Chilly weather has started to descend, the big preseason ski sales are well underway and Colorado skiers and ‘boarders are marking resort opening dates on their calendars as they eagerly anticipate the upcoming snow season. While those snow aficionados have been busy biking, hiking and rafting all summer, the resorts have been pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into capital improvements for the 2008-2009 season.
Among the biggest changes: Telluride is unveiling its new Revelation Bowl, Keystone’s River Run gondola is now in the middle of the village and has a mid-mountain station, Monarch widened its Sleepy Hollow run and Winter Park’s new village served by a new gondola is finally complete.
Many of the developments are created to generate a buzz and excitement among skiers and drive potential new guests and visitation, said Ralf Garrison, a market analyst who runs the Mountain Travel Research Program.
“When additional terrain or new lift service is involved in the skier’s world, more is better,” he said. “Those who know about that take full advantage of it, and that is one of the major drives.”
Market forces including the population of skiers and the economy tend to push the changes resort guests see each season. Right now there is tough competition for skier market share because of the slowing economy, Garrison said.
“Nimble is really important because the market is changing fast.”
The 26 resorts that made up Colorado Ski Country USA last season (the number has since dropped following Vail Resorts Inc.’s withdrawal from the group), reported 12,535,913 skier visits, a number surpassed only by the 2006-2007 season, which had 12,566,299 skier visits.
It was the third consecutive year Colorado resorts saw more than 12.5 million skier visits.
Operators are hoping the trend continues as ‘boarders and skiers — both international and domestic — catch word of the latest developments at some of Colorado’s high-profile resorts.
Here’s a rundown of what Colorado’s major resort operators have in store.
Winter Park
At Winter Park a new $5.8 million open-air gondola, called Village Cabriolet, will take guests from the free parking lot to the new village.
The Cabriolet becomes the fourth new chair added in the past three years at Winter Park.
“With the first phase of The Village of Winter Park nearing completion, the addition of the Village Cabriolet is essential to the vibrancy of this new base village,” said Gary DeFrange, president and chief operating officer for Winter Park Resort.
Vail Resorts Inc.
The River Run gondola at Keystone is moving from its spot across the creek and near the mountain to the middle of River Run Village.
“It makes the gondola experience part of the village,” said Rob Katz, chief executive of Broomfield-based Vail Resorts.
A mid-station was also added, allowing users to dismount or get back on mid-mountain depending on their ski or snowboarding needs.
At Beaver Creek a new children’s ski school, called the “Ranch,” will greet kids this season.
In Vail, all of the scaffolding and construction equipment is gone and The Arrabelle at Vail Square and Vail Mountain Plaza are complete.
At Breckenridge, guests will find a renovated base at Peak 7 with the Crystal Peak Lodge slated to open soon and a new ski school, a new restaurant called Sevens and the BreckConnect gondola, which connects the town and the mountain.
“A lot of these are not things people are demanding,” Katz said of the $100 to $115 million in on-mountain and hospitality improvements this season. “We as a company want to be ahead of the curve, whether that is with environment, hotels, lifts or technology.”
Intrawest
At Copper Mountain the Woodward at Copper indoor sport training facility, otherwise known as The Barn, is the newest addition intended to give skiers and ‘boarders a chance to hone their skills without the risk of injury on trampolines and in foam pits. It opens in January.
“You can learn to do your first 360 or your first back 900; it’s about aerial awareness and teaching people how to do that in a safe, supported facility,” said David Roth, spokesman for Copper Mountain.
In Steamboat nearly $30 million has gone into improvements since last year; $4 million of that has specifically been spent on upgrades for this season.
The majority of improvements this season center around the continued base area regrading, a $1 million upgrade to snowmaking equipment and pipelines, new grooming equipment, advanced life-support gear and a new retail outlet in downtown Steamboat.
Aspen/Snowmass
Aspen Skiing Co., which operates Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk, is investing $35 million in capital improvements for this season. The effort includes two new restaurants, a new $7 million Sheer Bliss lift, a 22-foot Olympic-size halfpipe at Buttermilk and Canopy Cruiser, an area of new glades in Deep Temerity at Aspen Highlands.
