SIA Snow Show Returns to Winter Park Resort

SIA Winter Park Resort

The SIA Snow Show returns to Denver and Winter Park Resort for the second year after a long run in the desert community in Las Vegas.

After 37 years in Las Vegas, the SIA Snow Show reported a six-year attendance high for the inaugural Snow Show held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from January 28-31, 2010. The sold-out Snow Show attracted 18,045 attendees and featured over 3,100 exhibitors representing 845 snow sports brands, including 125 new exhibitors.

For four days in 2011, the snow sports industry returns to Denver, Colorado to do business, socialize and network.  With over 18,000 all under one roof, the snow sports community comes together once a year to see the latest trends, styles and innovations from ski, snowboard, cross country, AT/tele, backcountry, snowshoe and fashion.

The SIA Snow Show is two parts.  One spent in Denver at the Convention Center and the other spent at Winter Park Resort with an on snow component.  The Snow Show schedule is as follows:

SIA SNOW SHOW
Thursday, January 27 — Sunday, January 30, 2011
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado USA

The SIA Snow Show, January 27-30, 2011 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, delivers the largest, most concentrated and authentic trade event in the snow sports industry. It is the first time globally that the styles, technologies, innovations, culture and energy of snow sports is presented. Close to 20,000 industry professionals will meet to engage in business, networking opportunities, parties, brand events and seminars to feel the true essence of snow sports.

On January 31 and February 1, 2011 the industry will head up to the mountains for the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch. In conjunction with Western Winter Sports Reps Association’s (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo and in partnership with Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA), buyers can try out the latest gear for ski, snowboard, AT/tele, backcountry, cross country and snowshoe while all other attendees can get some time on the hill with the brands, reps and media. Attendees of the SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest get free lift tickets and entry to Winter Park and Devil’s Thumb.

The SIA snow show is the place to check out the new trends in everything SKI. Up at Winter Park Resort all the latest will be tested on the hills.

Looking for lodging for the on snow demo session in Winter Park, CO? Look no further than Winter Park Lodging Company for SIA Snow Show lodging.

Winter Park, CO Chocolate Festival

Colorado Summer Food Festivals

Chocolate Chocolate  Chocolate …. who doesn’t like chocolate? What is your favorite chocolate? Well lets try some of the best before we make that call.

Winter Park Resort is putting on a summer food festival that is all about the love of chocolate.

Winter Park CO Chocolate Festival

June 26th 2010

A treat for the Winter Park vacationers and a destination for chocolate lovers around the state! Everyone loves chocolate! The Winter Park Chocolate Festival will include chocolate samples and fine chocolates for sale from a wide variety of regional vendors. Special guests and a full-day’s event schedule round out the fun!

There is even a wine pairing with chocolate session. Now that is right up my alley – wine and chocolate.

Saturday the 26th

10am -     Winter Park Chocolate Festival opens!

11 am – Pudding Eating Contest!

Rounds for kids and adults! The catch – no hands!

12 noon – Denise Nickerson on Stage!

Star of the original Willy Wonka film talks about ”My Life as the Blueberry Girl”

1 pm – Truffle Competition Awards Presentation

2 pm – Truffle Demo with Chef Trusan

3pm – Chocolate and Wine-Pairing demo with The Chocolate Therapist, Julie Pech

3 – 5 pm – Wine Tasting

5pm – Festival closes.

Sounds like a great way to to enjoy some tasty treats and in Colorado Rockies.

What is your favorite chocolate? The favorite in our home at the moment is the Lindt dark chocolate with sea salt .  Sounds odd but man it is delicious especially with red wine.

Winter Park, Colorado Beer Festival

Colorado Mountain Beer Festival

The first annual Winter Park, CO beer festival has been announced and will be taking place in Hideaway Park in downtown Winter Park, Colo on Saturday August 14, 2010.  This is Winter Parks first foray into the beer festival world but we are thinking that the Winter Park Beer Festival will be bigger and badder than the Great American Beer Festival in no time.

