Resorts Offer Miles of Manicured Terrain, Lift Ticket Discounts, and Social Groups
Approximately 17 percent of skiers and snowboarders on the slopes today are over the age of 55. In fact, skiing and snowboarding has increasingly become a three-generation sport, as the large Baby Boom population continues to participate in significant numbers, while persons young enough to be their children and grand children join them on the slopes, according to research conducted by the National Ski Areas Association. Studies also show that the more mature skier and snowboarder enjoys spending the majority of his or her slope time carving turns on pristine groomed runs.
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) resorts work hard to freshly groom miles of slopes every day. Ski areas maintain entire fleets of high-tech snow grooming machines that feature rear tillers that grind up the hard pack snow and leave behind soft corduroy perfect for sinking your edges into. Just one of these machines costs several hundred thousand dollars. In fact, Prinoth, one of only two snow grooming machine manufacturers in the World, has a plant in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Yet Colorados White Carpet Treatment for seniors doesnt stop at the snow. Resorts also host social skiing and riding groups, offer generous discounts on lift tickets and season passes, and other activities. Heres a closer look at some of what Colorado Ski Country resorts offer to seniors.
ARAPAHOE BASIN
Grooming:
Arapahoe Basin grooms upwards of 370 acres of its 960 total skiable acres each season.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Lift ticket discounts are available to those aged 60 and older, with an additional discount for skiers over the age of 70. Persons age 70 and over can purchase a deeply discounted season pass at the mountain after opening day.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
The Rocky Mountain Over the Hill Gang is a group of more than 600 people over 50 who revel in getting out and enjoying the glory of the Colorado landscape, including its fabulous ski areas. This group meets at A-Basin every Monday from December to April.
Legendary Ladies is a ski program designed for women to improve and advance their ski techniques while enjoying the company and camaraderie of like-minded women. The program is open to those 15 years old and older, giving mothers, daughters, and granddaughters an opportunity to skip the lift lines, transform their skills and enjoy a day together on the slopes.
In addition, A-Basins ski area ambassadors host free weekday mountain tours beginning in December. Participants learn the history of the mountain and explore some of A-Basins most popular trails all while enjoying breathtaking views ofthe Continental Divide.
Other Activities:
Baby Boomers made the Bloody Mary famous in the 1960s, and A-Basins renovated 6th Alley Bar & Grill is famous for its version of the Bloody Mary, the Bacon Bloody Mary, which has received national accolades and is a favorite among Colorado Ski Country locals.
ASPEN SNOWMASS
Grooming:
In order to maintain the slopes across its four ski areas (Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, and Snowmass), Aspen runs two nightly shifts operating 27 snow grooming machines. Aspen manicures about 700 to 800 acres a night, including a few black diamond runs. Select runs at Snowmass are groomed at noon during the season. Aspen maintains a top-ranked grooming operation using only the latest in grooming technology and machinery, with drivers that average six years experience.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Visit www.AspenSnowmass.com for more information on lift ticket and season pass discounts for seniors.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
A great option for seniors to enjoy the slopes together in a unique way is the free Aspen Snowmass Mountain Tours. Drop in at the Wapiti Wildlife Center at the top of the Elk Camp Chairlift at Snowmass to ski a run with a knowledgeable naturalist. The free tour provides learnings about the high-alpine environment, wildlife in winter, tracking, avalanches, winter habitats and more. Visit www.aspensnowmass.com for more information.
Other Activities:
For seniors looking to hit the slopes on perfectly groomed corduroy early in the day, participating in a program called First Tracks is an excellent option. This activity allows skiers and riders to enjoy an early morning first run with Ski and Snowboard school pros on Snowmass or Aspen Mountain before the resorts officially open for the day. Advanced reservations and valid lift ticket/season pass required. For participating in First Tracks at Snowmass call (970) 923-0560, and for Aspen Mountain call (970) 920-0755.
In addition to programming such as First Tracks, Aspen Snowmass is known to have uncrowded slopes with an average of only 2.5 people per acre across the four mountains of Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. This creates a perfect space for seniors to enjoy making turns at their own pace in a peaceful atmosphere.
COPPER MOUNTAIN
Grooming
Copper Mountain features an impressive 1,107 groomable acres.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Lift ticket and season pass discounts are offered to those aged 65 and older.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
Since 1976, Copper Mountain’s Over the Hill Gang has been recognized as the top senior program in the U.S. for ages 50 and older. Join the fun including 50 full days of guided skiing starting in December and continuing through the end of March. Participants will meet others who share the same passion for the mountain lifestyle. This unique social environment opens the door to making many new friends and striking social interaction beyond winter.Explore the hidden treasures of Copper Mountain, have fun, live it up and master the mountain with Coppers pro guides.
Other Activities:
After a day of skiing with Over the Hill Gang, many seniors really enjoy aprs with Moe Dixon, at JJs Rocky Mountain Tavern. Moe Dixon is a powerful solo entertainer, blues and ragtime guitarist/vocalist. He draws huge crowds at his Copper aprs-ski shows. Moes philosophy on life and performing is: Play the show like it might be your last!
