The 2011 EpicSki Gathering - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 
 The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

I hear tell you do one helicopter a year (just to stay young) .  I think my last was in 1979, BUT....if you make it to The Gathering this spring, I think we should go for simultaneous helicopters.

( I think the members here would get a kick out of you making it all the way around while I explode on the attempt)  Video anybody ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Boot 

UMMM Question. When do they start selling the pass for next year??? This usually includes the last of the season late in the year. Im woundering because the gathering is so late in the year and if this is offered in the CO area.........

Anyone know?

Last year was the first year they opened up pass sales to first time buyers in the spring and it was late in April into early May and only at the Denver locations.  You have to buy in person unless you are buying the Epic Pass.  Otherwise passes are on sale from about mid-Sept -  late Nov.  Don't expect any passes to be on sale in time for the Gathering at this point.

 

Best bet for the future is one of two options. 

1)  Pay next years price for the Epic Pass (I'm guessing / estimating it at $ 650) which gives unlimited skiing (no blackout dates) to all Vail Resorts in Summit and Eagle Counties and a few areas in CA.  If you renew the following season you can downgrade to any pass you wish.

2)  Grab a cheap flight to the Denver area in the fall and buy whatever pass you want for the year.

 

More info can be found at www.colorado.pass.com

I know of someone who bought a first time pass in spring of 2008 so I this wasn't the first year it was available.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

We have the EpicPass here in Tahoe, good at NorthStar, HEavenly and Sierra @ Tahoe and we can use this at most of the resorts included for The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

This makes me very happy.  

 We bought passes the closing weekend in April, 2008.  They went on sale on the Saturday.   First time had to be in person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

 

      Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 
 The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

I hear tell you do one helicopter a year (just to stay young) .  I think my last was in 1979, BUT....if you make it to The Gathering this spring, I think we should go for simultaneous helicopters.

 

( I think the members here would get a kick out of you making it all the way around while I explode on the attempt)  Video anybody ?

Let's go for the trifecta - I'm in.

We just need a good wide headwall location.  That's actually the kind of spot I learned to do them when I was 16.  I have not attempted to throw one since my accident - only twisters so far.

Unc:

Comprex and I were able to buy CO Passes online during the spring.  Think it was in April or so, but it was before the prices increased on all the passes.  From what you are saying, it sounds like that may no longer be possible for this year, but anyone thinking about next year may want to check that option out.

BatGirl
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

Last year was the first year they opened up pass sales to first time buyers in the spring and it was late in April into early May and only at the Denver locations.  You have to buy in person unless you are buying the Epic Pass.  Otherwise passes are on sale from about mid-Sept -  late Nov.  Don't expect any passes to be on sale in time for the Gathering at this point.

 

Best bet for the future is one of two options. 

1)  Pay next years price for the Epic Pass (I'm guessing / estimating it at $ 650) which gives unlimited skiing (no blackout dates) to all Vail Resorts in Summit and Eagle Counties and a few areas in CA.  If you renew the following season you can downgrade to any pass you wish.

2)  Grab a cheap flight to the Denver area in the fall and buy whatever pass you want for the year.

 

More info can be found at www.colorado.pass.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by BatGirl 

Comprex and I were able to buy CO Passes online during the spring.  Think it was in April or so, but it was before the prices increased on all the passes. 

 

I'm amazed !  Everything VR said about purchases of the CO pass was that first time buyers HAD to buy in person. The price increase was around early May if memory serves.

I was packing today getting ready to depart and located my credit card receipt for the renewal of my CO pass.  I know I renewed on the first day I could at Vail, because the sales person behind the counter said I was the first one in.  The date on the receipt was 4/09.  So............If they open sales up around the same time this year it would be right at the end of The Gathering.  I think the season goes a week later than last season, so soon as somebody hears something ......

YELL
 

oK..now we need a camera and medical supplies.

LS has a camera she is bringing for sure and I got a box of band-aides ( pictures of princesses on them )

And to think people worrie if they wear a helmet hahahahahaha, just thinking heli off lover leap would A be impressive as hell and B allow for a good clear camera view.

Maybe Bob will come also , more chance of getting the perfect shop with more cameras so yas dont have to repeat it. Oh ya one more thing, we promise no landing pictures all air all the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Boot 

Oh ya one more thing, we promise no landing pictures all air all the time.

Right

About the CO pass.

Lets see, I think I bought my first CO pass in May of 09.  A basin was still open so I went there to ski.  I know that I skied with it last year.

Anyway, I had to be at a specific location on a specific day.  Renewed it on line at the end of last year.  Renewing early gets you extra buddy passes although they don't really advertise anything about the extra buddy passes.  You just have to go to the window and find out what they put on the card.

I think I have 10 total this year, same as last year.  Another thing - I renewed at the end of the season but only paid $50 - they charge your card for the rest in Oct.  I think I paid $449 this year.  Pretty good deal! 

