Deer Valley gets more Snow and less use. Over the entirety of the season that means overall better conditions all variables held constant.

Deer Valley also has far shorter lift lines on weekends and holidays.

Understandable, sorry, wasn't trying to cause a stir. I welcome your comments and wisdom

Charlie Murphy said:

---

Anyone have insights on Taos for young kids? Skiing and town?

---

Taos is awesome for kids. fantastic ski school. Our kids learned to ski there and I highly recommend it. It's the only place in NM that's worth skiing IMO.

The ski area itself is about 30-45 minutes outside of the actual town of Taos. You can stay up on the mountain or in town. Obviously staying on the mountain means less to do in the morning, but it's high enough that some people will struggle with the altitude if going straight there from sea level and there are fewer places to eat, etc. than down in town.

We usually stay in town and drive up every morning but we also have some non-skiers in the family that influence that decision. There's plenty to do in town depending on what you're looking for.

I've got guys trip booked to Big Cottonwood in February. Bounce between solitude and Brighton. Maybe go over to Alta &Snowbird for a day or two if we want to schlep. Based on that trip we all bought ikon. My epic had already early renewed but I thought I could cancel and would maybe have to eat my $49 down or something. No dice so it looks like I'm "stuck" with both passes this year.

Based on thr fact that another dad and I already had Ikons were headed to taos for SB. Got a great place on the mountain. It will be my wife and kids first time ski in/ski out (looking more like walk in/out based in where it is). When we were booking it I realized a 4 day pass at taos was more than a kids ikon which includes 5 days at taos. So the whole family got Ikons.

Might try and do Banff after new years or maybe schweitzer or big sky.

Got the wife new skis this summer. So she's hopefully set for a while. Need to buy myself a new helmet.

ChipFTAC01 said:

---

I've got guys trip booked to Big Cottonwood in February. Bounce between solitude and Brighton. Maybe go over to Alta &Snowbird for a day or two if we want to schlep. Based on that trip we all bought ikon. My epic had already early renewed but I thought I could cancel and would maybe have to eat my $49 down or something. No dice so it looks like I'm "stuck" with both passes this year.

Based on thr fact that another dad and I already had Ikons were headed to taos for SB. Got a great place on the mountain. It will be my wife and kids first time ski in/ski out (looking more like walk in/out based in where it is). When we were booking it I realized a 4 day pass at taos was more than a kids ikon which includes 5 days at taos. So the whole family got Ikons.

Might try and do Banff after new years or maybe schweitzer or big sky.

---

If you make it to Schweitzer, let me know. I'll be up there every Friday-Sunday.

Just need to find flights. After last season my 2.0 was all in. He spent most of the month of April with a trail map and a highlighter planning out his next trip.

He's hooked. I'd really like to get them gear just to further set the hook it just doesn't make sense to get them boots when they'll only aki 5-8 days before they outgrow them.

My birthday present is my first pair of ski boots. I remember you posted about getting fitted by someone who knows what they're doing. We're skiing summit county, any recs on boot fitters?

I'll let him answer but I'll say I was very pleased with my experience at boot mechanics 3 years ago. Not in summit county but in Golden on the way up if you're coming from the front range. They also have a location in Avon, I believe.

That's the shop I was looking at (Golden). Good to hear you had a good experience

Boot Mechanics in Avon.

I prefer to have my boots fitted by only one person and somewhere I can go back to several times directly when I get off the hill to make adjustments for the first couple of days.

For that reason, I prefer the Avon store. John and crew in Golden are great people, but I like bring able to pop off the hill and drop straight into the store for real time or over night adjusetments. You can't do that in the golden store. You can get it 95% of the way true but that other 5% IMO is why you spend the money to get your own boots.

How old is he?

8 almost 9.

Get him a helmet to put stickers on. Mine love swagging up their helmets.

My daughter has a couple of stickers on hers (she loves this Ski Like a Girl brand and she and her ski buddy friend both rock them).

https://skilikeagirl.ski/collections/patches

BC - thoughts on a set of ~120 race skis?

ChipFTAC01 said:

---

8 almost 9.

---

Are you close to any ski destination?

