Photo by Dave Camara courtesy of Arapahoe Basin.
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts are ready to welcome spring as we head into March and April, traditionally the snowiest months, with full calendars of events, deals, promotions and activities for the whole family. Between now and the end of spring, guests at CSCUSA resorts can participate in a variety of fun racing events, enjoy a range of live music and much more.
Below is a sample of the spring festivities at resorts across Colorado Ski Country:
Arapahoe Basin will educate guests on how to save Colorados powder with sustainability partners in the base area. The day will also include ski and snowboard demos from local Colorado companies Icelantic Skis, Grass Sticks and more with a $10 donation. There will be a prize drawing and gifts from Arapahoe Basin and other sustainability partners. The day benefits the High Country Conservation Center.
Enjoy free live music at the base area stage every Saturday beginning April 29 from 1 to 4 pm. For the full lineup list and more information visit www.arapahoebasin.com.
Aspen Snowmass will host the Audi FIS World Cup Finals from March 15-19 in the World Cup Village located in downtown Aspens Wagner Park. Free viewing of the races is available from the grandstands along the course, while the World Cup Village will include a big screen for live racing viewing. The World Cup Village will have a full schedule of activities for adults and kids, parties, concerts, food, a bar with daily aprs specials and three free Bud Light Hi-Fi concerts featuring performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gogol Bordello and Vintage Trouble. For more event information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/worldcupfinals.
Celebrate spring at Cooper any Thursday in March with $30 lift tickets. Check out the aprs specials at Katie ORourkes Irish Pub and kick back to local musicians playing music from 3 to 5 pm every Thursday and Saturday during March. For more information, visit www.skicooper.com.
Photo by Tripp Fay courtesy of Copper Mountain.
Copper Mountain will host the worlds largest Easter egg hunt with 65,000 eggs spread over 2,500 acres. There are hunts for all ages from a three and under hunt in Center Village, to an on-mountain hunt for kids at heart. Copper encourages participants to turn empty eggs back in to be re-loaded for future years with Honest Tea providing a free beverage to the first 800 kids who recycle their eggs. For more information, please visit www.coppercolorado.com.
For the seventh year, Crested Butte Mountain Resort will host its annual free spring concert. This year Leftover Salmon, originally from Boulder, CO, will headline the concert. For full information on spring music in Crested Butte and to purchase tickets for Skitown Breakdown visit www.skicb.com.
College students who present a valid college ID on any Friday during the month of March can take advantage of Flying Fridays with $49 all-day lift tickets and $24 half-day tickets. For more information, visit www.eldora.com.
To celebrate Mardi Gras, Granby Ranch has a day full of activities starting with an uphill race, the Snowball Sprint, from 8 to 9 am. Cajun food will be served on the patio from 11 am to 4 pm with music from The Pocket Thieves from 2 to 5 pm and a fat bike demo. Starting at 4:15 pm, the Meltdown Race will begin. To register for the Meltdown or for more information visit http://www.granbyranch.com.
Photo from the Steamboat Pentathlon courtesy of Howelsen.
Howelson Hill hosts free ski days throughout the season, which are from 10 am to 4 pm and include a ski jumping clinic taught by coaches from the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. The next two free ski days are Sunday, February 26 and Sunday, March 12. Visit www.steamboatsprings.net/ski for more information and a full list of free ski days.
The 26th annual pentathlon will on Saturday, March 3 and includes five separate stages: alpine skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, mountain biking and running. Participants can race as individuals, dynamic duos or as a team, with both short-course and long-course options available. For more information and to register, visit www.steamboatpentathlon.com.
Loveland is offering free snowcat rides for the rest of the season, where guests can enjoy amazing views of the Continental Divide in the comfort of the 18 passenger Ridgecat. The cat provides access to Field of Dreams, Velvet hammer, Tickler, Marmot and Golden Bear when conditions permit. In addition to a valid lift ticket or season pass, a free Ridgecat pass is required for all users and can be picked up at the Loveland Basin ticket office. Visit http://skiloveland.com/the-mountain/the-ridge-cat for more information.
