Exactly. Everyone knows skiing is an expensive hobby. I'm just asking in general, for people that have been to Big Sky (if anyone here has?).

11/15/2011 4:02:04 PM

Almost $1200 for 3 days is kind of hard to ignore - I can ski in Chamonix for a couple hundred dollars more

But then again, I don't wear $400 bowties like Slave Famous, so what do I know

11/15/2011 4:27:20 PM

?

That's a quote for a 5 day trip. And argue all you want but the Rockies is the best skiing in the world.

11/16/2011 7:57:59 AM

TKE, Big Sky is probably my next stop. You're pricing looks pretty good from my initial looks.

Two years ago we did Jackson Hole for 5 nights for a little cheaper.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 9:37 AM. Reason : .]

11/16/2011 9:36:31 AM

Cool. I'm guessing that for Jackson Hole you didn't need any rental cars? The two I've included for Big Sky are around $700 total.

11/16/2011 10:47:53 AM

Yup, we rented a huge 4x4 van for about $800 for the week. We had 11 people on this trip, so it didnt add much to the cost. Worked out perfect.

11/16/2011 11:53:34 AM

Booked for 5 days of skiing at Steamboat in late Feb! Woo!

11/16/2011 5:33:27 PM

Picked up another season pass at Kirkwood. Almost got the Squaw Valley/Alpine-Meadow pass but opted out to save a couple hundred dollars.

11/16/2011 10:21:48 PM

So I have an invite to stay in Colorado Springs...

and I'll be fully qualified as an instructor in one of these in maybe another month or so...




so I'm thinking that it would be a real shame if I don't ski Colorado a few times this winter.

I really like Vail.

How's Aspen? I've always viewed it as a place to see and be seen, and have a sort of resort atmosphere, more so than a great place to ski, but that's what I thought about Vail before I went there...and I was way wrong about that.

11/16/2011 10:56:28 PM

^you gonna be crashing with Quick Draw?

11/17/2011 10:07:40 AM

Can't believe I haven't seen this thread yet this year. I have been gearing up like a crack addict who won the lotto.

Got a new powder board after discovering first hand at Breck last year that my freestyle board doesn't handle well in the deep. That forced me to get new bindings for my freestyle board so I could swap those to my powder board. Then I got a new jacket, because, fuck, why not? I'm totally getting new gloves within the next few weeks. Also, come to think of it, my boots are getting seasoned.

Did Breck and Vail last year and it was eye opening (first time out west). Probably doing Vail and Heavenly this year due to friends with the lodging hookup. Want to do Park City too due to a variety of factors.

Got a friend who lives in Alaska. He was at Eaglecrest today. Look up their snow totals insane - most snow in the world right now. Lucky bastard.

Done with my rant. Now I'll read this thread.

11/26/2011 12:56:45 AM

have any of you skied telluride? i am thinking of going in a few weeks, one of my friends has never skied though. it looks like a good place for beginners - not too crowded and a fair amount of green slopes. is there anything in telluride as far as night life or other non-skiing activities?

11/26/2011 1:25:07 AM

For those of you looking for boards and such on a budget: Check out dogfunk.com.

They do some decent clearance deals, with some stuff over 50% off. I believe they are also the source for whiskeymilitia.com where, if you wait long enough/check it a lot, you can get a steal. Like a $400+ board for $150 type steal.

I think evo.com has some good stuff on their outlet page... Also, an extra 20% off for the next 2 days.

11/26/2011 1:08:05 PM

^^I'd love to check out Telluride but flights out there from the east coast are insane. Well over $1000 from Raleigh the last time I checked. For that money I'd rather to to Europe or Hawaii But if you're in CO already, yeah I'd check it out.

11/27/2011 8:40:54 PM

Quote :

"Exactly. Everyone knows skiing is an expensive hobby."

Compared to disc golf or knitting, yeah.

Compared to flying, or boating, or motorsports, or a whole bunch of other things, it's not too bad.

...and if you live in the mountains, it's downright cheap.

11/27/2011 9:22:40 PM

Quote :

", because, fuck, why not?"

The must-have attitude for this addiction we have...