CRESTED BUTTE
Grooming:
Crested Butte grooms around 300 acres of their terrain nightly.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Crested Butte offers lift ticket discounts for ages 65 and older, and season pass discounts for ages 70 and older.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
In Crested Butte there is a mens group and a womens group that meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 am to ski till their hearts content. Most people who ski in the group are older than 65 and some are well into their 80s. The mens ski group is called ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and the womens group call themselves the Butte Beauties. Many mature folk take advantage of the Saturday local programs for just $55. They spend a half-day exploring the mountain with one of Crested Buttes fine instructors.
In addition, Crested Buttes ski area ambassadors host free daily mountain tours at 10 am, starting at the base area. Participants learn the history of the mountain all while enjoying breathtaking views ofthe Crested Butte Valley on intermediate runs throughout the resort.
Other Activities:
Take a break from the slopes and experience Crested Butte on a different level by venturing out on a snowshoe tour. Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s snowshoe tour is a unique way to experience the majestic surroundings of the area. Participants learn about the history of the area and qualities of the local ecosystem.
Another option for a day off the slopes is to learn how to drive a snowcat, just like the ones used nightly to groom the slopes. Participants learn the basics of driving snowcats, grooming, pushing snow, and experience one of the best ski resort jobs on a closed course.
ELDORA
Grooming:
With consistent upslope snow storms and a trail system that has 100 percent snowmaking cover, the grooming team at Eldora regularly delivers quality snow surfaces. Apart from abundant glade tree runs, seniors can enjoy the easy feelings of gliding with gravity on perfect slopes, at all ability levels.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Discounts on lift tickets and season passes are offered to those aged 65 and older.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
The Front Range Gang is a half-day morning, guided, master-the-mountain coaching program for adults age 50 and older. The Front Range Gang meets 9am 12noon every Monday and Thursday in January, February and March. Membership is $99 per month on a month-to-month basis with the option for a small discount when purchasing all three months at once.
Eldora Masters is a learn to arc-to-arc linked carved turns skiing program and for seasoned racers looking to train in gates and improve their success in USSA Masters Racing.The program is offered all season long or guests can drop in for a day.Training sessions are typically scheduled mid-week and most weekends.
LOVELAND SKI AREA
Grooming:
Loveland grooms about 400 acres of terrain nightly.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Loveland Ski Area offers seniors aged 60 to 69 daily lift tickets for just $50 during regular season.Seniors aged 70 and older are also eligible to purchase an unrestricted season pass for just $89.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
Loveland is also partners with the Over the Hill Gang which hosts groups of skiers and riders aged 50 and over every Friday starting in December. OTHG members are also eligible for season pass discounts.
MONARCH MOUNTAIN
Grooming:
Monarch grooms about 250 acres nightly.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Those aged 69 and older ski free, any time at Monarch. Those aged 62-68 are also offered discounts on lift tickets.
Other Activities:
The nearby town of Salida is a very affordable and Top 5 rated AARP retirement town. Salida features many great restaurants, exceptional art galleries, and live acoustic music daily at the Salida Caf.
POWDERHORN
Grooming:
Over the course of the season Powderhorn grooms more than 10,000 acres. The area grooms about 80 to 100 acres nightly, and 160 of its 1,600 total acres are groomed regularly.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Powderhorn offers lift ticket and season pass discounts for those aged 65 to74. Deeper discounts are available to those aged 75 and older.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
Powderhorn offers the Young at Heart program for skiers and riders aged 50 and older. A discounted lift ticket of $30 is offered plus an aprs party is held at the end of the day. Participants ski and ride in groups led by a knowledgable Powderhorn guide. The emphasis of it all is on having fun and meeting others.
PURGATORY
Grooming:
Purgatory Resort is known for the quality of its smooth white corduroy, with approximately 35 percent of terrain groomed on a daily basis throughout the season.In its grooming arsenal, Purgatory utilizes five grooming snowcats, a state-of-the-art winch cat to achieve high-angle grooming on steeper slopes, plus one dedicated snowcat for terrain parks.Behind the scenes, theres always something going on around the clock with the snowcats. Purgatorys grooming fleet heads out on the mountain daily after the slopes have closed and the mountain is cleared in two shifts at 4:30pm and 1am and wraps up by the time the slopes open again, delivering a quality product for skiers and riders to enjoy.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Lift ticket and season pass discounts are available to those aged 65 to 79. Deeper discounts are offered to Super Seniors aged 80 and older.
COOPER
With the high base elevation and abundant snowfall provided by Mother Nature, Coopers snow remains dry and soft long after the last snowfall. By a strategic grooming terrain rotation (which typically covers more than 200 groomable acres per week), Cooper avoids overworking the snow in order to keep the surface as soft as possible. Cooper grooms 90-120 acres per night, with an established priority on surface quality.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Ski Cooper offers lift ticket and season pass discounts to those aged 60 to 69. Deeper discounts are available to those aged 70 and 79, and skiers 80 and older ski for free. Additional discounts are offered every Wednesday from mid-January through mid-March for Senior Day.
