It happened in Beaver Creek

Two feet of fresh snow in 48 hours? Put it all together in a resort like Beaver Creek, Colo., and you have two of the best days of skiing I’ve ever experienced. And I’ve skied in a lot of places.

I should probably explain how I ended up in Beaver Creek in late February. Last summer, when I was a speaker at a blogging conference, I threw my business card in a hat and won a trip to Colorado. I had been talking with my friends at Vail Resorts about dropping by for a visit, so this was the perfect excuse.

I’ve been to Beaver Creek several times over the years. About a decade after it opened, I came here to check out the just-opened Hyatt at the base of the mountain. Then, a few years later, I was sent here as a contributor to Charlie Leocha’s ski guidebook. And then a few more times in the late 90s and early 2000s for conferences or just a day of skiing.

But I have to be honest: The skiing was just so-so. Don’t get me wrong, Beaver Creek has lots of nice terrain — something for every level of skier — but I happened to be here on the worst snow days. One time, there wasn’t enough of it. Another time, it was too slushy. (I shoulda known; it was the last day of skiing, but it made for a great story!)

So what’s it like to ski in perfect snow? Words fail me.

The last time I encountered conditions like this, in Montana back in 1992, they had a name for this kind of precipitate: They called it “hero powder.” That’s because the white stuff was light and fluffy and when you turned, your skis went in the right direction without protesting.

I spent yesterday morning with some friends from the resort, making turns on all of Beaver Creek’s best slopes — Powell, Flattops, Redtail and down Larkspur Bowl. The sun was out, the weekend crowds were gone. One run was better than the next. Not bad for a Monday.

I’ve always hoped for a day like this at Beaver Creek, ever since the first time I came here in 1992. Yesterday, I got it.

Kari and the kids are getting spoiled by this terrific snow. Aren, Iden and Erysse joined us on this trip, and they’ve been in ski school since late last week. Aren’s a solid level-4 skier now. Iden and Erysse are 2s. Aren said he had the “best day ever” yesterday.

So did I.

(Photo: Zach Dischner/Flickr Creative Commons)

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

Tagged as: BEAVER CREEK, Colorado, POWDER, SNOW

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