11/29/2011 7:00:04 PM

Quote :

"Got a new powder board after discovering first hand at Breck last year that my freestyle board doesn't handle well in the deep. That forced me to get new bindings for my freestyle board so I could swap those to my powder board. Then I got a new jacket, because, fuck, why not? I'm totally getting new gloves within the next few weeks. Also, come to think of it, my boots are getting seasoned. Did Breck and Vail last year and it was eye opening (first time out west). "

welcome to powder country! i love CO! another reason why i splurged on a longer/wider board last year:


got my pass for Winter Park / Mary Jane this year, so stoked, I haven't boarded WP/MJ since my first year out here.

also going on a New Years trip down to Taos/Sipapu for a bach'party

[Edited on November 29, 2011 at 7:40 PM. Reason : .]

11/29/2011 7:38:45 PM

At some point in my life I need to move out to Denver. It's not enough to only do a couple of trips a year. Not to mention it's a fun city.

11/30/2011 12:50:29 AM

Quote :

"How's Aspen? I've always viewed it as a place to see and be seen, and have a sort of resort atmosphere, more so than a great place to ski, but that's what I thought about Vail before I went there...and I was way wrong about that."

I have a buddy that moved to Aspen after graduating and he has never come back. He now works on the Avalanche team for the Aspen Skiing Company. We have visited him a few times and in my opinion Aspen has the feel of a small town and not some big mega resort like Heavenly. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, that's mine. We ski mostly Aspen but do venture over to Snowmass. It's fun to walk around town right at the base of Aspen Mountain. Of course, I am partial since we have a free place to stay when we go but if for some reason he were to leave town we would still go back, no question. Couple of my pics from the last time we went below. Sorry for the picture bomb.

12/1/2011 11:45:02 AM

Aspen I've heard is great, but you're getting pretty much the same experience as Breckenridge / Vail / Beaver Creek but paying more for it. Aspen is where all the celebrities and millionaires go. Not necessarily because it's better, but because it's isolated and has it's own airport that accommodates private jets. Kinda like Telluride, but a tad bigger and a tad more accessible.

[Edited on December 1, 2011 at 4:49 PM. Reason : .]

12/1/2011 4:48:45 PM

Debating heading to Whistler/Blackcomb on Monday.

I got the itch.

12/2/2011 1:30:21 PM

I skied 3 times in Colorado last year at Beaver Creek and Breckenridge. I have since relocated to the bay area. How is Tahoe?

12/2/2011 6:49:47 PM

I couldn't really say anything bad about Tahoe, to be honest. Kirkwood may be one of my favorites

12/2/2011 11:50:32 PM

^yup

12/2/2011 11:58:09 PM

Quote :

"Aspen is where all the celebrities and millionaires go. "

Right; hence my preconceived notion about the place.

Quote :

" Not necessarily because it's better, but because it's isolated and has it's own airport that accommodates private jets."

...but that makes sense; I hadn't thought of it that way.

Fortunately, I have a jet.

12/3/2011 1:09:08 AM

Wolf Creek looks like it got some decent snow recently. Too bad it's in the middle of nowhere or I might have headed out there.

12/3/2011 7:56:39 PM

this is pretty impressive.

http://www.wimp.com/skillsskier/

12/4/2011 12:33:02 PM

http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=JokkeSommer&v=_rTLfdZZ8JY&view=videos

Not exactly skiing but awesome.

12/4/2011 12:44:57 PM

^that links to your profile not a video

In the market for a new board, bindings and boots...looks like Craigslist will be my site.

[Edited on December 4, 2011 at 12:50 PM. Reason : b]

12/4/2011 12:49:40 PM

Quote :

"I have since relocated to the bay area. How is Tahoe?"

From what I can tell their snow is more hit or miss and in general is much wetter/heavier. I've never been to Kirkwood but it seems like they get insane snowfall levels.

12/5/2011 11:30:33 AM

A buddy of mine from State is putting together a Steamboat trip in mid-February, so it looks like I'm going to get a chance to ski the Champagne Powder (c) this season.

Just to chirp in about the prices, I get a two-for-one Rocky Mountain Plus pass since I'm a college student, which means $220 for a season's pass to Copper Mountain and Winter Park. I added 6 days at Steamboat for an extra $100. Last year I got ~30 days w/o the Steamboat bolt-on, so I think it came down to $7.50/day + gas money.

Reading what you guys have to pay to travel out here kills me. I'm going to start saving for ski trips as soon as I get my job.... Anybody ever use homeaway.com to find lodging for skiing?

Quote :

"Exactly. Everyone knows skiing is an expensive hobby. I'm just asking in general, for people that have been to Big Sky (if anyone here has?)."

