Ski Trip

Hey B..
I agree with everything Jodi said and have been everywhere she suggested except canada. We usually go to Steamboat. It's nice because the airport is fairly close and they have EVERYTHING (even Walmart and TCBY) yet it's still quaint enough. Like Jodi said, it's expensive! You can eat meals in your condo if you're on a tight budget though.

My other recommendation is to get a condo on the mountain wherever you go. I would settle for a less nice place that is ski in/ski out. You get so tired when skiing (plus the altitude) and if you're not used to it even more so. Plus, if you want to eat meals in your condo it's easier to get back out quickly.

I learned to ski in NM. I learned at Angel Fire. It was easy for beginners and I think you can hop on SW to ALB and then it's about a 1.5-2.5 hr drive depending on the weather. I have also been to ruidoso in S NM. It is very easy-good for beginners. It's also VERY economical. It's about a 10-11 hr drive from here-not too bad. You can't stay on the mountain there. Avoid Taos, it's really hard.

So, in Colorado I recommend Steamboat and Crested Butte. I also recommend the place I skiied a lot as a child-- Purgatory/Durango. It's nice and very beginner friendly, maybe a boit cheaper too since so many charters go there. Personally, I did not like Keystone, and I wouldn't recommend it. Same with Brekenridge. Lots of college kids! Avoid Aspen, it's very steep and NOT economical (duh).

I have been to Park City UT and skiied at Deer Valley. DV was super expensive! Park City looked cute (we didn't do a lot there). I think it's about an hour from SLC. My BF lived in SLC in middle school, and as locals they loved park city, Snowbird, and Alta. I have never been to the latter two.

Good luck wherever you choose, and be sure to GET private lessons!!
R.

Ruidoso, NM might be cheaper and it would be a great place being it's your first time.

Hello,

Angel Fire Resort in Angel Fire NM is a great resort for someone who has never skied before. My husband taught me to ski there and it was great. My daughter learned there to and her 2nd day she was going down the blues.

Well good luck and have fun on your trip! BE SAFE!

B.

Park City in Utah is awesome. Great food, shopping, lodging... Pretty much anywhere in Utah is though, like Deer Valley, Snowbird... If you want a budget trip, you can always go to Sandia Peak in New Mexico! I went and it's a lot cheaper and still fun.

There are lots of mountainous locations where you can ski. I am from Colorado so I find that's where I always want to go back to. THey have several ranges that are in close proximity to one another (Breckenridge/Copper Mountain/Keystone) I believe. Look for one with lots of greens/blues. Go to www.vrbo.com and check out condo rentals if you can't find combination lift/hotel tickets. Once you zero in on a place ... Utah... Colorado... New Mexico, etc. then you can say ok.... here's the general AREA I want to go to.... and then start at that city's convention and visitor's bureau's website. Once you find a city, too, you can go on www.vrbo.com and find a rental property (vacation rental by owner). We use this almost exclusively for vacations b/c we prefer to stay places with a kitchen (2 kids)....

Good luck! :) Hope you get some good powder! I can't wait to go back to Colorado.... my favorite is Breckenridge followed by Vail... I love Snowmass but it is QUITE pricey (it's next to Aspen)...

Depends on how far you want to go and how much you want to spend. Skiing is not cheap!!

If you go to Colorado, Steamboat is great and the instructors are fun. You can get a condo on the bus route that is great to get you to and from the slopes. Vail is beautiful too...

If you want to go to Utah (my US fav)... Park City is great and the Canyons and Deer Valley are close. I love the people in Park City. Just try not to go when the Sundance Festival is in town. The locals aren't real friendly during that time because they don't like the Hollywood types.

If you can go out of the US to Canada, Whistler/Blackholm is the bomb. It has this little quaint town in the middle of two fabulous mountains. The only issue with this place is if you get motion sickness in the car, definitely take dramemine before getting on the shuttle from the airport to the resort. It's a little bit of a hike to get there on cliffs with mountain on one side and water on the other. I get terribly carsick, but I have been to WBC twice. It's just that great!!!!

Wherever you go, rent your skis, poles, and boots since this is your first time. Once you get good, I would purchase a good set of boots! Ask the ski shop about parabollic skis. Those are easier for beginners.

Also, try to get a locker to keep your stuff at the resort. Hauling equipment is a pain. If you can't, ask the place you rent how to lock your skis together so that you can hook them on your shoulder while you are walking. When walking in ski boots, release your straps on your boots to allow ankle movement, otherwise you may end up hurting yourself or falling.

Sign up for private lessons for the two of you. You will get more out of your ski experience doing private lessons because the instructor can focus on your weak and strong points.

Look for 3 out of 4 day deals on the slopes.

Things you will need:
Hand warmers (packets that warm up instantly when they are released from their plastic wrappers)
Feet warmers
Hot chilis (long underwear that is tight fitting)
ski pants
ski socks
ski coat
wrap sunglasses with neck attachment
ski goggles
ski gloves/mittens (I love my mittens better because you can get the hand warmers in the tips near your fingers)
ski hat or wooly headband for your ears (make sure you cover your ears)
Chapstick (the all natural kind is good and not waxy)
Lotion for after ski skin

For ski equipment, check out:
http://www.dougandlyndas.com/ - located in McKinney
http://www.stbernardsports.com/sbssports/ - located on inwood or commonwealth(outlet) in Dallas

Wish I was going! I'm jealous! :P Have a great time!!!!!!

Jodi

All the Utah resorts are great (I lived there for awhile and vacation there every year with a group of 10+ for the past 10 years). It depends what you are looking for. I would say Alta, Snowbird, and Brighton are more for locals and don't have many of the resort type qualities you might want (like restraunts and such). Solitude has built a small village type area, but still isn't like a major resort. Park City and Dear Valley are both great and a bit more expensive, but have more dining and shopping options. Park West (I think now called Canyonlands, is near there too). I also go to Angel Fire, NM every year, and it is a great place for beginners....much more crowded though during the holidays and the snow is iffy (last year we didn't even ski bc there was hardly any snow). Park City would be the best bet I think for a beginner group that wants a nice vacation too. Winterpark, CO is also great for beginners. Make sure you sign up for lessons! Enjoy! Skiing is a wonderful thing. Also, Whistler in Canada is great and has an awesome village, but the airfare is sort of expensive.