USA 2011/2012

EDIT: I’m making this the official USA 2011 / 2012 thread. Please feel free to discuss anything to do with the USA season in this thread.

Cheers,

rider26.

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Planning a Trip to the states for most likely Feb 2012. Any suggestions on Great all round resorts for snow, nightlife, all sorts of riding, price and crowds. Obviously I put a little research into the bigger resorts i.e Vail and Aspen, just wondering if anyone had thoughts/experience with other resorts as well as those two?

Thanks guys.

check snowboardingforum.com thats where i did alot of my research on fro my trip at the end of the year

Vail has huge amount of terrain, groomed on the front side, bowls on the back (every bid snow we’d head straight back to Blue Sky Basin for epic tree runs) I can’t vouch for accomodation (I did a 3 year stretch) Vail does have some blow out night life, with a smaller version of Vail (Beaver Creek) 10 minutes one way, and you’ve got Breckenridge for great runs and nightlife 30-45 minutes over Vail Pass (passing Copper Mountain on the way). Another 15 minutes drive further is Keystone with 3 hills getting up to good elevation, and if you want to go really fast Arapahoe Basin is up Loveland Pass from Keystone by another 10-15 minutes.

I’m a big fan of Heavenly (California/Nevada border) as well, smaller pubs but 3 huge casinos right on stateline

Thanks, thats great info! I see what you mean regarding accomodation in Vail. Everything seems super expensive, and I cant find a hostel or any budget lodges either.

hall.7 - 02 June 2011 11:19 AM

Thanks, thats great info! I see what you mean regarding accomodation in Vail. Everything seems super expensive, and I cant find a hostel or any budget lodges either.

You can try these:
Alpen Hutte Lodge Hosteling
471 Rainbow Dr. Silverthorne Phone: 970-468-6336
(In Between Breckenridge and Keystone)

Fireside Inn HI-aYH
114 M French Breckenridge

Just Bunks
208 Teller Street, Frisco
(closer to Breck but still in between)

You can get the public bus from these to Kestone, Copper mOuntain, and Breckenridge, last I knew it was still free but (downside) it stops at every stop along the way so a 20 minute drive can take an hour or more.

Pay all my expenses I’ll be your personal tour guide

snowdragon - 02 June 2011 02:05 AM

I’m a big fan of Heavenly (California/Nevada border) as well, smaller pubs but 3 huge casinos right on stateline

im staying down near heveanly(well sort of) right on the stateline.

hall.7 - 01 June 2011 12:08 PM

Planning a Trip to the states for most likely Feb 2012. Any suggestions on Great all round resorts for snow, nightlife, all sorts of riding, price and crowds. Obviously I put a little research into the bigger resorts i.e Vail and Aspen, just wondering if anyone had thoughts/experience with other resorts as well as those two?

Thanks guys.

Hey Hall,

I’ve been to most of the Colorado resorts including Vail and Aspen. Vail is awesome, definitely some of the best freeriding terrain I experienced in Colorado. Aspen is really cool too, but super expensive. If you’re looking for good value in Colorado, Breckenridge is a really good option and you still have easy access to the other resorts.

Other resorts in the USA worth considering are places like Lake Tahoe and Mammoth, both in California. Then you have freeriding meccas like Mt Baker in Washington and Jackson Hole in Wyoming. Utah has to be up there too, the snow quality is apparently amazing, and you can always stay in Salt Lake City if needed.

deanobruce - 02 June 2011 11:52 PM

snowdragon - 02 June 2011 02:05 AM

I’m a big fan of Heavenly (California/Nevada border) as well, smaller pubs but 3 huge casinos right on stateline

im staying down near heveanly(well sort of) right on the stateline.

Nice- You’ll be right near the Gondola, or you can catch the free shuttle to California Base, Boulder Lodge, or Stagecoach base areas.
I’d stick to Cali and Stage tho- The run down to Boulder is a beginner trail, and its more effort getting to the chairs for higher and better

ok sweet as thanks

No Worries- any questions between Heavenly and Summit County feel free to post or PM me, and I’ll do my best to bullshi . . I mean . . answer yer questions as best as my memory can provide (4 years of indulgences has its drawbacks)

Like debt and Snowboarding!!!

My few cents from someone stateside:

Heavenly- some good terrain, but mostly on the flatter side of things. The traverses are pretty nasty unless you really know the place well. Excellent trees, excellent views, and located such that you won’t really need a vehicle. Getting around South Lake is trickier without a car, the town is spread out. On the plus side, it’s affordable, it’s a non-fake, non-resort kind of experience, but rather, a real town in the Sierras where people go about their daily business.

I’d stick to the Nevada side, better terrain on that part of the mountain, fewer people.

With a car, I’d also give Kirkwood a try, it’s probably the finest terrain in the Tahoe area, and arguably the best snow, but difficult to get to (30+ miles from SLT, over two passes with occasional road closures and avalanche control).

Summit Co.- get the Epic Pass, you’ll pay for its cost in 3-4 days. I’d skip Vail and head for Beaver Creek, save yourself the $15 parking or whatever they charge these days. Your Epic Pass is good for a number of days at BC or Vail. The lodging is more reasonable in Summit Co., all of the resorts are accessible by public transport, albeit slow. Breck is on the less steep side, but they have the most perfect groomers, and arguably one of the best parks. Keystone’s park is also excellent, apparently.

Hope you’re prepared for high altitude, because it’s truly breathtaking, as in 4000 m. It gets brutally cold, especially in January (as in -30 C cold). And also be prepared for insane crowds on the weekends. The nightlife and restaurants in Breck are pretty good, the town is also full of cute Victorian houses.

I stayed at Fireside Lodge for two weeks and have a fantastic time. Breckenridge was a good base for us because there are free buses to keystone and A-Basin. Breck has enough terrain to keep most people busy for a long time. When I stayed at Fireside, the kitchen facilities was just a microwave, fridge / freezer and sink. That allows you to buy stuff from the grocery store and cook up some basics. I like having a stove or oven but lived without it.

We hired a care for two days with some other people in hostel and drove to Vail for two (powder) days. Didn’t get to Beaver Creek.

Terrain wise, there seems to be something for everyone! Steeps, parks, half pipes, cruisey runs. You would obviously want to go with someone who knows the steeps though.

Breck has some great nightlife and had some really fun times and adventures!

worldtripper - 05 June 2011 06:09 PM

I’d also give Kirkwood a try, it’s probably the finest terrain in the Tahoe area, and arguably the best snow,

hence why i jumped on a $300 season pass to the place!

Hey guys, thanks for all the great info. I’ve settled on Utah. Just going to stay in SLC on the cheap;) and bus it up the hill each day! most likely to Snowbird and park city!

I have another question though regarding Jackson Hole, It was mentioned to me the other day by a dude that has been through the area recently that the place is starting to change and become a Scene-sters playground for the rich. I know movies like “That’s it, that’s all” have helped us all fall in love with the place. But would that really entice people to go there to gain status? I plan on working the season over there next yr 2012-13, has anyone been there recently and does it really have a changing face? I’m hoping not, the place looks so epic, it would be a shame for it to become snobsville.