Tips for CO skiing for those new to it

[Anonymous]

We are planning to visit family in CO this winter and go skiing for a couple of days. We will fly into Denver, rent a car and drive to their home in Avon. We plan to ski maybe 3 days at Beaver Creek. We plan to pre purchase the Epic day pass for the amount of days we decide to ski. We will rent gear. Other than the potentially treacherous driving which we are not excited about, is there anything else we should know/do? We will be travelling with two teens. I'm not sure how their east coast ski levels will translate out west. One skiis easier blacks on the east coast and the other just started skiing blues. I assume we just start on the easiest green in CO and work our way up. I can ski but don't love it the way the others do so I may do my own thing some of the time - any suggestions? And in general any non-ski activities we should try? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Skiing in Colorado can be exhausting. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing but the runs are significantly longer than typical runs on the east coast. I'd say your teens will love it for 3 days. For longer trips we buy a 5 day pass knowing we won't ski 6/7 consecutive days because if we haven't gotten out enough before the trip west (which happens often due to lack of east coast snow), everyone is sore/tired/etc (teens included). As for driving, never had a problem. They're really good at clearing the roads unlike here. Travel during daylight if you're worried. For you, if you don't want to ski, walk. It's stunning. Take an afternoon and walk the Vail villages. Stop and have a coffee, look around. Our favorite non-ski activity has been snowmobiling. Denver is also fun if you want to get away from the slopes.

[Anonymous]

Since youre staying with family, they are presumably locals and know their way around, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, etc, no?
Ski shuttle bus routes, cookies at 3pm, strawberry park to avoid crowds, etc

[Anonymous]

They will have a blast- as PP said the trails are significantly longer and the conditions are so incredible compared to east coast. Make sure you all start to hydrate before you get on the plane and continue to do so. The elevation is no joke. We are drinkers but limited ourselves when in CO b/c of a friend we knew of who got elevation sickness.

[Anonymous]

Snow skiing in the West is much easier than ice skiing in the East.

[Anonymous]

Be mindful of the elevation! We went to Breck in February and while our family was ok our friends got quite sick, including one of them who had to be on oxygen most of the trip and couldn't ski. I didn't drink at all while there and we grant a ton of water and electrolytes. It was a great trip and kids LOVED it (they're all great east coast skiers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be mindful of the elevation! We went to Breck in February and while our family was ok our friends got quite sick, including one of them who had to be on oxygen most of the trip and couldn't ski. I didn't drink at all while there and we grant a ton of water and electrolytes. It was a great trip and kids LOVED it (they're all great east coast skiers).

BC is lower in elevation than Breck. We’re elevation wimps and don’t love Breck for that reason but had no problem at BC.

[Anonymous]

what's BC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since youre staying with family, they are presumably locals and know their way around, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, etc, no?
Ski shuttle bus routes, cookies at 3pm, strawberry park to avoid crowds, etc

OP here. Yes, they have lived in the area for 10+ years and are avid skiiers. I'm sure they will know all that stuff. I guess I am more worried about the driving from the airport, renting our gear, and the terrain being overwhelming. One of my teens is not as confident a skiier as the other, and is just more anxious in general.

[Anonymous]

Last year I rented through Black Tie, which comes to the place you're staying and will bring and pick up your rental skis/boots/helmets at a scheduled time/date. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since youre staying with family, they are presumably locals and know their way around, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, etc, no?
Ski shuttle bus routes, cookies at 3pm, strawberry park to avoid crowds, etc

OP here. Yes, they have lived in the area for 10+ years and are avid skiiers. I'm sure they will know all that stuff. I guess I am more worried about the driving from the airport, renting our gear, and the terrain being overwhelming. One of my teens is not as confident a skiier as the other, and is just more anxious in general.

Sign up kid for ski lesson ^^

Fills up fast so do it sooner rather than later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what's BC?

Beaver Creek. OP mentioned going there.

[Anonymous]

Make sure your rental car is 4wd and/or snow tires. It's required for the I70/Loveland Pass through May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since youre staying with family, they are presumably locals and know their way around, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, etc, no?
Ski shuttle bus routes, cookies at 3pm, strawberry park to avoid crowds, etc

OP here. Yes, they have lived in the area for 10+ years and are avid skiiers. I'm sure they will know all that stuff. I guess I am more worried about the driving from the airport, renting our gear, and the terrain being overwhelming. One of my teens is not as confident a skiier as the other, and is just more anxious in general.

Sign up kid for ski lesson ^^

Fills up fast so do it sooner rather than later.

OP here. The relative we are visiting taught all three of his own kids to ski and is insistent he can/will do the same for ours. Its like a thing he is proud of doing for relatives. Is this a bad idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since youre staying with family, they are presumably locals and know their way around, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, etc, no?
Ski shuttle bus routes, cookies at 3pm, strawberry park to avoid crowds, etc

OP here. Yes, they have lived in the area for 10+ years and are avid skiiers. I'm sure they will know all that stuff. I guess I am more worried about the driving from the airport, renting our gear, and the terrain being overwhelming. One of my teens is not as confident a skiier as the other, and is just more anxious in general.

My DD is anxious too so I get it... and she loved skiiing in CO. It was actually better for her than skiing in PA b/c there was no ice. We did a half day lesson for her and she really thrived after that. They also loved how there are restaurants mid slope so if anyone needed to take a rest it was easy.