Best Ski Day of the Year!

A view from the top of Kings Cornice at A-Basin today.  Really, it looks a lot better with goggles  and some snow in your face!  Over a foot of new snow and snowing very hard through the day and more tomorrow!  We could get over 2 feet!  Besk Ski Day of the Year.

Broncos Support at the Frisco Tubing Hill

Go Broncos in the Super Bowl!

Beautiful View from the top of A-Basin

Beautiful view from the top of A-Basin looking toward Keystone all the way to Breckenridge.  Top of Montezuma Lift.

Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships

Snow Sculpture Championships Overview

For many years this wintertime event remained on a small and local scale, bringing everyone from merchants to schoolchildren into the fold of snow sculpting. However, in the late 1980's, the event broadened to a statewide competition. And in 1991 Breckenridge hosted the first International Snow Sculpture Championships. Since its inception, the event has fostered a spirit of worldwide artistic camaraderie, bringing together cultures as diverse as Russia, China, Japan, Morocco, Belize, Finland, France, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Mexico, Great Britain, Spain, Bulgaria and Canada, just to name a few. Language barriers are broken down; political differences are set aside; and the result: art, pure and simple.

Each 4-person team carves unique sculptures, often times depicting cultural influences, proud heritages and aspirations of those whose skills are involved. Only hand tools are allowed in the competition; no power tools or colorants may be used.

At the end of the five-day period (65 hours total), a panel of artist judges will find a favorite on the basis of theme, style and technique. People's Choice($1 a vote that goes right back to the event) and Kids' Choice voting will be available until Sunday at 5 p.m. so you can choose your own favorite.

The Events Business News has named the International Snow Sculpture Championships to the top 200 events Internationally. A list of some of the major media inclusion in past years includes: Fuji TV (Japan), CNN, British Broadcasting Company, CBS This Morning, Today Show - Willard Scott, National Geographic Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Dallas Morning News, USA Today, New York Times, MSNBC, Travelocity and the Travel Channel.

The Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships is featured in a full length documentary.  Please click here to view the trailer. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Snow Sculpting

Where are the sculptures located?

The Snow Sculptures are located in the area around the Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424.   The competition sculptures are in the Riverwalk Center (Tiger Dredge) parking lot and the sponsor/exhibition sculptures are spread onto the "lawn" just north of the Riverwalk Center and across the river in the Blue River Plaza adjacent to Main Street.  Event Headquarters are in the Riverwalk Center.  Click here for a map. 

Who will be sculpting this year (2014)?

There will be 16 teams from the following countries: Catalunya (Spain), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia (2 teams), Russia and USA.  2014 will be one of our most international fields with only 3 teams coming from within the United States- two from Colorado and one from Vermont.  

 Can the public attend the whole event? 

Yes, we would love you to join us anytime from January 21 to February 2, 2014 (and even earlier if you want to volunteer- email Heather Bridges heatherb@townofbreckenridge.com if you want to volunteer).  Artists actually sculpt from Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. until Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.- the only night they are allowed to sculpt all night is Friday, January 24 into Saturday, January 25, 2014.  Judging is at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 and the awards ceremony is at 4:00p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 during which we will award the Judges' top 3 choices.  Kids' Choice and People's Choice will be awarded on Sunday evening after voting is completed. The sculptures will remain standing weather permitting until the night of Sunday, February 2, 2014.   

We think the evening of Friday, January 24, 2014 is one of the best times to visit.  Artists are preparing to stay up all night to do detail work and the atmosphere is celebratory.   Why not spend a night or two in one of our great hotels or cozy condos and catch the whole weekend?  You won't regret seeing the sculptures evolve and witnessing the awards being given out. 

Where may visitors park?

There will be no parking available in the Tiger Dredge Lot where the sculptures are located. Please click here for a parking map. 

On January 25-26, 2014 and February 1-2, 2014, parking will be allowed on the EAST side of Park Avenue only adjacent to the Riverwalk (Tiger Dredge) parking lot.  Please obey posted signage indicating whether parking is allowed.  Please do not utilize the F-Lot Transit Center off of Park Avenue as a turn around or drop off area for cars.  The transit center is for Summit stage, Town of Breckenridge and Breckenridge Ski Resort buses only.  Click here for a map. 

Also, on January 25-26, 2014 a special Snow Sculpture shuttle will run between the event site (F-Lot transit center) and the satellite/free skier parking off of Airport Road.  The shuttle will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and there will be signage directing visitors to the satellite/free skier parking off of Airport Road as well as the special shuttle stop. 

Free public transportation is also available throughout the town from 6:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., provided by the Breckenridge Free Ride. Maps are available at The Welcome Center on Main Street, Breckenridge Station and on each bus.  Or click here to find out more about the Breckenridge Free Ride.  The closest bus stop to Event Headquarters is the F-Lot, which is serviced by most bus routes.

Where should private charter buses park and drop off/pick up?

