It's finally here. After an offseason full of gear shopping, obsessively watching ski movies, and doing my La Niña powder dance, the snow has fallen and Keystone has begun turning its lifts for the winter. I packed up and drove out from Denver for opening day, eager to rack up my first vertical feet of the season and to check out EpicMix with its brand new photo-sharing feature.
I constantly take photos when I'm out on the slopes, but I decided to keep my own camera in the car and leave that job to the EpicMix on-mountain professional photographers. I slung my pack over my shoulders, grabbed my skis and walked through the village. The atmosphere was already bustling with opening day excitement. The lift attendant scanned my Epic Pass through my jacket, and greeted me by name before sending me off on the River Run gondola. Maybe it's from growing up skiing smaller resorts with sticky paper lift tickets and aloof attendants, but it was remarkably pleasant to be greeted so personally before my adventure.
Once on board the gondola, I pulled out my phone and fired up the EpicMix app (Available through the iPhone or Android markets). Already it was displaying that I had "checked in" to Keystone, earned pins like "Call off work" for visiting on a weekday, and had boarded the lift. I set up automatic social sharing where my EpicMix achievements automatically get sent to Facebook. By the time I exited the gondola, I already had comments from envious friends and classmates.
The time had finally arrived -- I clicked into my skis, and headed towards my first run. Before I took off, I saw two EpicMix photographers clad in distinctive bright-green apparel. Despite my urge to start my first run, I stopped to get my picture taken. I skied over and waited while the group ahead of me struck a pose. The photographer scanned my pass, framed up the photo and took a few extras in case I blinked. My photo shoot only took a matter of seconds, and moments later I was dropping in for a terrific first run on a beautiful day at Keystone.
When I got home, I logged in to EpicMix.com and scanned over my day's progress, pins, and the photos I had posed for throughout the day with the EpicMix team. I browsed through all the images and shared them with my friends and coworkers for free through Facebook. I also selected my favorite photo from the day and purchased it in high-resolution for my Mom and Dad to use as their computer's desktop background.
So as you're conquering the slopes this season, be sure to say hello to all the friendly EpicMix photographers you find. They'd love to take your picture for free, giving you an instant way of remembering your Epic day. You can view them, share them, and purchase them in higher resolution on the EpicMix mobile application or through EpicMix.com. If you come out for Breckenridge's opening day on Friday, Nov 11 be sure to check out EpicMix photo and stop by the bright green EpicMix booth to meet the team and learn more.
-- Mac Jaehnert