There’s been a flurry of activity since the snow melted in the spring, and many ski areas have brand-new toys to play with this skiing and snowboarding season. From new high-speed lifts to new terrain to deals on new passes for 2014-15, here’s a roundup of the biggest news in the North American ski industry for this season. If you’re looking for ideas about where to ski this season, you’re at the right place.
California
1) Alpine Meadows | Try the high-country guide service
It renamed its upper terrain the Pacific Crest Bowls in tribute to the famed Pacific Crest Trail, which spans the entire length of the resort’s ridgeline. Alpine Meadows has also launched the North Face Mountain Guide program. Guests get gain priority lift-line access to explore the hike-to powder stashes with the resort’s most experienced guides, even venturing to neighboring Squaw Valley.
2) Heavenly Mountain Resort | Party on-slope
Partiers at Heavenly will want to check out the new, on-slope bashes each Friday and Saturday at East Peak Lodge as well as Tailgate at Tamarack on Sundays showcasing NFL games and drink specials. On the slopes, Heavenly has expanded the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, focusing on the beginner terrain at the top of the Heavenly Gondola. (Note: Heavenly straddles the California-Nevada state line.)
3) Homewood Mountain Resort | Explore expanded terrain
Homewood is expanding its skiable terrain to the top of Ellis Peak this season, adding 750 acres of gladed powder reserves and runs of close to 2,000 vertical feet with lake views. The terrain will be accessed via enclosed snowcat by groups of no more than 10 people as part of a guided experience. Powder aficionados can also take advantage of the resort’s new First Tracks Breakfast program.
4) Kirkwood Mountain Resort | Take new lessons
Newly acquired by Vail Resorts, Kirkwood has the new Discovery Series learning program to take intermediate skiers and riders to the next level. These camps can be taken individually or as part of a series of three.
5) Mammoth Mountain | Use the Cali4nia Pass
Mammoth Mountain acquired three California resorts and announced the new Cali4nia Pass that will provide unrestricted, season-long access to Mammoth Mountain, Bear Mountain, Snow Summit and June Mountains. For the record, that’s 5,888 skiable acres served by 61 lifts.
6) Northstar California Resort | Eat at new mountaintop eatery, take private lessons
Northstar’s new Mountain Table will pair local food and drink in Northstar’s Zephyr Lodge, renowned for its panoramic view of the Pacific Crest. The resort is also introducing Primo Private Lessons, offering expedited lift privileges, exclusive on-mountain dining, and custom instruction.
Sierra-at-Tahoe has also expanded the Burton Star Wars Experience to include a new Echo Base, a themed educational experience for kids with unique chainsaw carvings of Star Wars characters.
7) Sierra-at-Tahoe | Explore Solstice Plaza, expanded Star Wars Experience
Sierra-at-Tahoe has invested $5 million in the new Solstice Plaza, a 30,000-square-foot deck and 9,000-square-foot base area facility that houses a new retail shop, demo center and restaurant. Sierra has also expanded the Burton Star Wars Experience to include a new Echo Base, a themed educational experience for kids with unique chainsaw carvings of Star Wars characters and terrain-based teaching programs designed to accelerate the learning curve.
8) Squaw Valley USA | Enjoy a pioneering Starbucks
Squaw Valley is in the midst of a five-year, $70 million “renaissance” that has included new chairlifts, major base renovations and the world’s first ski-in/ski-out Starbucks.
9) Sugar Bowl | Party on resort’s 75th birthday
Sugar Bowl will celebrate its 75th anniversary this winter with a season-long calendar of special events, après ski parties and a gala celebration slated for mid-February. This will be the first full season of operations for the new Crow’s Peak Chairlift, part of more than $20 million in ongoing improvements.
Colorado
10) Arapahoe Basin | Explore kids center
In spring 2015, the A-Basin Kids Center will be more than 7,000 square feet and will be a hub for lessons and other programs at Arapahoe Basin. The Kids Center will be in part powered by solar energy and decorated in the spirit of A-Basin’s on-mountain ecology education.