Private charter buses may utilize the F-Lot Transit Center near the Riverwalk (Tiger Dredge) Lot to drop off  and pick up guests.  Click here for a map.  Buses may not park on Park Avenue or in the Tiger Dredge Lot.  Buses will be directed to park in the satellite/free skier parking off of Airport Road and return to the event site to pick up guests.  For more information about parking please click here.    

What is viewing week? 

We call January 26 - February 2, 2014 viewing week because the sculptures are there for viewing (weather permitting), but the artists are not working on the sculptures during that time- the sculptures will be completed on January 25, 2014 at 10:00 a.m (of course you are welcome to visit while the sculpting is happening starting on January 21, 2014).  We say that viewing week is weather permitting because every once in a while we need to take down a sculpture that is about to fall due to warm weather.  Over the past few years we have only taken down one or two sculptures due to weather so it is a pretty good bet that you will be able to see most or all of the sculptures (and without the crowds!).   We do take down all of the sculptures on the night of Sunday, February 2, 2014 at around 11pm. 

Where does the snow come from? 

The Breckenridge Ski Resort makes the snow and the Town of Breckenridge Public Works Department loads it into dump trucks and trucks it down to the event site. The snow is blown into the blocks by a huge snow blower. Because the snow is man made, it is the same consistency throughout the block.

How heavy are the snow sculptures? 

Approximately 20 tons. 

What are their dimensions? 

10 ft wide, 10 ft long and 12 ft high. 

How are the blocks of snow formed? 

Front-end loaders take the snow from the dump trucks and load up the square wooden frames. The snow is blown into the blocks by a huge snow blower. After a couple loads, about 5-10 people climb into the blocks and stomp the snow to pack it into the blocks. The people then climb out of the block and another load gets dumped in and the people get back into the block and stomp the snow. These people are called "snow stompers" and are definitely super star volunteers. 

What type of tools can the artist use? 

They can only use hand tools and cannot use power tools, colorants or internal support structures. Tools that are used include carrot scrapers, chicken wire, saws and more.


Is the event free? 

There are no charge for viewing the sculptures. 

How long do the sculptures remain on display? 

Depending on the weather, the sculptures are scheduled to remain for at least one week following the event. 

How much time do the artists have to complete their sculptures? 

A total of 65 hours. 

How are the teams chosen? 

The Snow Sculpture Organizing Committee sends out 250 invitations in July and receive submissions in September from artists who send back their designs. Then the Organizing Selection Committee decides who will attend the event based on designs and team resumes. The teams provide their own transportation to Denver and are supported by a travel stipend supplied by the Town of Breckenridge.  The Organizing Committee with the help of many local sponsors take care of all meals and lodging for artists. 

What do the teams win? 

Glory!  The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners each receive a medallion and a ribbon. Ribbons are also awarded to the People's Choice, Kids' Choice and Artists' Choice winners. There are no cash prizes- just a lot of love and admiration and of course glory. 


Slifer Smith & Frampton Portfolio for the New Year

Click here to review our new Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate Portfolio with listings throughout Summit County, Colorado.  Great marketing statistics and additional information.  Please give me a call or email if you would like additional information on any of these properties.

2013 Slifer Report

Click on the link for the 2013 Slifer Report, an annual review of our real estate market conditions

http://www.summitcountyrealestate.com/market-trends.cfm

More Nordic Ski Races at the Frisco Gold Rush this Weekend

Start of the High School Skate Race

Summit Nordic Ski Club Racers Leading the Pack

High School Cross-Country Race with Plenty of New Snow from Ullr!

Gold Run Nordic Center was the host for the High School Classic Cross-Country Races today.  Ullr Fest has been very successful with lots of new snow throughout the week in Summit County, Colorado!

January Market Insider

Whole Foods in Frisco set to Open in June 2014

Whole Foods construction can be seen near Interstate 70 on the 9.4-acre Frisco parcel, which will include five commercial/retail buildings, including Whole Foods, an inline retail building, the gateway building, a wellness building and regional retail building. The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant will also be part of the market.  Whole Foods Market is estimated to open in June 2014.

Ullr Fest This Week!

Sunday, January 5
Crowning of the Ullr King and Queen:  (6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) – Includes live bluegrass by the Honey Gitters, plus a free beer stein or Viking helmet for the first 400 through the doors. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave.  FREE

Monday, January 6
Family Snow Day (3:30 pm. – 5:30 p.m.)   - Bring the kids for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, Ullr Helmet making, S ’mores over the fire pit and other family friendly activities. Breckenridge Nordic Center on Ski Hill Road. Free

Tuesday, January 7
Ullympics  (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)  Partake in wild events such as the frying pan toss, group ski racing and ski boot relay.  Email events@gobreck.com to register. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center Lawn, 150 West Adams. FREE

Wednesday, January 8
SYRCL Wild and Scenic Film (5:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.) – High Country Conservation Center and Continental Divide Land Trust are partnering to bring the film festival to Breckenridge. HCCC and CDLT share complementary missions of resource and land conservation. We are excited to come together to bring the community thought-provoking and beautiful films to inspire involvement and action. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave. $15.00

Breck’s Got Talent (Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Show at 6:30 p.m.) – Join local radio station, Always Mountain Time, for a town-wide talent show. For more information or to register contactjohnny@alwaysmountaintime.com. Breckenridge Theatre, 121 South Ridge. $5.00. Advance tickets available at the Breckenridge Welcome Center.

