Now we know what the world really thinks about skiing in Colorado. I have more than 150 pages of quasi-confidential comments submitted by thousands of readers to Ski magazine for its annual skier survey. The good news: Five of the top 10 ski areas are in Colorado (Vail, Snowmass, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Aspen). The rest of the story: Parking is a BIG issue. Skiing is way too expensive. And everybody has an opinion.
Here’s a glance at what the readers had to say, both strengths and weaknesses:
Aspen Highlands: “Reminds me of the early days of skiing with everything modern … Dodging fur coats and Porsche SUVs gets old after a while.”
Aspen: “The whole banana. Be seen and be happy … Not enough dance places … Good looking, stylish people, not like the duct tape crowd in Jackson Hole … Plastic surgery gives a lot of people the wind tunnel look in the face … Aspen is unbelievably overrated … This is the premier resort in the world.”
Beaver Creek: “Gets so much attention for luxury – people don’t realize it’s a pretty good ski mountain … $14 for hot dogs! … This is a slice of heaven … Snobs in the bar … Too expensive, too exclusive, over the top in almost every way, even over-groomed.”
Crested Butte: “Extraordinary place. Don’t tell too many people about it. Even better in summer … The Club Med employees and guests were the rudest individuals I have ever encountered at a resort.”
Keystone: “Too Republican … Free parking! … Too many stupid Texans … It took me 22 minutes to get a burrito!”
Steamboat: “Snooty and unfriendly, overpriced … The most friendly resort we have ever gone to … I want to retire here now … Weak nightlife and chance to hook up.”
Vail: “$16 a day to park is obscene … Best overall ski resort I have ever been to … Vail sucks money out of your wallet faster than a Hoover Deluxe … Full of rich and famous, service people are snobs … The most overrated ski resort in America … The best resort in the world … It’s big and rich … Too glitzy. Women stopping midmountain to apply makeup. Too groomed … It’s Vail. C’mon! It’s all good! … Lots of poseurs. The town and people are not real like Jackson Hole. Too much ‘Hey, look at all my stuff. My stuff rocks!”‘
High country eats
Aspen Food & Wine Classic celebrates its 24th year June 16-18. Wolfgang Puck is back after a missed year, and so is Danny Meyer. Look for newcomer Giada De Laurentiis, the sexy star of Food Network’s “Everyday Italian.” And welcome back Andrea Immer, Josh Wesson, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Ming Tsai, Jose Andres, Jacques Pepin, Laura Werlin, Jacques Pépin, Steven Olson and Kevin Zraly. Tix remain at $850, on sale mid-November.
City spirit
David Booker, a.k.a. The Captain, makes a live recording 7 Wednesday night at Manny’s Smokehouse … Monday night’s six chefs/six courses dinner at Rioja was sold out at $125 a head, more than $17,500 going to Katrina relief … Bronco Al Wilson wants you to drop trou – 2:30-4 p.m. at today’s prostate screening event at the University of Colorado Cancer Center … Sez who: “No more good must be attempted than the public can bear.” Thomas Jefferson
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
