The Season for Swiss Skiing, from Vail to Verbier

Wow! Jaw-dropping, isn't it? Credit: Vail Resorts, verbiersportplus+

Chamonix. Zermatt. Portillo. Treble Cone, New Zealand. St. Moritz. All those random places we ogle over after watching a Warren Miller film. Who doesn't want to ski outside of North America at least once in their lifetime? Especially if that off-this-continent trip meant going to the Alps? You can this season with an Epic Pass, the season pass that lets skiers and snowboarders access the seven Vail Resorts properties and Arapahoe Basin.

Vail Resorts recently announced that 2012-13 passholders not only had access to its skiable terrain in Colorado and the Lake Tahoe region but they gained access to Verbier located in Switzerland. Yeah you don't have to blink twice and think you're seeing things. It's true: The Epic Pass is good for three days of free access at Verbier and that includes Les 4 Vallees, which makes up the largest ski resort in Switzerland. It might not be a word, but Epic just got Epic-er (more Epic if you want proper English). Looks like I must have some type of skier's intuition--I suspected a deal was cooking when the Epic Pass lowest price deadline hit on Labor Day, but I never expected it to be bucket list worthy.

Fitness Finds in Summer Vail

Love Vail in the winter? You have to try it in summer. You might never want to leave. If, that is, you fall prey like several other mountain lovers, and now Coloradoans (is that how you say it, or is it Coloradans?) who embody the phrase, "come for the winter, stay for the summer."

You can't ski until next season--unless you're late spring skiing at A Basin, Loveland, Snowbird, Blackcomb, Mt. Hood or Tahoe--but don't let that stop you from visiting once mud season subsides. OK so it might be awhile considering that Vail was still getting snow on April 25, the day after the mountain closed for the season, and Denver's temperatures are in the 30s today, which can only mean it must be colder in the mountains. But I think it's safe to say it's worth waiting for, especially if you're like me and searching for that golden opportunity for summer sporting.

I always knew that Vail, Colo., turned into a hiker's haven and a mountain bike mecca when the snow melted. It's practically a given provided all the ski trails on the mountain. But what these Top 10 Fitness Finds in Vail helped me find was there was a whole lot more than hiking and biking. And for someone who dreams far too often of moving out there, the other eight activities helped provide some bargaining chips to sway the other party in my direction. If you thought you could burn calories all day skiing on the mountain, you'll have to check those top 10 from buzz.snow.com. Maybe then you'll be planning a vacation or escape out to ski country in the summer, too.

Photo grabbed from Vail

Who Said Anything About Skiing?

I'm not shy about my love for skiing. Heck, I married a skier, only solidifying that either I will be taking vacations to snow country for the rest of my life or moving there. But some--OK, most--of my friends and family don't exactly share this affinity. Skiers and riders, I know what you're thinking. How can anyone not want to ski or board?

I definitely don't have the ultimate answer to that question--I'm the one who'd take a ski day even in July--but I do have some solutions, an assortment of activities that work for skiers and non. Whether you're trying to sell your non-skiing friends on the reasons to visit a ski resort or you want to stay active without your skis or board for a day, check out these snow sports I shared for buzz.snow.com. And the best part? You don't need a lift ticket to do them.

Race in the Saints' City

Super Bowl XLIV might be in the books but that doesn't mean the partying has to stop. The events may come to a close in Miami, which hosted the event, but they're just getting started in New Orleans where the Saints celebrate their first franchise win. And what better time than now to head to the Big Easy? And here at Fit-Ink, we're not talking about partying 24/7, although that's a definite bonus, but we're looking at active endeavors that can lure you in.

While you may not be able to make it to Bourbon Street tonight for the revelry, make your mark on the Super Bowl champions' city later this month at the Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras race. With half marathon and marathon options, you have no excuse for skipping this opportunity to run through the bayou on February 28. You'll be greeted with a Mardi Gras-like celebration upon completion but can avoid the crowds...what's not to love?

Or if a late February race isn't in the cards, consider the Ironman 70.3 New Orleans on April 18. Yes, it's a bit of a conflict for those running the Boston Marathon the following day, but many triathletes looking to start racing earlier in the season would take a half-Ironman over a marathon any day. Hot, even humid, but it's conditions many of us four-season folk wait until July or August to race, and it's keeps us on top of our conditioning when it's cold. And if you're lucky enough, you may even be able to boast that you raced the same course as Chris McCormack--he finished second here in 2009--and Natasha Badmann, who set the course record for the women.

