Downhill Mtn. Biking at Trestle Bike Park!

Come get your fix of adrenaline filled fun at the fastest growing Downhill Bike Park in the U.S.! Trestle Bike Park in Winter Park, Colorado has something for everyone. Whether it’s your first time on a downhill bike, you’re looking for some coaching on technique, or you’re a seasoned pro who wants to work on speed alone, there are plenty of options for all.

As mentioned in Chris’s earlier blog, the WPLC crew got together last week for an exciting day of downhilling. After getting suited up in our ‘armor’ (see right) and loading our bikes on the lift, the ladies (Amy, Sarah, and myself) took the Trestle 101 course, which is perfect for those who are beginning or wanting to improve technique. For anyone looking to take the class, we recommend our instructor Ian who was knowedgable and who’s calm demeanor helped 3 crazy girls get down the mountain in one piece! Meanwhile, Chris and Dace were on their own with the helmet cam strapped on and ready to rock. We’ve got part 1 of their roller coaster ride caught on tape for you to check out…

After a few practice rounds and mtn. biking fundamentals, Ian took us girls down a looooong green trail aptly named ‘Green World’.  It was a fun winding trail through dense trees, open single track and rolling hills with lots of swooping turns (we liked calling them woop-de- woos). Needless to say, our class and one run on Green World lasted nearly three hours, so we got a great workout and were quite tired at the end. All in all, it was a great day and experience. We had a few spills, but managed to get back on the bikes and keep truckin’.  Gotta say the body armor doesn’t just look cool, it definitely cushions the falls! Soon, we’ll have part 2 of the helmet cam video up and running, so keep an eye out…

If you’re thinking about taking a weekend getaway filled with fresh mountain air or getting out of the city heat , Winter Park is where it’s at. Get an unbeatable price on summer lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company, and save big on all kinds of outdoor activities, including Trestle Bike Park and cross country bike rentals (great for the whole family!). We have an exclusive deal for our guests that gets you and your friends geared up for less! When you book your rentals online , you save over 20% off walk in rates and that’s a steal.

Remember, the Crankworx freestyle bike competition starts today and goes through the weekend at Winter Park Resort. Bring the kids and dogs and be amazed at the  high flying stunts these guys do -  It’s totally free and a wild time. Our instructor Ian will be competing too, so we’re going down to cheer him on and take some video. See you there!

Art, Wine & Cheese in Winter Park, CO

Wine & Cheese in the Winter Park Village

Saturday July 10, 2010 the Grand Arts, Wine and Cheese Festival will kick off.  Starting at 10AM and running through the afternoon until 5PM Wine, art and cheese will be on display Rocky Mountain style.

Stroll through the Village at Winter Park  and visit with local Grand County artists as they show off their talents in this one-of-a-kind arts festival. Watch, do, listen and learn in our hands-on interactive “Learning Tents.” Enjoy live music while you explore one-of-a-kind photography, jewelry, paintings, and more. A variety of these artisans will be offering artist demonstrations and hands-on classes during the day.

The wine and cheese festival is in addition to all the other great activities that are available at the Winter Park base. Check out the alpine slide, putt put golf, Trestle Bike Park, climbing wall and may other activities.

The weather has been great up here the last few weeks and there is just so much to do this time of year.

Get on up to Winter Park and play hard and rest easy with Winter Park Lodging Company.  And finish it all of with some wine, cheese and art in the Winter Park Village.

New Winter Park Rental: Zephyr Mountain Lodge 1215

Ski out your back deck!

Yet another ski in/out condo joins  the Winter Park Lodging Company family this week – welcome, Zephyr 1215!  Located on the 1st floor of the Slopeside building, Zephyr Mountain Lodge 1215 boasts something no other condo in Grand County can – it’s truly the only ski in/out condo at Winter Park Resort since they added a gate on their back porch allowing you to ski right out to the slopes.

Any other condo at the resort requires you to walk down the hall and out the main back door to the slopes (ok, that’s not too tough of a task) but for bragging rights, this spot allows you to beat the others to the slopes and click in your bindings right off your back deck.

It has one bedroom with a queen bed and the living room has another sofa queen sleeper. Enjoy a private kitchen as all Zephyrs have and the outdoor hot tubs just 50 feet from your deck as well.

The condo also is right next to the new village in Winter Park which includes some of our favorite spots – get good margaritas at Lime, tasty beers and fries at the Cheeky Monk, delicious soups and breakfast burritos at the Back Bowl Soup Company and grab a t-shirt there too.  If any of you aren’t skiing the resort, you can also sign up for snowmobiling in the village at Grand Adventures.

The condo was just listed on our website and wide-open for bookings so email us at info@winterparklodgingcompany.com or call 1-877-329-1383 soon to get your spot in this guaranteed to be booked-up condo this winter!

Winter Park Trestle Bike Park

Downhill Mountain Biking in Colorado

Have any Y’all been downhill mountain biking with all the body armor and a 50 lb bike with shocks that are two feet long?  Well, I have not but I am being promised a a lesson and a  free  tour of Winter Park Resort’s Trestle Bike Park when it opens in mid-June.