11) Buttermilk (Aspen/Snowmass) | Send the kids to the Hideout
The Hideout is a new multi-million dollar children’s center at the base of Buttermilk. The 7,500-square-foot-facility will offer a mix of indoor play and ski instruction. The Hideout is part of the first phase of Buttermilk base area improvements, along with parking lot improvements and a better drop-off/pick-up system.
12) Snowmass (Aspen/Snowmass) | Go tubing
In mid-December, Snowmass will open four lanes of lift-served snow tubing at Elk Camp for a family-friendly alternative to downhill skiing. The target ages are 4-14.
13) Beaver Creek | Take speedy new lift options
Beaver Creek has replaced the Centennial Express Lift with a new high-speed, state-of-the-art combination lift for the 2014-15 ski season, with alternating six-passenger chairs and 10-person gondola cabins. The chairlift will be served by a moving conveyor and the gondola will load from a separate lift line, a good fit for beginners.
14) Beaver Creek | Crash the Candy Cabin
The Candy Cabin located at the top of Strawberry Park Express Lift at Beaver Creek looks like an old-fashioned candy store with bulk candy being sold by the pound as well as gourmet chocolates and classic soda.
15) Breckenridge Ski Resort | Enjoy lift upgrades
On the heels of launching Peak 6 last season, Breckenridge is upgrading the Colorado Super Chair from a four-passenger express to a six-passenger express, providing a 30 percent increase in capacity for Peak 8’s primary and most utilized lift. It will help disperse skiers to the surrounding peaks.
16) Copper Mountain | Download Sherpa 2.0
Copper Mountain reinvented the resort smartphone app game with the introduction of Sherpa in 2013-14. The app provides “on-mountain audio intelligence” in a hands-free, user-friendly manner. New for 2014-15, Copper is letting guests create and share their own mountain tips and favorite trails, and will reward the best contributors with swag, tickets, passes and even a prized treasured spot on 2015-16 winter trail map.
17) Crested Butte Mountain Resort | Go snowbiking
Ever seen a snowbike (essentially a bicycle frame on skis) zipping down the mountain? This year, guests can try snowbikes themselves by renting one of ten new bikes in the Crested Butte rental fleet. Lessons and guided tours are available.
18) Crested Butte Mountain Resort | Ski expert terrain at Teo 2
Crested Butte will open 40 new acres of expert terrain this winter season, called Teo 2, when snowpack allows. Located beyond Teocalli Bowl at the top of the High Lift, Teo 2 delivers a variety of terrain for advanced skiers and riders—steeps or a wide open powder bowl. To get back to the lifts, there is a 30-minute hike.
19) Dunton Hot Springs | Take Wendy Wagner-designed cross-country trails
Southwest of Telluride, the luxurious resort and former ghost town now known as Dunton Hot Springs is opening 10 kilometers of Nordic skiing trails for the 2014-15 season. The trails were designed with the help of Olympian Wendy Wagner.
20) Durango Mountain Resort at Purgatory | Release the kids into new park
Durango Mountain has a new owner this season in James Coleman, also owner of Arizona Snowbowl near Flagstaff as well as Pajarito and Sipapu in New Mexico. The resort made a serious investment in snowmaking equipment, and the new Burton Riglet Park in the base area targets kids 3-6 years old.
21) Keystone Resort | Try the family package
Keystone has a new family package in the Ultimate Family Adventure package. A six-night stay with five-days of on- and off-snow fun, the Ultimate Family Adventure includes activities, dining and other perks.
22) Loveland Ski Area | Hang out in the day-use cabin
Loveland‘s new Ginny Lee Cabin, a day-use on-mountain structure, offers skiers and riders on the north side of the ski area a convenient place to meet friends and warm up without a trip to the base area. It is located off Chair 8 and features restrooms and vending machines.
