental skis, boots and bindings. These will be complemented by new snowboards and demo skis. New boot dryers will be added to the rental shop and the reservation counter will be remodeled to speed up the delivery of reserved equipment.

Several improvements and upgrades at Monarch this year are aimed at the younger generation. A new Yurt for the junior mountain program will be used for registration and as a warming hut for the older offspring. The Children’s Center will be remodeled to better serve the younger tykes.

Beginners will find a new gentler access point paralleling Romp which will make it easier to ski or ride to the terrain on the west side of the mountain. Tilt, the popular kids’ terrain park, will acquire several new features. The Organic K2 Terrain Park will also have several new “all natural” features and a new log entrance. The addition of a new Prinoth Bison Snowcat will let allow the cat drivers to groom more terrain this winter.

Powderhorn

Powderhorn is investing in creativity as Joe Pope, terrain park manager, is focused on building features for a new natural terrain park to open this season. An expert in natural feature construction, Pope is the mastermind behind the unique terrain park at Sleeping Giant Ski Resort in Wyoming.

At Powderhorn this winter, guests will find beginner to advanced natural features located in three terrain parks on the mountain. The new features will be built from aspen tree deadfall and other wood. A pre-season rail jam and kickoff party will be held in November, giving park riders their first taste of the new features.

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort

Following up on last season’s Legends terrain expansion, which added 30 percent more expert terrain, Durango Mountain Resort is adding even more new terrain for 2010-11, this time on the front side of the mountain. The new, gladed section of the mountain will be known as “The Ambassadors Glade,” named after resort owners Chuck and Sue Cobb, who served as U.S. ambassadors to Iceland and Jamaica, respectively.

Also new this winter, Durango Mountain Resort is ramping up its terrain park offerings by constructing the park features out of dirt. By building hits and carving pipes from earth instead of snow, less snow will be needed to open the parks, which then can be opened earlier in the season and maintained consistently throughout the season.

For the kids, Durango Mountain Resort is now a Burton Learn-to-Ride Kids Center, with new instructional programs and an upgraded rental fleet of 215 new kids’ snowboards in sizes ranging from 80 cm to 140 cm. New adult alpine skis have also been added to the rental fleet, and the Expert Edge retail store will have the latest skis and boots from manufacturers including Blizzard, Dynastar, Nordica, Rossignol, K2, and Volkl, available for demo and purchase.

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Durango Mountain Resort is also expanding its snowmaking capabilities on Pandemonium, an extremely popular run.

The resort is reporting steady progress in implementing its master plan, which includes replacing several chair lifts, adding new lifts, and building a new ski and ride school on the mountain.

Silverton Mountain

Silverton Mountain is increasing the uphill capacity on its only lift by adding an extra 30 chairs to the line, bringing the total number of chairs on the line from 59 to 89.

Steamboat

For the 2010-11 season, the beach comes to Steamboat. Visitors can catch some rays at the new Burgess Creek Terrace and Umbrella Bar on the Bear River Bar & Grill Deck, located slopeside in the base area adjacent to the Gondola entrance. The Burgess Creek Terrace serves a full menu from the Bear River Bar & Grill and has a full bar featuring local microbrews. The outdoor patio is fully heated, with a centrally located fire pit to gather around and stay toasty. The newly designed deck features terraced steps for guests to lounge on in addition to appointed tables.

On-mountain, snowmaking pump changes will result in a 27 percent increase in water flow this winter as three 52-horsepower pumps are being upgraded to two, 200-horsepower ones, moving the gallons per minute from 3300 to 4200. Couple the increased flow with the purchase of 40 high-efficiency, low-energy tower guns, and early season snow production will augment the number of trails available at the beginning of the season. The HKD tower guns, which use 30 percent less energy than conventional guns while producing the same amount of snow, are now strategically located across the mountain on Heavenly Daze, Rudi’s Run, Lightning, Upper Vagabond, Ego, Sitz as well as Stampede, Lil’ Rodeo, Preview, Right-O-Way, See Ya, See Me, Voo Doo, Vogue, Lower Vagabond, Tornado Lane and Buddy’s Run.

A dramatic change has taken place across the lower mountain as a result of extensive pine beetle mitigation. For the better part of a decade, the resort has been dealing with this epidemic moving from individual tree treatment to mass removal of dead trees. Fifty acres of trees have been removed below Rough Rider Basin and another 30 acres on the Thunderhead Express and Burgess Creek lift lines are currently being removed.

Ranging from small to large, 30 new and refurbished rails and other features will pop up this season across the resort’s four terrain parks. Designed with input from pro riders, a variety of small, eight- to 12-foot, low-to-the-ground and shaped boxes will provide the opportunity for learning the basics in transitions and kinked sensations. In the medium park, a new 16-foot picnic table and several 24-foot shaped boxes will be unveiled this winter for a variety of down/up and double kinked riding opportunities. A new wall ride, several additional large features, as well as a new entrance in the advanced park complete the full spectrum of progression from beginner to advanced.

Last winter, Steamboat opened a newly renovated Kids’ Vacation Center, and this winter the Buckaroo conveyor lift has been relocated to create a better learning environment in the new One Steamboat Place snow area.

Telluride

The Telluride Ski Resort announced the development and implementation of a guided backcountry skiing program late last season into terrain surrounding nearby Bear Creek and Alta Lakes. Guests participating in the guided backcountry program can set up an itinerary and book a trip through Telluride Eco Adventures. Participants must be expert skiers and boarders. All backcountry equipment, including shovel, beacon and probe, is available at Eco Adventures.

Telluride airlifted a new bridge and staircase to the left shoulder of Telluride’s spectacular Palmyra Peak in the spring of 2010. Heliqwest, a helicopter company based out of Canada, airlifted two steel staircases and bridge over the ski resort to its final resting place – the span between Gold Hill Chutes 8 and 9.

Winter Park

While still developing the recently completed Village at Winter Park, the 2010-11 season will reveal investments in infrastructure. Enhancements include the purchase of two new snowcats, additions to the ski, snowboard, and bike rental fleet, trail maintenance, new mountain web cameras, and upgrades in IT and on-mountain infrastructure. Another significant project for 2010-11 includes paving 822 marked spaces at The Vintage Hotel parking lot.

The Lodge at Sunspot, atop Winter Park Mountain and the premier on-mountain dining property, will be receiving a facelift both inside and out. Stonework, entry doors, environmentally friendly deck and exterior stain, and new carpet and furniture will be completed in preparation for The Lodge at Sunspot’s 20th anniversary in 2012.

Pine Beetle mitigation is also underway at Winter Park. Along with capital, Winter Park and local water provider stakeholders were awarded a grant from the Colorado Community Forest Restoration Pilot Grant Program to improve forest health. The objective is to decrease fire hazard, encourage new tree growth for a healthy, stable watershed, and reduce safety hazards to skiers and mountain bikers.

Wolf Creek

The Wolf Creek Lodge, Wolf Creek’s main day lodge, is serving it up this season with a new kitchen and new carpeting. Homemade menu items will be prepared each day in a remodeled kitchen featuring new flooring, siding, counter tops and appliances as well as new carpeting throughout. The Upper Lodge will be ready to serve a full menu from Santa Fe-style green chili to desserts. The restrooms on the lower level have been improved, replacing older water saving facilities with newer ones as well as new partitions. Additionally, the water-free, composting restrooms on the top of Treasure are scheduled for completion this season.

Other improvements Wolf Creek is focusing on include widening Bonanza trail for beginner skiers and snowboarders, and enhancing the surface on Tranquility by adding topsoil for smoother early season conditions.

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