We know you’ve been staring at your favorite ski resort’s screen saver for months now, wishing you were blasting through the powder rather than blasting through paperwork. You’ve followed our storms, you’ve had your eye on latest and greatest boards, you’re ready to rack up some vert and you’re itching to get out of the office. The holidays are over, a new decade has begun and it’s time to get the guys together for a ski week.
The requisites for a purist guys’ ski trip are pretty minimal, good friends, good snow and maybe a good bar or two. But the 2020 version sure beats the ski pants off of the 90’s version, so why not take advantage of the upgrades?
Whether this year is the start of a brand new guys’ ski week tradition or you’ve been taking an annual ski trip with the boys since, well, you were a boy, we’ve got you covered. Our ultimate guys’ ski week guide will give you updated thrills on and off the hill at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Steamboat.
How to get the most skiing in the least amount of time
First Tracks
First things first, you didn’t beg your family for the week off just to sleep in. You can sleep when you’re dead or on the plane ride home. Be sure to book at least one day of First Tracks, especially if powder is in the forecast.
Steamboat and Beaver Creek both have great options for first chair and first tracks. For Steamboat skiers, you can pay as low as $39 for an upgraded first tracks lift ticket. This enables you to board the gondola a full 30 minutes before the rest of the world and head over to the Priest Creek area so that you can avoid the crowds while absorbing those coveted first tracks on a powder day.
Beaver Creek’s First Tracks program starts a full hour before the lifts open to everyone else. Ski pros give you the lay of the land with their best ski run suggestions for the conditions, then you carve up a few turns before everyone else wakes up.
After, you are treated to a sizable skier breakfast at Allie’s Cabin in Beaver Creek, enabling you to ski through lunch and avoid the crowds even longer. 6 hacks on other ways to avoid the crowds during ski day, click here.
Powder cat skiing
For a guaranteed day of epic skiing, book a day on a powder cat. It’s much more convenient than going on a full-blown heli-ski trip and just as awesome. Our guest services specialists can point you in the right direction. Looking for the best powder stashes at Steamboat, but don’t have time for a powder cat experience? We spill a few secrets to enjoying our champagne powder right here...
Night skiing
If you’re arriving in Steamboat on a direct flight from the East Coast, time is on your side, you might even be able to sneak in a few night skiing turns shortly after leaving the tarmac. Or later in the itinerary, extend your apres-ski to include some night skiing.
Ski your pass off
All 3 resorts have phenomenal terrain. Vail has epic back bowls, Beaver Creek has plenty of untouched challenging trails plus perfect groomers and Steamboat boasts its legendary tree skiing and famed champagne powder. All have a great mix of steeps and cruisers for all abilities plus expert hike-to terrain and double blacks for thrillseekers. Hire a pro to show you around and help you cut the lift lines, in Steamboat you can even hire an Olympian to uplevel your turns while showing you all the hidden gems.
Racer Ready
Looking for a little friendly competition? Challenge the guys to an EpixMix race in Vail or Beaver Creek. Compare your stats to each other or to Olympic racer Lindsay Vonn. Or fly through the Nastar course in Steamboat. Winner doesn’t buy the dinner.
Get big air (literally or vicariously)
Steamboat, Vail and Beaver Creek all have multiple terrain parks with half-pipes, mini-pipes, rails, boxes, family cross berms, and good old fashioned jumps.
Or you can skip the chiropractic appointment and just watch the best free riders compete at the 2020 Burton US Open in Vail in late February or see the future Olympians of Steamboat themselves off of the 90-meter jump every Wednesday night at Howelsen Hill.
No helmet or orthopedic surgery required for being in the cheering section.
Apres-ski
In Steamboat, play some Hammerschlagen at the former ski patrol hut known now as T-Bar, catch some rays on “the beach” at the longtime local favorite, Slopeside, or pull up a seat at Fleischer Sports’ new ski tune bar. The ski tune bar is a first of its kind. Throw back a beer as you watch two-time Olympian and Fleischer Sports owner, Chad Fleischer, tune your skis. Actually, you’ll watch his state-of-the-art 9000lb, 19-foot-long CSA tuning machine that’s built into the back of the eight-person Tune-Up bar tune your skis while Chad pours you a beer. Definitely worth stopping by for a “brewski”.
In Vail, the Red Lion has been entertaining the apres-ski crowd with live music and shot skis for decades. You’re never too old for a shot ski (even though your wife might disagree). The Coyote Cafe at Beaver Creek is a classic apres-ski hot spot as is The Dusty Boot Roadhouse.
