Best ski resorts for beginner skiiers/snowboarders and kids? (Denver: rentals, how much)

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by ckdub

I grew up skiing out east in NY

The biggest for me is/was: no rain nor fog.
I have skied Sunapee wearing a garbage bag.
I have skied Gore and Killington when the visibility was about 2 meters.
I have ski-patrolled on ice and in the rain in NY.

[infinitylove]

I learned to snowboard at Keystone. The greens are pretty good and not as flat or as many catwalks as in Winter Park which is especially hard on a snowboarder when you are learning. The blues are good too.

[ckdub]

Thanks for the input, infinity. Good info!

[cy_flembeck]

Copper is perfect for beginners. It's set up so the terrain gets sequentially more difficult as you go from one side of the mountain to the next. It has some of the best easy/moderately intermediate ski runs in the Country.

[2bindenver]

This year's deadline is January 31st! Do have kids in 5th or 6th grade? 5th & 6th Grade Passport | Colorado Ski Country USA

[2bindenver]

Now you can test ride a bus http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/ne...es-to-ski.html

[DespinaK]

Apologies up front for butting in as I'm a total noob to the Denver/Mountain commute thing (sorry! just adding to the congestion).... which mountains are the best with kids who are new to skiing that are easiest to get to? We'd likely do the lazier departure time of 10-11 and come home later. Is all wheel drive a *must* for that commute (or Denver as a whole)?

*sidenote - also, if you happen to know of any mountains/bunny slopes that are good for special needs kids, that'd be bonus! (I'm still searching through all the threads so if you know of one to direct me to, that'd be awesome. Thanks!)

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by DespinaK

Apologies up front for butting in as I'm a total noob to the Denver/Mountain commute thing (sorry! just adding to the congestion).... which mountains are the best with kids who are new to skiing that are easiest to get to? We'd likely do the lazier departure time of 10-11 and come home later. Is all wheel drive a *must* for that commute (or Denver as a whole)?

*sidenote - also, if you happen to know of any mountains/bunny slopes that are good for special needs kids, that'd be bonus! (I'm still searching through all the threads so if you know of one to direct me to, that'd be awesome. Thanks!)

I'm not a skier by any means, but I've heard that if you've got little ones who're just starting out Eldora is a safe bet.

[LarsMac]

Well, I reserve my room for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (Sunday night is usually cheap.) take a nap after work Friday, and get up at 11, or midnight to make the run up the hill. Check in late at the hotel. and grab a quick nap.
Sunday night have a leisurely dinner, go to sleep, get up around 5 AM and head down the hill, and show up at work.
Of course if you have kids, that might be a bit more of a challenge, but it can be made to work out.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by DespinaK

Apologies up front for butting in as I'm a total noob to the Denver/Mountain commute thing (sorry! just adding to the congestion).... which mountains are the best with kids who are new to skiing that are easiest to get to? We'd likely do the lazier departure time of 10-11 and come home later. Is all wheel drive a *must* for that commute (or Denver as a whole)?

*sidenote - also, if you happen to know of any mountains/bunny slopes that are good for special needs kids, that'd be bonus! (I'm still searching through all the threads so if you know of one to direct me to, that'd be awesome. Thanks!)

Loveland.

Winter Park has a whole school for special needs. Check it out.
NSCD - adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities

Disabilities Served Include (but are not limited to)

ADD/ADHD, amputation, arthritis, autism, behavioral health, bone disorder, brain injury, cerebral palsy, deafness, developmental disabilities, diabetes, down syndrome, epilepsy, fragile X syndrome, hemophilia, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, muscular disorder, muscular dystrophy, nerve disorders, neurological disorders, paraplegia, post-polio, post-traumatic stress disorder, quadriplegia, respiratory disorder, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, stroke, substance abuse, vision loss/blindness.