Visiting Vail, never been. Would like advice on good carving runs.

[icebiker]

Heading there with 4 skier buddies Feb 8th - 13th. Looking for wide, moderate-pitch blues to carve. Did some searching and found recommendations for Ruder's Run, Northwoods, Simba, Dealer's Choice and Whipper Snapper. Any others to suggest?

I also found this post that seems to give Vail low scores for carving compared to others?

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?15434-Just-got-back-from-CO&highlight=vail

Any advice appreciated!

[big canuck]

Email Exolufus I betcha he can help you out

K

[inkaholic]

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?40729-Vail-December-9th-11th

Check the Colorado Ride Board for info from Boostertwo.

[boostertwo]

...Looking for wide, moderate-pitch blues to carve. Any others to suggest?

Unless there's heaps of fresh powder, you won't be lacking good runs for throwing high performance carves. Here's some info to help get you started: http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?13096-Trip-to-Vail-which-runs

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?39698-Friend-coming-to-CO

As indicated, it's a good idea to let the daily grooming report be your guide:

http://common.snow.com/groomingMap.asp?siteid=1

There's excellent snow and more on the way. PM when you're in town and I'm happy to provide local intel.

<img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/aavsdt.jpg" border="0" alt="The Fogman, Vail, CO.">

Look forward to an outstanding vacation!

Cheers,

B-2

[big mario]

since they are on the same lift ticket. The have some of the most awesomest grooming in the world, and lots of nice carving runs.

mario

[Bobby Buggs]

Game creek bowl, Dealers Choice was a good one, Wide, gradual pitch and drops you right at the lift.

[xolufus]

As boostertwo mentioned the grooming report is key - the grooming at both Vail and BC is top-notch and pretty much continuous...AND periodically they do groom some really unique runs that make for a very diversified alpine snowboarding experience...BC is better for your pure carving/EC style, but Vail is hands down my all-time favorite resort for alpine riding - It just provides too much variety and the lift time VS. riding time is phenomenal...PM me when you arrive...I hated the pretentiousness of Vail when I was in my twenties, but in my 50s - I'll take it - they just pay too much attention to so many things that really are just focused on improving the terrain and lift systems...Conditions right now and are expected to be - very good to excellent when you arrive...

Matt

[icebiker]

Thanks guys, this is excellent info! I'm even more pumped now. Matt, B-2, would be great to meet you and/or ride together if you have the time. I'll PM you as we get closer. My buddies will probably only ski 3 of the 4 days. I plan on all 4, plus based on the suggestions above, we're going to squeeze in a day at BC.

Thanks again!

Greg

[KarveKook]

Ruder�s run is at the bottom of the mtn, mostly man made, comparable to East Coast PP, quite often crowed with park punks, racers, and afternoon riders getting off the mtn. Whipper Snapper is a very short and narrow run at the top of Ruder�s. Northwood�s can be very good in the morning but crowds up fast, a locals favorite, both mazes of chair 11 can fill in by mid morning. An option might be to start there and then head over to Chopstixs. Normally good grooming and wide open until you get down to the road that feeds out to the chairlift. Simba is as far West as you can go at Vail, normally not very crowded until the afternoon ski down. Simba is a good all day option. The snow will be better at the upper part of the run so you might want to yo yo the Pride lift. Dealer�s Choice is another good option if it is groomed, it�s wide with good snow. The crowds tend to come down in waves so waiting for an opening would be a good call if it gets crowded, it could also be good all day. Born Free would also be a good early morning run all the way to Lionshead until the gondola gets busy. Upper Born Free will remain better longer. I would only do it if it�s groomed. Two sleepers are upper Columbine and Lodgepole they don�t get a lot of traffic through the day and could still be good in the afternoon. Check the grooming report each morning and move around accordingly.

Beaver Creek is always a good if not a better option, my first choice, typically less crowed with nice open runs like the Rose Bowl and Larkspur Bowl groomed almost daily. Centennial is a nice long run under the chair with a few steep pitches. All of these are good morning choices with Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead being better for crowds in the afternoon.

The current conditions are fantastic with the unsavory problem of having to wait for the second groom because of constant snow and runs being too soft, a great and thankful problem to have. This week looks at a high-pressure system building with sunny days for a while. Carving should be great!

[b.free]

So far, Beaver Creek is the best carving place in Colorado!!!! Personal opinion.

[KarveKook]

Even though Im partial to Beaver Creek, it's hard to beat Aspen when it comes to carving. There are no crowds and most of the snow there is natural. You can still find corduroy there in the afternoon. Ahhh, but the quality and steepness of the groomed runs early in the morning at the Beav are also hard to beat. I’m torn.

[tdifan_2003]

One of my absolute favorites at Vail was a freshly groomed Riva Ridge, early morning on a sunny day. It's a very long run and if you have legs to do it, it's awesome :). As short runs - all the coffee runs are good, I forgot what was the run at chair 11, but it was also very good.