Larry Pierce, Steamboat Ski Resort
With the end of Colorados memorable 2013/14 ski and snowboard season in sight – except for perennial late closer Arapahoe Basin Colorado Ski Country USA resorts are turning toward summer operations. Several resorts are building significant infrastructure improvements to enhance their summer outdoor recreational opportunities, such as mountain biking and disc golf. Below is a round-up of some of the 2014 summer-oriented capital improvements at CSCUSA resorts.
Aspen/Snowmass
Bike Snowmass is planning a new, full-size, beginner park and pump track at the top of the Elk Camp gondola, as well as adding features to re-route to Easy Rider and The Vapor Trail at Bike Snowmass. Also, construction on a new beginner trail at Bike Snowmass is slated to finish in late summer. All new trails are designed by Gravity Logic and pending forest service approval. For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Late last summer, Crested Buttes bike trail crew finished the Crusader trail for riders to enjoy another advanced downhill trail in the Evolution Bike Park. In combination with the other trail improvements, Crested Butte made a total of 40 new man-made features throughout the bike park in 2013.
For summer 2014, Crested Butte will begin dirt work on new trails as soon as the snow melts, including a new Downhill Race track, in hopes of being done by the first race June 28-29 for the Central States Cup. In addition, Crested Butte will add an extension to the only double black diamond trail, Psycho Rocks, and a new beginner trail that will be top-to-bottom off the Red Lady Lift. All work should be completed this summer to make a total of 17 trails and 25 miles of trails in the Evolution Bike Park at Crested Butte. For more information, visit www.skicb.com.
Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort
New for 2014, Durango Mountain Resort will open the Base Camp Loop mountain bike trail, which brings the trail system up to 11 trails at the resort. Home of the first World Mountain Bike Championships in 1990, Purgatory has miles of trails for all ability levels accessible from the base area or via chairlift. For more information, visit www.durangomountainresort.com.
Steamboat SkiResort
The Steamboat Bike Park is an extraordinary new bike park in northwest Colorado with nearly 2,200 vertical feet of lift-served gravity fed and downhill flow trails. The trail crew, in conjunction with industry leading designers Gravity Logic, utilized every inch of the natural topography ensuring a thrilling ride that highlights the best of the resorts natural features including rocks, bridges, rollers, drops, berms, banks and manmade jumps; all while providing exciting terrain for all ability levels.
New this year, a beginner trail called Tenderfoot was completed at the end of the 2013 summer season and will be fully operational for the 2014 riding season. A new jump trail, Flying Diamond, is partially complete and new sections will open periodically throughout the 2014 summer season. The resort will also expand the number of nights it offers Twilight Biking to include Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. The twilight program provides evening access via the gondola from 4-7pm for bikers to enjoy the Steamboat Bike Park. As an added benefit for the 2014 summer, Steamboat Bike Park Pass holders will enjoy three free days at both Winter Park and Crested Butte to enjoy their bike parks and trails. For more information, visit http://www.steamboat.com/.
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sunlight is presently installing a 18-hole disc golf course. The course includes steep hikes, significant elevation changes, and challenging holes that follow the physical contours of the ski trails. For more information, visit www.sunlightmtn.com.
Winter Park Resort
Winter Park has improved some pre-existing trails and features at Trestle Bike Park, including the Banana Peel trail for experienced riders, the newest premier pro-line Slopestyle mountain bike trail in the U.S., which opened at the very end of last year but this summer will be open from day one.For more information, visit www.winterparkresort.com.
Opening Dates for Summer Operations
Aspen/Snowmass: June 21 (June 9 for Camp Aspen/Snowmass)
Crested Butte Mountain Resort: June 14
Durango Mountain Resort: May 24
Steamboat Resort: June 13
Sunlight Mountain Resort: May 31
Winter Park Resort: June 14
