Loveland Ski Resort

[jaihawk]

Looking to take the family skiing and for all but me, they are first time skiers. I've heard good things about Loveland Ski Resort for beginners, in that the cost of their lift tickets and rental gear is pretty reasonable, but also that you can do either a beginner mountain that is generally not packed, or a mixed mountain (was thinking beginner for them one day, advanced the next). Anyone skied there before and have any thoughts?

They're all 20+, so no littles.

 

[Stan Raymond]

Been a few years, but Loveland was one of my favorites. Always seemed to have great snow. A lot of it is above the tree line, so if there is wind it gets cold. Never thought of it as a good spot for beginners, but great for intermediate type skiers. The top bowls were always fun, but not for beginners.

 

[BIGSTICK67]

Looking to take the family skiing and for all but me, they are first time skiers. I've heard good things about Loveland Ski Resort for beginners, in that the cost of their lift tickets and rental gear is pretty reasonable, but also that you can do either a beginner mountain that is generally not packed, or a mixed mountain (was thinking beginner for them one day, advanced the next). Anyone skied there before and have any thoughts?

They're all 20+, so no littles.

If you have 1st time skiers I'd try Copper Mountain so that they don't have a miserable experience. Just my opinion. Keystone is also an option. Basically get online and look at any mountain with gentle greens so your cronies can build confidence.

The person that said it would be good for beginners is probably someone fairly skilled at skiing. Ha ha!

 

[AleksMarićEnjoyer]

If you have 1st time skiers I'd try Copper Mountain so that they don't have a miserable experience. Just my opinion. Keystone is also an option. Basically get online and look at any mountain with gentle greens so your cronies can build confidence.

The person that said it would be good for beginners is probably someone fairly skilled at skiing. Ha ha!

I'd add Beaver Creek to the list. That seems more of a "family resort" mountain. Keystone definitely a good suggestion.

Skiing Winter Park on Saturday! The season is upon us.

 

[jaihawk]

Maybe I'm missing something... This is the Valley part, which is designed for just beginners.

 

[BIGSTICK67]

Maybe I'm missing something... This is the Valley part, which is designed for just beginners.

View attachment 44717

Well they are trying to sell it to everyone, so perhaps that's why?

Here's the thing, I have never been to Loveland but I've heard it generally has more steep terrain. That's the only reason I suggested something with long gentle slopes.

There has to be someone on this board that skis more recent (and frequently) than me with other suggestions.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

I'd add Beaver Creek to the list. That seems more of a "family resort" mountain. Keystone definitely a good suggestion.

Skiing Winter Park on Saturday! The season is upon us.

Schoolmarm all day long at Keystone for beginners. I loved Keystone back in the day. Last time I went it was soooo crowded.

 

[Dell Husker]

A group of us went there to learn. It’s also where I learned that I’m terrible and just went to the bar. Very very reasonable. I think I paid $80ish for the day including gear rental. I could be very wrong though

 

[jaihawk]

A group of us went there to learn. It’s also where I learned that I’m terrible and just went to the bar. Very very reasonable. I think I paid $80ish for the day including gear rental. I could be very wrong though

Yeah, I think the lift tickets for the Valley for the day are like $50. Granted, there's only like 7 or 8 different runs, but that's damn cheap for a beginner to ski.

 

[greybeardedchild]

I've been to Loveland multiple times, and it's where I went on my second outing. I'm not naturally athletic but I had fun there on my second day ever snowboarding, so take from that what you will. I have no experience with the school/lessons you can take, or with the little hill beside the main resort. I did think having a totally separate bunny hill was a neat idea, and then you are able to graduate to the big time terrain if you make a 2 day trip out of it. Or, if your with a group with different talent levels, the big kids can go to the big hill and everyone can still meet up for lunch. I generally found Loveland to have normal people, including some farmer boys in coveralls lol, vs the snobby rich types at Copper, suburban wannabes at Eldora, and "rad boarder" guys at A Basin. Although A Basin is my all time Colorado Fave as long as you stay out of the way of the "gnar gnar" grinders. Not sure id take beginners there.

 

[Black5hirt]

I haven’t skied Loveland since I was a kid but it was so much fun. It has some huge bowls and also some fairly decent black and double blacks. Have fun

 

[Fitzjess21]

Not sure where you live, but snowy range in Wyoming is a good, inexpensive option. I've skied keystone for years and it's sooooo damn expensive now. Almost $200 a day just for lift tickets.

 

[jw3]

loveland is great

the one thing I'll say is it's probably the windiest place on the front range

 

[slattimer]

I learned at Keystone. Went pretty well. Didn’t think it was hard at all on the front range.

 

[Black5hirt]

loveland is great

the one thing I'll say is it's probably the windiest place on the front range

Agreed

 

[Black5hirt]

I really enjoyed Sunlight as well. I think it was reasonably priced.

 

[Tell_Sackett]

Not sure where you live, but snowy range in Wyoming is a good, inexpensive option. I've skied keystone for years and it's sooooo damn expensive now. Almost $200 a day just for lift tickets.

Those prices are crazy. Its been a long time since I've skied out west. I was last there Super Bowl weekend in 2006. Snow was great and got about a foot of fresh powder. I booked three nights at a two-bedroom condo at the foot of the mountain where I could walk to the super gondola, and had 4 days worth of lift tickets for under a thousand bucks.

There were several years where I got lift tickets at King Sooper for $50/day. I'm guessing there are no options like that anymore.

The year prior, some friends and I skied Copper for $29 a day.

 

[Fitzjess21]

Those prices are crazy. Its been a long time since I've skied out west. I was last there Super Bowl weekend in 2006. Snow was great and got about a foot of fresh powder. I booked three nights at a two-bedroom condo at the foot of the mountain where I could walk to the super gondola, and had 4 days worth of lift tickets for under a thousand bucks.

There were several years where I got lift tickets at King Sooper for $50/day. I'm guessing there are no options like that anymore.

The year prior, some friends and I skied Copper for $29 a day.

Oh boy are those days gone! A season pass is $1000. Don't even get me started on the lodging pricing. It's ridiculous. Rentals are almost $100 a day now. I bought my own gear years ago after getting a staff infection from a shitty rental place.

 

[Stan Raymond]

Not sure where you live, but snowy range in Wyoming is a good, inexpensive option. I've skied keystone for years and it's sooooo damn expensive now. Almost $200 a day just for lift tickets.

I learned at Snowy Range, well it was called Medicine Bow back then. My parents almost bought it, they regret not doing it and I certainly do as well.

 

[Southendzonehusker]

Schoolmarm all day long at Keystone for beginners. I loved Keystone back in the day. Last time I went it was soooo crowded.

This couldn’t be more accurate. Schoolmarm has plenty of greens off of it to mix it up a bit and some easier blue runs too. Took our kids to keystone when they learned to ski. Put them in a 1 day class and have never worried once about them. Downside is that keystone has gotten pretty expensive.