Best place to watch the game
Whether it’s football season, hockey season or it’s time to keep tabs on your March Madness bracket, there are plenty of TVs scattered throughout the resorts. In Lionshead/Vail, Garfinkel’s has plenty of TVs, multiple games on, plus burgers, beer and traditional pub food. The Altitude Bar & Grill in Vail is slightly more upscale and has a 100ft projection TV and 19 LCD screens. Vail Ale House has 15 LCD screens plus NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra innings, NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice.
In Avon, Bob’s Place is a friendly viewing spot with craft beer and classic cocktails. If your name actually is Bob, sign the celebrity “Bob” wall for your Avon legacy. Also in Avon, Sauce on the Creek is a little more upscale, and also has a bocce ball court for warmer months.
In Steamboat, Tap House, Dude & Dan’s Sports Bar, Carl’s Tavern or Old Town Pub all have similar offerings (i.e. lots of TVs, plenty of beer, plus burgers, wings and the works). For a more upscale viewing, grab some truffle fries at the Truffle Pig bar (located at One Steamboat Place) and catch all the games.
You can also have our private shuttles take you to and from West Steamboat to the newly revamped and renovated Snowbowl where there’s a projection TV practically the size of a jumbotron. Bowl a few rounds at half-time and enjoy a huge selection of house-made hotdogs and brats and other gourmet eats. Outdoor games are also available as the snow melts.
Most of our chalets are also equipped with flat-panel TVs, satellite or cable and couches you’ll never want to get up from. After the game, you can throw that GoPro footage from the day’s antics on the big screen relive your moment of glory, laugh, cheer, or smack talk each other in private.
Craft Brewery Tours
A pub crawl is so 1990’s. These days all the cool (over 21) kids go on craft brewery tours, instead. We use the term “tour” lightly. It’s a DIY variety. Hit as many or as few as you like in your own time. Here are a few of our favorites:
Vail & Beaver Creek
Vail Brewing Company’s beers are crafted with altitude and brewed for adventure. It’s a casual spot and a little off the beaten path in Eagle/Vail, but they do have a Vail Village Tap Room for tasting.
Ein Prosit in Avon/Beaver Creek boasts fine beer and sausages. It’s more of a Bavarian beer hall with pretzels, hand-crafted sausages and a huge selection of German and Belgian beer than it is a brewery, but its German heritage ensures a high-quality experience. Don’t worry, they have a few Colorado crafts, as well.
Gore Range Brewery in Edwards is not too far from Vail or Beaver Creek and worth the Uber ride. Its French-born, Manhattan trained chef ensures high-quality fare is paired with its exceptional brews. Lively atmosphere, always a good time.
Steamboat
In Steamboat, you can head west of town to see the bigger craft breweries, Storm Peak and Butcherknife in action. These are true breweries, not taprooms or restaurants. Butcherknife has a sidecar food truck for some nibbles and Storm Peak has a reciprocal relationship with How Ya Doin’ Pizza next door to ensure no one goes hungry. Both have lively atmospheres, a fun vibe and are just down the street from each other.
For more of the micro craft brewery experience, head over to Mahogany Ridge downtown for some Alpenglow ale paired with high-end cuisine. Saddle up at a communal picnic table or pull up a barrel at Mountain Tap Brewery for tasty brews and an amazing wood-fired menu. The Barley Tap Room also has a nice selection of the best craft brews from around the state. These are all conveniently located in downtown Steamboat.
Save water, drink whiskey
With distilleries popping up throughout the state, the whiskey trade is giving craft beer a run for its money. Local distilleries worth a visit: 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Distillery in Vail or Steamboat Whiskey Company in downtown Steamboat. The actual 10th Mountain Whiskey distillery is in Gypsum, but they have a beautiful tasting room on Bridge Street in Vail Village. The bartenders will serve it straight up or take some liberties in creating a moonshine limoncello or other libations.
In Steamboat, the distillery and tasting room are next to each other and are smack dab in the middle of downtown on our main drag, Lincoln Avenue. They’ve got their famed Warrior Whiskey, Sleeping Giant Gin and Ski Town Vodka available for tasting, plus, a few nibbles like bison chili and whiskey-infused salted caramel cake to fill your belly.
Nightlife
Shakedown, Red Lion and Bridge Street Bar are best bets for live music and Pepi’s and Los Amigos are some additional nightlife favorites in Vail. The Remedy Bar in Vail Village is an upscale nightlife and apres favorite. In Avon/Beaver Creek, head on over to Agave for live music and tasty margaritas.
