SSF Foundation Summit, Give for the New Year!

Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate (SSFRE) has been an integral part of both Summit and Eagle County for years and has helped mold the communities into what they are today. A fundamental part of what makes SSFRE special is their community involvement and charitable giving. Whether monetarily or with their time, brokers from the SSFRE family have been giving back since the early days of Vail and continue to make a difference each year in their charitable giving in both counties. Every dollar that SSFRE donates each year is given directly to local organizations that make an immense impact on the betterment of our local community. “At Slifer Smith & Frampton we recognize that investing in our local community is a fundamental part of what makes Summit County such a special place to live,” said Jeff Moore, Managing Broker at SSFRE in Summit County.  This year the team at Slifer Smith & Frampton got together to come up with a way to increase their giving as well as their overall impact on the community. “For years our brokers have been giving back to the Summit County in countless ways. We wanted to create a vessel that would help not only our brokers, but also streamline the giving process for our clients and other members of the community,” said Mark Smith, Founding Partner of SSFRE. The Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation is exactly that, an official 501 (c) (3) with an end goal of increasing SSFRE’s outreach as well as giving capabilities. The Foundation focuses mainly on the environment, local families, education and need- based giving.  “Thanks to support from the Slifer Smith & Frampton, the High Country Conservation Center will be able to expand the impact of our food donation program next year. Food insecure families throughout Summit County will continue to benefit from locally grown, fresh produce and nutritional education,” said Jessie Burley, Community Programs Manager for High Country Conservation.

For more information about the Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation and to see a full list of the local charities they support visit SSFFOUNDATIONSUMMIT.ORG

January Provides Variety of Activities at Keystone Resort

With nearly two and a half feet of snow just this month, and more on the way ahead of the New Year, Keystone will usher in 2015 with phenomenal conditions and a lineup of festive family activities during January. Whether guests are trying something new; perhaps making good on a resolution to learn a new sport while participating in national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, or simply wanting to create new memories with friends and family, Keystone has a variety of offers for January to make a family ski vacation more convenient and valuable than ever. Plus, following the New Year and outside of the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend, January is considered an “off-peak” month for skiers and riders; meaning great deals on lodging, and the perk of feeling like you have the mountain to yourself.
 
Night Skiing
Don’t be left in the dark; Keystone features the longest ski day in all of Colorado with 243 acres of lit terrain available. Lifts turn from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday in January, and until 6 p.m. on Sundays. Special Holiday hours will allow skiers and riders to enjoy extended days on Sunday and Monday, Jan. 18-19.
 
Learn to Ski and Ride Month
Learning to ski or ride is an excellent way to become more active, participate in a new sport, and enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. There’s no better time to learn than January – National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, a snowsports initiative designed to encourage new participants with great offers across the industry.

Keystone’s adult beginner lessons are all available in a buy two get one free package starting from $262. First-time adult skiers and riders can purchase a $15 limited access lift ticket with any beginner lesson. For Children, Camp Keystone’s ski and ride school facility offers themed days, a 24-foot long slide that provides access to the snow from inside the building, and guarantees children the same instructor with three or more days of ski school booked in the Mountain House location. Additional adult and child lesson options can be purchased in advance online atkeystoneresort.com.

Women’s Ultimate 4 Ski Lesson
Available Jan. 1-3: New for the 2014-15 season, Keystone has introduced a lesson option just for women. With small group sizes – guaranteed no more than four women per class – female instructors and convenient timing, the Women’s Ultimate 4 are lessons catering to the specific needs of women in a supportive, encouraging setting. Whether learning a new sport, trying to keep up with the kids or wanting to get back on snow after some time away, these lessons are the perfect way to get one-on-one coaching in an intimate setting, with the private lesson price tag.
 
Chocolate Village 
Available Jan. 1-4: Keystone Executive Pastry Chef Ned Archibald composes this Keystone Holiday tradition from 8,000 pounds of molded chocolate. With a working train, flowing waterfall, three-foot tall white chocolate Christmas trees and an operating chocolate gondola, this stunning display is a must-see for Holiday visitors. Located in the lobby of the Keystone Lodge&Spa, the chocolate village is free and open daily through January 4. Photos of the chocolate village available here: https://vailresorts.box.com/s/iiik4u7znck4825iht09
 
9280’ Taphouse Pond Hockey Tournament
Jan. 23-25: An all-ages outdoor hockey event, the 9280’ Pond Hockey Tournament is hosted at Keystone’s five-acre Zamboni-maintained ice rink at the Lakeside Village. Tournament play occurs throughout the day, with live music by “Chris Thompson & Coral Creek” on Friday and Saturday nights from 4-6 p.m. The tournament features men’s, women’s, over 45 and a coed division. New this season, a youth division will be included. For more information, tournament schedule, or to register, please visit 9280pondhockey.com.

Savor the Slopes
Keystone is well known for its culinary prowess, including three AAA four-diamond rated restaurants and a number of signature dinging experiences. During January, guests can take in those signature experiences with Savor the Slopes, a rotating showcase of the best of Keystone’s foodie scene. Events will highlight food, wine, beer and spirits, and Keystone’s expert staff will be on-hand to elevate guests’ knowledge and enjoyment. All tasting events begin at 4 p.m. and are $25 per person with reservations required, 970-496-4386.
 