The Winter Park Beer Festival will be a celebration of beer, music and mountains, can you have any of these without the others?, in the beautiful environs of Winter Park, CO.  There will be over 25 breweries represented doing beer tastings and selling merchandise with local and national bands to keep all entertained.  There will also be vendors in Hideaway Park selling all that you will need to make this a fun and friendly day of beer drinking.  We are hoping that the three young ladies to the left will be attending to help peddle some of the suds.

Breweries that can be expected to be attending, but in no way guaranteed to be, include New Belgium Brewery, Odell’s Brewery, Coors, Budweiser, Great Divide Brewery, Oscar Blues Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Left Hand Brewery, Grand Lake Brewery, Deschutes Brewing and Flying Dog Brewery.  There should be some great beers by some of the best brewers in the nation.

As for music, the lineup should be fun with lots of good beer drinking tunes.  Here is who will be playing:

JJ Grey and MOFRO

“intriguing and fortuitous… Grey’s a songwriter with a sharp wit and a knack for skewering the hypocrites, jive politicians and carpetbaggers who litter the landscape. The MOFRO vibe travels freely among swamp funk, blues, rock and soul, and does so with a certain down-and-dirty swagger that’s as real as it is appealing.”

Filthy Children

This funk/jazz/rock septet serves up a funkinetic frenzy of fresh, original, mind moving music; reminiscent of such groove giants as Soulive, Greyboy Allstars, John Scofield, and Deep Banana Blackout. Filthy Children deliver action packed funk that’s sure to be “a big fat kick in the groove”

Cowboy Dave

Hillbilly yuckster by day, Saturday-morning-cartoon hero by night, Cowboy Dave and his band of honky-tonk all-stars are poised to put the western back in country and western. Known to many as the deadpanned FortyTwenty frontman and fiddle player, Cowboy Dave Wilson has spent the better part of this decade honing his craft throughout the honky-tonks of the Midwest and South.

Sounds like some good grooves to get a good beer drink going up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  This festival being on a Saturday lets you come up and enjoy a Free Ride Friday in Trestle Bike Park then the beer festival on Saturday and maybe some cross country/ single track mountain biking on Sunday before you return home.

I forgot to mention that the Winter Park Beer Festival benefits a truly worthy cause in the National Sports Center for the Disabled.  I do not know of a better cause to give to and to do it all by drinking some beer and listening to some music in the Colorado mountains, now that is one heck of a weekend.

So come on out and celebrate summer with some beer and music!

Winter Park Spring Splash Pond Skimming

Winter Park End of Season Pond Skimming

Here is a video of contestant #15 at Spring Splash.  From the time that we watched the pond skimming competition this guy by far had the best run.  The Spring Spash this year was was very good and very spring like.  Last year there was a ton of new snow on closing weekend but this year was just a bunch of spring-like slush.

The locals party over at Mary Jane C-Lot was  very fun with local musicians and people BBQ-ing,  having some drinks and  an all around good time.  The weather cooperated with no rain or snow and delightful sunny skies.  We will post some of the pictures from splash in the next day or two.

Now that Winter Park Resort is closed we are getting some spring storms that are just making me wish the resort was still open.  Maybe a trip up to Berthoud Pass for some back country skiing will end this ski season on a proper note.  Oh well it was a good ski season with some big storms followed by some dry periods but we got some very good days in and overall the season was not bad.  El Nino held for the entire year and we were a little short of our average snow fall.

Goodbye ski season and hello mountain bike season.  Well, after all this snow melts that has dropped in the last few days.

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.

Winter Park, CO Mountain Biking 2010

Winter Park Single Track Mountain Biking

Yes, as the logo says “Mountain Bike Capitol USA”.  That is our little towns claim to fame here in the Northern Central Rockies of Colorado and the time for mountain biking is coming upon us quickly.  Time to get the bike out make sure all the equipment is in order and give those pedals a few cranks.  It may even by time for a pair of new riding shorts and jersey.

