Dave Camara, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Colorado’s eight Gem Resorts aregiving skiers and snowboarders plenty of reasons to leave their bikes and golf clubs in storage, get a nice spring wax on their boards, and head up to the mountains enjoy the warm sun and soft snow that typically accompanies spring in Colorado Ski Country.
From lift ticket deals to fat bike races, environmental education activities to easter egg hunts and more, late March is a great time to visit a Gem resort. Here’s hoping you still have a day or two left on your Gems Card, because they’re sold out!
Arapahoe Basin
8th Annual Save our Snow Celebration – March 26
All proceeds from this event will benefit the High Country Conservation Center, Summit Countys local resource center that provides awareness, education, appreciation, and preservation of our environment. Come on out and meet our Green Team and representatives from the HC3 and learn about A-Basin’s sustainability initiatives, while Elevating Your Green Experience at Arapahoe Basin.
To celebrate the day and the Power To Save The Powder A-Basin will have a tent village in the Base Area with some Colorado friends that practice sustainability in their businesses and products. With a $10 donation to the HC3 to demo some of the newest equipment around, this is not a day to be missed.
The ski area will also have a prize drawing and silent auction with prizes from its sustainability minded friends in the tent village.Summit County’s own High Five will be playing live in the Base Area Plaza from 11am-2pm. For more information, visit www.arapahoebasin.com.
Cooper
Cooper Mogul Competition March 19
Cooper invites skiers to test out their bump skiing skills in the competition course and have a chance to win cash and other prizes. The competition will be divided into Junior (11-17) and Adult (18+). Prizes in the Junior group will include awesome selections of Cooper swag, and a 2016/17 season pass for 1st place. Prizes in the Adult category will include a cash purse and pass products. The course will be bumps-only. Scoring will be based on turns (75%) and speed (25%). A bonus 5% will be available for air, but air must be taken from a mogul, as no jumps will be built in the course. Inverted aerials not allowed. For more information, visit www.skicooper.com.
Eldora
Easter Sunday March 27
Eldora is hosting Easter Sunday of fun for everyone. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to say hello to all the children and he will hit the slopes as well for some fun on the snow. In addition, the resort will host an Easter Egg hunt for kids in the base area, featuring eggs loaded with candy and great prizes including Eldora goodies and more. For more information, visit www.eldora.com.
Loveland
Giant Easter Egg Hunt – Sunday, March 27
Visit Loveland on Easter Sunday for a giant Easter Egg hunt. Participating guests will gather at Loveland Basin for first chair at 8:30 am and keep their eyes peeled for the giant Easter eggs hidden on the slopes and around the base area.Huge eggs mean huge prizes like skis, snowboards, outerwear, lift tickets and more.This is an event for all ages.
The Easter Bunny will also be enjoying the slopes and there will be a more traditional Easter Egg Hunt just for kids off Lift 7 at Loveland Valley, a separate base area just for beginners. For more information about spring events at Loveland Ski Area, visit www.skiloveland.com.
Monarch
Great Divide Grinder-6:30 a.m.on the mountain
Join us for Monarchs first-ever fat bike race! This seven-mile course is in-bounds at the ski area, and it tackles 2,000 feet in elevation gain.Registration fee is $20, and all proceeds from registration will benefit Salida Mountain Trails. More details and registration info athttp://www.skimonarch.com/great-divide-grinder/.
Powderhorn
Grand Junction Rotary Club presents the Red Ball Event at Powderhorn Mountain Resort – March 26
On March 26th, 2016 at 3:00PM, over 100 gigantic red exercise balls will be rolled down a course on the slopes at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Prior to the event, tickets are sold for only $5 that allow the buyer to adopt two of the red balls. The first two balls down the course win that ticket holder $5,000! The second pair to finish wins that ticket holder $2,000 and the third pair wins that ticket holder $1,000.
Guests can purchasetickets for $5 from a Rotarian or a Red Ball Express non-profit partner to get your chance to win cashand to support good local causes at the same time. Visithttp://www.powderhorn.com/events/grand-junction-rotary-club-red-ball-event for more information.
Ski Granby Ranch
Beach Bash March 26
Closing weekend is jam-packed with the Beach Bash celebration on Saturday, March 26, which includes snow cones, leis and a pond skim. The day will close with night skiing on the mountain and a Moonlight XC Ski and Snowshoe on the Golf Front 9. On the last day of the season, Sunday, March 27, head up the mountain for a Sunrise Easter Service, enjoy a special Easter Brunch at Granby Ranch Grill and visit the Easter Bunny during the Easter Egg Hunt. To celebrate the nearing bike season, the resort will be holding its first Granby Ranch Meltdown, an on-snow downhill bike race and kids fun ride. Register to race or come cheer as bikers get air and cruise through the turns on the way to the finish line. For more information visit www.granbyranch.com.
Sunlight
Late Spring Ski Deals at Sunlight
Nothing pairs better with a great day of skiing than a rejuvenating soak in a luxury natural hot springs.Sunlight Mountain ResortsSlope and Soak 4-Pack gives guests fourlift tickets plus fourpasses to Iron Mountain Hot Springs for just $199. Offer ends March 17. Lift tickets must be used during 2015-16 season. In addition, between March 17 and April 3 guests to Sunlight Mountain Resort is offering two lift tickets for $40. Tickets must be purchased in pairs and be used at time of purchase. Visit www.sunlightmtn.com for more information.