Photo courtesy of Monarch.
Monarch Mountain will host its signature spring event featuring kayaks racing head-to-head down a course of berms, banks and bumps that ends in an icy pond. To register or for more information visit www.skimonarch.com.
Members of the 10th Mountain Division will be spending a day at Powderhorn to exhibit some of the equipment used by the 10th Mountain Division. Guests will also have the chance ski with members of the 10th Mountain Division.
On Saturday March 25, Powderhorn will host its annual pond skim over a 100 foot long stretch of water, testing the capabilities of any skiers and riders brave enough to attempt the crossing.
Visit http://www.powderhorn.com/events for more information.
Photo by Scott DW Smith courtesy of Purgatory.
Join Purgatory for smores and music while you slide down the tubing hill from 2 to 4 pm.
The second annual McDonalds Cardboard Derby will be Saturday, March 18. Participants build their own derby cars out of cardboard and duct tape before piloting them down the hill.
Visit www.purgatoryresort.com/events for more details.
Join Silverton to celebrate the spring season with a fun endurance event. See how many laps you can do on the Billboard and Tiger runs, earn points and win great prizes. The day ends with the annual Brewski event, featuring beer tastings from local and regional breweries to close out Silvertons 15th season in style. The theme is Prom Night, so make sure to find a date.
This ladies-only event is back for advanced and expert-level skiers and snowboarders who are ready for mountain inspiration. Participants will get fun swag bags, a stirring talk from action-sports heavyweight Circe Wallace and a big party in town to close out the 15th season at Silverton Mountain.
More info and registration for both events is at www.silvertonmountain.com.
Steamboat will again be rocking during Saturdays in the spring, with the Rocks the Boat Free Music Series, offering a great mixture of musical genres. The Rocks the ‘Boat series brings together everything from bluegrass and New Orleans style rhythm & blues to a traditional Irish sound to flat out rock and roll. For more information, visit https://www.steamboat.com/things-to-do/bud-light-rocks-the-boat.
This year Steamboat is offering its Springalicious pass, which includes three days of skiing during the month of April for $129. To purchase and for more information visit www.steamboat.com.
Sunlight’s Slope & Soak 4-packs includes four lift tickets to Sunlight, plus 4 passes to Iron Mountain Hot Springs, for just $199. Sale ends March 3. Purchase online at:http://sunlightmtn.com/plan-your-trip/buy-tickets.
The Defiance Challenge allows guests to enjoy up to ten hours of skiing and snowboarding on expert terrain. Lifts open at 7 am and close at 5 pm.
Sunlight honors Brad Lanpher, a long time Sunlight skier who lost his life to Melanoma skin cancer. The day includes a free testing clinic, other safety booths and the opportunity to find discounted pricing on 2017/18 lift tickets. Proceeds from the day benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation.
For more information, visit www.sunlightmtn.com.
Telluride Ski Resort will mark the end of the winter season with a free concert with G. Love and Special Sauce. The concert will kick off at Mountain Village Core around 3 pm after the annual pond skim competition at Gorrono Ranch. For more information at www.tellurideskiresort.com.
April will be packed with live music during the month long Springtopia at Winter Park. The final concert will feature Michael Franti & Spearhead on Saturday, April 22. The next day, Winter Park will say goodbye to the 2016-17 season with the annual pond skim. Discounted lift tickets and passes will be available throughout the month of April as well. For more information visit www.winterparkresort.com.
Fun races at Wolf Creek Ski Area are free and open to skiers and boarders of all ages and abilities with a dual race format. The course is set up as a modified giant slalom. Participants can compete for medals in a variety of age brackets. Races begin at 11:00 am; awards are at 3:30 pm on the sun deck of the main day lodge.
Local appreciation days at Wolf Creek offer all guests a discounted lift ticket. No I.D. is required, everyone is a local that day. Lift tickets are $44 for adults, $27 for seniors and $24 for children. College days offer students with a valid college photo I.D. a break from the books and a $44 discounted lift ticket. For a calendar of races, local appreciation days, and clinics visit www.wolfcreekski.com.
