EpicMix leverages radio frequency (RF) technology installed at each of the Company’s 89 lifts across its five mountain resorts and RF chips embedded in the Company’s season passes and lift tickets. EpicMix enables guests to share their experiences with family and friends on Facebook and Twitter. EpicMix will recognize special achievements by rewarding guests with collectible digital pins.

With a free mobile application (iPhone, Android) and access available online, anyone with a pass (Epic Pass, Epic 7-Pack, Summit Pass, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin Pass, Heavenly Pass and PEAKS Lift Ticket) can track days on the mountain, vertical feet, view stats compared to your friends, etc. For the nerds and digital savvy out there, this sounds like an exciting technology.

Learn more at epicmix.com »

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From 2010 X Games Showing

Have a seat and enjoy inexpensive Budweiser beer, and a live DJ from HOT 107.1

From 2010 X Games Showing

It’s a bit chilly out so don’t expect a huge crowd. We were the only ones there last night. So, find a bar and keep warm if you can’t stand the chill.

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From SIA A-Basin and Tilted Kilt

Enter to win gear at the hourly raffles (including t-shirts, hats, passes, and a snowboard), have a $5 cherry bomb from the Arapahoe Basin ice luge, or just enjoy discounted drinks and food.

From SIA A-Basin and Tilted Kilt

The party goes form 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM right next to the Clocktower on the 16th Street Mall. Hint: if you stop by Skyline Park you might be handed $1-off coupons.

UPDATE: The crew from Metromix / 9NEWS grabbed some great photos at the Tilted Kilt last night.

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Anyway, we did a few runs on the front. There was a bit of a crowd in the morning but as soon as everyone realized it wasn’t worth it, they went home. The gondola was closed all day due to the high-winds and the visibility was pretty poor. So, luckily we had the place to ourselves by 10:30.

And to top it all off, the commute to and from Denver was delayed over an hour due to the roads and metering at the tunnel. From 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, there was a 60 minute delay (the drive usually takes about 9 minutes) from Silverthorne to the east entrance to the Eisenhower Tunnel.

I’m likely not the only one getting frustrated at this point…

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From Skiing at Keystone

Most terrain, I’m sure you’re aware, has been packed (man-made) powder. Many resorts don’t have nearly enough Expert terrain open because there isn’t enough cover. So that leaves two options: the front of the mountain or the terrain park. Frankly, I’m not interested in either. I’d much rather be sipping on a bloody mary on the deck in the sun than risk colliding with the dozens of other weekend warriors on the hill.

From Skiing at Keystone

From Skiing at Keystone

Hopefully this is changing with the latest storm but most of the big Vail resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Breckenridge) have only received a few inches each day.

If you like to play in the park I can see how you could make the most of the conditions but this is horrible. The traffic on Saturday was the most congested it has been all season… and for what? I’m becoming a bit bearish on this snow market.

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Over the past weekend I had the privilege of ski biking with a group at Vail’s Adventure Center. At first glance, the bikes seem to be nothing more than two skis; one in the front of the other. Apparently, there is a little more to it.

First, the adventure began in the late evening. We headed up the gondola late after the mountain had closed. Worth noting: our group went out at 5:15 which, in the mountains, is far past sunset. In fact, it was downright dark out. I started having second thoughts… Good thing everyone was provided with a headlamp; safety first!

Next, we strapped on what appear to be snow skates to the bottom of our ski boots. At this point in the bike metaphor our feet had become the training wheels (or the ‘tri’ in tricycle). That’s encouraging…

Finally, we awkwardly waddle outside (snow skates are like walking around with flippers on) and spot the bikes. There are two types of bikes: “big” and “slightly less big.” It turns out, my height qualifies me as a “slightly less big” guy. That really took a hit on the ego. Strike three…

At this point, it’s time to sit on the bike and receive the safety and instructional tutorial. “Sit on the bike, don’t stand, slide to a stop like a hockey player…”. I’ve been skiing for years, this all seems fairly straight forward. Turns out, if you’re a skilled skier, it is. The bike is a long frame with a seat, a handle bar which controls the ski in the front, and a ski in the back. The front of the bike and the seat have some suspension… some. But, the majority of the work is done in your hips. Much like skiing, you slide to the sides and carve on the edges to make nice turns. The only difference, of course, is you’re two feet from the ground.

I can see how the sport isn’t being widely accepted: you need to already have some skiing expertise, you are so much closer to the ground, you have many more moving parts and a big bike to land on you. The sport is intimidating. Oh and at Vail: you’re doing it at night, in the dark and it’s very cold.

All of that aside, once you push off and slide down your first hill, it’s a blast. I did a couple slides and fidgeted with the handlebars and already had the hang of it. Just by shifting my hips left and right allowed me to make nice, steady turns. Though, it did start to feel like I was going 100 miles an hour because the ground is whizzing by right below me. Overall, I had a great time. It’s a new experience and a new sport and you’ve already got the hang of it.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get three full top-to-bottom runs in during the two-hour session. If your group catches on quickly, you can try moguls, easy tree runs (very fun!), and maybe even a little jump.

Unfortunately, the snow conditions are less than perfect right now. If you hate going down icy runs in the afternoon, imagine them on a bike in the dark. It’s scary. I think with a bit more fresh snow, the ski biking could be even more enjoyable. For now, it seems a bit fast and almost reckless (the dark, its intimidating).

Check it out and don’t let me discourage you. Again, it’s a bunch of fun and with some more light and more snow, I’d consider ski biking again.

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Not only is Montezuma bowl closed, but the east wall is pure rock, and the west wall had just barely opened. If you were looking for challenging runs, the day would have been limited to about a half-dozen runs under Lewanee Life if it weren’t for Pallavicini (Pali) opening just that day. Even with that, you’re limited to about five runs which all had a very small base and noticeable rocks by mid-day.

You can see the green area has had some good snow and decently-shaped moguls. The higher up you go (orange and pink) the less snow you have. I hit a good number of rocks and was none-too-pleased about that.

But, conditions aside, it was a beautiful day. The kind of afternoon where you could sit out on the deck with a jacket on and enjoy the sun. We just need more snow…

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