After a very good ski season, I may be a little ahead of myself as we are still expecting some big snow storms here in WP, the bike has been calling my name every time I open the door to the garage.  Yes it will soon be mountain bike season here in Winter Park, Colorado and the time is now to prepare.

The Winter Park Mountain Bike Race Series schedule has been announce:

2010 Winter Park Mountain Bike Race Series Schedule

▪ Race 1 – June 12 – Hill Climb Kick-Off
▪ Race 2 – June 26 – X-C Super Loop
▪ Race 3 – July 10 – Valley Point-to-Point
▪ Race 4 – July 11 – Super Downhill
▪ Race 5 – July 31 – Crankworx Colorado X-Country
▪ Race 6 – August 14 – Mary Jane Circuit
▪ Race 7 – August 28 – King of the Rockies Finale

If you have not participated in one of these races you are missing out.  It is great fun and there are categories for every type of rider from old to young, beginner to pro, men and women and everything in between.  To check out the races, routes and race categories visit epicsingletrack.com.

For all those without any interest in racing and just want some recreational mountain biking, Winter Park is the place to be this summer. With over 600 miles of mountain bike trail from ecpert to beginner there is enough road around here for every one.

Check out the Fraser Valley/Winter  Park bike trail map for some great ideas to to some biking.  Looking for some recommendations?  Well here you go:

1. Rendezvous Biking – up behind the Rendezvous home sits the old ski area of Idlewild.  There is great mountain biking here.  It is a kind of Northern California kind of terrain with rolling hills and water.  This is my favorite area to bike.  A map can be obtained from the Rendezvous sales office.
2. Winter Park Resort Biking – Many, many trail at the resort.  My favorites are Ice Hill, Comanche , and Lower Cherokee.
3. Tipperary Creek Loop – Varied terrain that all can enjoy from single track to some open road areas.

So, we are winding down the days of the ski season and the dreaded mud season will be gone in a flash, we hope, and then is the oh so glorious summer mountain biking season in Winter Park, CO.  Set your plans now and make a trip to Winter Park/Fraser to Mountain Bike Capitol USA.

Winter Park 2010 Jazz Festival Lineup

2010 Winter Park, CO Jazz Festival Artist Lineup

Yes, it is April 1st, 2010 and the lineup for the Winter Park, Colorado Jazz Festival is out (No, it’s not an April fools joke).  The festival this year will be held again at Hideaway Park in the town of Winter Park, CO. on July 24th and 25th.

Tickets will go on sale April 19th at both Ticketmaster and the Winter Park/Fraser Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 800.903.7275 or in person.

This 2-day festival features national, regional and local live music. A variety of jazz music both days, merchandise vendors and a food/beer garden will be in the park to create an atmosphere of music & fun.  This is biggest summer event in Winter Park and one that should not be missed.

Gate and vendors open at 10 am both Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th.

There should also be an event for the evening of Saturday the 24th at Winter Park Resort or in town.  We will keep you posted when that information becomes available.

Winter Park, CO Jazz Festival Line-up

Saturday, July 24, 2010
Chaka Kahn
Brian Culbertson
Craig Chaquico
Dotsero
Boa & The Constrictors

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Norman Brown’s Summer Storm staring Brenda Russell, Phil Perry, Jessy J
Boney James
Ryan Shaw
Hazel Miller
TBA

Pricing and ticket package has yet to be announced and we will keep you posted when that becomes available.

Lodging for the Winter Park Jazz Festival is starting to fill up.  The most desirable lodging will be gone in the next few weeks so do not delay and get your primo Winter Park Jazz Fest lodging today.

Winter Park Village Free Events

Free Events in Winter Park Resort Village

There are many many activities in the Winter Park Village and almost all of them are absolutely free.  The new Village is in its first full year of operation and there are now four eateries up and running:

Goodys is a European creperie offering made to order crepes and homemade ice cream.

