Rocky Mountain Skiing

The early snows could help make 1995 one of the longest ski years in recent memory, as heavy spring snows extended the 1994-95 season late into May, June and July.

This year, Colorado was blessed with an unusually high amount of spring snow that extended ski season beyond normal.

I admired the simple elegance of the sport. A snowboarder gliding in a serpentine pattern down a mountain is a breathtaking demonstration of grace. The beauty of snowboarding is what appealed to me. (And, I admit, the fact that I was a terrible skier and had nothing to lose.)

Both A-Basin and Loveland share the same laid-back ambience. There are no chic condo villages, long lifts lines, high-speed quad lifts, overpriced parking lots or cappuccino carts. Instead, the emphasis is on skiing.