23) Silverton Mountain | Helicopter to the deep snow
Silverton Mountain has a new helicopter ski cargo basket to accommodate the deep snow landings. The old basket would get buried in the powder upon landing, forcing the guides to shovel snow just to get access to the skis.
24) Steamboat Ski Resort | Stay out for expanded night skiing
Coming off its first season of night skiing and snowboarding, Steamboat is adding two additional nights for skiers and riders to enjoy the slopes under the lights. The schedule now runs Thursday through Monday evenings.
Copper Mountain is letting guests create and share their own mountain tips and favorite trails, and will reward the best contributors with swag, tickets, passes and even a prized treasured spot on 2015-16 winter trail map.
25) Ski Granby Ranch | Ski new runs, take reopened lift
Ski Granby Ranch is adding two new runs on West Mountain, improving access to Dean’s Glade on West Mountain, and reopening the Poma Lift that accesses Lone Pine Bowl, and adding a new gladed area off Bronc Rider on East Mountain.
26) Telluride Ski Resort | Sip Telluride wine
Telluride installed $1.3 million in snowmaking upgrades, plus Andrew Shaffner, the resort’s new wine director, recently oversaw blending on a beautiful new red wine that proudly carries the Telluride brand, a first in the ski industry.
27) Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek | Watch the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
The World Championships are the second only to the Olympics, with about 700 top athletes from more than 70 nations. Vail is set to serve as the official hub of the ceremonies and nightly festival events Feb. 2-15, while Beaver Creek will host the majority of the competition, which is free to spectators. Numerous on- and off-mountain investments will outlast the events.
28) The Lodge at Vail | Stay in the renovated iconic property
The Lodge at Vail underwent significant renovations for the 2014-15 winter season. Located steps from Gondola One, the iconic lodge is redoing 56 rooms in grand fashion, as well as many public areas.
29) Vail Mountain | Watch the Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships
The Burton U.S. Open is the longest-running snowboarding competition in the world and draws the best riders to Vail to compete in March, after the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships. Events will include Olympic-level slopestyle and halfpipe snowboarding competition and free concerts at night.
30) Winter Park Resort | Eat at 16,000 square-foot Lunch Rock Restaurant
Winter Park’s largest on-mountain building construction in more than 25 years, Lunch Rock Restaurant will be a state-of-the-art facility utilized year-round, with a 150-seat heated deck, a 250-seat indoor restaurant, a bar and a hydration station all focusing on Colorado themes. At 16,000 square-feet, the new restaurant will be over five times larger than the previous structure at Lunch Rock.
31) Winter Park | Stay in renovated Vasquez Creek Inn
Vasquez Creek Inn, formerly Gasthaus Eichler, has been renovated and now offers a charming lodge in Winter Park proper to complement Devil’s Thumb Ranch‘s legendary cross-country resort northeast of the downhill resort.
32) Wolf Creek Ski Area | Take the new chairlift, ski expanded terrain
In southwestern Colorado, Wolf Creek has added the Elma Lift, a fixed-grip triple chairlift. The Elma lift will provide skiers a way to get back to the base area from the bottom of the Alberta lift and eliminate the long traverse across the mountain from Park Avenue to the base area. It will also open some great beginner and intermediate terrain.
Utah
33) Alta Ski Area | Ski updated iconic Corkscrew run
Alta has re-graded its iconic Corkscrew run, making it possible for intermediates to have a wide-open descent to the base and give expert skiers a chance to ski Alf’s High Rustler top to bottom after early snow fills in the run. But snowboarders are still not allowed after a court upheld Alta’s longstanding ban in the offseason.
34) Alta-Snowbird | Take advantage of “Boarding Pass” Program
Following Park City’s lead, guests at Alta-Snowbird can convert their boarding pass into a half-price lift ticket within 24 hours of arrival, Monday through Friday. Guests must pre-register online prior to flight departure.
35) Brian Head Resort | Celebrate 50 years of business with new lift and deals
In southern Utah, Brian Head Resort opened with a single chairlift in the winter of 1964-65. Brian Head is now one of the best family-friendly ski resorts and marking the milestone with a high speed detachable quad chairlift, and lift ticket deals and events throughout the season.
