In spring, a young skier’s fancy turns to thoughts of wild-and-crazy antics on the hill. Take sun, suds, skiing and riding – with as little clothing as possible – mix well with oxygen-deprived altitudes, and you have the ingredients for traditional rites of spring in the high country.
Here are some highlights, starting as early as Friday.
Friday: The KickAspen Big Air invitational showcases the best ski and snowboard athletes competing under the evening lights at the foot of Aspen Mountain for $10,000 in prize money and coveted bragging rites.
Saturday: The Aspen Rail Revolution Invitational attracts skiing and snowboarding devotees to the gondola plaza to watch 20 of the world’s best on the hill jump onto and slide on metal.
April 1-17: Breckenridge declares all of April its Spring Massive Festival, with concerts, hill competitions, celebrity racing and night life.
The festival kicks off April Fools’ Day with a bike procession in town, barbecue, kids’ games, live music and the crowning of the Town Fool.
Up on the hill, competitions seem nonstop on Breckenridge’s peaks: the Vertical Challenge dual giant slalom on April 2; the Massive Rail Jam benefit on April 8, putting snowboarders on an insane course; the Massive Slopestyle on April 9; and celebrity ski races on April 9 and 10.
Also, the Massive Superpipe on April 10 with world-class riders and amateurs; the Imperial Challenge on April 16, with a mountain bike ride, a climb up Peak 8 and a descent on the equipment of your choice; and the 26th annual Breckenridge Bump Buffet on April 17, a telemark tradition in zany costumes.
The Massive finale features a free outdoor concert at Riverwalk Center on April 16 and Massive Music Weekend, with bands and DJs from around the country on April 17.
April 2: Steamboat holds its 25th annual Cardboard Classic, featuring people riding in crafts constructed only of cardboard racing down the face of Headwall.
April 2-9: For a full week at Copper Mountain, the 2005 United States of America Snowboard Association National Championship will feature 1,200 snowboarders, ages 4 to 74, participating in giant slalom, slalom, halfpipe, slopestyle and snowboard cross competitions.
April 4-17: Spring Back to Vail is a two week season’s-end blast filled with eight headliner concerts, parties, competitions and events for the whole family. Smack in the middle of the two-week party is the 15th annual Taste of Vail on April 6-9.
April 17: Copper Mountain’s spring tradition, the Eenie Weenie Bikini Contest, will feature creative hill descents by men and women in bikinis, and those who strip down to bikinis. Barbecues, beer gardens and live music come with the territory.
April 17: It wouldn’t be closing day in Winter Park without the Coca Cola Spring Splash, which has marked the resort’s season finale for more than 35 years. The athletics begin at 11 a.m. when skiers and snowboarders make their way through numerous obstacles on a mountain race course, then skim across a frozen pond.
April 20-May 29: Then there’s Arapahoe Basin. Traditionally, this is the Colorado resort that stays open the latest in the season, sometimes until July 4. Because of the late spring skiing, there’s a “beach” atmosphere at the base of the mountain with tailgate parties and live music.
On April 20, the 16th annual Enduro challenges the endurance of skiers and riders who take runs from the Palivacinni chair from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. without stopping.
Parties happen every Saturday in May with free, live entertainment at the Shakin’ at the Basin Concert Series.
And on May 29, the fourth annual Festival of the Brewpubs headlines A-Basin’s Memorial Weekend Beach Party.
Lillian Ross is a freelance writer who lives in Howard.
The details
Aspen/Snowmass, 800-525-6200, <a href="http://www.aspensnowmass.com
“>www.aspensnowmass.com
Breckenridge, 800-404-3535, <a href="http://www.breckenridge.com
“>www.breckenridge.com
Steamboat, 800-922-2722,
<a href="http://www.steamboat.com
“>www.steamboat.com
Vail, 800-427-8308, <a href="http://www.vail.com
“>www.vail.com
Copper Mountain, 800-458-8386, <a href="http://www.coppercolorado.com
“>www.coppercolorado.com
Winter Park, 800-729-5813, <a href="http://www.winterparkresort.com
“>www.winterparkresort.com
Arapahoe Basin, 888-ARAPAHOE, <a href="http://www.arapahoebasin.com
“>www.arapahoebasin.com
