Skiing in Crested Butte
If you are looking for Glitz and Ritz, surf right on by……BUT, if you are looking for:
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Colorado powder, varied terrain, no lift lines, stunning scenery, friendly ski school, unpretentious locals, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skate skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, tubing and fine dining for all tastes and budgets, then, congratulations, you have arrived at Colorado’s last great Ski town. Welcome to Crested Butte.
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Crested Butte offers wonderful skiing for beginners, intermediates and experts. Magic carpet lifts at the base area service gentle slopes, enabling kids and adults to quickly master stopping and turning. From there, they are able to enjoy the Red Lady Express Quad, to some of the most scenic beginner’s terrain in North America. The kids will love Painter Boy, and hanging out for a hot chocolate at “Camp 4 Coffee” (Coffee is also mighty fine!). The kids’ terrain park is up here too, and gives access to the new ski area down to Prospect, as well as all the favourites like Houston, running back to the base area.
The Silver Queen Quad gives you access to all the lifts on the mountain and whisks you from 9,400 feet, to almost 12,000 feet, with intermediate and advanced trails all the way down to the base area or across to the other lifts. Groups of different abilities can enjoy skiing different runs, but join up for lunch or coffee, perhaps, at the Ice House or the Paradise Warming House on the way down.
The 15 lifts service 100% of the beginners and intermediates terrain. For the advanced to expert skiers, you will enjoy some of the best skiing in the world. Do not be put off by the relatively small number of lifts, compared to some larger neighbouring resorts: Crested Butte offers so many bowls, chutes, glades and ridges, that advanced and expert skiers will be content for the entire season. There is a good reason why the first Colorado X games were held here, and why the Extreme Free skiing world championships have been run here for 15 years.
Rentals and Equipment
“Our guarantee is VIP service”, boasts www.flatironsports.com web site. “The best repair facility in Crested Butte” says Powder magazine. They are both right. Flatiron Sports is a gem of a ski shop. The staff know their stuff: boots, skis ,boards, bindings, technical clothing, base layers, fleeces, outer layers, hats, goggles, glasses, gloves, helmets, even custom orthotics……..Atomic, Salomon, Volkl, K2, Nordica, Technica, Descente, Marmot, Bogner, Obermeyer Smith, Oakley, Boeri…a true one stop ski shop.
Oz and GJ have owned Flatiron sports for 26 years. I met Oz on the Westwall chairlift, and having chatted about sailing in the BVI, which Oz knows well, I thought I better check out his shop. It’s the business! The staff are not only knowledgeable about the kit they sell and rent, but they also clearly love what they do, and love living in Crested Butte. They know the mountain by winter and summer, and they tune their skis and boards (and their bikes in the summer), so you can get the most out of their backyard as well. Whether you rent or buy, they are only too happy to advise on the kind of ski or board that will suit YOUR level and style of skiing or snowboarding.
Book your skis, boots and boards online, 14 days before you arrive, and receive 15% off. www.flatironsports.com
For another full range of skiing and snowboarding equipment to buy, look no further than The Alpineer, who, as they say themselves “ have been supplying gear to a town and its visitors who are obsessed with being in the backcountry since 1969” . North face, Marmot, Patagonia - fleeces, camelbaks, baselayers, activewear, outerwear, accessories….. www.alpineer.com.