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Headline RSS FeedPrograms, powder abound in hectic holiday season
December 25, 2007 —
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I’m happy to say that the skiing has been amazing here in the Vail Valley. It’s been snowing a little bit every day, and the temperatures have been staying low to keep the snow we have in the perfect state of crystallization. All in all, this went from possibly being one of the worst starts of the season to one of the best. It is amazing how things can change.
I want to thank all my strategic partners for a great 2007! You know who you are. It’s been nice to be home and working on both Beaver Creek and Vail mountains before I hit the road again.
I was even able to sneak a trip over to Aspen Highlands this past week and hike the bowl with one of my friends and Heli Camp graduates, Kent Hootman. Highlands was in excellent shape and surprisingly empty. So Kent and I took advantage of it and accumulated as much vertical as possible until I lost a ski.
Yep, it came right off my foot only to be found an hour later after a lot off digging and a bit of luck. I’m still waiting for that day that someone comes up with a ski locater for these big powder days. It happens so much it would be worth the investment.
In fact, a day before another individual I was skiing with lost his in Vail’s backcountry. A loss that not only wrecked his day but made for a long journey out to safety. Which brings up a very good point. Always be confident that you can get out of where you are on one ski.
The highlight of this week, besides some longtime friends arriving in town for the ninth year in a row had to be getting the chance to go and shoot some video plus still photos in the Beaver Creek’s Stone Creek Chutes. Check this footage out on www.beavercreek.com. The terrain, which can be found through an access gate, is some of the best extreme mini-golf in the Valley. But it should not be taken lightly.
Before I leave for Italy to host one of my camps with former Italian national champion Marco Tonazzi, I have a couple of other programs coming up. Check them out, or better yet, sign up for one. If not this year, then next. You can find all my programs on my website at www.chrisanthony.com.
Coming soon:
Dec. 28-30: Aspen Highlands Freeski Camp with Chris Davenport and Chris Anthony: This new camp has been in the works for a couple years and Chris and I are proud to finally offer three days of steep skiing, instruction, and guiding at one of North America’s premier “big mountain” resorts. This camp is limited to 10 skiers only and is for expert skiers looking to take their skiing to the next level. The three-day camp includes lift tickets and one on-mountain lunch at Cloud Nine Restaurant. Cost: $1,125. Contact Chris Davenport for more info or reservations or go to www.steepskiing.com or www.chrisanthony.com.
Week Three: Jan. 6-11
Jan. 6 – 11: Park Hyatt Resort and Spa along with Chris Anthony and the Beaver Creek Ski School present Technique Weeks.
Package Includes
• Five night deluxe accommodations with full breakfast daily
• Four days of skiing and personalized instruction with Deb Armstrong or Chris Anthony and a hand-selected teaching team from Vail/Beaver Creek ski school
• Four day lift tickets interchangeable for Vail and Beaver Creek
• Nightly amenity package complete with signature Technique Weeks Descente gear
• Complete skiing evaluation with the use of video analysis
• Take-home ski adventure DVD to highlight your time at Technique Weeks
• $50 credit to the newly renovated Allegria Spa
• Welcome reception dinner
• Après ski events/parties and three dinners
• Evening seminar on nutritional and ski conditioning
For info or reservations, call (970) 827-6634, go to www.parkhyattbeavercreek.com or email Jen Rankin at jrankin@hyatt.com.
Until next time, cheers!
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Keep it steep, deep and safe over the Christmas break
December 18, 2007 —
This is honestly one of my favorite times of the year. When all the lights are up, the second homes are filled with people from all over the world. It’s also great for the locals, as we do not have to go anywhere - it all comes to us.
But it does come with a price. Not only is this when the locals work the hardest, they too are also participating in the celebration. So everyone hang in there and exercise good judgment this holiday season. Let’s come out of this with smiles.
The snow this past two weeks has been awesome! I love the cold temperatures. I’ve done a few photo shoots lately and the snow reacts perfectly for the camera when it is this light and dry. This is true Colorado champagne powder.
And with the latest technology in clothing, there is no reason to be cold out there even on the coldest days. So make sure to get out there, but dress correctly. Go get some Smart Wool or Obermeyer base layers and good socks. Get an Obermeyer Insulator, and, of course, an Obermeyer outer layer.
Then make sure to put your Rocky Mountain Sunscreen on even on the cloudy days. It will help protect beyond just the sun. Get a nice warm Chaos hat or a helmet to keep that head warm. Most of our heat goes out through our head.
I spent a couple of days in the backcountry recently. The snow stability was pretty good. It is never completely safe, but it was good. The cold weather has pulled the moisture up through the pack and helped to bond it a bit.
But this makes it also tough for after the next snowstorm hits if we have too many dry and cold nights because this layer that is being exposed to all this cold air will become the weak layer. So, long story short, it is a kick in the pants back there, but be careful. Two weeks ago there was massive settling.
Some side notes: Watch the TV8 Morning Show from 6:30 on. I’ll be giving things away on certain days over the holiday break, but I’ll only be doing this before 7:30 a.m.
Make sure you take advantage of the free concert series in town this winter. And Check out the Vilar Performing Arts Center. They have some awesome shows coming up.
Make sure to take time to remember those that will not be with us this holiday season.