36) Cherry Peak | Be among the first at new resort
Located just 15 miles from Logan in northern Utah, Cherry Peak Resort is opening this season. It is the first new resort to be built, in Utah in decades. The resort features three triple chairlifts, a comprehensive snowmaking infrastructure, ice-skating, tubing and night skiing.
37) Deer Valley | Eat at two new restaurants
Deer Valley Resort opened The Brass Tag restaurant in the Lodges at Deer Valley, featuring creative comfort food and brick-oven cuisine for dinner nightly year-round. Also new for 2014-15, Burgers & Bourbon at Montage Deer Valley unsurprisingly features premium burgers and the state’s largest selection of whiskeys.
38) Eagle Point Resort | Shred expanded terrain park
Eagle Point is expanding its Park Lab Terrain Park with 12 new features for all levels, making for one of the largest terrain parks in the region. The new Tushar Peaks Surface Lift will serve Southern Utah’s steepest black-diamond runs that were formerly accessible only by hiking or snowcat.
39) Nordic Valley | Ski new trails at former Wolf Mountain
In the Ogden Valley, Nordic Valley Resort, previously Wolf Mountain, was acquired in 2014 by Skyline Mountain Base, and is undergoing significant upgrades, including new trails and a makeover of the skier services barn. The new trails will add 700 to 800 vertical feet to the current 1,000-foot drop.
40) Park City Mountain Resort | Expand options with the Epic Pass
After a contentious standoff, Vail Resorts bought Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) for $182.5 million and announced they’ll connect Canyons Resorts and PCMR to form a mega-resort that will be larger than Vail or Big Sky/Moonlight Basin. The company is also adding PCMR to the Epic Pass.
41) Snowbasin Resort | Enjoy improved grooming and snowmaking
Snowbasin added three snowcats for faster and better grooming operations. The resort also invested in new snowmaking equipment with 30 new snow guns.
42) Solitude Mountain Resort | Experience new amenities
Not to be outdone by Vail Resorts/PCMR, Deer Valley purchasedSolitude Mountain Resort near Salt Lake City. Visitors will start seeing changes in ski amenities and dining during the 2014-15 season.
Alaska
43) Chugach Powder Guides | Take private backcountry tours
New for 2014, Chugach Powder Guides will offer backcountry adventurers the best of Alaska heli-skiing with the Ultimate Alaska Ski Safari package. This private tour will be begin and end in Girdwood, but it will offer skiers and snowboarders access to mountain ranges across the state.
Idaho
44) Schweitzer Mountain Resort | Learn and ski or board free
Schweitzer’s new Ski FREE in 3 beginner’s program includes three one- to two-hour lessons, three lift tickets and three equipment rentals for $159. If you complete all three lessons, you get to ski for free from mid-March through the end of the season.
45) Sun Valley | Ski among more trees
During the offseason crews gladed about 25 acres in the Frenchman’s area at Sun Valley, making for more tree skiing.
Montana
46) Big Sky Resort | Explore 5,800 acres of terrain
With the acquisition of Moonlight Basin, Big Sky boasts the most acreage in the U.S. This offseason, it added even more terrain by glading a few intermediate tree runs, bringing the total acreage to about 5,800.
47) Big Sky Resort | Eat atop Andesite Mountain
New at Big Sky for 2014-15, the log cabin-like Everett’s 8800 offers great views and on-mountain dining atop Andesite Mountain at 8,800 feet above sea level.
48) Bridger Bowl | Stop into new on-mountain cabin
Bridger Bowl‘s new Alpine Cabin will provide light food and beverages, beer and wine, and restrooms. With the completion of this new guest service facility in conjunction with two new triple chairs (Powder Park and Alpine) last season, Bridger Bowl has opened about 500 acres of new green and blue terrain to complement its well-known expert runs.