I have seen the riders walking their bike through the base at Winter Park and I always thought man they are some serious dudes with all that gear.  I am now getting kinda psyched to take a “gravity fed” ride through the park.  My first thought is can this be much of a workout when you are taking a lift up the hill?  I am being assured that this is very physical and a great workout even with almost zero uphill riding.

Winter Park Base Rentals at the base of Winter Park Resort provides equipment rental, demos and demonstration on how to navigate the downhill gravity fed trail system.  They also provide storage of all bikes so you won’t be lugging the massive 50 lb bikes into a condo or risk them being stolen from the top of a car.

Intrawest made a decision a few years ago to install the Trestle Bike Park onto Winter Park Resort based on the trail systems that are up at Whistler Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Whistler Bike Park is the premier downhill bike park in the world and from my understanding that is where the sport was originated.

The trial systems at these bike parks are kinda like ski runs.  There are greens, blues and blacks for beginner, intermediate and expert  riders.  Trestle Bike Park has been adding more trails each year and there will be more new trails for this year.

I never thought I would be one to like the downhill decent only mountain biking but I am excited to ride Trestle Bike Park, all duded up in some bike body armor, come this June.  Stay tuned and I will let you know how the test ride goes.

Last Week of Skiing at Winter Park Resort

Winter Park Resort Closing Ski Day

We are down to the last day of ski season here in Winter Park, Colorado.  And this if the time to come up to make some turns.  The last day of the 2009/2010 ski season is April 18th this year and that is the day to be here up here in the Rockies.

This week there are lots of events in the Winter Park Village.  There will be live music in the village and a beer dinner at The Cheeky Monk this Thursday.  The weather this week is looking good with snow predicted for Tuesday the 13th.

The grand finale of this ski season will be the Winter Park Resort Spring Splash.  Check out the link and make plans to attend the oldest tradition of its kind and on its 42nd year. On Sunday, April 18, athletes begin at 12pm as spectators watch skiers and riders struggle through obstacles on the Larry Sale trail race course and attempt to skim across an icy pond to reach the finish line and post a time. Live music sets the tone for a closing day party that is fun for everyone!

The official party is held at the Winter Park base and the unofficial wilder side is over in the C-Lot at Mary Jane.  Come enjoy some music, BBQ, beer, and an all around good time at the Mary Jane Spring Splash celebration.

This is the last week of ski season here in Winter Park, CO so lets get out and wish ski season a grand goodbye ’till next November.

Easter Fun at Winter Park Resort Colorado

Easter Bunny in Winter Park, Colorado

The Easter Bunny donned some skis this weekend and made an appearance in Winter Park, Colorado.  There was a few inches of new snow for Mr. Bunny and the wind calmed a bit for him to rip it up over on the Mary Jane side.

At the base of the Winter Park Resort was the Wells Fargo Easter Egg and Candy Hunt that was a hit with all the youngsters.  Nicholas & Willem, our twins, were able to get a couple of chocolate eggs themselves.  It was a great time for the young ones and this is an event we will make an annual tradition.

Easter marks the official countdown to the end of the season party, Winter Park Spring Splash, here at the Resort.  So, mark your calendars and be sure to attend the most fun and longest running end of season ski resort party in Colorado.

Lodging deals are abundant this time of year and Winter Park Lodging Company can you on the slopes for cheap, cheap, cheap.

Spring is here and the weather and snow can not be beat in April.  Make your plans now and get your skiing in he next two weeks.  Last day of the ski season is April 18th, 2010.

Come on up get the best turns of the year in!

Powder Addiction Snow Cat Skiing Winter Park, CO

Powder Addiction Skiing on Jones Pass

We had day number two with Powder Addiction on Jones pass this week.  It was supposed to be day number four but a good bout of pink eye and an avalanche on US Highway 40 has postponed the other two trips.  The group that went up this time was full of Winter Park locals, a father-son WP second home team and a video and still camera professional.

What a senational day.  Temps were in the high 30′s and there were a few inches of fluffy white powder.  The above photos of Ed Reagner were shot later in the day as we were attempting a south facing wall that had baked all day and gotten a nice crusty layer on top that all us skiers had a little trouble with.

Mr. Scott Hefel was the professional photog along for the day and he took some spectacular pictures.  Check out Scott Hefel Photography to see the photos.  Click on Powder Addiction (bottom right) and use password: 3.15.10

We also had “T” from RSN Winter Park Channel 18 filming for an upcoming RSN sking special.  Maybe all us will be back-country skiing stars someday?  I am not holding my breath or quitting the day job though.

On the trip was a father and son team and for a 15 year old Chase could really rip it up.  I do wish I was skiing this terrain when I was 15 years old.  Anywho, it was a great day skiing.  I would like to thank, Jamie, Waldo and Scott for the expert guiding and safety provided.

If you have any desire to do some cat skiing Powder Addiction can not be beat.  It is reasonably priced, especially compared to other snow cat skiing operations, and the terrain and snow is fantastic.  Jones Pass is a short ride from Powder Addiction headquarters in the Winter Park Village with snow that drops from all storms coming through Central Colorado.  At the end of the day you get to enjoy a couple free Steamworks Brewery beers.

