Breckenridge Ski Season Starts Soon!
Catch your first chair of the season at Opening Day at Breckenridge Ski Resort on November 8, 2019! It’s the middle of September as I write this article, and snow has already fallen across the high country. The stoke around town is super high and you can be sure that the diehards that love skiing are already seeking out the snow on the higher ground.
The snowmakers will be turning on the snow guns (as temps allow) and usually are successful in creating at least one solid run from top to bottom on Peak 8. If natural snow falls, and/or the snowmakers are able to open runs adjacent to the main ones opening, they will do so. Cross your fingers, do your snow dance, and pray for snow! In the meantime, here’s what you should know about the first turns at Breck.
The Gear
Are you an old-school skier? New to the sport? Let’s assume you’re a beginner and don’t have anything, so we’ll review the basics of what you’ll need to get up on the hill and be comfortable. For a more in-depth list take a look at our blog on what to bring for your Breckenridge ski trip.
- Clothing - Think layers. You’ll want waterproof, and roomy clothes that you can move around in and adapt to the terrain. Synthetics (not cotton) wick moisture and keep you dry.
- Headwear - Some won’t ski without a helmet any longer, and I’m one of those. Too many ways to bump your noggin, so rent one to get started. A balaclava, neck gaiter or scarf is nice to have to keep the wind from going down your neck.
- Eyewear - My eyes water up too much to wear sunglasses, so goggles are my eyewear of choice. Make sure your goggles work with whatever helmet you have or rent. Keep an anti-fog glass tucked in a pocket in case snow makes it inside somehow.
- Skis / Snowboards - Pick a reputable company to rent from, ask our team for recommendations regarding the best shops that are close by. The experts inside those shops will dial you in, according to your skill level, and athletic ability.
The Mountain
Use one of the many parking options around town and find your way to the Freeride Transit system that will take you to the BreckConnect Gondola. The Paragon Lodging Office is not far at all, and if you stop by the office, we can point out where it is as you make your way to a premium Breckenridge Vacation Home Rental. However, the best way to get to and from the mountain is to stay in one of our vacation rentals that offers a complimentary on-call shuttle service.
Mention to our team that you’re brand new to the sport and we’ll recommend a lesson with a pro to get you practicing the best techniques to safely navigate the mountain. If you’re with a group, we recommend a half day to get some moves to work on and have some patient friends who will hang out while you practice. Make a plan for a place to meet should you get separated. We recommend the T-bar at the base!
The ski area has a great blog, and so does the town’s tourism office by the way, but for a quick rundown of mountain stats, webcams and more, head on over to onthesnow.com to learn the numbers about Breckenridge. We’ve worked hard to create a solid blog, so please explore our site further as well!
Lift tickets are available by just walking up to the ticket window, but you’ll find the best deals by booking in advance. Vail Resorts has made it affordable to purchase a season pass if you plan to ski more than 3 days. And, once you have a pass, you’ll be able to figure out when the best time to come back as we release lodging specials and incentives to those on our mailing list.
Opening day is so much fun, and you’ll be so glad you went. However, the season is just getting started, so be sure to check out the dates and start planning additional visits to watch the Dew Tour competition, celebrate Ullr Fest, or view the temporary snow art created during the International Snow Sculpting Championships (try to be there for sculpting week to see the artists at work).
Your homework from this blog article is to go and watch a few Warren Miller ski movies. At the end, he always prompts those watching to go ski, live the life they want, and to do it this year, because if they wait until next year, they’ll be one year older when they do. And, he’s right. Make plans to get your opening day bucket list items checked off this year. Click here to start searching luxury rental homes in Breck for your lodging needs for your Opening Day at Breckenridge visit!