49) Great Divide | Glide on two new trails
There are a pair of new trails at Great Divide near Helena: Treasure, a groomer that increases access to two faces of the mountains, and Hombre, a new glade through an old-growth forest.
50) Whitefish Mountain Resort | Ski and board new terrain
Whitefish Mountain‘s Flower Point triple chairlift opens up about 200 acres of terrain to the north side of the mountain previously only accessible by hiking. In 2013, the resort cut six groomable intermediate runs all of which will now be accessible from the new lift.
Nevada
51) Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe | Explore new snowmaking, widened runs
Celebrating 50 years in business, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe has increased its snowmaking capabilities by more than 50 percent, particularly in their beginner areas, which also saw widened runs and smoother trail transitions.
Under a new, shared-pass program at New Mexico’s Angel Fire Resort, two parents can share a pass so that one parent can hit the slopes in the morning while the other stays with the children and then reversing it in the afternoon.
52) Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort | Go tubing, ride more lifts
At Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, a new quad lift replaces double Chair 2 and doubles uphill capacity from 900 to about 2,000. The upgrade is the first milestone in a larger master plan that includes an additional 34 trails, at least six more lifts, and upgraded equipment and guest facilities. There’s also a new tubing area for 2014-15.
New Mexico
53) Taos Ski Valley | Get to more acres faster
After longtime owners the Blake family sold Taos to Louis Bacon, New Mexico’s iconic ski area is expanding lift service to the top of 12,486-foot Kachina Peak that looms over the valley. The $3 million triple chair lift is capable of moving 1,500 skiers per hour and expands the lift-served acreage by 50 percent.
54) Pajarito Mountain Ski Area and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort | Try New Mexico Power Pass
Pajarito and Sipapu will offer guests unlimited access to both mountains this winter along with the opportunity to receive free lift tickets at more than 20 other resorts in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and throughout the country on one season pass: the New Mexico Power Pass. Passes are available at thepowerpass.com and at the lift ticket offices for both ski areas.
55) Angel Fire Resort | Share a pass (if you’re a parent)
A family favorite, Angel Fire is going out of its way to attract young parents who might find it difficult or cost prohibitive to take their children to other ski areas. Under a new, shared-pass program, two people can share a pass so that one parent can hit the slopes in the morning while the other stays with the children and then reversing it in the afternoon.
Oregon
56) Mt. Bachelor | Ski new expert terrain
Near Bend, Mt. Bachelor has opened 500 new acres in its Low East area of mostly expert terrain. A lift is in the works, but for now a 20-minute hike is required to get out.
Washington
57) Crystal Mountain | Ride upgraded lifts
The High Campbell lift, also known as Chair 6, at Crystal Mountainwas taken out by an avalanche in spring 2014, and crews installed new towers at the resort’s highest lift this fall. The Quicksilver lift was upgraded from a notoriously slow predecessor to a fixed-grip quad that’s twice as fast.
58) The Summit at Snoqualmie | Take new chairlift, ride new glade
The new fixed-grip quad Rampart chairliftsubstantially increases uphill capacity at Summit at Snoqualmie while opening up a sizable portion of glade skiing on the northern facing slopes of the Summit East ski area.
Wyoming
59) Jackson Hole Mountain Resort | Learn to ride and film with a GoPro
Jackson Hole is launching the new GoPro Andrew Whiteford Steep & Deep Camp. Each participant will be asked to bring a personal GoPro or will be loaned one to work with throughout the week, and with on-mountain and after ski instruction campers will leave the camp with a good understanding of POV filming and editing.
60) Snow King Mountain | Enjoy renovated lodgings
In Jackson, Snow King, a.k.a. “Town Hill,” is now owned by Benchmark Hotels & Resorts and has a firmer financial footing and new upgrades to its base lodgings.
Vermont
61) Bolton Valley | Ski like a bum, late on Friday night
Young skiers and riders can live the dream this season with the new, value-priced Ski Bum Pass for skiers and riders ages 18 to 25 at Bolton Valley. Lifts will spin until 10 p.m. every Friday night this season.