Lime is a modern Mexican eatery with great tacos and margaritas.

The Back Bowl Soup Company offers homemade soups, breakfast burritos and fantastic breads.

The Cheeky Monk is a Belgium beer bar with great Flemish food with some of the best beers known to man.

Enjoy all these restaurants and spend a night in Village with some of their free events.  From Mardi Gras celebration to free ice skating lessons there something for everyone in the Winter Park Village.

DISCO SKATE NIGHTS
Thursdays, January 7 & 21, February 4 & 18, 6-8pm

Get down tonight! Grab your skates and come dance to funky disco music! You are sure to have fun with your friends while ice-skating on the Village Ice Rink to a dj playing 1970′s disco music while the disco ball lights up the ice! Bring your costumes!

KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursdays, December 17 – April 8, 5:30-8:30pm

The Village at Winter Park introduces Kids’ Night Out! This fun, activity-filled evening is for 4-12 year olds, and is loaded with activities – including dinner and s’mores by the firepit! Kids’ Night Out is a worry-free night out for Mom & Dad and a convenient alternative to at-home babysitting.

Details:
▪ Kids’ Night Out is held at Kids Ski and Ride School on Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm
▪ Kids’ Night Out is a FREE childcare service offered to parents on the condition that $30 per child is spent in any commercial outlet at the resort during the hours that your children are in the program. We do require original receipts to verify the expenditure. If less than $30 per child is spent, parents will only be charged the difference.
▪ Kids’ Night Out includes dinner from Doc’s Roadhouse and indoor activities such as games, seasonal crafts and movies
▪ Please reserve your child’s space by 3pm on Thursday. Call Winter Park Guest Services at 800.729.7907 to reserve your child’s space. Enrollment is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

MINI RAIL JAM
Fridays, January 15 - March 19, 4:30-6pm

*No Mini Rail Jam on February 19

Little jibbers come practice and show your tricks! Hit the mini rail park, Bouncer, in the Village for some fun after the mountain has closed for the day. Practice your rail slides and jumps in a training mini terrain park.

Details:
▪ Recommended for skiers and snowboarders ages 6 – 12 years old. Helmets are recommended.
▪ Located at the Bouncer Terrain Park located across from Doc’s Roadhouse and adjacent to the Discovery Center in the Village

FIRESIDE STORY-TELLING

Saturdays, January 9 - March 27, 3:00-4:00pm Join around the Discovery Center Plaza firepit for an animated story retelling the history of Winter Park Ski Resort, the railroad, early settlers and mountaineers. This FREE story-telling series is offered weekly from January through March and will include the stories of Fraser Valley locals such as: Doc Susie Anderson, the Byers family, the Cozens family and David Moffat. A perfect event for the entire family!

COWBOY SING-A-LONG
Fridays, December 18 – April 18, 4-5pm Come and join us by the campfire for our fun Cowboy Sing-A-Long just outside of the Village Gazebo, located at the base of Winter Park Resort. Cowboys and cowgals of all ages will enjoy this laid back and entertaining live show featuring all your campfire favorites! This FREE family entertainment is available Fridays from 4–5pm in the Village Gazebo.

ICE-SKATING LESSONS
Daily*, December 19—mid-March, 4-5pm

*Saturdays are Blade Capades, ice-skating games

Come join a FREE lesson to learn how to “hit the ice” (after “hitting the slopes”) or improve your skills on ice. An instructor and hot chocolate will be provided for each lesson. Bring your own skates or rent skates near the Village Ice Rink.

*Sign up by 3pm at Village Rentals on the day of the lesson

MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION
Saturday, February 13, 12:00-5:00pm

High Altitude Style! Come join the party in the Village to celebrate this New Orleans tradition Winter Park-style! This event features bands, street performers, festive decorations, food and plenty of beads to go around!