In Snowmass new restaurants, ski-in/ski-out condos and a new conference space developed by Related WestPac will be unveiled. New restaurant there include Sweet Life, a 1950s-style diner and creamery parlor; Junk, a natural and organic eatery; and Liquid Sky, an après-ski spot with a lounge and dining.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is offering guests a remodeled Treasury Center, a new “Camp CB” for kids and on-mountain terrain expansion in Teocalli Bowl.
It is also launching a new marketing and advertising campaign with the new tag line, “Inspire your Passion,” this season.
Monarch Mountain
At Monarch Mountain more than $600,000 has been invested in a new One Call-One Click reservation system, a new ski school and rental center, a new kid’s terrain park called Tilt, a widened Sleepy Hollow run and 200 additional acres of Snowcat area.
Telluride
The opening of Telluride’s new Revelation Bowl is garnering the most attention. The bowl, which has long beckoned to those on top of Gold Hill, will finally see ski and snowboard runs.
Revelation becomes the latest in Telluride’s expansion, which recently included Black Iron Bowl, Palmyra Peak and Gold Hill Chutes 6-10. Telluride’s vertical drop is now one of the largest in the country at 4,425 feet.
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
What you get
Details on resorts’ pass programs
INTRAWEST
Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus: $439 for adults, $329 for teens, $209 for children, $239 for age 70 and older. Unlimited access to Copper and Winter Park, and an additional six full days at Steamboat, as well as free skiing or riding at Steamboat every Friday after 12:30 p.m.
Rocky Mountain Super Pass: $399. Unlimited access to Copper Mountain and Winter Park Resort
Copper Four Pack: $129
Four days at Copper.
Winter Park Four Pack: $139
Four days at Winter Park.
Dual Mountain TransFour Card: $209
The Copper/Winter Park TransFour Card provides access to both resorts.
VAIL RESORTS
The Summit Pass: $409 adults, $319 for teens (ages 13-18) and $209 for children (ages 5-12). Unlimited, unrestricted access to Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin.
The Colorado Pass: $449 for adults, $339 for teens (ages 13-18), $219 for children (ages 5-12). Unlimited, unrestricted skiing at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin all season with an additional 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek. (Pass holders are restricted from Vail and Beaver Creek: Nov. 28-29, 2008; Dec. 27-31, 2008; and Feb. 14-15, 2009.)
Epic Season Pass: $579 for adults, $279 for children. Must be purchase by Nov. 15
Unlimited, unrestricted, with no blackout dates at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Arapahoe Basin.
Keystone and Arapahoe Basin Four Pack: $149. Four days of skiing and snowboarding (restricted dates: Nov. 28-29, Dec. 27-31, Feb. 14-15).
ASPEN/SNOWMASS
Early pass prices end Nov. 14
The Premier Pass: $1,959 for adults, $1,599 for seniors (ages 65-69), $884 for youth ( ages 7-17). Unlimited skiing and riding on any of the four area mountains — Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk — during the winter season.
The Silver Pass: $289 for seniors (70 and older). All Premier Pass benefits
Aspen/Snowmass Classic Pass: $274 for adults, $209 for youth (ages 7-17) and college students (24 and younger). Seven days of skiing or snowboarding on any of the four area mountains throughout the winter season with no restrictions.
The 4-Day Classic Pass: $169 for adults and $139 for youths/college students. Four days of skiing or snowboarding on any of the four area mountains.
MONARCH MOUNTAIN
Season Pass: $319 for ages 16 and older, $189 for seniors and students (ages 13-15). Prices good until Nov. 4. Passes include access to eight other resorts including Loveland, Purgatory and Alta.
TELLURIDE
Season Pass: $1,198 for adults, $499 for seniors (ages 65 and older), $125 for children ( ages 6-12), $175 for teens (ages 13-18). Valid all season long. No restrictions
College Season Pass: $299. To be eligible student must be taking at least 12 credit hours at an accredited college.
LOVELAND
Season Pass: $339 for adults 23 and older, $269 for young adults 15-22, $149 for children 6-14, $69 for seniors 70 and older. Prices good until Nov. 23. Valid all season, no restrictions. Season passes include three unrestricted days at Monarch Mountain. Four-pack: $109 at special sales events. $119 online.