62) Bromley Mountain | Take free lessons
Beginners are invited to join the Bromley Ski & Snowboard School for free on three dates this winter: December 21, 2014, January 19 or March 15, 2015. Participants will receive a Learning Zone lift ticket, specially designed beginner rental equipment for the day and instruction.
63) Killington Resort | Bask in $1 million in improvements
Killington invested heavily in infrastructure projects ahead of the 2014-15 winter season, including more than $1 million in lifts and lift improvements, $2 million worth of new energy efficient snow guns, and continual trail and glade maintenance.
64) Mount Snow Resort | Enjoy green snowmaking system
Snowmaking enhancements continue at Mount Snow with more than 600 new low-energy snow guns, the largest single snow gun upgrade in resort history. Also making its debut this winter is Smart Snow: a state-of-the-art snowmaking control system that was used for the snowmaking operation at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
65) Okemo Mountain Resort | Ride the Sunburst Six
For 2014-15, Okemo has installed a new, high-speed, six-person bubble chairlift with heated seats—the first of its kind in North America. The aptly named Sunburst Six replaces the Northstar Express Quad.
66) Smugglers’ Notch Resort | Ski on better snow
Smuggler’s Notch has added more than 150 new high-efficiency tower guns and one fan gun signals. This is Smugglers’ third consecutive winter of snowmaking improvements.
67) Stowe Mountain Resort | Take advantage of years-long expansion
Wrapping up a three-year, $9.8 million dollar snowmaking expansion,Stowe has also renovated the gondola on Mt. Mansfield and improved lift service on lower Spruce Peak with a new quad chairlift and two new surface lifts.
68) Stratton Mountain Resort | Ride new gondolas, glades
Stratton invested $7 million this offseason. Improvements include about 60 new gondola cabins as well as a few new glades for tree skiing.
69) Sugarbush Resort | Spend time on improved lifts, snow
For 2014-15, Sugarbush spent more than $1 million on both mechanical and electrical upgrades to the lifts and also invested $1.8 million in snowmaking equipment, completing a five-year, $5 million project.
70) Woodstock Inn & Resort | Snowshoe in the moonlight
The Woodstock Inn’s new Tubbs Snowshoe Adventure Center will feature expert-led tours, moonlight treks for dinner in the resort’s cabin in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and other services on the resort’s 30 kilometers of trails.
Rest of the Eastern U.S.
Maine
71) Sugarloaf Mountain Resort | Ski expanded terrain on Burnt Mountain
Besides increasing the snowmaking capacity and adding to the fleet of groomers, Sugarloaf also continues to expand terrain on Burnt Mountain, where it’s added more than 500 acres since 2010, making the resort the largest east of the Rocky Mountains.
72) Sunday River Resort | Test yourself on 50 new acres of expert runs
As part of $5 million in offseason improvements, Sunday River has added about 50 acres of expert runs, including four new glades and a double black-diamond run off the Spruce Peak Triple Lift.
New Hampshire
73) Black Mountain | Take upgraded platter pull
The iconic platter pull at Black Mountain is being upgraded for this winter, with a new electric motor, safety circuits and switches, a new computer drive system and electronic cabling.
74) Cannon Mountain Ski Area | Enjoy $2 million in upgrades
Cannon has sunk nearly $2 million into improvements for 2014-15, including trail and snowmaking expansion along with new grooming equipment.
75) Granite Gorge Ski Area | Ski “Evans Glades,” new cross-country terrain
Near Roxbury, Granite Gorge is opening “Evans Glades” off of the Paradise Trail. Cross-country skiers will also have more than 1 kilometer of new terrain to enjoy thanks to extension of the Frado ski trail.
76) Loon Mountain Resort | Send kids to expanded terrain park
Along with a big boost in snowmaking, Loon is expanding the Burton Lil’ Stash, the resort’s newest terrain park for kids, with a series of berms and new animal carvings to go along with existing carvings of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
77) McIntyre Ski Area | Stay up for improved night skiing
Improvements at McIntyre for the 2014-15 include more lights on an additional trail for expanded night skiing. The snowmaking capacity has also increased.
