If it looks like I’m not going fast in this photo, it’s because I’m not.
Nick and I headed to Ski Cooper today for my first day back on my snowboard since last season, and his third. This place was a real trip for me after spending all last season at the bigger, more popular, closer to I-70, more expensive Vail Resorts ski hills.
It was also a trip the second time I got off the lift, as I crashed into the row of cones along the left side of the exit area. They stopped the lift as I untangled myself. Off to a good start this year, ya? Thankfully, Ski Cooper is a little off the beaten path (a few miles outside of Leadville), just opened a couple weekends ago, is too small to accommodate large crowds, and only has two chairlifts, so there were only about five people witnessing my grace.
I barely caught this photo of Nick. There were about 5 rapid-fire shots taken right before this one.It will probably never be a destination for most skiers, with its 26 runs, no ski rental on the hill, no shopping, no real amenities for the folks who like to hang out at Vail and Breckenridge. If you’re skiing to see and be seen, or if you wear furry boots or a furry hat, you will hate Cooper.
But if you hate people, Ski Cooper is your hill. I think we saw about 100 people the entire day. I had a great time warming up. “It’s just like riding a bike,” Nick said, thinking I’d just pick up where I left off. Not exactly, but just like riding a bike, I fell a few times before I remembered what I was doing. Nothing like this lady, though.