Gary

I'm an idjit.  Comprex and I got the Summit Pass online, not the CO Pass.  Sorry for the confusion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kneale Brownson 

 We bought passes the closing weekend in April, 2008.  They went on sale on the Saturday.   First time had to be in person.

Similarly,  I bought my CO pass but online at end of April 2010.   Kicker was the online downgrade from a 2 year old Epic pass was allowed.

               (I had no pass last year) YMMV

Summit pass won't allow visits to Vail or BC.

Another deal just announced is 2 for 1  vouchers at Shell stations.  You but 10 gallons of gas of gas at many Shell stations between Georgetown - Summit County- Grand

Junction. and a couple other places like Monarch & Salida.  Copper Mt, Loveland, Winter Park etc are on this deal.

Unfortunately our Copper Mountain GTG is on Saturday which the black out day on this deal.   details here:

http://www.topix.com/winter-sports/alpine-skiing/2011/01/free-colorado-gas-station-ski-coupons-available

Any lame Pat fans flying out of Boston?  I just got an e-mail from jetblue and they are having a sale.  Non-stops out of Boston on the weekend dates are currently $198 round trip.  First bag id free.  Get em while they last.

JFK is a bit more and has crazy flight times.

Adding a link to this lodging thread, since I've struggled to locate it several times now.  If you search for gathering lodging you only have to go to the 7th page of the search results to find it.


http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/96345/gathering-discount-lodging-available

I knew I read something about this but I didn't realize it was a separate thread.  I must have gone through this thread a half dozen times looking for it.  I thought my Alzheimers was kicking in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by northeasterner 

Any lame Pat fans flying out of Boston?  I just got an e-mail from jetblue and they are having a sale.  Non-stops out of Boston on the weekend dates are currently $198 round trip.  First bag id free.  Get em while they last.

JFK is a bit more and has crazy flight times.

Price was up to $208 (+ taxes/fees), but still too good to pass up.  Booked!

P-A-T-S Pats Pats Pats! 

Edit:

What's the cheapest option going forward for lift tickets?  Just buy individual days in advance?  Or beg/borrow/steal people's guest days on arrival?

From the posts above it sounds like we might be able to buy a 2011-2012 Colorado Pass while we're there, but not one for this season.  (It seems like they'd do well to offer a "buy the 2011-2012 pass now and we'll throw in April for a pittance" offer, like a lot of resorts do in the spring, but maybe not.)

Also, if you search by 'relevance' rather than 'date', that lodging thread is the second or third result.  It just hasn't gotten a post in several months, so any newer thread with the words "lodging" and "gathering" in it shows up higher when you sort results by date.  (Further edit: if you search for "gathering AND lodging", it shows up pretty highly even sorted by date.  The default must be using an OR between the search terms.)

As mentioned in the Community Wish List thread, just because you can get it to work (if you know how it works), doesn't mean it's a good search.  It's probably the worst one I've ever used.  If you search epicski gathering lodging on Google, it is the first item returned.  We should probably just get rid of our search all together and just link to Google.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKI-3PO 

Adding a link to this lodging thread, since I've struggled to locate it several times now.  If you search for gathering lodging you only have to go to the 7th page of the search results to find it.


http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/96345/gathering-discount-lodging-available

Thanks SKI-3PO

I made it a sticky in the box at the top.

There's a separate post on this, but to keep it together, let me add it here:

I have some connections with the Comfort Suites in Dillon and have arranged a discount rate for folks attending the Gathering.  From April 1 through April 10, $75 a night will get you a room with either two queen beds and a sleeper sofa, or a room with a king bed and a sleeper sofa.  This rate is PER ROOM, not per person, so the more folks in the room, the cheaper it will be.

The Comfort Suites is one of the nicer choices in Summit County. It's two minutes off I-70 and perfectly located as a hub to get to all the mountains on the Gathering schedule.  A full breakfast is included. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi, fitness room, free WiFi and free parking.  No pets.

Here is the web site so you can see it: 

http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-dillon-colorado-CO001

To book a room, just call the main desk (NOT the central reservations number) at 970-513-0300.  Tell the desk agent the type of room you would like and the dates you'll want it.  Say you are booking under a special $75-a-night rate arranged by James and the listing is under "Epic Ski Gathering" in the computer.  You can ask VERY NICELY if any of the rooms with Jacuzzis in the living rooms are available!

The hotel dining room is usually available in the evening if folks want to get together to socialize and plan the next day's activities.  There are several decent ski rental/tuning shops in the immediate area, a supermarket, and numerous restaurants ranging from very nice to fast food. 

Any questions, just ask here or PM me.  I'll probably guide a group at Copper where I instruct and hope to join you at some of the other mountains.  Hope this is useful!

All the best,

Mike 

Thanks again Mike for setting this up!