78) Mount Sunapee Resort | Get to the summit faster
A new Poma high-speed quad chairlift in Sunbowl area at Sunapee will replace the fixed-grip quad that previously serviced that area. This lift will cut the ride time to the summit for skiers and riders by more than half to just over four minutes.
79) Omni Mount Washington Resort | Ski expanded cross-country system
Mount Washington at Bretton Woods has expanded the Nordic trail system with three new kilometers at Fabyan’s. Bretton Woods continues to be one of the few ski resorts to offer lift-serviced Nordic terrain to its 100-kilometer trail network. With more than $2 million invested since 2010, Bretton Woods has improved its early-season snowmaking across 300 acres.
80) Pats Peak Ski Area | Make turns on new trails
New last winter at Pats Peak, Cascade Basin included a new triple chairlift and four new ski trails, and guests this winter will find two new trails as well as a new glade in the area. The new trails will have full snowmaking coverage to continue to provide quality snow surfaces.
81) Ragged Mountain Resort | Bask in $5 million in upgrades
As part of $5 million in upgrades, Ragged Mountain replaced the Spear triple chairlift with a new Doppelmayr high-speed detachable quad chair. The new chair will enable skiers and riders to enjoy high-speed access to both peaks.
New York
82) Whiteface Lodge | Ski free midweek with lodging booking
Whiteface Lodge‘s Ski Free Midweek Package offers free lift tickets with lodging Sunday through Thursday for an Alpine ski experience minus the crowds and long lift lines from January to April 2015. The package (use promo code SKIFRE at booking) includes two days of complimentary skiing at Whiteface Mountain, which boasts the largest vertical drop east of the Rocky Mountains.
Canada
Alberta
83) Mt. Norquay | Ride upgraded terrain park for beginners
Near Banff, Mt. Norquay not only offers creative hourly passes and chairlift speed dating, but the ski area has also improved the Illusion run off of the Mystic Chair and upgraded the terrain park for beginners.
84) Sunshine Village | Take weather-shielded lift with heated seats
By the end of the 2014-15 season, a new quad chairlift will replace the existing Tee Pee Town double chair at Sunshine Village. The new lift will feature weather-shielding bubbles and heated seats, firsts in Canada.
British Columbia
85) Eagle Pass Heliski | Use new staging facility
Eagle Pass, offering access to 270,000 acres in the snow-laden Monashee Mountains, built a new 5,800-square-foot facility this offseason.
86) Panorama Mountain Village | Ski new terrain, watch IPC World Championship
Panorama’s new $2.2 millioin Doppelmayr Quad on the lower mountain will open new beginner and intermediate terrain. Later in the season, the resort will host the IPC World Championship in March 2015 and become the first North American resort to do so.
87) Red Mountain Resort | Try expanded snowcat skiing
Red Mountain is expanding its terrain again this season by opening nearly 200 acres on Mt. Kirkup that will be accessed by snowcat from Grey Mountain ($10 per run).
88) Revelstoke Mountain Resort | Ride improves runs, train for the backcountry
Revelstoke gladed on Southside in the Tally-Ho area as well as Glades of Glory, improved the Chopper run and opened a new backcountry training area at the top of the gondola with a focus on avalanche-safety skills.
89) Whitewater Ski Resort | Take backcountry lessons
Whitewater is offering new backcountry lessons this winter for skiers and riders that are new to exploring beyond the resort’s boundaries.
90) Whistler Blackcomb | Enjoy $6 million upgrades to cabins
Whistler added new eight-passenger gondola cabins on the Whistler Village Gondola. The resort has invested $6 million into the upgrade to the cabins.
91) Whistler Blackcomb | Use new RFID technology
Whistler is introducing of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system with lift access control gates on most mountain lifts to reduce wait times at main access points and the minimize unpaid lift access.
