Who's been to Colorado/Skiing?

[GrayStangGT]

Another vote for take ski lessons, learn to do it the right way and you will be less likely to come home with an injury.

[46Tbird]

When I went, I went to ski school and it was well worth it. It came pretty natural for me, so I ended up getting signed off on early and was on the blacks with my dad by the end of the second day.

I did the same thing at Breckenridge. I did well in the class, so after a couple of runs the blue slope was boring. Plus the green and blue slopes were packed. So I tried a black diamond course and it was really fun. The one I was skiing wasn't technical, just steep.

Buy several pairs of the BEST socks you can find. Your feet will inevitably get wet, either from melted snow or sweat, and then they will stay cold. Stash a couple of extra pairs in the storage locker when you go skiing, so you can switch out to a fresh pair when you stop to rest/eat. I just brought my rubber hunting boots for walking around the resort and they were fine.

I would suggest a snowmobile excursion. The place we rented from had just uncrated some new snowmobiles so the guide wanted to test them out. We were hauling ass through the forest - 70mph in some places. It was way more fun than skiing.

[mustang_revival]

Yeah any waterproof boots will work fine for that. I've worn flip flops coming to/from the hot tub in various locations in Colorado.

The only advise I have is stay at a place where you can ski in/skit out.

I'm a snowboarder typically but haven't been in 5 years or so. Being in good shape really helps your mountain experience. Also if you let your body adjust to the altitude for ~24 hours-ish before you hit the mountain, you'll be less fatigued as well. Hard to do this with short trips and just being excited about getting out there.

Also keep in mind each mountain is different. A Green/Blue/Black/Doubleblack will be different from run to run as well.

I've had my best times on some blues and blacks. I've also had my worst time on Blues (moguls) and blacks (crashed hard right next to a huge rock after doing a jump)

I've also had a minor concussion racing my buddy down a fast blue run.

Beer and liquor will help on and after the mountain. Stay hydrated and take some Tylenol before going to bed each night.

[Roscoe]

Never been but I keep saying we will take a family trip to go still some point

[CWO]

Well timed thread. Headed out tomorrow to Tahoe for some snowboarding for the first time. A day of lessons Saturday, staying through Wednesday.

Great tips. I guess we'll be getting extra socks tonight

[DON SVO]

Well timed thread. Headed out tomorrow to Tahoe for some snowboarding for the first time. A day of lessons Saturday, staying through Wednesday.

Great tips. I guess we'll be getting extra socks tonight

Take the lessons.

I went snowboarding the 1st time expecting my skate boarding knowledge to transfer over. Fat chance. Unlike a skateboard, you can't bail off a snowboard. It took me a couple days/sprained ankles/sprained wrist/concussion before I got the hang of it.

[GeorgeG.]

Would a half day of lessons be good enough? Wife called one place and it was $225 for both of us. Half day, plus ski/boot rental and lift tickets for the day.

Also, do the lift tickets get you into all lifts? Or does each lift sell their own ticket? We'll be staying in the Copper Mountain area.

Also adding snow mobile excursion to the to-do list!!

[CWO]

Check out Sun & Ski. They have a simulator there and offer lessons. Didn't see too expensive.

[GrayStangGT]

All I did was a half day, but I was also a kid who wasn't worried about getting hurt. I haven't been skiing in a long time now and would be worried about blowing an ACL or something worse the entire time and probably just end up at the bar lol.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Would a half day of lessons be good enough? Wife called one place and it was $225 for both of us. Half day, plus ski/boot rental and lift tickets for the day.

Also, do the lift tickets get you into all lifts? Or does each lift sell their own ticket? We'll be staying in the Copper Mountain area.

Also adding snow mobile excursion to the to-do list!!

lift pass should cover you on all the lifts at copper mountain. That's where I went, I liked it.

[jayjohnson600]

I put in a week on the Colorado slopes in November with a condo-share at $300 for the week. My next trip will be even less expensive. I'm looking forward to doing another 2 weeks before the season is out. The season lift pass really works out to be a screaming deal when you put in the time. I bought the Local lift pass for Keystone/A-Basin for $269 . Dirt cheap when you consider that I'll use it for 3weeks by the end of the season.
A-Basin has a 3day pass for $139 currently.

With a history of board-type sports activities in my past, such as surfing, skate boarding, wake boarding, I still opted for a starter lesson on the snowboard. It was worth it and gave me a resonable start.

Wear good thick socks, and the thin thermal layers underneath, plus have a way to cover all exposed skin as needed(scarf, balaklava, hankie, etc), and you should be "okay" in the low temps and wind. I board with a backpack so that I can pare down if needed, and I take my lunch with me to save time and money in my ski time.

If you get a daily lift ticket, don't use them until you have reasonable control on the snow. There are areas around the base that you can use to practice on for free, They are not steep nor bumpy, but sometimes on the icy side, You just have to walk up a little and go from there. It will help you get your snow-legs under you and practice your control.

[SS Junk]

awe man... that's discouraging, lol. Hopefully we'll have a good time.

Thanks for the info guys.

Do a half day of lessons. Completely worth it. Your legs will be rubber at the end of the day and sore as fuck for the next few days after.

[GE]

Also, do the lift tickets get you into all lifts? Or does each lift sell their own ticket? We'll be staying in the Copper Mountain area.

Call and ask. When I took snowboarding lessons at Keystone, the class was like $135 for a full day but it only included a lift ticket for the green slopes.

[DasVWBabe]

Paying attention to this thread because friends just bought a place near Breckenridge.

Well timed thread. Headed out tomorrow to Tahoe for some snowboarding for the first time. A day of lessons Saturday, staying through Wednesday.

Great tips. I guess we'll be getting extra socks tonight

Awesome. My parents moved to Reno a number of years ago and so we spend a ton of time in Tahoe. Staying at NorthStar or somewhere else?

For food:

Check out The Rustic Lounge at Cedar Glen: http://www.tahoecedarglen.com/dining/

Really liked Evans, too. Super Tahoe-ey feel being in an old cabin:

http://www.evanstahoe.com/

Also, can't forget McDuff's Pub:

http://www.macduffspub.com/

[Sean88gt]

Well timed thread. Headed out tomorrow to Tahoe for some snowboarding for the first time. A day of lessons Saturday, staying through Wednesday.

Great tips. I guess we'll be getting extra socks tonight

Let me know how your wrists feel. Lessons are helpful, but snowboarding takes time and will beat the shit out of you until you get your game switched on.