Those are two of the big-name races for the year, but there are plenty of other events to register for in Cajun country. Check out some of these listings at active.com to get you started. Or if you can't make an event weekend, a run along the riverwalk or through the French Quarter can be just as exciting. After all, that means more beignets, muffulettas and pralines. Yum! Photo grabbed from gnalnad at flickr. Posted by Kate

Spring into Summer Skiing

I know I should quit it with the skiing information but I was too excited when I read some skiing related news yesterday. And in a most unusual location. While most resorts have shuttered the skiing until November, there are still some resorts open for business for skiers and boarders. Utah and Colorado are the typical locations, but California? Yep, shocking that a state offering a warm climate everywhere but the mountains--even the Bay area reaching highs in the 80s last week--would still have snow. But with the massive snowfalls gracing Mammoth and Squaw Valley this winter--remember the four-foot snowfall from early March?--the mountains will be open through May.

Much to my disbelief--and more likely my naivete--Mammoth plans to stay open through Memorial Day with several skiable acres for skiers and boarders to spread out and plan in the snow. They'll also stay open until June if conditions allow. Hmm, should I be planning a trip out west? I'm liking the spring weather at home, but I can always use an excuse to pull the skis out of storage. And to really twist my arm, Squaw Valley plans to stay open until May 10. This year, the resort received 10 more inches than its seasonal average of 450 inches, and at the higher altitudes the base depth is still over 100 inches. Sheesh, where was this snow in Colorado when I wanted it back in March (really no hard feelings, I still had a blast).

So if the ski season flopped on your this winter and you're still itching to get in some runs. It's really not too late. And you can still work on your tan--maybe even wear a few less layers than you would in January or February. Photo grabbed from bmiersma at flickr. Posted by Kate

Sweet Home Ch...Colorado?

I've had the luck of checking out some of the skiing in Colorado all week. My plan was to actually blog about it while out here, but I never expected to be as tired as I was at the end of the day. So while you'll hear more about my trip next week once I'm back, I'm having a hard time leaving the Rocky Mountain state. We've all heard the Sweet Home Chicago line, but I'm thinking the exact opposite--even with talk of warm weather upon arriving home. I've got a Rocky Mountain high that I'm not ready to part with. Here are some of the reasons I don't want to leave:

1. The skiing. OK, the skiing is the exact reason for why I came out here. Colorado has some of my favorite ski resorts in the country, both old favorites I grew up skiing--like Vail--and new ones I've just started exploring in the last year--like Keystone and Beaver Creek. And even with the skiing labeled as spring conditions, I'm still having a good time. Knowing I'm going to have to pack my skis away til next year isn't sounding good right now.
   
2. The views. I'm sitting in my condo not quite ready to pack it in for the night and can't stop staring at the window. In each spot I've stayed this week I've had the luck of looking right out onto the mountains. First at the River Run units in Keystone where I could see the gondola, then at the newly renovated Osprey Hotel at Beaver Creek (talk about prime real estate at the Beav), and now at the Pines in West Keystone. Between mountain landscapes and starry nights--and seeing constellations I've only checked out at the Planetarium--I'm hooked.
3. The food. I grew up at the ski garbage dump near my house eating fried donuts and microwaveable pizza for lunch. Now I'm dining on five-star meals for lunch and dinner--I'm just hoping I've burned off these treats when I hit the mountain. And I'm missing the remainder of the Keystone Culinary Festival. It kicked off tonight with a red wine tasting at the cozy Ski Tip Lodge and continues through the weekend with delectable treats, more tastings and chef demonstrations. I heard there's a chocolate class that's a must to check out--anyone who can build a gondola out of chocolate and have the gondie filled with truffles sounds pretty talented in my book.
4. The deals. Note to self: Don't go to Sports Authority in the mountains. I made the mistake of shopping in Avon the other night and stayed until closing time staring at the ski deals. If I could have found a pair in my size either there or at the location in Dillon, I'd be cramming yet another pair of skis into my ski bag to take home with me. At $200 or less for a complete set, I have to scrounge around for that at home, or hope I can make a trade at the ski show. And I'm not even touching on the demos on the mountain. I had to avoid the clothing section at Sports Authority for fear of what I might find. A woman in my Bettyfest group last weekend said she found her coat marked down to $60. Whoa!
5. Sticking it out through the weekend. In addition to wanting to be here for more culinary activities, there's another reason to stay that involves a quick drive into Denver. Denver's version of the Cycle for ALS kicks off Saturday at the flagship REI downtown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I'm still wanting to ski but cycling for a cause--and for 3 hours which I love--isn't a bad deal either. Check a Rocky Mountain Sports magazine for more details.

So I'm about to conk out in front of the computer, hence a photo and more links will come later. Tonight's dinner at the Ski Tip did me in--delicious but food coma central. And I have to rest up for my last quickie day on the slopes. How many runs can I get in before I have to beat traffic back to Denver? Photo grabbed from nozomiyume at flickr. Posted by Kate