92) Whistler Blackcomb | Ski improved Crystal Zone trails
After just one season for last year’s new Crystal Ridge Express high-speed quad chair on Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler has widened the Crystal Glide trail from Glacier Creek Lodge area to the lift base. Further trail work has been done on three other trails in Crystal Zone.
Quebec
93) Mont Tremblant | Take the kids to the TAM-TAM Zone
In December 2014, Tremblant is schedule to open a new kids’ area dubbed the TAM-TAM Zone designed to help young skiers expand their slide skills through play. Grown-ups also have a new playground in the form of nearly 10 acres of new glades.
Passes/Miscellaneous
94) EpicMix | Use the app at Vail Resorts
The fifth generation of the award-winning EpicMix app, EpicMix Guide will utilize guest input to generate customized guides for Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge or Keystone in Colorado, Canyons in Park City, Utah, or Heavenly, Northstar or Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe.
95) Epic Pass | Add Park City and resorts in Japan and Europe
Besides unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton and Arapahoe Basin, with no blackout dates, the $769 Epic Pass now includes five days at Niseko United in Japan and Verbier in Switzerland and 3 Vallees in France when staying in resort lodging.
96) GetSkiTickets.com | Find discounts at new partner resorts
GetSkiTickets.com offers discounts on lift tickets at a growing roaster of about 50 different partner resorts in Colorado, Utah, California, British Columbia, Idaho and Nevada.
97) Liftopia | Take advantage of dynamic pricing
Liftopia has introduced the ski industry’s first tiered dynamic pricing system for lift tickets featuring value, value plus and flexible options, now available for purchase for the 2014-15 ski season. Value savings can hit 85 percent off walk-up window rates when purchased in advance.
98) Mountain Collective | Get passes at Banff resorts, too
For $399 adults, skiers and riders who buy a Mountain Collective pass now get two days at Banff’s three resorts (Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise) along with two days each at Alta-Snowbird in Utah, Aspen/Snowmass in Colorado, Whistler Blackcomb in B.C., Mammoth and Squaw-Alpine in California and Jackson Hole in Wyoming.
99) NextGreatTrip | Fly charter to avoid Colorado traffic
Denver-based NextGreatTrip is offering a sky-high way to get past the ski-traffic snarl on I-70, with charter flights to Aspen, Telluride and other resort towns, as well as partnering with local luxury lodgings.
100) Powder Alliance | Get passes to Silver Star Mountain in B.C., too
Silver Star joins Crested Butte, Bridger Bowl, Arizona Snowbowl, Schweitzer, Mt. Hood and other resorts in the Powder Alliance. Passholders at any of the resorts get three days each at the other partner resorts.
101) Rocky Mountain Super Pass+ | Take unlimited runs at Eldora Mountain Resort
The $569 Rocky Mountain Super Pass+ adds unlimited access at Eldora near Boulder to the roster of Winter Park, Copper, Steamboat and Crested Butte in Colorado, as well as seven days at Mt. Ruapehu in New Zealand.
102) Scout | Plan your ski travels
Australia-based Sarah Plaskitt is an avid skier who quit her advertising job in New York to travel to the world’s best ski resorts and review properties. A year and 45 resorts later, she launched Scout, a new online travel planning and booking resource for skiers, by skiers. Scout handpicks ideal ski hotels and condos and provides in-depth reviews, tips and insights on each location, as well as custom paper guides for each customer.
103) The Ski Week | Ski with hundreds of young professionals
Catering to a young professionals, The Ski Week offers self-catered lodging and six days’ worth of lift tickets for $750 to $1,100 per person, not including airfare, for a group of about 400 travelers per trip. This season includes trips to Aspen, Switzerland and Powder Mountain in Utah.
Source http://www.mapquest.com/travel/articles/where-to-ski-new-things-to-do-snow-lovers-winter-20994797
Read the full article here - Where to Ski: 103 New Things to Do for Snow Lovers this Winter
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