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with Layar to see our interactive map of these ski spots.
POWDER PERKS: SLOPE LUXURY
named trails and the only Burton Stash Park in the Rockies. If improving your ski skills is top priority, the instructors at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico are your new best friends. The ski school here is a mecca for students across the globe and virtually guarantees you’ll leave a stronger and more proficient skier. Take time to visit Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. AMY MCDERMID | MATT WALKER | RANDY LINCKS (ALL COURTESY WHISTLER BLACKCOMB)
EN ROUTE: IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
A well-planned itinerary won’t be worth much if you’re stuck in the lodge with a pulled muscle or lack of energy. Chad Evans, owner of River Oaks Gym, recommends training months in advance to ensure muscles are adequately prepared for the rigors of mountaintop activity. “Lunges, squats, split squats and Bosu ball are just a few great exercises for working the large muscles that you utilize while going down the slopes,” says Evans. “It is important to train both unilaterally (one leg or side at a time) and bilaterally (both legs and sides together), as skiing can stress you in both manners.” And proper fueling is equally important,
says Catherine Kruppa, owner of Advice for Eating. She encourages Clif Bars and snack baggies filled with nuts and dried fruit to make a healthy trail mix, since both offer nutrition and won’t get crushed in your ski jacket. Other than a few “splurge meals,” avoid heavy meals and stick to oatmeal, turkey sandwiches and low-fat fare when possible. Kruppa cautions, “Remember, you may ski for hours, but the average person is not doing cardiovascular exercise for a lot of that time.” For the serious snow enthusiast, purchasing gear might be worth the money, but if you go less often—or want to try the newest options each trip—save the cash and rent skis, boards and boots locally instead. For experienced guidance on your specific goals and needs, visit Houston-area retailers like REI, Sun & Ski Sports or M2 Sports for proper fit and accessories. We’re not used to ski weather, so we suggest investing in the right clothes. Layer gorgeous sweaters from Gorsuch with quality gear from Spyder, Descente and Hot Chillys. If you’re looking for company on the slopes, locals can bond via clubs like Space City Ski & Adventure Club and Ski Jammers, which organize ski and snowboard trips plus social activities throughout the year.
While escaping on a ski jaunt can seem like a luxury, many resorts offer special extras for skiers seeking added comfort and convenience. To maximize your moments on the slopes, look for lodging that specifies ski in/ ski out, which means you walk out the door and step into your skis sans car, shuttle or walk lugging equipment to the lifts. Of course, to really amp it up, look for the ski-in/ski-out lodge with more, like cabins and chalets that offer a personal chef; cinema or billiards room; and private gym, pool, sauna or steam room. Many hotels provide complimentary boot lockers, so ending your day is as easy as it began. But some resorts take that up a notch with a ski valet. Slip on your warmed ski boots along with tuned-up, cleaned and ready-to-go skis on your way out. Private lessons provide another avenue for getting more out of your trip, from improved technique to a personal tour. Plus, lessons often bump you to the front of the lift line. Worth it right there. Then again, $4,000 will buy you (plus up to five friends or family members of similar ability) a full-day private ski lesson with an Olympic Gold Medalist at Whistler Blackcomb, which is rather spectacular when you consider the guidance accessible from such an experience. There are two luxury options for ski lifts: heated lifts, such as the bubble heated chair lifts or the gondolas, some offering both heated seats and WiFi. Or try the conveyor belt ski lift. Often used at ski schools, some resorts are installing them for wider use. Want to skip the lift altogether? Heli-skiing with its promise of exclusive terrain may be for you. Equally tantalizing are season passes at many resorts that include access to additional resorts in the U.S. and even free days at international destinations like Japan, Switzerland and France. bayoucitymagazine.com
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