In Steamboat, venture downtown to Schmiggity’s for a full calendar of nightly events from live music to DJs to piano bar evenings and karaoke. Old Town Pub has been serving up the hottest live music for decades, they’ve even hosted greats such as Stevie Nicks, members of Widespread Panic, Sheryl Crow and other legends. The Press, a few doors down from Schmiggity’s, offers a quieter live music atmosphere and The Chief Theatre often has big bands or stand-up comedy acts.
Who are we kidding, though? If you haven’t stayed up past 11 pm (unless you’re watching the World Series or tending to a sick kid) in a looooong time, check out some early entertainment. Many apres places have live music before the sun goes down and The Bud Light Rocks the Boat concert series that happens in March in Steamboat starts at a respectable hour (4 pm). You’ll feel like you got a full night out before you’ve even eaten dinner (makes waking up for early morning turns a lot easier, too!).
Or would you rather stay in?
Poker Night at the chalet is always a guys’ ski week favorite. You bring the cash, we’ll make sure you’re stocked with cards and chips. Most of our chalets have a sophisticated game room, many complete with foosball, pool table, pinball, and card tables. Some even have an indoor climbing wall and one actually has an indoor basketball court. How’s that for the ultimate man cave?
Afraid you might only be eating mac ‘n cheese if you stay in? You can book a fully catered chalet and we’ll make sure you eat like a king 3 times a day. Our chefs are also available for a one-off dinner or we can arrange to have you carted around to every chophouse in the vicinity.
You could also bring over Laura The Butcher, in Steamboat for one of her over-the-top charcuterie platters or a full-fledged grazing table of her best meats and cheeses. Or for something different, attend one of her Meatskool classes where she talks about the art of butchery, as well as teaches you how to grind, stuff, case and twist your own bratwurst, you’ll get to enjoy it along with a locally brewed beer (class held at Colorado Mountain College).
Want to try something different?
There are plenty of other ways to enjoy a guys’ week in Colorado. All of our resorts offer unforgettable snowmobiling, dog sledding, and ice fishing experiences. We can connect you with the best outfitters for the most top-notch experiences in all 3 areas.
There are also Escape Rooms in Vail, Beaver Creek, and Steamboat. We love the Temple of Gnar puzzle (homage to the snow gods) in Vail and the Escape from the Old West jailbreak game in Steamboat. Try to beat the clock for bragging rights, they’re open during the day, after skiing or after dinner.
Winter Driving School
Book a day for your group with Steamboat’s renowned Bridgestone Winter Driving School. It’s part adrenaline-junkie, part safety patrol, and all fun. You’ll slip, slide, skid and spin as you gain the skills to master any adverse driving conditions. It’s been featured on the Today Show, CNN, Motortrend to name a few. If you want a higher-octane version, try their signature 2-day performance class, Fifth Gear, where you learn to control any vehicle in low-grip situations, along with hearing the tricks and techniques used by the world’s greatest rally drivers. At the end of the second day, everyone can show off their expertise in a timed race.
Shopping
If you need to bring home a white diamond to ensure your future of black diamonds, then take your pick from any number of fantastic boutiques in Vail, Beaver Creek, and Steamboat. The Golden Bear and Squash Blossom are good places to start in the Vail Valley. Swing into the Steamboat Art Company in downtown Steamboat for a huge jewelry selection.
While you’re buying for everyone else, Give your wardrobe a Marlboro Man makeover at KemoSabe in Vail or at FM Light & Sons in Steamboat. After seeing 300 yellow signs about cowboy hats and Wrangler jeans on your way into Steamboat, you know you’re dying to try some on!
With age comes wisdom (and lodging upgrades)
You haven’t lived in a frat house in a long time, so time to upgrade the lodging options. Our private homes, residences, and chalets can comfortably accommodate anywhere from 8-30 guests under one roof.
Separate beds, multiple masters, en suite bathrooms, full game rooms (pool table, card table, bar), large-screen TVs, multiple living areas, outdoor hot tubs are nearly standard in our collection of ski homes. We’ll match you with something that works perfectly for your group. We even have a home named, Stag Lodge! That gem in Beaver Creek has every guys’ ski group name on it.
Don’t forget that direct flights into both Steamboat Springs/Hayden and Eagle/Vail airports mean you won’t waste a ton of precious time-off traveling. Friends from both coasts have multiple options to choose from. We highly recommend skipping the drive up and flying direct.
We can’t think of a better way to kick off a new year and a new decade than with a ski trip on the calendar with the guys. Get the google calendar synced up, forward this blog to the group, then give us a call. We can’t wait to move mountains to make this year’s guys’ trip the most memorable.
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