My younger brother tried snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and I took him up to Loveland. The mountain is incredibly friendly for beginners who are just starting, and I highly recommend it for the following reasons: The area for beginners (Loveland Valley) is distinctive from the other areas of the mountain (Loveland Basin). The bunny hill has a dedicated lift leading to two short, easy green runs. Because just about everyone using this lift is new to the sport, the intimidation factor is low. Newcomers need not be embarassed as they work their way up the learning curve because everyone ...

The opening day battle for 2008-2009 continues on and the winner is: a tie. Both Loveland and Arapahoe Basin will open at 8:30AM on October 15th (tomorrow). If you noticed yesterday, Arapahoe Basin announced the 15th at 9:00AM. Loveland then responded by announcing 8:30AM on the 15th. The two are now tied... who thinks Loveland will try 8:00AM?

Devin wrote a great guide to all the most frequently used and best known passes in Colorado, but there are also a lot of great deals that you might not be aware of. Below are a few more passes that you may want to check out. Monarch This resort may be a bit out of the way and off the beaten track, but it's offering some great deals this season. Monarch has teamed up with mountains in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah to offer you some excellent free and discounted deals. You will get 3 free days at each of the following ...

I know, I know--it's only August but with the recent (dramatic) change in weather here in Denver (from sunny 90s to wet 60s) it's a nice reminder that the seasons will change and we'll be back on the slopes in no time. So, the question, have you bought a 2008/2009 season pass yet? If you're still thinking about it here's the scoop as of August 15th (prices and purchase options are subject to change throughout the season.) Colorado Pass Any reader will know this is my favorite pass as it gets you access to awesome mountains for beginners and experts alike. The extra ...

Q: I am moving back to Colorado late this March. Do any resorts sell late season passes (Late season Buddy Pass) Something like that? I hope so! Daily rates at Vail,Breck,and Keyston would get expensive! Posted by Lance Gartner A: Hey Lance, great question and the simplest answer: you're out of luck. The Colorado Pass is no longer on sale (access to all Vail resorts including Breckenridge and Keystone) as this is the definition of price discrimination. The same goes for the Intrawest passes (Copper Mountain, Winter Park and Steamboat). The beauty of a monopoly is the fact the consumer will sometimes ...