Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, it was no walk in the park getting to nearby ski resorts. The closest spots are Alpine Valley Resort in Wisconsin and Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan, both a few hours away. Although this is no big deal, my dad was fixed on getting me in Rocky Mountain territory right from the beginning. So, after being told multiple times by my mom that we are not a ski family, my dad booked a trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado, when I was just 7 years old.
Beaver Creek is two hours from Denver and just 15 minutes away from the popular Vail Ski Resort. Both resorts have been family vacation destinations for decades and boast some of the best terrain the Rockies have to offer. Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead Village are the three main base villages at Beaver Creek, and each offers a different atmosphere. Beaver Creek Village gives off a luxurious vibe with a plethora of shops, delicious restaurants, and various lodging choices for families to coop up in. While Bachelor Gulch has a cozy feel with a Ritz Carlton hotel that looks like a massive log cabin. Then there is Arrowhead Village which has a local Coloradan feel with simple food options and apartment complexes. Each village gives skiers a wide variety when considering lodging, dinner reservations, and mid-day lunch breaks.
With just over 1,800 acres and 23 lifts, Beaver Creek offers just about everything when it comes to skill level. Mogul runs like “Spider,” groomers such as “Centennial,” classic areas like the Rose Bowl, and casual blue runs such as “Gunder’s,” and “Home Run” are some of my absolute favorites at Beaver Creek. On a powder day, experts can be seen shredding the gnar on Grouse Mountain in the trees on “Royal Elk Glade.” With an average snowfall of 225 inches annually and a base village sitting just over 8,000 feet above sea level, Beaver Creek offers consistency for skiers to bank on and rarely be left disappointed.
Back to my 7-year-old self, I had no clue what to expect when putting on skis for the first time. My parents put me in ski school for the first few days while they had an on-mountain guide with other family friends who were also there. To say that I hated ski school is an understatement. I would look out in the distance to see other kids who graduated from their ski school class get on the Centennial Express Lift. Meanwhile, I dreaded another day of the magic carpet and bunny hills, only picturing what it was like up there on the actual mountain. However, by the 3rd day, my parents realized that I was not too fond of the ski school system and decided it was time for me to try out the real slopes. I was ecstatic, and thanks to my dad’s good friend Phil, the rest is history. I remember vividly looking down “Gunder’s” and seeing Bachelor Gulch in the distance, unsure about my first blue run. Phil helped calm my nerves and showed me the ropes on how to correctly transfer my weight between turns. I caught on quickly and never looked back. 16 years later, I still cherish that moment and how fast skiing became a passion of mine.
