For many people, the words "Vail, Colorado" invokes images of celebrity skiing. Indeed, Vail is the resort of choice for famous and infamous personalities such as Gerald Ford, Susie Chafee and, ahem, Ann Coulter. However, while they often don't admit it, Vail is equally popular with duct tape dudes as it is with Bogner babes. The reason: It's the vast terrain in Vail that attracts serious skiers and riders.
Vail's bragging rights are based on its impressive size. It righteously boasts 195 trails that span 5,289 acres of skiable terrain as well as a top elevation of 11,570 ft. The highly efficient lift system at Vail Ski Resort includes:
- 1 Gondola
- 14 High-speed quads
- 1 Fixed grip quad
- 3 Triples
- 2 Doubles
- 10 Surface lifts
Even Ullr the Snow God is fond of Vail. He grants the area an average annual snowfall of 335 inches. When he fails to cooperate, Vail's state-of-the-art snowmaking comes to the rescue. When Ullr gets a bit, shall we say, overly enthusiastic, Vail's army of snowcats grooms and manicures the terrain in a manner that would create envy in any of Vail's high-end spas. Winter temperatures that hover at 34 degrees Fahrenheit are friendly to both natural and man-made snow.
Aside from its excellent snow conditions, Vail has the distinction of having terrain that is suitable for all skiers and riders. Beginners can play in the Golden Peak and Eagle's Nest sections of the mountain. Intermediates delight in cruising the wide runs that run off the Northwoods Express and the Game Creek Express Lift.
For expert skiers and snowboarders, Vail's famous back bowls are the name of the game. Inner and Outer Mongolia, Sun Down, Sun Up, Siberia and Tea Cup provide an assortment of chutes, tree skiing and steep pitches. If you are not quite at expert level, Inner and Outer Mongolia have somewhat gentler terrain. However, be forewarned. While Vail is famous for its impeccable grooming, the back bowls feature ungroomed powder, so deal with it!
If you find that your skills are less than awe-inspiring, consider enrolling in one of Vail's unique ski school programs. For example, the 6-day SKImmersion Program includes:
- Consultation with a boot fit and alignment specialist
- Training Facilities at the Marriott Resort and Spa
- Daily Breakfasts
- Video Analysis
- Training Manual and DVD
- Instruction with Vail's top-notch ski school staff
The cost is $1500 for the program only, and $1830 with lift tickets. Speaking of lift tickets, Vail's Peak Rewards Program allows you to earn points for valuable rewards. It allows you to purchase your lift tickets online prior to your vacation. This gives you the lowest available price, and lets you avoid wasting valuable time on the ticket purchase line.
Whether you are an aspiring ski bum or an aspiring ski cougar, Vail is the place to go on your next ski vacation!
This Vail vacation tip was provided our resident Colorado ski guru, Lisa Marie Mercer.