We're on our 3rd year of ski swapping for our 7 year old.

E.g., ours is pretty official and essentially break-even year-over-year: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O4p3bbyAcTPBP9PnvQt28fq2SFe8aRt0YTUQWCl_c9U/edit?gid=0#gid=0

There's also community swaps. In general you're buying demos and last year rental fleets. Or, swapping with other families.

There's slalom (SL) and giant slalom (GS) skis for the respective events, each with their own turn radius. You'll also need race plate compatible bindings. That said, if he's on a team I would ask coaches first as they best know his abilities and if he would benefit from race specific skis. Some kids don't really need true race skis until they're 8/9 others when they're 5.

If hes on a team, it's usually a best idea to put together a 503c and do group purchase towards the end of season..

Bindings - Evo 9 or Z11 Freeflex
Ski - RC4 WC or Pro, Redster J2 or Head WCR e.SL Rebels or GS Pro Rebels - Juniors

They arent cheap - $599ish

If you let me know what you like I can get you a price - they may not arrive until sometime in Nov though.

As you know best prices will best if you put in the order around March/April. Thats usually 40-45% off. Right now back of envelope it's probs about a 30% discount.

So it begins:

First storm for Cascades this weekend. We're already on T-Line camping for first fresh turns. I'll skin Illumination Rock tomorrow, then put-put with the daughter on Palmer dragging her up over-and-over until she tires out.

Vail/BC ski swap is this weekend.

Banff in late December. Four of us have never skied, including me. I've been practicing getting off the floor over and over.

Pepper your ass to be sore in places you didn't know existed. Pero no te preocupes, se duele rico carnal.

Raining like a mofo in CO. Old Snowmass under a flood alert. Old Town of Snowmass Not Snowmass Village. It's like 5m North of the Turn off to SMV on 82. Snowing way up, but it's 43 in Avon.

RangerRick9211 said:

---

ChipFTAC01 said:

---

8 almost 9.

---

Are you close to any ski destination?

We're on our 3rd year of ski swapping for our 7 year old.

E.g., ours is pretty official and essentially break-even year-over-year: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O4p3bbyAcTPBP9PnvQt28fq2SFe8aRt0YTUQWCl_c9U/edit?gid=0#gid=0

There's also community swaps. In general you're buying demos and last year rental fleets. Or, swapping with other families.

---

Sadly we're in Houston.

Next year or this One jaja let me know What You need and I can scoop it and Drive it with us to TX. We usually Drive from co to My Moms and then fly Out of IAH. She's in Bellville so that's alot easier,

Bayou City said:

---

There's slalom (SL) and giant slalom (GS) skis for the respective events, each with their own turn radius. You'll also need race plate compatible bindings. That said, if he's on a team I would ask coaches first as they best know his abilities and if he would benefit from race specific skis. Some kids don't really need true race skis until they're 8/9 others when they're 5.

If hes on a team, it's usually a best idea to put together a 503c and do group purchase towards the end of season..

Bindings - Evo 9 or Z11 Freeflex
Ski - RC4 WC or Pro, Redster J2 or Head WCR e.SL Rebels or GS Pro Rebels - Juniors

They arent cheap - $599ish

If you let me know what you like I can get you a price - they may not arrive until sometime in Nov though.

As you know best prices will best if you put in the order around March/April. Thats usually 40-45% off. Right now back of envelope it's probs about a 30% discount.

---

I'm going to see if we can find a hand me down set from someone, r looking at one of these right now:




I'm just planning on her having one set for both events.

I found a good deal on some used Kastle Fx 96's and couldn't pass it up since I've been thinking about buying a pair ever since I skied a pair in Steamboat a few years ago.

ChipFTAC01 said:

---

Just need to find flights. After last season my 2.0 was all in. He spent most of the month of April with a trail map and a highlighter planning out his next trip.

He's hooked. I'd really like to get them gear just to further set the hook it just doesn't make sense to get them boots when they'll only aki 5-8 days before they outgrow them.

---

Get a set of roces idea 19-22 and he'll be good for at least this year and next, probably one more after. All 3 of my kids are in roces and no complaining (about feet)