It’s that time of year again. The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer and the sun is always shining. It’s time for spring skiing and riding at Vail. Aside from a perfect powder day, spring ski days are my favorite days to be out on the mountain. In addition to the fantastic Colorado weather that comes along with spring, there are tons of events, concerts and festivals happening at Vail as they prepare to end the season.
I’m sure many of you powder hounds are sad that winter must come to an end. Instead of mourning the loss of winter, embrace it and go out with a bang.
Here are a few tips on how you can prepare for spring skiing and riding at Vail.
Tune those skis one last time
If you’ve ever skied in March or early April you’ve most likely noticed how much the snow changes. As the temperature goes up the snow gets softer and much harder to ski on. The softer snow makes for slower skiing and boarding, especially if you have cold weather wax on your skis from back in February or January. Take your skis or boards to your local ski tech and have them tuned one last time. Ask the tech to put some spring skiing wax on--they’ll most likely do so without you having to ask.
Lose a layer
In March and April you usually won’t need that heavy down coat anymore. Although, it can be hard to judge how you’ll need to dress for the day since you can’t just strip a layer while you’re skiing. Be sure to check what the high will be for the day and dress appropriately for that. There’s nothing worse than getting too hot on the mountain with nowhere to leave your extra jacket. Those days when it’s 40+ degrees a fleece and base layer will normally do the trick. Keep in mind it’s going to be around five degrees colder at the top of the mountain.
Check the events calendar
Before the lifts stop turning for the season on April 15 Vail will have plenty of reasons for you to make one last visit. The Vail Street Beat Free Concert Series continues every Thursday night through April 12. The Korbel American Ski Classic will be held March 22-25 followed by the Vail Film Festival March 29-April 1. The 22nd Annual Taste of Vail, which features some of the world’s best chef’s, will begin on April 5. Taste of Vail leads straight into Vail’s biggest party of the season, Spring Back to Vail. The week-long celebration includes nightly free concerts, pond skimming championships, après parties and much more.
Have fun
Spring skiing is meant to be a celebration. No more worrying about frost bitten toes or how much snow we’re getting this week. Enjoy the warm weather, sunshine and those last few days on the mountain. Take a few runs and then kick back on one of Vail’s decks to soak up the sun. Oh, and don’t forget to put on sunscreen!
-Larisa Graham