**Stay up to date this weekend with video updates if you can’t make it to the Dew Tour in Breckenridge!

The Winter Dew Tour, founded in 2008, is one of the biggest events of the season for skiers and snowboarders. The Olympics obviously take the cake in terms of importance and level of competition, but they only happen every 4 years. The X-games are the next biggest event, and the Dew Tour falls close behind. The Dew Tour features more of the ‘up and coming’ athletes in skiing and snowboarding, and gives them a chance to make a name for themselves.

The Dew Tour is unique in that it has 3 stops throughout the winter. The first is at Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado (December 15-18), the second is in Killington, Vermont (January 19-22) and the third is at Snowbasin in Ogden, Utah (February 9-12). The third and final stop typically carries the most importance, since this is where the final results are determined and the gold medals and Dew Cups are awarded. The cup is awarded based on who performs the best on all 3 stops of the tour. This separates out the true warriors who are able to perform at each stop. Coverage of the event throughout the winter will be provided by NBC.

A few big names will be competing this year including Shawn White, Louie Vito and Danny Davis in men’s snowboarding and Simon Dumont and Torin Yater-Wallace in men’s skiing. Shaun White is back to reclaim the cup after not competing in last year’s tour, which is sure to make the competition that much more interesting. Check out footage from last year’s Dew Tour to see just how high the stakes go.

So if you come to Breckenridge for the Dew Tour or just to vacation any time of year, be sure to find out more about how our team of Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.^® can help you plan your customized vacation.

If the promise of winter slowly approaching isn’t enough inspiration for outdoor adventure, The North Face Never Stop Exploring Series certainly should be.  The series will be making a stop in Breckenridge, October 9^th at 7:00pm. Breckenridge residents and visitors are welcomed to come through, with tickets being offered from no charge to $20.

Seven athletes from the North Face Global Athlete Team will tell their epic tales across the nation in 29 cities throughout the series. The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of technically advanced and authentic outdoor apparel, will present “Journey Through the Arctic Refuge,” featuring Kit DesLauriers and her remarkable story about exploring the 19.6 million acre Arctic Refuge. The story will highlight Kit and her team’s challenges facing the greatest wilderness in North America, sledding across tundra, and skiing off the highest peaks in the region. At the same time, the explorers took note of their unique surroundings: a fragile region that may never be the same if vulnerable to oil drilling.

Kit DesLauriers, mother of two and first to climb “the Seven Summits,” the highest peaks in every continent, is a ski mountaineer with the two time recognition as World Freeskiing Champion (2004 and 2005), as well as having several first descents to her name. Before Kit became a skier of the world’s tallest mountains, she lived around Telluride, CO,  where she volunteered for San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team, worked as a professional ski patroller for Telluride Ski Resort, and became highly trained in technical and helicopter rescue. I feel honored just being close to where Kit’s adventurous endeavors started to take shape!

The event will take place at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, at 150 W. Adams, beginning at 7:00pm. Before the presentation, a VIP Reception will be held at the North Face Breckenridge on Main St., where food, beer, and wine will be provided by Briar Rose, and attendants will have the opportunity to personally speak with Kit. The VIP reception will benefit Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC), and tickets are available to anyone for $20. Guaranteed seating for the presentation is $8, and first come first serve may receive free tickets at the door.

To book your lodging for the weekend in Breckenridge and receive the live version of Kit’s story, call Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305. Experience the serenity of Breckenridge in the Fall, and get inspired from a monumental journey across the vast Arctic Refuge!

This post was brought to you by Nika, a member of the Business Development Team, focusing on Public Relations. Her work mainly entails writing the press releases, establishing media contacts, reaching out to the community, and devising a PR plan for the upcoming year. Nika enjoys traveling anywhere, but can’t get enough of the open space that Colorado has to offer. A New England native and Tulane grad, Nika ended up in Boulder, CO for a change of pace and has since fallen for the free spirit, natural beauty, and clean air. In her free time, she enjoys getting lost outdoors, making quirky earrings out of broken jewelry, cooking vegetarian meals, and looks forward to another ski season. Nika is passionate about discovering new places and culture, and would use the word “mischevious” to describe herself, because she is curious, eager, and sometimes sneaky. Nika graduated from Tulane University, with a degree in French and Communication.

With the summer drawing to an end, the weather is cooling down, meaning great conditions for biking.  The League of American Bicyclists made its way through Breckenridge in 2009 to award the town the silver-level award, allowing them to join honors with other Colorado towns including Colorado Springs, Durango, and Steamboat Springs. Breckenridge has been working hard to achieve a higher level ever since.  Many bike lanes and shared lane markings have been or will be striped to navigate bicyclists safely throughout town.  In other efforts, parking on Main Street is now only available on one side of the road, leaving more room for bicyclists.

The League offers four levels of awards; Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  Each level represents the efforts made to make each town bicyclist-friendly.  Eleven Colorado towns have been recognized by the League, making Colorado the 14^th most bicycle-friendly state.  Boulder, CO was the second of only three towns to ever receive a platinum award.  If more Colorado towns can join this list, the state might have a shot at taking the top spot over the three-year-running most Bicycle Friendly state, Washington.

