High-Tech Infrastructure and Pioneered Innovation Offer Skiers Fresh Snow On Demand
- Beaver Creek Resort hones new method to offer luxury snow surface conditions
Beaver Creek, Colo., January 20, 2016 – Two years of testing and development at Beaver Creek Resort have honed a new snow resurface technique which raises the bar for winter sports – so much so that skiers experience fresh snow on the slopes, on demand.
Engineered by Beaver Creek’s snow surfaces team, the Snow Refresh project includes the installation of the world’s most advanced snowmaking instruments using a customized blueprint across three of the resort’s three most-popular ski trails – Red Tail, Gold Dust and Centennial. During optimal conditions (cold temperatures and low humidity), the snowmaking machines activate, oscillate, and cover the trails with a fresh, seamless canvas of snow.
“I’ve heard some guests describe the experience as ‘skiing on velvet’ or ‘skiing through moon dust’,” said Beaver Creek Senior Director of Mountain Operations, Greg Johnson. A thirty-year snow surfaces authority and internationally-recognized World Cup ski race course designer, Johnson views the implementation of the Snow Refresh program as both the outlying edge of winter sports’ large-scale technology as well as the new paradigm for resort guest service. “We’ve been able to craft, test and refine techniques which offer skiers a luxury ski experience on demand.”
The technique, which is implemented December through mid-March, has gained a following among skiing zealots who eagerly await the soft, velvety texture of Snow Refresh snow. Skiers are alerted when Snow Refresh snow is available via the online Beaver Creek daily grooming report, daily snow conditions report announcement signs on the mountain, and through the resort’s Ambassadors and mountain concierges in the Beaver Creek Village. “Snow Refresh is produced only when temperatures are ideal during very early-morning hours prior to opening for the day,” stated Beaver Creek Senior Manager of Mountain Operations, Ellen Galbraith. “We’ve absolutely gained a fan base that waits with eager anticipation to for what has become the ultimate serendipitous announcement,” she said.
Home to Colorado’s most extensive snowmaking system which spans the resort’s trail network, Beaver Creek is unique for its ability to open trails and terrain quickly, host the country’s only men’s World Cup competition annually and advance the definition of luxury guest service. “Attention to detail is what makes Beaver Creek unique – from gourmet restaurants and personal concierge service to slope side ski valet and flawless fresh snow when we choose to create it,” Galbraith added.
Flawless Ski and Snowboard Instruction:
“Guests benefit extraordinarily by learning on the soft snow texture,” said Beaver Creek Senior Director of Skier Services, Fred Rumford. “Our clients expect a premium experience and the ability to coach technique on snow that’s literally flawless gives students an extra advantage.” Recognized as the Ivy League of Ski Schools for its uncompromised commitment to world-class ski and snowboard instruction, the Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard School is renowned for its luxury collection of lessons, clinics and coaching sessions such as the Premium Private Lesson, Women’s Ultimate 4, and tailored private lessons.
White Glove First Tracks
Beaver Creek’s White Glove First Tracks experience invites guests to cherish unrivaled scenic beauty at sunrise, delight over premier access to pristine snow surface conditions, and savor a five-star gourmet breakfast on the mountain at the exclusive Allie’s Cabin on the mountain. When Snow Refresh snow is available, First Tracks guests are often tempted to forego breakfast to instead savor sublime snow surface. Guests board the Centennial Express Lift at 7:30 a.m., enjoy a private, guided tour of the mountain’s flawlessly curated slopes and relax over breakfast – all before the resort opens for the day. Guests are invited to reserve White Glove First Tracks by visiting BeaverCreek.com or by dialing 866.250.1679 or +1.970.754.5310.
About Beaver Creek Resort: Renowned for legendary attention to detail, World-Cup mountain pedigree, intimate alpine village, and reputation as one the world’s top luxury destinations, Beaver Creek Resort represents incomparable elegance and Rocky Mountain leisure which spoils guests for anywhere else with an unparalleled level of world-class service. Just 30 minutes east of Eagle Airport (EGE) and 2.5 hours west of Denver International Airport (DIA), Beaver Creek offers luxury accommodations throughout three villages and ski-in, ski-out luxury lodges and hotels. More than 40 in-resort and slope-side restaurants, elegant village boutiques, cherished daily traditions and activities such as world-class downhill skiing and snowboarding spanning 1832 acres with 3340 vertical feet of descent, snow shoeing, Nordic skiing, and ice skating in the Beaver Creek village. Visit BeaverCreek.com for additional information and vacation planning.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. The Company’s subsidiaries operate nine world-class mountain resorts and two urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Perisher in Australia; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. The Company owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.