Here’s What It’s Like Snowboarding in Colorado

Updated March 2022: Snowboarding is a great sport during the winter. However, in Colorado, spring provides the best snowboarding. After a second season on the slopes, and as late riding is upon us, I’ve taken the time to update this article. Here’s what it’s like snowboarding in Colorado after more great riding mid-season.

Mid Season Riding in Colorado

While early season hasn’t provided the kind of riding we would’ve liked, as the months stretched passed the holidays, the amount of snow at the resorts in Colorado began to accumulate. Lines at the major resorts also continued to accumulate, with Copper Mountain and Breckenridge seeing huge crowds.

Vail continues to come under fire for poor conditions for both employees and riders, as runs lack snow and crowds continue to mount. Smaller resorts, however, have enjoyed relatively light lines and enjoyable conditions. Places like A-Basin, Loveland, and Monarch provide riding without huge amounts of people.

As Spring Break winds to a close for many, spring riding conditions will return. Though many don’t like the slushy snow, the warmer days, or the weird snakes that appear on popular runs, it’s personally some of the best conditions to ride.

Early Season Riding in Colorado

Well, here we are, guys! The first lifts in Colorado have started to turn, and the season is officially underway. My wife and I had the opportunity to ride at Arapahoe Basin on the second day open. Let me tell you, early-season does not disappoint. Snowboarding in Colorado is an amazing experience. We’re just getting started!

The mountains have seen an uptick in riders this season. Making the most of the weekdays are key!

Despite the hate Vail is getting, the mountains still provide a perfect escape from reality.

Riding Arapahoe Basin 

Arapahoe Basin is typically Colorado’s earliest opening ski resort for those of you who don’t know. However, this year, Wolf Creek beat A-Basin by a couple of days to claim the earliest open title. To be fair, they did get dumped on quite a bit! 

Arapahoe Basin is a small resort tucked away off Highway 6, just on the other side of Loveland Pass. The resort is usually open between October and June but can occasionally surprise us with 4th of July riding! No easy terrain, so be prepared! This early though, only one run is available, serviced by a high-speed quad up to mid-mountain.

What It’s Like Snowboarding at Keystone

Keystone has come under a ton of fire, along with many other Vail-owned resorts, for having limited terrain, terrible lift lines, and crowds unlike years previous.

Keystone has improved over the course of the season, but with passes offered at cheaper rates at the beginning of the season, the crowd situation hasn’t improved much. Weekends are still hard, and POW days are often knee-deep in people rather than riding days.

The Conditions in Colorado

Snow-wise, it isn’t POW. The snow also isn’t natural. For the most part, the run has been snow blown with machines, but there is good coverage. Around mid-day, the conditions became slushy, somewhat similar to late season spring. 

As the day waned, though, the run became icy. The sun had dipped below the ridge to the east of the run, known creatively as “East Wall.” The lack of sun caused temperatures to drop, leaving the run slick. 

How Was the Drive?

We left home around 9 am, with a two-hour drive through Denver and into the mountains. It takes a little more than 2 hours to get to a resort, depending on which one! When we left, the sunny day was already in the 60s. 

The route, I-70 through the mountains to Highway 6, is a beautiful drive. Being so early in the season, we were still able to see leaves changing! Despite being past their prime, seeing the leaves in their glorious golden state is always a treat!

Being Back on the Mountain Snowboarding in Colorado

Being back on the mountain takes a bit of time to adjust. My first run back saw more falls than I care to admit, but by lunch, I had made it down without any spills. I had to shake the rust off, so to speak. 

A-Basin’s one run, High Noon, is not a beginner run. It is steeper than green runs. As early season conditions exist, it can be challenging to navigate the changing conditions. Ten minutes can make the difference between icy conditions and softer slushy conditions. 

Day Two on the Slopes

Our day wound down, and our blood was still pumping after the first day of the season. We had run into YouTuber Johnathan Buckhouse, and the day was thoroughly enjoyable. On the ride home, we decided that a second day on the mountain was a must. 

So fast forward a bit. Laundry got done, and the packing for a second day began. For day two, we had to be a bit more strategic about our visit to the mountain. Planning out ideally the drop off of the little guy at school, then a two-hour drive to the hill.

We succeeded. The second day of boarding provided a continuation of the enjoyment of day one. First, the snow was much softer. It seemed like a good dusting came through overnight and blanketed the entire mountain in a fresh layer of snow!

Riding Through the Sore

Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.

Mary Tyler Moore

Although we were exhausted, the second day was fantastic, just as the first was. We again barely waited in lift lines, and the people were awesome! The second day bodes well for a long season, but after a break of almost five months, a back-to-back was a bit tiring.

Riding through being sore was the only way to grow for us. The opportunity to journey to A-Basin again to prove ourselves was well worth the drive and some tight muscles. As we position ourselves for Whistler in the spring, we continue to push ourselves.

Rest, Recover, Repeat

While these two days were great, a much-needed break is in our future.  My wife returns to work, and I have much to do over the next several days. We will take the time to stretch, rest, and recover from a couple of excellent early season days. 

In addition, our relaxation involved a ton of hot baths, massages, and stretching. Yoga is also a great method of recovery, especially since muscles will be tight. Taking the time to properly recover means the difference between a great season, and an off-season filled with injury.

As for the repeat, we are watching resort openings every single day. Our hope is Keystone opens some night riding soon, but not holding any breath! Some additional runs would be nice, but just having any riding at all is something I am incredibly grateful for!

What It’s Like Snowboarding in Colorado

Colorado has some of the best snow in the world. Further, it has some of the most beautiful mountains that provide an experience that takes your breath away. If you’re coming to visit, remember that these beautiful mountains are home to everyone. Please be respectful towards each other.

Keep in mind, these are early season conditions. Run quality changes often, are filled with other riders and skiers, and have obstacles that you need to avoid to prevent damage to your board or yourself! 

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