The days are longer and warmer, which means more sunlight to enjoy spring skiing and riding, and fewer layers. Some resorts have extended operating hours and even days, while others are closing despite an abundance of snow.
Here’s our monthly ICYMI (in case you missed it) collection of this and that.
The fun and games at season’s end includes pond skimming contests. Here’s where to watch and cheer, since we do not encourage senior skiers or riders to participate without the approval of their cardiologist and/or psychiatrist.
Pond Skimming at Park City
April 6-8 – End of Season party featuring a competition style pond skim. With prizes for the biggest splash, best costume and best overall skim, with tons of raffles and giveaways.
Telluride Closing Weekend Events Including Pond Skimming
Sat., April 1st – Telluride Brewing Company hosts its annual Goose Chase Scavenger Hunt on the mountain, 11am to 3 pm. To participate, groups of 1-4 must register and pay a $20 fee. After the Goose Chase, there’s a happy hour and raffle until 5pm. Also the Terrain Park crew will be hosting their annual Hannorama Jama Rail Jam in honor of the life and memory of Hannah Smith. This event is at the base of Lift 4 in Mountain Village at 3:30 pm, and no registration is needed. before the event.
On closing day, Sun., April 2nd, celebrate the great season with the annual Closing Day Party at Gorrono Ranch and the annual pond skim, Noon to 2pm. DJ Wombat will be performing throughout the afternoon to keep the celebration going on.
More information here about Telluride’s closing weekend events.
https://tellurideskiresort.com/daylight-savings-end-of-season-events/?A360=60302323
Pond Skimming at Solitude
Sat., April 8 – Bust out your best costume, slather on the sunscreen and show off your skimming skills at the annual Pond Skim Beach Party. Registration required.
https://www.solitudemountain.com/things-to-do/events-and-activities/pond-skim-beach-party
Or simply show up and watch the show. New this year, after the completion of the Pond Skim Beach Party, the party continues with live music from The Sweet Lillies.
World Pond Skimming Championships at Vail
April 7-10 – Who knew there was a championship event for pond skimming?
According to Local Freshies
https://localfreshies.com/most-unique-pond-skimming-events-in-north-america-2/
it started as a spoof on the World Alpine Championship in 1999. Now as part of the “Spring Back to Vail” Festival, it is a rowdy event filled attended by thousands of spectators, plus music and other events to close out the season. But if you do want to try for the Golden Skimmer, the top male and female finishers will receive a 2022/23 Epic Pass.
All participants get a special Helly Hansen backpack, and other prizes are awarded for the best crash, best costume, and more.
Slush Cup at Whistler/Blackcomb
April 16 – Prizes for the Best Costume, Best Trick, Best Wipe-Out and more.
The pond skimming contest is just one of a collection of closing week events. There’s also traditional on-slope races, a contest to produce the best 3-5 minute film about Whistler, live music, and more, all part of the week-long Whistler World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
https://www.whistler.com/events/world-ski-snowboard-festival
Music on Weekends at Big Sky
Every Fri.-Sun. through April 16, enjoy DJs and apres ski events in the MountainVillage Plaza.
Big Sky’s closing date is April 23.
Remember that closing dates have nothing to do with how much snow is on the ground, or even still falling. Closing dates are determined by other forces, including leasing arrangements and spring elk and moose migration.
Closing Dates in Colorado
These are the projected closing dates at publication. Be sure to check with the resort website in case closing dates change, or to confirm “TBD”, shorthand for “to be determined”.
- Aspen Highlands – April 16
- Aspen Mountain – April 23
- Beaver Creek – April 9
- Breckenridge – May TBD
- Buttermilk – April 2
- Ski Cooper – April 16
- Crested Butte – TBD
- Keystone – TBD
- Loveland – May 8
- Purgatory – April 23
- Steamboat – April 9
- Snowmass – April 16
- Telluride – April 2
- Vail – TBD
- Winter Park – Mid-May TBD
Closing Dates in Utah
- Alta – April 23
- Brighton – April 30
- Deer Valley – TBD
- Nordic Valley – April 9
- Park City Mountain – April 23
- Powder Mountain – TBD
- Snowbasin – TBD
- Snowbird – TBD
- Solitude – TBD
- Sundance – April 2
- Woodward Park City – TBD
- Palisades and Mammoth, California
- Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
- Killington in Vermont
How and where are you celebrating the end of a great ski/snowboard season? And who are you celebrating with?
Dear Evelyn, I have enjoyed your writing, and totally respect you exciting lifestyle. I am 66 and have recently retired. I would love nothing better than to xplore! The problem is, I have no one to do it with. Solo travel as a woman does not sound very fun to me however, perhaps you know better, and can guide me or persuade me to get out there, even though I am alone. I am very active I love scuba diving I love skiing swimming Being around people, however, a little bit shy. any thoughts or recommendations?
I say just get out there and do it! I am marrie, 63, and my husband doesn’t ski or do nearly half as much as I do. Yes, it isnt as much fun skiing by yourself as it is with my brothers, but I still go out 2-3 times a week solo, and have a blast. Also, I would not hesitate to travel by myself. Frankly, I could use the break, if you cath my drift!
Evelyn
I have some inside poop on the super seniors skiing comfort zone.
Harold G
Hi Evelyn — Thanks for the article! Most mountains near where I live (Mono County, eastern California) are now reporting over 50 feet of snow total for this year. Some big resorts (like Mammoth Mtn.) could stay open into August, but they will probably close July 4th. They aren’t making any money by that time of year.
But locals around here don’t go to big, expensive downhill ski resorts anyway, even if they are right next door. We all do backcountry stuff — touring, telemarking, AT, even snow camping. And the spring ski season has just begun. I just finished my 88th ski day of this season, and the “spring corn” is probably the best anywhere in North America at any time during the present century. Should be skiable at least through July. Happy spring to you!
What about an article on what happened to senior discounts? They have either disappeared or have pushed toward 90 plus!!
Our ski season here in Central Oregon will last until the end of May. As I type, Mt. Bachelor is experiencing yet another spring snowstorm! Happy trails!
I live in Utah and this has been the weirdest snow year of my life. Our massive snow is coming from an atmospheric river out of the pacific that has been going non stop since mid December. It just quit in the past four days. Friday April 7 was my first genuine spring ski day of the season. Two days before the temperatures were like late February. I have truly enjoyed the fresh snow but have grown quite tired of flat light!
As of Sunday April 9th our temperatures have now shot up so high that the spring corn we all love cannot be created. Highe for the next several days in Park City are in the high fifties and low sixties and overnight lows in the mid to low thirties. So we cannot get the hard freezes for several hours needed at night to create the marvelous corn during the day. Instead we will get glop and glue snow as the sun bakes it. It creates the dreaded “stop go” condition that can actually hurt you if you hit that snow fast enough. So you should ski high in the Cottonwood Canyons this time of year.
But there has been so much snow in the Cottonwoods that LCC has been closed and in interlodge for the past five days. And with rising temperatures that means the avalanche danger actually increases. UDOT is telling everyone they will be closing both LCC and BCC during most of the day for avalanche control. And they also said if you go into these canyons the next week you could be stuck there overnight if avalanche conditions change (e.g. higher temperatures or even rain).
A totally unnatural year, but I still enjoyed the fresh snow.