Jan. 21, Der Fondue Chessel – Taste of fondue
Jan. 22, Alpenglow Stube – Wines of Napa Valley
Jan. 23, Keystone Ranch – Farm-to-table presentation with Executive Chef Steven Vlass
Jan. 24, Bighorn Bistro & Bar – Creation of a menu item: the dissection of an entrée
Jan. 25, The Ski Tip Lodge – Hors d'oeuvres made easy with Executive Chef Brian Baker
Jan. 28, Der Fondue Chessel – Cabernet at its finest
Jan. 29, Alpenglow Stube – Wild game
Jan. 30, Keystone Ranch – Colorado spirits
Jan. 31, Bighorn Bistro & Bar – Craft beers with gastropub inspired bites
 
Burton Experience Snowboard Tour
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: The Keystone Burton Experience Snowboard Tour, a weekend full of free clinics, demos, activities and live entertainment, features discounted lift tickets and free, hour-long snowboarding clinics for anyone ages 3-and-older. Clinics will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Mountain House base area on Saturday and Sunday. This family-friendly weekend will feature women’s only clinics, professional Burton athletes and music as part of the on- and off-snow activity.
 
Kidtopia
Keystone’s Kidtopia programming offers daily indoor and outdoor activities throughout the season, including a daily 4 p.m. Cookie Hour at the Dercum Square Ice Rink, Kidtopia Fireworks every Saturday at 7 p.m., pajama family brunch every Sunday from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and the world’s largest snow fort, perched 11,640-feet above elevation on Dercum Mountain. View the entire weekly schedule online at keystoneresort.com.

Montezuma Bowl to open Saturday, December 27

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) announced today that Montezuma Bowl, the terrain on the backside of the ski area, will open for the 2014-15 season on Saturday, December 27, 2014. This marks the second-earliest opening for Montezuma Bowl in the eight seasons that this terrain has been part of the ski area. Montezuma Bowl and the quad Montezuma lift opened during the 2007-2008 ski season, nearly doubling the ski area’s terrain at that time. Montezuma Bowl offers runs ranging from long, rolling groomers to the steeps of West Zuma Cornice. It also hosts some of the ski area’s best glade (tree) skiing.

 

Ski area officials attribute this early opening in part to the previous weekend’s storm which dropped over 30 inches of snow on the ski area. An additional 3 inches of snow reported the day after Christmas solidified the status of the terrain. Over the previous summer, ski patrol and mountain operations also constructed approximately 600 linear feet of snow fences to keep the natural snow in place.

 

Open runs will include the intermediate groomed trails Columbine and Shining Light. Guests can also look forward to advanced skiing in Miner’s Glade and the “14er Trees,” three tree-skiing runs named for nearby 14ers: Bierstadt, Grays and Torreys. A complete list of open runs can be found on the A-Basin Terrain Status webpage. More trail openings will be announced on the Arapahoe Basin Facebook page as well as Al’s Blog as they occur.

 

About Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Located high on the Continental Divide, Arapahoe Basin boasts the longest ski and ride season in Colorado, from mid-October through early June. A-Basin’s legendary Pallavicini and East Wall terrain offers some of the best extreme skiing in Colorado. Pika Place and Molly Hogan learning areas feature mellow terrain for first-time and younger skiers and riders. With fun events, ample sunshine and incredible late-season snow, the Basin is the place to be in the spring!  Visit www.arapahoebasin.com for more information about our mountain, and elevate your ski and ride experience with us.

16 Inches of Snow at Breck! WHO-HOO!

The first full day of Winter in Breck did not disappoint!  Breckenridge Ski Area received 16 inches in the past 24 hours and it’s still coming down.  Breck is 80% open with all chairlifts running headed into the holiday season.

New Listing near the Breckenridge Golf Course

405 Delaware Drive, Breckenridge, Colorado.  Beautiful home on a large, sunny home site conveniently located between Breckenridge and Frisco. This spacious mountain home features many recent updates, including the master bath, designer finishes, wood and cork floors, rock accents, dining area and new stairway. Stunning furnishings, impressive kitchen, cozy living areas, lots of windows, sauna, separate family room, office and much more.  Click here for the Virtual Tour:  http://www.vrguild.net/c/star.pl?U=1412201314135558&Z=1

Breckenridge's Iconic Peak 6 Now Open

The gifts keep coming for those heading to Breckenridge Ski Resort this holiday season, with foot of new snow in the past 48 hours and another one of its five peaks now open! Breck’s Peak 6 opened this morning with more than 200 acres for skiing, including its signature run, Bliss – a high-alpine, intermediate bowl run. Breck now has four out of five peaks and 1805 acres of skiable terrain available for guests to enjoy.  Visit Breckenridge.com for the latest terrain information, grooming reports and more.

Just last Christmas, Breckenridge Ski Resort opened Peak 6 for the first time, adding over 540 acres to its famous landscape via the Peak 6 area just north of Peak 7. Peak 6 includes 400 acres of lift-served terrain and 143 acres of hike-to terrain, representing a 23 percent increase in resort’s skiable acres and features high-alpine, intermediate bowl skiing – a rare find in North America. This is one of the most notable ski area expansions in the past decade and has already become a favorite among locals and guests from around the world.

Breckenridge Ski Resort requires all skiers and riders to observe all posted signs and warnings. Closed trails may contain hazards due to limited natural snow coverage and snowmaking operations. Please keep off closed trails and out of closed areas for safety reasons.

Announcing the new Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation

I am proud to be selected as a Board Member for our new Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation!  At Slifer Smith & Frampton, we recognize that investing in our community is a fundamental part of what makes Summit County such a special place to live.  Each year, we give back to a number of local charities that focus on need-based giving, the environment, local families and education.  As we are in the midst of the holiday season and reflecting on the many things we are grateful for in 2014, please consider a gift to the SSF Foundation.  For more information about the Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation, visit www.ssffoundationsummit.org or email me at ebowers@slifersummit.com