I also have the chance to go to Moonlight Basin for three days this season - its adjacent to Big Sky but I've heard that it's a better mountain, less crowded, and definitely cheaper lift tickets. Has anyone here skied both?

[Edited on December 5, 2011 at 4:30 PM. Reason : moonlight ]

12/5/2011 4:24:52 PM

^beats me. But I mean Big Sky alone is 5,500 acres and you're in Montana. How crowded can it possibly get?

12/6/2011 11:32:50 AM

I'm debating going out this year, its going to be very expensive if i do, and i would actually have to get into shape this year to do anything fun

12/6/2011 3:27:08 PM

This lack of snow is thoroughly depressing me.

12/15/2011 1:47:16 AM

Mammoth gets insane amounts of snow. Kirkwood is a step down from there and bit above the rest of Tahoe. But right now it is all crap

12/15/2011 1:56:42 AM

Haven't read any of this thread but this seems to be the place to post:

I went to sugar mnt this weekend. Had fun. I tried my best at skiing. First 10 minutes or so I fell and busted my ass a ton. After 10 minutes i pretty much was ok. Just snow plowing my way down.

I think next time I go i will take a class. Should I focus on skiing or snow boarding?

1/2/2012 8:43:31 AM

^^my company trip is to Mammoth this year. i would love to go, but can't swing the cost, considering i can just drive to some good places here in CO.

^depends on what you enjoy more. maybe next time try snowboarding, then decide on which class to take.

1/2/2012 2:43:09 PM

i'll probably stick to skiing. I just don't go enough for snow boarding.

1/2/2012 3:14:13 PM

^^from what I can tell (not personal experience) anything in CO is better than what's offered at Mammouth. But I do understand the draw of testing out new places.

Less than 4 weeks till my first trip of the year! Also lodgings have been booked for Montana in early March

1/3/2012 8:27:06 AM

We did heavenly this weekend and it was pretty good. It was all man made though, I guess there is a price for the bay area weather to be as nice as it has. I hope it gets better.

1/3/2012 9:15:45 AM

Spent the last week at Brian Head, UT. They've had record snowfall this year, except it's record LOW snowfall this year

All but one of the blacks were closed, and the rest of the runs were kind of icy, and plenty of bare spots. However, still far far better than anything local.

Got my 4 year old skiing though, and she's now one of those little kids that fly down the mountain fearlessly.

Heading to steamboat in mid Feb.

1/3/2012 11:42:05 AM

does anyone know of a place that carries a decent selection of Mountain Hardwear within a reasonable driving distance of Cary/Raleigh/RTP? specifically the snowtastic jacket. Im heading overseas on sunday and would love to pick one up by then.

1/5/2012 8:30:16 PM

^^ahhhh, i hope it improves. I'm heading to Snowbird at the end of this month!

My sweet new T Rice Pro snowboard just arrived. Its a beaut. Gonna try it out on Sunday.




[Edited on January 6, 2012 at 5:15 PM. Reason : .]

1/6/2012 5:10:33 PM

Thinking about heading out to Taos Valley or Angelfire in NM in a few weeks.

1/6/2012 6:22:03 PM

Booked a trip to Snowbird mid-February...flier miles for the ticket and a free place to stay! Anyone ever done Snowbird before??

1/11/2012 11:30:29 PM

yes, it owns.


this year it might not unless they start getting some serious snowfall. the wasatch ski areas haven't gotten shit.

1/12/2012 12:10:38 AM

Quote :

"But I mean Big Sky alone is 5,500 acres"

that's actually the combined acreage between Big Sky and Moonlight Basin. I've got two days at Moonlight Basin for mid March.

Heading up to Steamboat tomorrow morning for Friday/Saturday skiing trip. We've finally gotten some snow in Colorado over the last couple of days. Dammit I wish I could play hookie today too

1/12/2012 11:10:20 AM

^eh whatever

Vail trip is coming up in 15 days. Hope the general ski snow forecast improves by then!

1/12/2012 11:33:47 AM

^^ i'm heading to steamboat in a month.

hopefully there's more snow than Brian head had.

1/12/2012 12:03:05 PM

never fear, Colorado snow doesn't really pick up until mid-late January. this year's just been drier than most, but i'm pretty sure everyone is experiencing the lack of snow.

1/12/2012 3:39:35 PM