So grab your bicycles and come down to Breckenridge to enjoy their improved bike lanes and trails.  Awareness is the first step to greater improvement.  When you are in Breckenridge cycling through the town, make sure you have a great place to lay your head at night by calling Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

The town of Breckenridge is the most historic town in Colorado, established as a mining town in the summer of 1859 when gold was discovered along the Blue River.  Breckenridge continued to be a mining town until 1942 when World War II efforts required all metal to be melted down; visitors today can view where the development stopped at Maggie Pond, which is located at the base of Peak 9.  The halt of mining almost turned Breckenridge into a ghost town, with a minuscule population of 393 until a company from Wichita, Kansas issued a permit for a new ski area.  In December of 1961, Breckenridge was officially opened as a ski town with a recorded 17,000 visitors during its first season, despite having one chairlift and I-70 not yet being constructed.  Since its first season, Breckenridge has continuously flourished with production for the thousands of tourists who now visit every year.

Today, Breckenridge is one of the largest ski resorts in the country due to the stellar ski terrain, breathtaking views, abundance of outdoor activities, delectable dining, and great places to shop for the whole family.  One great place to find a lot of these amenities is in the center of Breckenridge Main Street.  Find all sorts of dining, from Asian to Steakhouses, as well as great shops, boutiques.  While on Main Street, don’t forget to enjoy a tranquil experience at a day spa!  Main Street is a great place to enjoy a leisurely stroll or to take advantage of the free transportation offered in Breckenridge and Summit County, which is great during those chilly winter months.

Come enjoy the historic town of Breckenridge in any season!  There is never a lack of activities, with special events, concerts, contests, food and wine festivals, product testing, and much more happening on a daily basis.  Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305 for more information on activities and events throughout Breckenridge and the Rocky Mountain area.

Like every year, Vail will pull of one of its biggest and most fun events at the very end of the season-  SPRING BACK TO VAIL from April 12 to April 18 in Vail and on the mountain at Vail. SPRING BACK TO VAIL is Vail’s huge end-of-the-season bash with free concerts from national headliners, on-snow events and crazy fun street parties. The most famous event is the well known greatest spectacle of all – the World Pond Skimming Championships.

You have never heard of pond skimming- then the best thing is to come up to Vail and check it out- you will have a blast….Here a short explanation: Pond Skimming is a competition anyone can enter, sometimes in a costume or even in a bathing suit. The goal is to get enough speed going down the mountain so you can skim the pond which is set up at the bottom of the mountain and get to the other side without ending up in the pond. The faster you ski, the better chance you’ll have of making it to the other side of the pond

Friday, April 16
Free Movie and Concert
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-stars documentary
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-stars concert
Location: Checkpoint Charlie in Vail Village
Time: 6pm-10pm

Saturday, April 17
Free Concert with Wyclef Jean presented by Bud Light
Opening: Very Special Guest Robert Earl Keen
Location: Ford Park
Time: Robert Earl Keen at 5pm; Wyclef Jean at 7pm

Sunday, April 18
Rockstar World Pond Skimming Championships
Location: Golden Peak on Vail Mountain

Time: 2:30pm-4:30pm  ****Free BBQ****
Guster
Free Concert
Location: Checkpoint Charlie in Vail Village
Time: 4:30pm immediately following Pond Skimming

Most people stay Thursday till late Sunday or even early Monday –

Check out special lodging deal here !!!!!

Breckenridge Colorado, founded during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859, Breckenridge has evolved to be a Colorado favorite ski destination. These days Breckenridge boasts the highest ski lift in North America, the Imperial Express, with over 2,358 skiable acres of terrain spanning the resorts 4 peaks. It’s not just about the mountain for this town however; the town or Breckenridge itself is unique and inviting for all ages. As the season winds down Breckenridge hosts their Spring Massive Festival, April 1 – 18, 2010. The Festival includes entertainment, free outdoor concerts, a beer festival, rail Jams, special eats, comedy nights and more!
The Bite of Breckenridge, will feature unique dining at participating restaurants, that have agreed to set a fixed price menu. The Massive Beer Festival will feature beer from over 20 breweries from around the country, plus a free concert with Chuck Prophet preforming. There is something special for the kids as well. Easter weekend Breckenridge will have an Interactive Kid’s Village at the base of peak 8, face painting, a snow sculpting challenge, and of course an Easter egg hunt! I could go on and on talking about all the fun stuff taking place in Breckenridge April 1st to closing day, but I’ll just leave with you with the schedule so you can discover it for yourself. It’s a good idea to give Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals a call, so we can find you discounted lodging for the Festival!
April 1-18: Bite of Breckenridge
April 1-2: Surefoot Colorado Ski Cup Championships, GS
April 3-4: Kids Easter Party Weekend
April 3: Breckenridge Massive Beer Festival
April 5-6: Surefoot Colorado Ski Cup Championships,Super G
April 7: Breckenridge Ascent Series, Championship Race
April 8: Spring Chicken Day: Senior Appreciation Day, Peak 8
April 9: Massive Superpipe Open, Peak 8
April 9: Matt Wyffels Massive Rail Jam Open
April 10: Massive Style & Air Open
April 11: Massive Slopestyle in Park Lane
April 17: 14th Annual Imperial Challenge
April 17: FREE Massive Music Weekend
April 18: Closing Day

-CSA