Thursday, January 9
Ullr Parade (4:30 p.m.) – The centerpiece of the week, the Ullr Fest parade showcases Breckenridge’s wild winter fun. Main Street Breckenridge. Don’t miss the World Record Shot Ski Attempt at 4:00 just prior to the parade(click here to sign up for the shot ski). Register for the Parade HERE

Ullr Bonfire (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) – Join us for the town bonfire.  Christmas trees are welcome! South Gondola Parking Lot. FREE

Friday, January 10
Comedy Night (7:00 p.m. Doors Open, Show at 8:00 p.m.) – Comedy Works comics descend on Breckenridge for a night of big laughs. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave. Admission TBD

Saturday, January 11
2nd Annual Ullr Classic Pond Hockey Tournament (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) – Close out the week with a pond hockey tournament held at the Gold Run Nordic Center, 200 Club House Drive.  Register online  $150 per team and FREE for spectators.

Frisco Adventure Park Tubing Hill Conditions are Great!

The Frisco Adventure Park tubing hill is a great place for kids to be kids and adults to be kids again! The hill features lengthy 1200-foot tubing lanes with lift service up the hill for tubing day or night under the lights. With the evening hours of operation, you can enjoy an hour of tubing, have an adventure after a day of skiing, spend a full afternoon enjoying a beginner ski or snowboard lesson with an hour of tubing, or bring the whole family for a custom adventure!
For additional information, visit http://www.townoffrisco.com/adventure-park/winter/science-of-tubing/

U.S. Grand Prix at Breckenridge

U.S. GRAND PRIX
As the resort hosts an unprecedented second Olympic qualifying event. The FIS Freestyle World Cup, in conjunction with the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix, is bringing World Cup halfpipe and slopestyle action to Breck Jan. 8-12, 2014.Watch as the best athletes from around the globe take on Freeway Terrain Park's superpipe and slopestyle course in an attempt to be named to an Olympic team.  The fourth halfpipe and third slopestyle stop on the 2013-14 FIS Freestyle World Cup tour will be one of the last events held within the qualifying period for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The tour stop for the USSA’s Grand Prix was moved from Northstar California Resort to Breck because of the competition-ready venue already in place. Despite quality snow conditions at Northstar, the region was not getting sufficiently cold temperatures for snowmaking to ensure the huge production of snow required for building a competition halfpipe and slopestyle venue. Breckenridge, meanwhile, recently hosted the Dew Tour Mountain Championships, and the mountain's venue was such that it could handle the addition of an event of this size at short notice.   The event will feature most of the top international slopestyle and halfpipe athletes and will be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN.

QUICK FACTS

- The FIS Freestyle World Cup/Sprint U.S. Grand Prix will move to Breckenridge Jan. 8-12, due to weather issues at the previously scheduled venue Northstar.

- It will be the fourth stop of the year on the FIS Freestyle halfpipe World Cup tour, and third for slopestyle

- Quality facilities are already in place at Breck, which just hosted the Dew Tour Mountain Championships.

- The Breckenridge stop is an International Ski Federation World Cup-sanctioned event, being held in conjunction with the USSA's Sprint US Grand Prix for freeskiing, as well as an Association of Freeskiing Professionals Platinum event

- The Breck event will be the second stop in the U.S. Grand Prix series

Opensnow.com Snow Forecasts for 2014!

Opensnow.com is the future of weather, brought to you with added flair. Most weather information is sensationalistic and overwhelming, but not here. In a fun and witty style so often lacking in weather reporting, they help snow lovers smile and find their perfect mountain experience.  The industry-leading features include handcrafted and personable forecasts, LiveSnow reports direct from the hill, custom snow alerts, and the first “Ask a Weatherman” service available to the public. Plus authenticity is baked in, as the site is run by skiing meteorologists who keep track of their accuracy.

Opensnow.com Breckenridge

Peak 6 at Breckenridge Opens for the Holiday Season

Peak 6 at Breckenridge Opened for the Holiday Season.  Here is a photo today of the upper bowl and some of the runs below Peak 6.  The opening of Peak 6 represents one of the biggest and most notable ski area terrain expansions in North America in the past decade, and will be the first at Breck since the Peak 7 expansion in 2002.  Once guests arrive at Peak 6 via the new lifts, Zendo Chair and Kensho SuperChair, they will have access to the above-treeline intermediate and expert terrain that the new expansion will become famous for, enabling guests to “Awaken Their Sixth Sense” on the runs that were recently named via the resort’s crowd sourcing contest.

Eddie Bowers Moves to New SSFRE Gondola Office



Eddie Bowers recently moved to the new Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate Gondola office located at 211 North Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado.  Please stop by for a visit next time you are in town.  The office is conveniently located just steps from the Gondola and we always have coffee, tea or hot chocolate ready!  Hope to see you soon!