Music (in Starbucks Plaza)

12:00pm-1:00pm:  Louisiana Clan Dogs
1:20pm-2:20pm:  Aden Harrell & Friends Jazz Quartet
2:40pm-3:40pm:  Otones Brass Band
4:00pm-5:00pm:  Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe
Performers (throughout the Village)

12:00pm-5:00pm:  Salida Circus Performers (includes flame throwers, jugglers, trapeze artists, jesters & unicyclists)
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Face-Painting and Caricature Drawings
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Children’s Crafts – masks and crowns
1:00pm-3:00pm:  Giant Puppetry
2:00pm-4:00pm:  Ear2Ear Photobooth

Food (in Starbucks Plaza)

Jambalaya, crawfish, etouffee, gumbo, crepes, bread pudding and beignets provided by Village restaurants

Lots of things to to do for free at “the Village”.  If you would like to have a free family night out, the Winter Park Village can not be beat.

Winter Park Moonlight Snowshoe and Cross Country Ski

Pole Creek Moonlight Snowshoe

What a great way to spend a Saturday Night: on the links of Pole Creek Golf Club with skis on your feet and the moon lighting the ground below.

Pole Creek Golf Club had their first, of hopefully many, moonlight snow shoe and ski events this past Saturday night and the event was fantastic.  Show up clip on the skis and make a run through the marked course.  On the course is a bonfire with some hearty souls serving up schnapps with hot chocolate.  Finish up the trek and head inside for some wine and dinner.

We hope that they continue this moonlight tradition all year long.  It was a great time and there were a lot of people out enjoying the moonlight and the crisp Colorado air.  Lots of kids, dogs and people of all ages having a great time in the clear moonlight.

Dinner was good, wine was even better.  Service was a bit slow as I don’t think Bistro 28 expected quite as many people to join them for the first running of this event. Better get to ironing out the kinks before the next moonlight snowshoe event.

All in all it was a great night,  ended  with a glass of wine at home and the excitement of a another full moon in thirty days.

New Openings in Winter Park, CO

There are lots and lots of new stores opening up here in Winter Park, Colorado.  Our town just seems to be booming with all the restaurants opening and the Rec Center open for the first day and all this just in time for Christmas.

First we have the Fraser/Winter Park Rec Center open for the very first day to what looks like universal approval here in the Fraser Valley.  We will be visiting this coming week and will let you know how the final product turned out.  From what I have seen it looks spectacular (I can’t wait to steam my old bones in the steam sauna).

Last night Alberto’s had a soft opening to get some of the kinks out before tonight’s official Grand Opening.  I heard that the food was terrific and the space looks just as good.  For those not on the know, Alberto’s is brought to us by the folks that own the Tabernash Tavern.  They have redone the space in Cooper Creek Square that most recently housed the Green Olive Italian steakhouse.  We will try to make it out to Alberto’s in the next week and let your know about their operation.

The Cosmic Dog Mexican Grill is also opening tonight.  I popped my head in today and the space looks pretty cool.  I got a chance to talk to Fernand, the owner, and he says they should be serving up some burritos  tonight.  He also said he was exhausted from their push to get open in time for the Winter Park holiday season.  I can’t wait to have a burrito this week.  Nice work Fernand on the space, it looks great.

Lastly there is Ziggy’s Doughnuts.  Our very own hot fresh doughnut factory located next to Fontenot’s Cajun Cafe in the Kings Crossing Retail Center.  Talked Ziggy today and he says they should be open by the 3rd of January.  Ziggy’s will have coffee, fresh donuts, and some video games set among a cool interior with counter service and tables and chairs.  Would be great if Ziggy could figure out a way to offer some wine and beer, anywho,  I’m am satisfied with hot donuts for now though.

So our little enclave of heaven up here in the Colorado Rockies just seems to be booming with all these openings.  It looks like the economy is tuning around and vacationers ans skiers are starting to return to the hills.  We got some unexpected snow the last few nights and everyone here in Winter Park is getting ready for Christmas.  All seems well in the Winter Park part of the world.