Colorado’s winter festivals are an absolute must, and start simply by booking flights to Denver. The cosmopolitan hub is a convenient base – from here, skiers can reach nearby ski areas and outdoor activities, from frozen waterfall climbing to village-wide parties. Mark your calendars for your favorite festival, and get booking.
Winter X Games, Aspen
January 2012
An annual competition hosted on Buttermilk Mountain for the gnarliest of them all, the X Games are heaven for extreme sports junkies where no jump is too high, no track too quick and no party too late. In association with ESPN, Aspen briefly becomes the home to a radical breed of sports fan that can’t get enough of the competitions, from “Big Air” and “Super-Pipe” to snowmobile free-styling. Top athletes consistently draw large adrenaline-junkie fan bases to not only enjoy the games, but also the “X Fest Village” which features climbing walls and athlete demos, the Snowskate Park and gigs from famous DJs and up-and-coming artists.
Cowboy Downhill, Steamboat
January 2012
The 38th incarnation of this inspired rodeo-themed event takes place in Steamboat on Jan. 17, 2012. The events feature an orderly timed downhill slalom and then more of a chaotic “stampede.” As the name suggests, the unifying factor is that all competitors must be decked out in their finest cowboy gear – from chaps to Stetsons (although the boots might be a bit of a problem). The downhill slalom fuses rodeo activities like lassoing and horse saddling with the competitive descent of ski slalom, while the Stampede does exactly what it says on the tin: group start, mass carnage and the first cowboy across the line wins. Steamboat transforms itself to accommodate the cowboys and cowgirls with food and beer tents, livestock and live music in Gondola Square.
Ice Festival, Ouray
February 2012
Ouray is the heart of the climbing community in Colorado and every year hosts an ice climbing festival where the best of the best (or those with a death-wish) competitively climb the frozen waterfalls, while bemused onlookers stand dangerously close to the action. The festival started in the 1970s and has grown to become a complete climbing jamboree where climbing gear manufacturers compete with climbing workshop classes for the attention of the long-limbed and strong-fingered. Ouray itself a charming village tucked in among the highest peaks in the Rockies, where the buildings are stuck in time warp with their clapperboard, Victorian features. For those not so much into the climbing, Ouray also has some fabulous hot springs for bathing in – though it’s probably a lot more fun getting in than out.
Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Steamboat
February 2012
Originally founded to spare the local miners the monotony of winter, the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival is a village-wide, fully integrated event. It features ski jumping, fireworks, cross country obstacle courses, shooting, sleigh races through the streets and the High School Marching Band on skis, all of which attract the whole town and more to the streets of Lincoln Avenue to enjoy the show. As night approaches, the village is illuminated by the “Lighted Man” event, which begins with skiers donning backpacks of fireworks and hand-held fire torches performing synchronised routines and weaving down the slopes of the mountain – all while trying not to blow themselves up.
Spring Back to Vail, Vail
April 2012
This weeklong festival in Vail is the ultimate end-of-season bash in the Rockies. Seven days of free concerts and events culminate in one last hurrah on April 15, when the season draws to a close. There’s an all-mountain film competition for both pros and amateurs, sweepstakes and, finally, the World Pond Skimming Championships. This isn’t your usual game of skipping stones: it’s not about selecting your stones carefully – this is something far more spectacular. Skiers and snowboarders hurl themselves down a ski jump and attempt to surf the greatest distance in a pool of water. The powder skiing in Vail makes for a fantastic champagne finish to your trip and to the season.
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