“Holy crap, the bunny hill did not prepare me for this.”

That was the only thought in my head as I got off the ski lift, rounded the corner, and looked down the steep ski slope. This was my first time skiing, and more importantly the first time I attempted anything but the bunny hill. I hesitated for a few minutes, and finally just went for it.

I immediately fell on my ass and lost a ski within the first 50 feet. There is no way to look cool when you go down hard, lose a ski, and clearly have no idea what you are doing. But, I got up, clicked my ski back on, and started down the hill again – much more cautiously this time. I remembered my lessons, and formed an iron clad wedge with my skis just hoping not to die. Eventually I became more comfortable on my feet and the experience seamlessly morphed from sheer terror to pure exhilaration. Before I knew it I reached the end of the hill alive.

This is Las Vegas.

Most visitors don’t know that just about a 30-40 minute drive from the Strip, you can go skiing. This is actual, outdoor, on-a-mountain skiing as well, not some indoor facsimile of skiing like you might expect from Las Vegas (or will actually find in Dubai). The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort boasts some of the best snow and the earliest open date in the county. The resort is generally open from November through April, so you can go skiing in Las Vegas for nearly half of the year. Pretty much if you come to Vegas and the pool at your hotel is closed, then the ski slopes will be open.

A lift ticket on the weekend will cost you $60 for the entire day (9 AM to 4 PM), or $50 during the week. Put another way, you can go skiing for an entire day on the amount of money you would probably lose in ten minutes of blackjack. You can even rent all of the equipment needed (including jacket and pants) and take a 2 hour lesson if you are new to skiing. I took the lesson, and would definitely recommend it to newbies.

So, now if anyone tells you that Las Vegas only has gambling and nightclubs, you can let them know about the world class skiing. This is a great way to spend the day no matter what kind of Vegas trip you’re taking, be it with family, friends, or solo. And if you can’t make it to Las Vegas to try the skiing for yourself, this is a pretty close reenactment of my experience.

by Sam Lloyd

If you’re planning on a trip to go skiing or snowboarding this winter, you definitely want to consider Utah. Utah is world-renowned for it’s steep ski slopes and beautiful powdered mountains. My personal favorite place to board and ski is Snowbird. After last year’s trip, I highly recommend hitting Snowbird the next time you come out to Utah.

Snowbird and Alta were named the No. 1 ski resort in North America in 2008 by Outside Magazine. Snowbird and Alta are inter-connected resorts. Snowbird offers 882 lodging rooms between four lodging properties, a luxurious spa, a plethora of dining options, four-season activities and a staff dedicated to meeting your every need. The Cliff Lodge is my favorite place to stay when I go up to Snowbird.

As far as skiing and snowboarding, Snowbird has a wide range of slopes. From super easy to extremely challenging to a full snowboard park and half pipes located in a few places.

A map of ski trails at Snowbird.

As you can see from the map, the mountain is huge. There are plenty of black diamond runs for advanced riders, and also plenty of green runs for newbie’s and newcomers.

Taking the tram is the best. It takes to the tip top of the mountain. The ride down is long and fun. You can hit up many runs from the tram. However, a tram ticket does cost extra money. So if you’re looking to save a few bucks skip the tram ticket and just enjoy the chair rides.

At the end of the day, my favorite thing to do is relax in an outdoor hot tub.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, is better than a hard day of riding followed by a relaxing hot tub visit. A lot of times, it will be snowing which adds to the amazing environment. Image a starry night, in a hot tub with people you love after an amazing day of riding. Nothing beats it.

Click here to book a flight, hotel, or vacation package to go Skiing in Utah on Orbitz.

Sam Lloyd is a certified personal trainer, online fitness coach, self-proclaimed health fanatic, amateur bodybuilder, Jiu Jitsu enthusiast, self-development junkie, marketing hobbyist, and all around cool dude. He has published many articles on various topics around health and fitness.

Ski resorts are not immune to the current economic conditions, so this year they are looking to locals to boost their business.

If you live in an area within driving distance of a ski resort, you are in luck. This winter most ski resorts across the country are planning to offer discounts to entice locals who usually don’t ski to hit the slopes. Examples of the deals that are being offered around the country are heavily discounted season passes, and special times where children can ski for free.

Residents near skiing hotbeds like Vermont or Utah would be wise to act quickly to take advantage of these deals, because they won’t last forever.

If you are interested in booking a skiing trip and taking advantage of these types of deals, check out Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah, or Ski Vermont for more information.

Now hit the slopes!

Source: Associated Press