The snow is still coming and it’s not too late to get your cat skiing in this year.  Now is the time to sign up and take a snow cat skiing trip with Powder Addiction.

How Much Snow for Winter Park Resort 2009/2010 Ski Season?

Winter Park Resort Snow Total Contest

How much snow will Winter Park Resort receive for the 2009/2010 ski season ending on April 19th, 2010?  That is the question that we  skiers ponder up here in Winter Park, Colorado.  Kinda of like mulling over the lint in your belly button but much more fun.  We here at Winter Park Lodging Company thought we could make this snow forecasting bit more fun if we had a contest.  So here is the contest:

Guess how much snow Winter Park Resort will receive by April 18th, 2010, as reported on the Winter Park Resort website, for a chance to win dinner and drinks for two at one of our fine restaurants here in WP.  Use the comment section below for your official entry and all guesses need to be in by April 5th.  He/She that is closest to the snow total wins.  We will post a winner by April 20, 2010 on this blog.

We had a slow snow start to this ski season but the ski gods have been pretty kind to us the last month or so with a couple of doozy storms that dropped as much as 16″ of fluffy white on our beloved Winter Park.  A couple of these storms also sent avalanches crashing down on US Highway 40 to give us Winter park folk the better part of the day to enjoy Mary Jane/Winter Park by ourselves (and those fortunate enough to already be here).

The snow report and total for today March13th, 2010 look like this:

Winter Park Resort  averages 350″ inches of snow per year so we should be getting some big storms the rest of March and April this year.  Here is some historical info on snow totals at Winter Park Resort for the last year and the ten previous years:

Plenty of info to base your guesses on but please research away.  I will put my guess in first and may the best man win.  We all actually win with the more snow we get though!

Winter Park Resort: Fourth Best Ski Cafeteria Food

Moffat Market at Winter Park Resort

Winter Park Resort just seems to be racking up the awards of late.  Skiing magazine just named Winter Park’s Moffat Market as the fourth best Ski-Resort Cafeteria.  That is not bad as the building it operates in is quite old compared to the others on Skiing Magazines top ten list.

The Moffat Market was the highest ranked Colorado ski cafeteria and Vail’s Two Elks Lodge was the only other Colorado cafeteria ranked and they came in at number six.

Here is what Skiing Magazine had to say about the Winter Park Moffat Market:

Moffat Market, a railroad-themed food court (named after the Moffat Tunnel, a 6.2.-mile-long railroad tunnel that has its west end at Winter Park ski resort), offers food from around the world. There’s New York-style pizza at Grand Central Station, Tex-Mex at Santa Fe Station, and Asian noodle bowls at the Umami Station. We recently tried a veggie coconut curry bowl with rice noodles here—and were blown away by how spicy and delicious it was.

We recently had a chicken burrito at the Moffat Market and I have to say it was a huge burrito and very tasty.  Cost was a little pricey but food at ski resorts is never cheap.

Serving breakfast and lunch, the Moffat Market food court has a railroad theme and offers fresh cuisine and specialties that reflect the different regions of the country and the world. Storefronts and names identify the different food stations with options such as: New York-style pizza at Grand Central Station; Tex-Mex at the Santa Fe Station; enjoy Asian noodle bowls at our newly revamped “Umami” station; and hearty soups at the Shortline. Moffat Market also features an Einstein’s Bagels kiosk for fresh breakfast bagels, and lunch specialties. New this season is a totally revamped breakfast menu at the Moffat Market. Stop by for their specialty, “Eggs Delphia.”

Of course, you go to a ski resort for the good snow and terrain. But you’ve got to eat while you’re there, right? Skiing Magazine has done their research—eating at ski areas all over the country—and have selected the 10 best on-mountain restaurants in ski country.  And to call the Moffat Market a cafeteria simply doesn’t do it justice.

Over Two Feet of New Snow in Winter Park

New Snow at  Winter Park/Mary Jane Resorts Colorado

Snow snow and more snow in Winter Park.  That’s right we have been getting crushed with snow here in Winter Park.  27 inches is the total in  the last week with more on the way.   Here are our snow totals for the last few days and for the year as of Feb 23, 2010:

Winter Park/Mary Jane averages around 350 inches for the year so we can expect to just get blasted the next eight weeks that the resort is open.  Here is what our friends over at SnowForecast.com are calling for for the next month or so here in Winter Park:

–We may see lingering snow flurries next Monday, mixed with sun and clouds, then next Tuesday high pressure ridging is possible. Mid next week (3rd of March) begins a series of storms, some moving more southerly, some northerly, but frequent, for frequent light to moderate or even heavy snow. This unsettled pattern over the west should keep the slopes fresh through mid March at least. The rest of March and most of April still look potentially snowy.

Snow in December, January and the first part of February was below average with most of the Colorado storms hitting the resorts located in the southern part of the state.  It looks as though that these storms should start taking a more northern route and it is looking really good for Mary Jane and Winter Park.

March and April are by far the best months to ski in Colorado.  The weather is a little warmer, the snow a little deeper and the beers taste a little better.

Spring Skiing in the Colorado Rockies – heaven on earth!