Looks like I will miss you guys by one day, so please don't trackout the whole region before we get there. We missed the April dump last year as well, so have a heart.

Guess we'll meet the survivors at Bart & Yeti's, like last year.

On the other hand, UT on the 25th is so close I can taste it all the way down here in SoFLA.

Thanks to MikeM for helping with lodging.  I haven't yet but do plan to book this lodging.

Gary

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodler 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

 

      Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 
 The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

I hear tell you do one helicopter a year (just to stay young) .  I think my last was in 1979, BUT....if you make it to The Gathering this spring, I think we should go for simultaneous helicopters.

 

( I think the members here would get a kick out of you making it all the way around while I explode on the attempt)  Video anybody ?

Let's go for the trifecta - I'm in.

 

We just need a good wide headwall location.  That's actually the kind of spot I learned to do them when I was 16.  I have not attempted to throw one since my accident - only twisters so far.

I am partial to "spines" but the pressure is on now. 

NO sweat Phil.  I can get you in to see my Chiropractor here if you need to .

 Just a note to Noodler from one of the older partcipants here:  Both UL & Phil are considerably older (but apparently not a much wiser) than you are, so if you need any of the band-aides, you'd better get to 'em quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kneale Brownson 

 Just a note to Noodler from one of the older partcipants here:  Both UL & Phil are considerably older (but apparently not a much wiser) than you are, so if you need any of the band-aides, you'd better get to 'em quickly.

Just to set the record straight on this.  I have said a lot of things on this web site in the 6 years or so I have been here...........but

NEVER did I claim to be wise when it comes to trying dumb things on a pair of skis.

I'll be skiing with Noodler again early this week and I'm going to talk to him about a helicopter training schedule.  Start at a 20 degree rotation and add 20 degrees on every attempt till we both get it. (that should do it)

Wish I could see the 90 and 270 degree points.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

We have the EpicPass here in Tahoe, good at NorthStar, HEavenly and Sierra @ Tahoe and we can use this at most of the resorts included for The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodler 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

 

      Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 
 The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

I hear tell you do one helicopter a year (just to stay young) .  I think my last was in 1979, BUT....if you make it to The Gathering this spring, I think we should go for simultaneous helicopters.

 

( I think the members here would get a kick out of you making it all the way around while I explode on the attempt)  Video anybody ?

Let's go for the trifecta - I'm in.

 

We just need a good wide headwall location.  That's actually the kind of spot I learned to do them when I was 16.  I have not attempted to throw one since my accident - only twisters so far.

I am partial to "spines" but the pressure is on now. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Boot 

LS has a camera she is bringing for sure and I got a box of band-aides ( pictures of princesses on them )

And to think people worrie if they wear a helmet hahahahahaha, just thinking heli off lover leap would A be impressive as hell and B allow for a good clear camera view.

Maybe Bob will come also , more chance of getting the perfect shop with more cameras so yas dont have to repeat it. Oh ya one more thing, we promise no landing pictures all air all the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

 

oK..now we need a camera and medical supplies.

 

I'll bring the video camera and the dslr for this event!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

We have the EpicPass here in Tahoe, good at NorthStar, HEavenly and Sierra @ Tahoe and we can use this at most of the resorts included for The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Boot 

LS has a camera she is bringing for sure and I got a box of band-aides ( pictures of princesses on them )

And to think people worrie if they wear a helmet hahahahahaha, just thinking heli off lover leap would A be impressive as hell and B allow for a good clear camera view.

Maybe Bob will come also , more chance of getting the perfect shop with more cameras so yas dont have to repeat it. Oh ya one more thing, we promise no landing pictures all air all the time.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodler 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

 

      Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 
 The Gathering...just makes sense for us to attend. 

I hear tell you do one helicopter a year (just to stay young) .  I think my last was in 1979, BUT....if you make it to The Gathering this spring, I think we should go for simultaneous helicopters.

 

( I think the members here would get a kick out of you making it all the way around while I explode on the attempt)  Video anybody ?

Let's go for the trifecta - I'm in.

 

We just need a good wide headwall location.  That's actually the kind of spot I learned to do them when I was 16.  I have not attempted to throw one since my accident - only twisters so far.

I am partial to "spines" but the pressure is on now. 

I'll bring the video camera and the dslr for this event!!!

 What day will this take place?  I need to put in for time off so I can be present. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Louie 

I'll be skiing with Noodler again early this week and I'm going to talk to him about a helicopter training schedule.  Start at a 20 degree rotation and add 20 degrees on every attempt till we both get it. (that should do it)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Boot 

Wish I could see the 90 and 270 degree points.

Unless they're WAY off, they'll still be in the air at both of those points given UL's plan, which should be way less entertaining.  The landing is where the action is, so I'm thinking you want 80 or 100 and then 260 or 280.