**Special Advertising Section**
Powderhorn Mountain Resort Ski Patrol Ski Along
All Season; Powderhorn Resort
The ultimate insider’s tour of Powderhorn Mountain Resort, the Ski Patrol Ski Along gives skiers and snowboarders the opportunity to take part in Powderhorn ski patrol’s daily operations. Participants may take part in morning safety briefings, risk mitigation, distressed skier calls, or run sweeps. powderhorn.com/Insider
Bentgate Mountaineering Backcountry 101 Sessions
First Wednesday of the month, October-April. 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m.; Golden
These sessions introduce skiers and boarders to the equipment and resources available for fun, safe backcountry tours. Topics include backcountry essentials, ski touring and splitboard gear, avalanche safety gear, clothing systems and backcountry resources. bentgate.com/events
WildyX Snow Stoke Social
October 5; Denver
Come together with the Denver backcountry community and get excited about the upcoming season. This fun event raises awareness about winter backcountry recreation in Colorado, and it’s also a big fundraiser for Wilderness Exchange’s partners at Friends of Berthoud Pass. wildernessx.com/blog/snow-stoke-social-2017
Whiskey Summit: Tasting Festival
October 7, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.;
Estes Park
It’s spirit season! This celebration features the products of more than 40 distillers and bottlers of whiskey, rum, vodka, and other distilled spirits from Colorado and beyond. visitestespark.com/events-calendar/special-events/whiskey-summit/
WildyX Annual Gear Swap
October 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Denver
WildyX’s gear swap, is the place to get the best deals on the gear you need for all your outdoor adventures. The shop blocks off the parking lot behind the building, and sets up a tent with tables so you can sell your unwanted stuff. wildernessx.com
Upslope Brewing Company’s 9th Anniversary Party
November 4; Boulder
Upslope takes over the parking lot and rolls up the garage doors to the brewery space to make room for the party. Prepare yourself for beer, live music and food trucks galore. upslopebrewing.com/events
Fall Back Beer Fest
November 4; Estes Park
Sip on over 100 different beers from over 30 Colorado breweries poured by the brewers themselves. visitestespark.com/events-calendar/special-events/fall-back-beer-festival/
Copper’s Opening Day
November 10; Copper Mountain
Celebrate the official start to the 2017/18 winter season at Copper. coppercolorado.com
26TH Annual Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo
Nov. 10-12; Denver
Overstocked merchandise from Colorado Ski & Golf is 40 to 60 percent off. Interactive attractions include high ropes course, climbing wall, and fitness challenge. skisnowexpo.com/denver-expo
Christy Sports Demo Day
November 11, Loveland Ski Area
Christy Sports visits Loveland for an early season demo with more than 30 brands. End your day in the Rathskeller for the après party and raffle. skiloveland.com
Rise ‘n’ Shine Rando Series
November 14 and 28, December 12 and 19 and January 9 and 23; Arapahoe Basin
A-Basin’s Tuesday uphill/downhill randonee race series is back, with two additional races and prizes for top finishers and series leaders. It’s open to racers of all ability levels.arapahoebasin.com/events
Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center Opening Day
November 15, YMCA of the Rockies/Snow Mountain Ranch
Welcome to more than 100 kilometers of trails for everyone from the first-time cross-country skier or snowshoer to the elite racer. Or just enjoy ice skating, tubing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides. snowmountainranch.org/nordic
Eldora Mountain Resort Opening Weekend + Alpenglow Unveiling Celebration
November 17-19, Eldora
Enjoy a grand opening of winter fun and be a part of the historic unveiling of Eldora’s first-ever high-speed detachable chairlift, the Alpenglow 6-Pack. eldora.com/things-to-do/events/all-events-programs
Buena Vista Backcountry Experience
December 16; Buena Vista
Enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or backcountry skiing on the latest demo equipment from leading manufacturers. Local guides will be providing instruction and gear advice. Presented by The Trailhead outdoor store and Buena Vista Mountain Adventures. thetrailheadco.com
Ski Cooper’s 75th Birthday Party
December 31, 2017; Leadville
Come celebrate Cooper’s rich history at it’s 75th Birthday party! There will be skiing and snowboarding, live music, birthday cake and a torchlight parade after dark. skicooper.com
Grand Targhee NYE Celebration
December 31; Grand Targhee, Wyoming
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a multi-course meal at the Branding Iron Grill and the annual Torchlight Parade in Grand Targhee Plaza. Afterwards, head to the Trap Bar & Grill for the annual raging bash. grandtarghee.com
New Year’s Eve Moonlight Dine & Ski
December 31, Copper Mountain
Ring in 2018 with dinner and skiing under the stars. coppercolorado.com
Snow Mountain Ranch Classic Race
January 6, YMCA of the Rockies/Snow Mountain Ranch
Experience the trails of Snow Mountain Ranch in this early season classic-only event. Challenge yourself on the single-lap 7.5K course or double your pleasure and make two laps on the 15K course. snowmountainranch.org/nordic
Elan Big Mountain Women’s Weekend at Crested Butte