Ski and Snowboard Groups
Coopers Polar Bear Club is an adult ski school program geared toward mature adults focusing on social enjoyment of snowsports while offering opportunities for continued skill improvement.
Cooper also offers mogul clinics through its Bump Skiing Institute. The program is designed to introduce intermediate level and higher skiers of all ages to the art of conquering moguls, and has coached seniors with great success.
STEAMBOAT
Grooming:
Steamboat continues to update its snowmaking and grooming fleet with the latest equipment and technology to provide guests with the best groomed conditions.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Steamboat isrepeatedly recognized as one of the top Family Friendly resorts in the country thanks to innovative programs for all members of the families.Started in 1982, Steamboat’s Kids Ski Free program makes it possible for Grandma and Grandpa to take the grandkids on a fun winter getaway. The purchase of adult regular-priced five or more days of skiing and snowboarding entitles grandkids (12 and under) to free lift tickets for the same number of days. Plus, grandchildren can participate in the Kids Rent Free equipment rental program.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
Once on the slopes, the generations can ski and snowboard together with Steamboat’s Family Private Lesson. Grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, and all the kids can explore Steamboat’s 3,000 acres of terrain with a top instructor during these all-day private programs.
Steamboat Mountain Masters & Night Skiing:
With Steamboat Mountain Masters, skiers over the age of 50 can meet up with new friends for a complimentary tour of the mountain. Lift ticket required.
Night Skiing is a favorite for multi-generational vacationers and Steamboat offers skiing and riding under the lights five nights a week. Especially popular with the young, its a fun way for Grandma and Grandpa to get in a few extra turns with the grandkids.
SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN
Grooming:
Sunlight Mountain grooms more than 50 percent of their terrain with 200 acres groomed daily.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Sunlight Mountain offers lift ticket and season pass discounts to seniors aged 65 to 79. Seniors aged 80 and
older ski for free.
Join the Club:
Sunlight offers the 100 Club, a pass discount for couples whose age sum is 100 or more. Qualified couples also receive 10% off at the retail shop, Sunlight Ski & Bike, and Out-of-Bounds Grill.
TELLURIDE
Grooming:
Telluride features 475 groomed acres of skiing and riding.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Telluride offers senior discounts on season passes to those age 65 to 69. Discounts are also offered to seniors age 65 and older on lift ticket window prices.
Join the Club:
Silver Skiers is a program for skiers age 50 years and older. Its designed for every type of skier from novice skiers and those who like to cruise, to advanced and hard-core skiers. The program is led by coaches from the senior ski school staff with an interest in making skiing fun, relaxed and enjoyable for seniors.
A new program being introduced at Telluride this season is Silver Skiers, for those 50 years and older. This program is designed for novice/cruisers through advanced/hard-core skiers and includes coaches from the senior ski school staff with an interest in making skiing fun, relaxed and enjoyable for seniors.
WINTER PARK
Grooming:
Winter Park Resort grooms between 650-750 acres nightly, which includes all of its green trails and many blues.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Winter Park offers lift ticket discounts to those aged 65 and older.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
Winter Parks Platinum Tracks lesson program offers improvement in a fun, social setting.Open to skiers ages 50 and up, Platinum Tracks is held every Wednesday throughout January and February and includes an age-appropriate instructor that teaches new skills in any terrain, focusing on using less effort which makes skiing easier and more enjoyable.Since its a recurring program every week, its also a great way to meet new friends.
Winter Parks Competition Center also offers a Freestyle Adult Masters Program, a program designed for adults who like to ski moguls, improve their technique and skills on most-difficult terrain, meet other kindred spirits, and have a lot of fun. The mogul coaches, who are former Pro Mogul Tour and US Ski Team athletes, teach skill progressions for the bumps and use video analysis for quick improvements. Plus, when youre a member of the freestyle masters, you will always have a group of ski enthusiasts to ski with and ski hard.
WOLF CREEK
Grooming:
Roughly 37 percent, or about 600 acres of Wolf Creeks 1,600 skiable acres are groomed regularly.. Although Baby Boomers love the groomed slopes, with Wolf Creeks powdery conditions, Boomers have also embraced the technology that the modern equipment brings with it. Wide skis now make powder and varying conditions very accessible to skiers of all ages, especially for the vintage gang.
Lift Ticket and Season Pass Discounts:
Getting this generation out on the mountain to soak up the sun or play in the powder helps by offering the right price for a great product. Local Appreciation Days at Wolf Creek offers discounted lift tickets to adults. Find a schedule Local Appreciation Day days online at www.wolfcreekski.com.
Ski and Snowboard Groups:
Research has it that Baby Boomers exercise more than any other age group to stay fit and look as young as they can. The Wolf Creek Ski School offers special ski and snowboard clinics designed exclusively for boomers covering information on equipment as well as technique and form. These clinics are scheduled throughout the winter and are very social as well as informative and fun! (http://wolfcreekski.com/wolf-creek-event-calendar.php).
