Here’s a place we can chat about our recent skier experiences… ski resort reports, equipment feedback, fitness prep tips, technique hints and more. Since we like to meander on CC, it would be fun to hear about family skiing memories too.
In Colorado (and elsewhere), Nov/Dec has been rather warm with disappointingly little snowfall. Since I have an Ikon pass for first time ever, I have done two short ski outings at the nearest place - more on that later. Has anybody else been out on the slopes?
Funny you should mention this. Just made reservations for Banff Christmas week 2026. I am NOT a skier. My first ski trip was with my husband when we were dating and it was not a fun experience and almost ended our early relationship at that time….but he was cute. I love the winter wonderland (not to live in, but to visit and hang out in the warming hut with a hot toddy or spiced apple cider). First trip was to Breckenridge when dating in 1983, 2nd trip with kids to Breckenridge in early 2000s, then North Carolina, then Banff, then Vail. No one in the family are great skiers, but they all (mostly) like to make it a vacation when we can. Just checked Vail (hardly any snow) lift pass and almost fainted at $335 for 1 day when Banff is $370 for 3 days and for a senior it is $95 for 1 day. Ski resorts have always been pricey but they are getting ridiculous and maybe that is the point - to further separate the haves from the have nots.
We’re getting ready to head to Whistler/Blackcomb in a couple of days. Looks there’s decent snow there - at least compared to Colorado - although it’s sure to be super crowded.
You winter trips sound lovely!
Most resorts have now started encouraging annual passes for about $1000/person, to get a guaranteed big layout of cash pre-season. The big pass groups are Epic (around us in CO, includes Breckenridge & Keystone & Vail & Beaver Creek… plus Aspen and more resorts if you pay extra. And Ikon- in CO includes Copper, Winter Park, A-Basin and Steamboat and Eldora near me and more resorts if you pay extra). You have to pay a little more if you want the pass to be good on holiday weeks. Some years I just get a 4pak at Loveland, near Eisenhower tunnel - that makes a ski day about $89… paper tickets you can use for one person or share.
Tip - The past few years Copper Mountain has been having $99 Thursdays. Still a lot of money but less than half of list price - Play Forever at Copper Mountain
3 of us live in Atlanta and 2 in California and 1 in Colorado but he doesn’t ski and doesn’t like ski people 
so we have a lot of round trip airline tickets and resort or vrbo stays that make a ski vacation pricey for us. We all plan and save for our winter trips. They are about twice the price of summer vacations, maybe more. But, we love the winter vibe and I think Banff at Christmas was the prettiest place I’ve ever been. Walking down the main drag toward Mt. Norquay with snow and lights everywhere was like being in a living Hallmark card!
For any kid going to Colorado State or Boulder, you might as well figure in the price of a (discounted) Ikon pass. It has made Christmas shopping for the last 3 years easy, though. The only problem is that we get it as an early Christmas present and then there isn’t much under the tree.
We are heading to Burke in VT next week. Still independent, which is nice.
In March we are going to Italy to support our niece who’s competing in the Paralympics and will take a few days to ski as well. We are staying in Cavalese. If anyone has any recommendations for ski areas, I’m all ears. I know there are a lot of reviews out there, but first hand experience would be great.