Shakin’ at the Basin – Arapahoe Basin

COLORADO
Spring has officially arrived at Colorado Ski Country USA ski areas and resorts with longer and warmer days and spring skiing conditions. Extended ski season, parties, races, concerts and pond-skimming will be in full-swing at resorts in the region. Below is a roundup of springtime celebrations happening at CSCUSA ski areas near the Front Range through the end of the 2016-17 ski season.

Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin’s 28th Annual Enduro, April 12, is a full day of fun both on and off the hill to benefit a member of the local community. Spectators can cheer on teams of two as they lap the Pallavicini Lift and terrain for 10 hours to see which team can complete the most laps. Teams of two can also enter the Enduro Light, an all-mountain ski tour in the spirit of the Enduro – all to benefit longtime A-Basin employees Devon and Becky Haire, whose daughter Amelia was born in early March with an abdominal condition that requires multiple surgeries. All are welcome at the ski area’s après party, a huge silent auction and an Italian dinner.

With longer days, sunnier skies, and great snow conditions there is no better way to celebrate springtime in the Rockies than at A-Basin with live music on its new stage in the Base Area Plaza. The annual free, family-friendly Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series kicks off April 29 from 1-4 p.m., and continues on Saturdays through June 4. Acts include White Water Ramble, Robbie Wicks Band, Pg. 6ix, Mama Magnolia, Jakarta, New Sensation and the Sweet Lillies.

For more information and complete list of spring activities including an Earth Day Celebration, April 22; Swimwear Day, May 20; and the Spring Rail Jam, May 28, visit http://www.arapahoebasin.com.

Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain hosts the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association’s National Championship, April 1-12. Nearly 2,000 top athletes compete in events including slopestyle, boarder-ski cross and halfpipe. These amateur athletes are future Olympians and World Champions.

Copper’s annual closing weekend celebration, Sunsation, is back for another year on April 15-16. Close out another awesome winter season with live music, the RedBull Slopesoakers, the High Fives Shred-a-thon, First Bank Capture the Cube and the World’ Largest Easter Egg Hunt.

Check out CopperColorado.com for a full list of events.

Eldora Mountain Resort

Eldora Mountain Resort
Break out your retro ski gear and join Eldora Mountain Resort on the mountain for some throwback fun, April 1-2, during Retro Days. The weekend includes the inaugural Ditchslap Banked Slalom, April 1, which features a luge-like course with gates flanked by high berms, allowing riders to slingshot from one edge of their board to the other as they gain momentum and speed. DJ Sam will spin tunes from 9 a.m.-noon and The Goonies will play live, noon-3 p.m. There will be a Kahlua tasting on the sundeck. The Snow Beach, sponsored by 10 Barrel Brewing Company, opens from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Live music is planned in the Timbers Tap Room, April 2 from 1-4 p.m.

On closing weekend, Eldora hosts a Snow Beach Party & Pond Skim, April 8-9 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Join the party as the resort closes out the ski season and work on a tan for summer while getting the last turns in of the season and getting down to DJ Sam on the Timbers Deck. Start thinking of your costume now, and prepare for an epic pond skim at the base of the mountain, April 9, at noon. DJ Sam and The Alcapones will keep the party going all afternoon.

For more information, visit Eldora.com.

Granby Ranch
To celebrate the last turns of the ski season, Granby Ranch hosts its annual pond skim with a live DJ and the final Meltdown race of the season, April 2. Special pass pricing for summer and winter of the 2017-18 season will be available, but you must be present to purchase. For more information visit http://www.granbyranch.com.

Loveland Ski Area
Join Loveland Ski Area to celebrate spring skiing and support the CAIC, an invaluable source of information for backcountry travelers, at the 16th Annual Corn Harvest, April 29. Guests don their best Hawaiian shirts and Loveland provides the leis as participating skiers and snowboarders raise funds and tour Loveland with local experts, enjoy live music on the basin patio and win great prizes in a raffle stocked with skis, beacons, packs, outerwear, and more. Packages are available for the event and include a lift ticket, lunch, New Belgium beer and a raffle ticket. For more information, visit http://www.skiloveland.com.

Winter Park Resort
April will be packed with live music during the month-long Springtopia at Winter Park Resort. The final concert will feature Michael Franti & Spearhead, April 22. The next day, Winter Park will say goodbye to the 2016-17 season with the Monster Energy Spring Splash pond skim. As spectators watch skiers and riders struggle through obstacles on the Larry Sale trail race course and attempt to skim across an icy pond to reach the finish line and post a time from 12-3pm. Discounted lift tickets and passes will be available throughout the month of April as well. For more information visit http://www.winterparkresort.com.

Additional spring activities take place at ski resorts all over the state. Be sure to check your favorites for their special events. Breckenridge hosts “the biggest spring party in the Rocky Mountains” through its Closing Day Celebration, April 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Peak 8 Ski Hill Grill patio.

Keystone Resort, which has extended its season one week, ends it with its Closing Day & Easter Celebration, April 16, including breakfast and an egg hunt.

Originally published in the April 2017 issue of the MMAC Monthly