Spring in the Vail Valley is newly undeniable- the skies are friendly and daily temperatures crest above 32 Farenheight. Spring break must be just around the corner. With so many new riders out there, we made a little video showing you what you might expect from your first couple of days. Oh right, and its okay to laugh at us. For sure.

Thank you to Venture Sports, who totally set us up for a couple of awesome days with their amazing knowledge and friendly service, and to Bobby from Beaver Creek Ski School for teaching us everything we learned. We had a blast!

As it snows all textures out my window right now, I remember the following announcement that hit my inbox earlier today from Vail:

MORE THAN 24 FEET OF SNOW SEASON-TO-DATE AT VAIL

*Vail has received more snow since Dec. 1 than any other year in its history – 244 inches since Dec. 1, which is more snow than any other year in its history.

With more than 24 feet of snow so far this season, guests at Vail have been enjoying some of the best powder skiing conditions in recent memory. It’s not just the quantity of snowfall – it’s also the frequency and timing of the storms. The snowfall at Vail hit at the perfect time of the season, just before the December holidays and has continued to fall ever since.

In fact, it snowed 24 of the 31 days in January at Vail, the highest number of January snow days in seven years.

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The 2008 Honda Sessions were rockin!! What fun to see all these pros competing for the $90,000 in combined prize money! The way it works is that each competitor gets as many runs as they can fit in 90 minutes, each going back to back against the person before them in order. In the end, only one run counts, so one perfect run is all you need to take home $35,000 first place bucks, ultimately claimed by Andreas Wiig (check him out in our slideshow as Mr. Pom-pom helmet, slide on his bum down the rail)

What do Lisa Lamanelli, Jim Gaffigan, The New Yorker Magazine, and Beaver Creek have in common? Why, this year’s Humor on the Slopes lineup of course!

Need a lift this winter? Join the laughter in Beaver Creek as the New Yorker presents Humor on the Slopes. Enjoy a weekend of highly elevated comedy with daily performances by New Yorker cartoonists; shows by comedians Jim Gaffigan and Lisa Lamanelli; a comedy-film sneak preview; famous cartoon caption contest and more.

Lisa Lampanelli will take the Vilar stage at 7:30PM on Thursday, Feburary 28. She is described as “Undeniable likability, a bawdy personality, and a story to tell. A cross between Don Rickles, Archie Bunker, and a vial of estrogen.” Tickets are $40.

Jim Gaffigan will take the stage at the Vilar on Saturday, March 1, at 7:30PM. He is described as “one of the most popular touring and recorded comedians in the country today, Gaffigan’s clever, quiet style has earned him an unprecedented number of appearances on both CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman and NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Tickets are $55.

Take it a step further, you say? For $195pp (vs. $330) Want the all-in-one with elbow-rubbing included? The V.I.P. packages is for you, including “V.I.P.” seats to the above two performances, in addition to:

• The V.I.P. welcome reception at the private Beaver Creek Club (Thursday 5:30 – 7PM)
• Ticket to “Cartoonists Unleashed” and a Comedy Film Sneak Preview (Friday, 7:30PM)
• V.I.P. party at the private May Gallery (Saturday, 6:30PM)
• The New Yorker gift bag

Cartoonists on tour with Humor on the Slopes include:

• Mat Diffee
• C. Covert Darbyshire
• Drew Dernavich
• Carolita Johnson
• mor Gerberg
• Paul Noth

For more information Call 888-920-2787 or visit beavercreek.com

Provided by Jake Mihalek, Concierge at Beaver Creek West:

Top 14 Things that are FREE

See more vacation tips at Beaver Creek West’s website.

1. FREE ski or snowboard tips are offered for intermediate and advanced skiers from Mid Vail at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Snowboarders looking for free tips depart from the base of Golden Peak at 11 a.m. Offered November 28 – December 16, 2005 & January 9 – February 4, 2006.

2. Never been to Beaver Creek or Vail? Join a knowledgeable guide for the FREE Mountain Welcome & Blue Sky Basin Tours designed to introduce you to the vast terrain and amenities of both Beaver Creek and Vail Mountains. The Beaver Creek Mountain Welcome Tour meets daily at 10:00 am at the “Information” sign at the top of the Centennial Express Lift #6. The Vail Mountain welcome Tour meets at 9:30 am at LionsHead and Vail Village, Blue Sky Basin tour meets at the Blue Sky Basin Information sign at the top of lifts #4, #5, & #11 and are available to intermediate and advanced skiers and riders.

3.The Gondola is FREE after 2:00 p.m. in the winter and in the summer after 5:00 pm Thursday thru Saturday – take a FREE scenic ride up to the top of the mountain to enjoy the views and activities at Adventure Ridge.

4. In the winter, on Wednesday nights, don’t miss the FREE concert series in the streets of Vail Village. Each week features a different act and provides family entertainment for all! Concert series dates: November 30 – December 14, 2005 and March 8 – April 19, 2006; 6pm – 7:30pm

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