And of course, stay tuned to my Blog as I head off to Italy to catch up with the U.S. Women’s Alpine Ski Team, China to visit some resorts, and Beaver Creek for my Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and Spa Technique Weeks camps. I will also be hosting a camp at Aspen Highlands with Chris Davenport on Dec. 28-30.
The Aspen Highlands Freeski Camp with Chris Davenport and Chris Anthony has been in the works for a couple years, and Chris and I are proud to finally offer three days of steep skiing, instruction and guiding at one of North America’s premier “big mountain” resorts.
This camp is limited to 10 skiers only and is for expert skiers looking to take their skiing to the next level. The three day camp includes lift tickets and one on-mountain lunch at Cloud Nine Restaurant. Cost: $1,125. Contact Chris Davenport for more info or reservations.
Till next time, cheers
www.chrisanthony.com
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Sex in the mountains (with a lot of snow)
December 14, 2007 —
Things have slowed down for just a moment here in the Valley. One could say it’s the calm before the storm. But what a nice calm it is. The locals can take advantage of the empty slopes and ski endless powder runs by themselves with no lift lines. This is one of the benefits of trying to live in a ski town with several of your friends in a one bedroom.
On that note, some of the core were in Beaver Creek last Sunday for the opening of Grouse Mountain. This is one of the most important days of the season in the Valley. It is the only time that Grouse has zero bumps on it and trackless snow. That combined with a high-speed quad and you can literally pluck off six Grouse Mountain runs in an hour. This is more than impressive. This is skiing for the entire season wrapped up into one day and one mountain.
I had the pleasure of hosting some new friends from NYC this past weekend. They’re part of a group called Smallworld.com. This young A-list crowd took to the slopes like fish take to water. They also took to the nightlife like a moth to a light. Walking around with them I felt like I was on the TV show “Entourage.” This is one tight group that knows how to have fun.
I know, enough analogies.
Well, this NYC group made me laugh for two solid days. It is amazing how a bit of fresh snow can put a smile on a few faces. I hope to see this group back soon. They did mention they are all going to come on my Italy trip next year.
This brings me to a very important topic. Marco Tonazzi and I still have room for out Feb. 3 Valbruna, Italy, trip. Otherwise known as “The Wine and Dine Tour with a SKIING Problem.” For more information, please visit my website at www.chrisanthony.com, or you can email skidynamic@hotmail.com.
I spent Thursday on the mountain with a journalist and a photographer doing an interview and skiing the Minturn Mile. It was the perfect day. The temperature was low enough to keep the snow super light and fluffy while the world around us was so calm. It was a beautiful ski down.
And on that note, the conditions are looking very good on the slopes. Enough to open more terrain this weekend. In Beaver Creek, Larkspur Bowl should be opening. I hope to see you there. As winter has blessed us with her presence and the backcountry is calling…
Until next time, cheers!
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A perfect storm of parties, deep snow and good times
December 10, 2007 —
Unreal!
That’s all I can say about what has gone on the last two weeks here in the Vail Valley. It started when I returned from my last stop of the fall Warren Miller film tour. I rolled into town when the World Cup hit Beaver Creek.
This is honestly one of the most entertaining weekends in Beaver Creek and should be put on your calendar for next year. There is nothing quite like seeing the men’s Birds of Prey Downhill live - especially when the Americans do well.
Congrats to Steve Nyman, of Provo, Utah, for the silver in the downhill!
The Saturday Night Party of the Stars, as I’d like to call it, was awesome and took place up at Rock’s Modern Grill in the Beaver Creek Lodge. Only because I think those that show up at this one every year know how to throw down. But this year the party was put on by Gravity Sports and sponsored by Head and Go Fast.
As it was going off inside, outside it started snowing, which led to an outstanding week of skiing for Vail and Beaver Creek. WINTER IS HERE! And Sunday was the most important day in Beaver Creek: when they open Grouse Mountain.
When this happens, drop everything, as Grouse only looks like this once a season. No tracks, no bumps, and only a few people there to track it up. It is one of my most favorite of ski days. And within two hours you’ll be fried skiing nonstop off the high-speed quad.
This past week I was also a guest of the Black Diamond Ball at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa. This event is very important to the community and is presented by the Vail Valley Foundation. If you are interested in the Vail Valley Foundation and the many functions they host, I encourage you to look them up and get involved. The VVF is a major contributor to our community and organizes numerous events around the valley.
As the World Cup ended, the Park Hyatt Technique Weeks began in Beaver Creek. I host two of the four weeks, while former Olympic gold medalist Debbie Armstrong is hosting the other two. This is a fun program presented by the Park Hyatt and offered to those that want to take their skiing to another level while also enjoying the luxuries of the Park Hyatt.
For more info, go to beavercreek.hyatt.com
Closing night of the first of four Park Hyatt Technique Weeks I had an amazing meal at Spendido in The Chateau at Beaver Creek. I just have to throw this out there because I was completely impressed by the experience at this restaurant.
As the Technique Week campers left, the smallworld.com group arrived with a massive storm and in time for the Vail Snow Daze event where we all went to listen to Ludacris and the Roots. The group, mostly out of New York, had their first Vail Valley experience. And from what I can tell they had a blast skiing, enjoying the Park Hyatt Spa, partying and some very good meals. Plus they entertain the hell out of me with their good spirit. I hope to see them back in the near future.
Until next time, cheers!
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