Skiers and Snowboarders all across the country are feeling the “itch” for snow, and it is here! Loveland ski area on the continental divide opened Sunday October, 24 2010. Then Arapahoe basin opened Monday October, 25 2010 for all the Vail Resorts Epic Pass holders this will be the first of the 5 Epic Pass mountains to open for the season; followed by Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, and Beaver Creek.  Call Vail Resorts for more information on acquiring your Epic Pass for the 2010 – 2011 winter season.Snow is falling all over Colorado right now, the Vail Valley has seen 8 inches in the past two days and we are expecting snow through October, 27 2010. Vail Valley residents are chomping at the bit to get on their Ski and Snowboard gear for the season. I was privileged enough to  encounter local professional skiers, Pat Baskins & Casey Baskins, taking full advantage of the first snow in the Vail Valley. These young men never miss an opportunity to get on their skis and thats just what they did on October 25th in Vail! Check out the pictures and “Like” our Facebook page Beaver Creek | Blog! You can view pictures from the Vail Valley and add your own fan photos of your amazing winter vacations!

For the past five years OPD (Original Poop Decks) Skateboards has been working away developing new concept longboards and now has the production capabilities to produce boards to the general market.  OPD offers many different types of longboards and short decks. I have been privileged to test the new OPD Downhill deck coined “The Steamer” and at speeds of 25-45 miles per hour this deck out performs anything else out there. It handles tight corners incredibly at high speeds and pushes in flats with minimal effort and resistance. The deck will premiere at “Blaze the Belt 2010” on July 30th and 31st in Leadville, CO.  The “Original” OPD longboard has also been in my quiver and will perform to industry standards competing with Arbor, Sector 9, Gravity, and Bustin Boards. They are developing “The Warning Shot” which is a flex deck with a blunt kick tail and tapered kick nose; This deck will compete with the loaded boards “Tan Tien” and is on the cutting edge of the freeriding discipline of longboarding.  The Campus cruiser is a smaller deck designed to perform under most commuting conditions and is perfect for toting into class and work. There are girls models of these boards as well as every board can be customized to fit the individual needs of the rider. Custom graphics also available for a small extra charge, OPD privides true original longboards and takes pride in every board that is still rolling after 5 years of testing.

Click the picture to go to skateOPD.com

Company Info:

Founded in 2004, Original Poop Decks are handcrafted in Edwards, Colorado from the highest quality Baltic Birch and Rock Maplewoods. Our process produces a consistent design, however each board is a “Original” meaning no two boards will be identical. We create shapes and designs based on the ideas of our team members and customers. Let us create an Original skateboard for you! We at OPD anticipate that your deck will be the best poo you ever set your foot on.

We produce Standard skate decks, and a variety of longboard decks. Our standard skate decks are build strong and light, ready for the skateparks and the streets! We are constantly building prototype designs based on feedback from our team and mostly, our customers.

Our Longboard decks range in size, shape and flex. We also have a variety of styles, including sidewalk surfers and traditional cruiser shapes. We are working on a few new designs, testing different shapes, flexes and materials. Our Longboards are tested tough for speed, control, strength and durability.

“Original Poop Decks is a small skateboard manufacturer from Edwards, Colorado. OPD brings a blend of punk-rock, skateboard culture, ski/snowboard culture and and the laid-back mountain lifestyle to create their own unique style of progressive skateboard philosophy. The ethos of OPD is creativity, imagination and the ultimate skateboard ride. Always in pursuit of the ‘perfect ride’, the founders of Original Poop Decks continue to progress the sport through intuitive designs and inspired elements from their customers. Each skate truely is ‘Original’ .” -Ryan Spinks

Founders & Employees:

• Dustin Coit
  
• Phil Larsen
• Pizzo
• Cody Bennett
• Ryan Spinks

Contact OPD:

www.skateopd.com

poopdecks@gmail.com

Dustin Coit: @  970 – 376 – 2079

OPD would love to make you and Original longboard and also would love your feedback on the products, the website, the facebook page, and/or just anything give them a call or email and help to get OPD “rolling” for good!!

Avondale Friday Afternoon Club
Friday, June 19 –  through – Friday, September 4
4:45pm – 8:45pm

Come to Avondale every Friday this summer to for the best  end of teh week party around. Live music, drink specials, great crowd, no worries.

With its central Vail Valley location and large deck, Friday Afternoon Club will be taken to a new level at Avondale. The theme is Friday Afternoon Sunset Deck Party.

•    Live Music – 30th Street Production has created a music program with a different band each week, backed up by local DJs. This company is well known through the area for their outstanding productions. Music will build up till about 7pm and then begin to quiet down.

•    Parents Night Off – 50% off price at Westin Riverfront Kids Club
•    3 bars will be available on the deck with Cocktail specials
•    ‘It’s Pizza Time’ specials and additional menu specials
•    Drawings / Giveaways – To be announced

**Planning is in the works for a special FAC on Friday, July 3 which is the Salute to America celebration in Avon.  Check back for details!

Friday is not the only day to visit Avondale; they offer some of the best dining in the Vail Valley go in and try one of their great entrees

visit the Restaurant Avondale Website for more information about this great restaurant!

