Vail, CO
Jan 30-Feb 6, 2010
by Sally Evans

24 Jacksonville skiers ascended on Vail Colorado for a week of skiing, boarding, lessons, and eating, with over 5,000 fabulous skiable acres, and a ski town famous for shopping and restaurants it was everything it was supposed to be. Staying at The Vail Spa, a short 5 minute walk to the Lionshead Village and gondola, with a few new skiers and boarders in tow we hit the slopes early Sunday morning to groomers, moguls, and tree skiing. Sunday evening we had “good ol” Southern BBQ catered for our “get to know each other dinner” where we talked of our first day on the mountain, and where we wanted to ski the rest of the week and with whom.

The week brought a mixed bag of conditions; we had bluebird days, a powder day, “Where no one is your friend on a powder day” and a few days of mixed clouds and sun. Whether you skied or boarded on the groomers of Avanti, Lodgepole, or Born Free, or bounced your way down the double black diamond mogul field of Rogers Run, or slithered through the trees of Blue Sky Basin, or China Bowl, there was a variety of terrain to be had. With just as many stories of falls, and jumps, and new friendships that were born on the fantastic slopes each day.

Each afternoon after skiing and boarding, many of us met at the outside spa, where we told stories of our exploits, fantastic lunches on the mountain, or maybe the hidden nuggets of fresh powder we found each day.

We wound down our trip with a dinner party at The Blue Moose Pizza, where we stuffed ourselves on fantastic pizza, lasagna, salad, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Despite how good the cookies were, everyone said they weren’t as good as the ones I baked for our get to know each other dinner, thanks to “Tollhouse”! We finished off the evening with group pictures around the Ice skating rink. It was a great week with 24 warm friends. With stories of Gelato, $36,000.00 Italian handmade espresso machines, and prime rib dinners at the Lancelot in Vail Village.

 Jacksonville Ski Club
P.O. Box 551352 Jacksonville, Florida 32255-1352
Phone: 904-350-1615 or email JaxSkiClub