January 19-21; Crested Butte Mountain Resort
This women-only weekend ski experience features demos on award-winning Elan Ripstick freeride skis and the chance to explore CB’s massive terrain with a Ski and Ride School instructor guide. skicb.com/events
Butte Banked Slalom
January 21; Crested Butte Mountain Resort
In celebration of World Snowboard Day, Crested Butte is hosting the second annual Butte Banked Slalom. This event is open to snowboarders of all ages (sorry, no skiers). It’s time to get low, go fast and try to hold that edge! skicb.com/events
Borealis Fat Bike World Championships
January 25-28; Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte
The Third Annual Borealis Fat Bike World Championships, presented by Upslope Brewing Company, is the greatest fat-biking event in the world. The action begins with the North Village Classic, a team/individual relay race that is sure to test your skills, on Thursday. Rest your legs and try out a plethora of new fat bikes at the North Village Demo Day on Friday. Become a World Champion in the five-lap championship race on Saturday, and top the weekend off with lift-served downhill fat biking at Crested Butte Mountain Resort on Sunday. cbfatbikeworlds.com
Beacon Bowl and Avalanche Awareness Day
February 3; Arapahoe Basin
The 16th annual iteration of this A-Basin classic raises funds for the the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Both recreational backcountry users and professional ski patrollers can enter the beacon search event—but be sure to stick around for avy dog demos, a huge silent auction and free live music. arapahoebasin.com/events
The Alley Loop Nordic Marathon
February 3; Crested Butte
If you like normal, you may want to seek out another Nordic race. Otherwise, this one is right up your “alley.” The course starts and finishes in the heart of downtown Crested Butte, winding around on snow covered streets, narrow alleys and one-lane bridges. cbnordic.org/alley-loop-nordic-marathon
Mountaintop Matrimony
February 14; Loveland Ski Area
The 27th Annual Valentine’s Day Mountaintop Matrimony ceremony and reception is a Loveland tradition.New couples are joined and married couples renew their vows in a mass wedding at an elevation of 12,050 feet on the deck of the Ptarmigan Roost Cabin. skiloveland.com
Valdez Ice Climbing Festival
Feb. 16-19; Valdez, Alaska
Climb multi-pitch natural ice structures towering up to 200 meters high in legendary Keystone Canyon and surrounding Valdez. Take part in co-ed and women’s clinics plus gear demos hosted by Black Diamond, CAMP/Cassin, and Petzl. Plus there will be Mountainfilm, live music, a silent auction and a banquet—and a special guest appearance by Conrad Anker. levitation49.org/ice-fest
Taos Freeride Championships
February 26-March 2; Taos,
New Mexico
For 13 years, Taos Ski Valley has been hosting the Freeride Championships, an event that attracts some of the best big mountain skiers and snowboarders in the country. Taos is the oldest Freeride World Qualifying event in the Americas. skitaos.com
10th Mountain Day
March 2; Ski Cooper
Join the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division that trained on Cooper Hill in the 1940s for a day of celebration. Current military will join the skiing parade down the front side of the mountain carrying flags. Plus, some of the original ski gear, clothing and training equipment will be available at the event. skicooper.com
Colorado Crafted
March 3; Crested Butte Mountain Resort Base Area
Ski spring conditions at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and then kick back and enjoy a craft tasting that features the best breweries, distillers and local fare that Colorado has to offer. Enjoy delicious beverages, taste treats and get down to incredible live music while overlooking the majestic Elk Mountains. cbcrafted.com
10th anniversary of snowboarding
March 18; Taos, New Mexico
On March 19, 2008 Taos Ski Valley opened the mountain up to snowboarding, which had not been allowed at the resort before that time. This season the resort celebrates the decision that brought skiers and snowboarders together and allowed them to share this exhilarating mountain. skitaos.com
Closing Day: Spring Break at Grand Targhee
March 30; Grand Targhee, Wyoming
Come enjoy a full month of endless good times for the whole family during Grand Targhee’s Annual Spring Break celebration. There’s great skiing and riding on the mountain, live music every weekend through closing day, open mic nights, a throwback ’80’s sick trick competition with a DJ on deck, the Rubber Legs Banked Slalom Race, the annual Cardboard Box
derby, the Sink or Swim 100-foot long Pond Skim and much more. grandtarghee.com
Banked Slalom Races and Retro Day Weekend
March 31; Eldora
The Front Range’s best on-snow beach party returns for a second year, featuring wildly fun Banked Slalom Races on Eldora’s historic Trick Ditch trail. There will be beer, live music, giveaways and fun on-snow games. eldora.com/things-to-do/events/all-events-programs
Chugach Fat Bike Bash
April 6-8; Valdez, Alaska
Celebrate fat biking with uniquely Alaskan events like the Ursa Major Harbor Race and Street Party, Hoodoo Rodeo, a daring downhill and an exhilarating cross-country race. And there will be live music. Remember to bring all the toys to enjoy springtime in Valdez: Here, you can bike, ski, soar, climb, paddle and brap. chugachfatbikebash.com