Beaver Creek Resort Summer Activities -Mountain Biking and Hiking

Trail Map:

Trail Conditions:

– Summer season mountain biking and hiking trails are expected to open at the end of May 2010

Lift Ticket Pricing:

– Hours: 9:30am – 4:30pm (weather permitting)

-Adult 1 Day/ Unlimted Rides  = $22

-Child 1 Day/Unlimted Rides (5-12yrs)
*Child must be accompanied by an adult (max 3 children) =   Free

-Adult 1 Day/Unlimited Rides w/ Bike Haul    $27

-Child 1 Day/Unlimited Rides w/ Bike Haul (5-12yrs)
*Child must be accompanied by an adult (max 2 children)  =  Free

-Adult 1 Day/Unlimited Rides w/ lunch at Spruce Saddle
Includes a $15 lunch voucher  =  $27

-Adult 1 Day/Unlimited Rides w/ lunch at Spruce Saddle and
bike haul  =  $32

For more information, please call the Beaver Creek Ticket Office at (970) 476-9090 or (800) 842-8062.

Vail Summer Activities – Hiking and Mountain Biking

Trail Map:

Trail Status:

June 4 – 20
Weekends only: Friday through Sunday, from 10am – 4pm

June 24 – September 6
Monday through Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Thursday through Saturday, 4pm – 9pm
*Bikes are not allowed up the gondola after 4pm

September 10 – 19
Weekends only: Friday through Sunday, from 10am – 4pm

Special Hours for Oktoberfest:
September 10-12 and September 17-19
Adventure Ridge will be open along with Talon’s Deck for dining
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information on Vail Summer Mountain Activities, please call the Resort Information & Activities Center at (970) SKI-VAIL.

Lift Ticket Pricing:

-ADULT 1 Day Scenic Ride (13 – 64 yrs old)     $             22.00
Unlimited Rides
-CHILD 1 Day Scenic Ride (5-12 yrs old)     Free* or $15
Unlimited Rides. *Free with Paid Adult (max 3 children per adult)
Children 4 and Under are Free (ticket required)

-SENIOR 1 Day Scenic Ride (65 yrs old +)     $             15.00
Unlimited Rides

-Vail Twilight Scenic Ride (13+)    $15 with $10 Credit
4PM – 9PM Thursday – Saturday. Vail Gondola Only. $10 Credit is valid at Adventure Ridge or Talon’s Deck. No cash value. No change given, Valid night of purchase only.

-Vail Twilight Scenic Ride (5-12 yrs old)    Free* or $15 with $10 Credit
4PM – 9PM Thursday – Saturday. Vail Gondola Only. $10 Credit is valid at Adventure Ridge or Talon’s Deck. No cash value. No change given, Valid night of purchase only.* Free with Paid Adult
Children 4 and Under are Free (ticket required)

-ADULT 1 Day Scenic Ride with Bike Haul     $             27.00
Unlimited Rides

-CHILD 1 Day Scenic Ride With Bike Haul (5-12 yrs old)     Free* or $20
Unlimited Rides. *Free with Paid Adult (max 3 children per adult)

-SENIOR 1 Day Scenic Ride With Bike Haul (65 yrs old)     $             20.00
Unlimited Rides

-ADULT 1 Day Scenic Ride & Lunch     $             27.00
Includes $15 Lunch Voucher at Eagle’s Nest or Spruce Saddle

-ADULT 1 Day Scenic Ride, Lunch & Bike Haul     $             32.00
Includes $15 Lunch Voucher at Eagle’s Nest or Spruce Saddle

-ADULT 1 Day Full Suspension Ride & Bike Rental     $            57.00

-CHILD 1 Day Ride & Bike Rental with adult     $            16.00

-Adult 1 Day Full Suspension Ride & Bike Rental With Lunch     $            67.00

Beaver Creek is officially open for business today November 25, 2009, the lift lines were tolerable and the snow was not half bad.  There were icy patches towards the end of the day, but there were still great turns to be found amongst the people unprepared for what was ahead of them.

Beaver Creek had one run full run, Latigo, open today, a 16 feature jib-park, and the beginner area at hay meadow.  There were lots of smiles and people looking like they were having a blast.  I sure did.

Beaver Creek did however make one mistake today. They seem to have cut their skier shuttle service in half, from 6 buses to 3. This left our skiers and snowboarders waiting 10-40 minutes for a bus.  There was a lady that I heard say “They better fix this, this just won’t work. I will not stand for this.”  Though she did sound a little hmm… uppity; she makes a good point the people who come to Beaver Creek expect a certain level of service and the resort managers should look at this with serious consideration.   They cannot expect 3 buses to handle the traffic that passes over that bridge everyday. I saw two avon station buses before the next Parking Lot bus arrived, that is 20+ minutes.

As you can see the line was backed up into and over the bridge. I am glad I beat the rush, but event though I was at the front it still took a half hour to get a bus down to my car.   Hopefully they will fix this problem soon.

Today was also the Cookie Contest in Beaver Creek Village, They served free cookies from 2-3 pm and the winner was announced shortly after 3 pm today, The cookies were spectacular, but there was a wonderful turnout so the delicious treats did not last long. There was a line similar to the bus line for the last few remaining cookies from Avondale and Larkspur Restaurants.  Bring more cookies next year!!