2008-2009 Colorado Ski & Snowboard Resort Improvements

See what your favorite Colorado Resort has in store for the 08-09 season.

Colorado Resort Improvements

Arapahoe Basin

• More Snowmaking: Snowmaking capabilities have been improved in the resort's Sundance area, which will allow for more beginner skiing. A-Basin uses an airless system that uses 20% less electricity than a traditional snowmaking system.
• Black Mountain Lodge Expansion: A new 1,700 square foot deck, constructed from recycled materials, was added to the Black Mountain Lodge, adding seating for an additional 100 people.
• More Parking: 300 additional parking spaces were added on the other side of Highway 6. The new lot is connected to the resort via a pedestrian tunnel. Shuttles will also be available to take guests from the upper lots to the base area.

Arapahoe Basin website

• New Terrain: 18 acres of new terrain, called Canopy Cruiser, have been added in the Deep Temerity area of the mountain.

Aspen Highlands website

• Improved Gondola Plaza: A new and improved single-level gondola plaza featuring new steps - and less of them - will make loading the gondola easier this season.

Aspen Mountain website

• Snowmaking Upgrades: New, automated snowmaking will be added to key areas and energy efficient towers will be installed to reduce the amount of compressed air needed for operation. The work is part of a five-year snowmaking automation and upgrade plan that began last year.

Beaver Creek Resort website

• New Base Area: A new base area, Peak 7, a base area featuring high-end lodging at Crystal Peak Lodge, a new ski school, ticket sales and ski rentals, a new restaurant named Sevens, and a new connection between the town and mountain via the BreckConnect gondola.
Buttermilk

• New Superpipe: Home to ESPN's Winter X-Games through 2010, Buttermilk will debut a new 500 foot long Superpipe with 22 ft. walls (as measured from the center of the pipe to the deck).

Buttermilk website

Copper Mountain

• New Freestyle Training Facility: The legendary Camp Woodward is debuting a new indoor freestyle training facility to be called Woodward at Copper this season. The 19,000 square foot facility, a.k.a. The Barn, will give freestyle skiers and riders access to foam pits, trampolines, resipads, and a few other surprises. After they feel comfortable with new tricks indoors, the kids (young and old) can head outside to throw down in one of Copper's five terrain parks.
• New Construction: Copper recently received approval to move forward with the next stage of its Village and Base Area development. Included in the re-zoning application are 590 units of residential and hotel density, employee and affordable housing, improved parking, transportation and pedestrian flow, perpetual funding for community programs, wetlands and open space creation and construction of a recreation path throughout the resort base area.

Copper Mountain website

Crested Butte

• Expanded Terrain: New terrain in the Teocalli bowl area off the Headwall lift, known as Teo-2 and Teo-2.5, will add more expert terrain to the resort's already ample supply.
• Terrain Park Updates: New and expanded features in the DC Terrain Park, as well as the addition of an intermediate terrain park, will improve the freestyle experience for skiers and riders.
• Redesigned Base Area: The Crested Butte Ski and Snowboard Rental Shop has been moved slope-side, while the Rental Shop's former space will be transformed into a "Pizza Zone." A re-designed Outpost building will be opened as a day lodge for guests, with tables and seating provided for breaks during the day.
• New Guest Services: A new central ski valet and overnight ski, snowboard and boot valet service will debut. The service, which will offer ski-in ski-out access, will be free to all CBMR hotel guests, or to other guests for a nightly fee.
• Snow Igloos: Solid snow structures will be constructed at the Kids Base Camp area and mid-mountain outside the Ice Bar restaurant.

Crested Butte website

Echo Mountain

• New Terrain: Gladed terrain has been expanded this season in the Westside Glades.
• New Park Features: Three new signature features will debut this season - a Wood Wave, the 686 Tree Bridge (featuring a 12" wide box and 4" wide rail), and a Burton/Echo staircase. The Wood Wave and 686 Tree Bridge are located in the Westside Glades. The Burton/Echo staircase is a 24-stair set featuring a 12" wide box, 4" wide rail, and a center log with dual "hubba" ledges.
• Expanded Beginner Area & New Surface Lift: An expanded LC1 designated beginner learning area and new Magic Carpet lift will improve the experience for new skiers and riders this season.
• Base Area Improvements: Concrete pavers have been added to the Echo Plaza, and the Echo Lodge and Echo Garage boast a new and improved layout.

Echo Mountain website

Keystone

• New Gondola: The new 8 person River Run gondola replaces the old 6 person River Run gondola for the 08/09 season. The bottom terminal of the lift has been moved into the River Run Village, and a new mid-station has been constructed halfway up Dercum Mountain.

Keystone Ski Resort website

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