Being someone who has spent numerous years in the service/retail industry, I’ve developed a great appreciation for service with a smile. As a new snowboarder, I knew I was going to be doing some serious shopping for new snow gear. Not totally familiar with the area, I was directed to a sporting goods store called Venture Sports. At Venture Sports in Avon, they truly embody what it means to value excellent customer service.

As soon as I entered, I was warmly welcomed and asked if I needed assistance with anything. I was in the market for some new gloves and a helmet, but I decided to take some time to myself just to browse and see what else they had to offer. I quickly realized that I had no idea what I was looking at so I asked for some assistance. Though there were other guests in the store, they were never too busy to answer a quick question about recommended gloves or share their specials and sales with me.

Overall, I walked out of the store with a new pair of quality gloves and a solid new helmet. I was ready to get out on the mountain. Before leaving, I took some extra time to browse and I noticed some sick looking bikes mounted to their ceiling. During the summer they become a full service bike shop, tune shop, and tour operator. Covering cycling from very high-end road and mountain bikes to base model serious bikes. If you aren’t sure about your purchase, they feature try before you buy. What more can you ask? Venture Sports is truly a one stop shop where you develop a trusting and lasting relationship as well as superior customer service.

The first annual SnowBall Music Festival has been filling their line-up quickly throughout the holiday season and continues to do so.  As of now there has been 14 spots filled with great talent, and there are a total of 29 spots according to the festival’s poster that seems to be updated daily.  The poster started with only two acts, Bassnectar and Pretty Lights, which created so much excitement throughout the music community they started to nickname this festival Snowchella comparing it to the number one ranked festival in the world, Coachella. Being associated with Coachella is a huge praise especially when only two acts have been revealed at the time.

Today the poster lists 16 acts which are; Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zero’s, Local Natives, Diplo, Big Gigantic, Portugal The Man, Classixx, 12^th Planet, Miami Horror, Mansions on the Moon, Baths, Superhumanoids, Bonfire Dub, Twin Shadow, and Portor Robinson.  I am sure there will be an addition tomorrow.  I enjoy how this is being done; it is a lot of fun to follow and exciting when you see a personal favorite band on the poster.  I have experienced this multiple times already and again this week when I saw Portugal the Man.

Portugal The Man was rumored to play at The SnowBall in the beginning but was not official until January 4th when they were added to the SnowBall poster.  This band consists of four members; John Gourley, Jason Sechrist, Ryan Neighbors, and Zachary Carothers.  Portugal the Man started as a side project for lead vocalist John Gourley with Carothers playing bass using drum machines for their supporting beat.  The band has grown in many directions, one move was signing with Atlantic Records in 2010 after being with multiple labels previous to Atlantic.  I missed Portugal The Man last time they came to Colorado in November, but I sure won’t miss them at the SnowBall Music Festival that can’t come soon enough.

For those planning on coming to The SnowBall in March make sure to purchase your tickets and lodging before it is too late.  Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals have many great lodging options for this epic music festival.  Give your Friendly Knowledgeable Locals a call at 1-877-422-0449.  Hint: Ask to be near Nottingham Lake.

The SnowBall Music Festival debuting in Avon, Colorado March 4-6, 2010 is going to be EPIC. Event producers are really building up the anticipation by releasing a new artist set to preform every day. I catch myself checking the SnowBall facebook fan page way too often for updates.  I have my fingers crossed that soon we’ll see some of the bands added that are being requested over and over again by fans such as Boombox, Ghostland, Emancipator, Disco Biscuits, the New Deal and the list goes on.  So far the SnowBall Music Festival has announced the following artists set to rock the stage at Nottingham Park in Avon this March.

Pretty Lights
Bassnectar
Classixx
Big Gigantic
Local Natives
Baths
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Miami Horror
Mansions on the Moon
DIPLO
Superhumanoids
Bonfire Dub
12th Planet
Portugal. The Man

If you plan on attending this sick festival, you best pick up your tickets now before the price jumps up. Early Bird Passes are on sale now, so get them while they’re hot!  See you at the show.  For your festival lodging needs contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals today!

Vail Resorts is taking their mountains high tech, at least in regards to social media. This coming winter, Vail, Beaver Creek, and all of their sister resorts will be debuting their new EpicMix technology, thus connecting skiers, snowboarders, and really all mountain pass holders with a location-based service for smart phones and computers.

As it stands, all Vail Resorts season passes already have a chip inside them. This will be utilized now to track your location and tell you a number of statistics about your day on the slopes. At the end of the day you can login to your EpicMix account and see everything from your vertical feet skied, to the location of other approved pass holders while they’re on the mountain, to which lifts you rode.

Taking it a step further, Vail Resorts brings a game-like competitive sense to the program with goals to accomplish, such as visiting a chairlift a certain number of times. When you complete a goal, you get a “pin” to add to your collection of Vail Resorts mountain accolades.

[Credit: EPIC Mix]

For those of you not thrilled by this new sense of location tracking, worry not. You can opt-out of this service if you feel uncomfortable. Then again, if that isn’t a big draw, feel free to let the world know. One of EpicMix’s perks is that you can share your stats or any of the information provided with your social media accounts. Just a push of a button is needed. If you have an enabled smartphone, you can do this while sitting on a chairlift or at the top of the run. While Vail Resorts has been gaining strength in their social media for the past few years, this takes things to a whole new level. To read more about this, check out Vail Daily’s article on the subject.

Speaking of passes, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can get you all setup with your Epic Pass for the coming winter season, as well as help you to find out about any other information regarding the Epic Pass and EpicMix.  That’s one of the perks of being Friendly, Knowledgeable, Locals–Click here to check it out.

“EPIC Mix – Capture. Connect. Share.” What a slogan! Who else to come up with such a slogan, such a campaign, other than Vail Resorts, owners of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly resorts in Colorado and California. True, this EPIC day announces yet another EPIC breakthrough in technology, specifically in the world of social media. The “EPIC Mix” is what Vail Resorts is calling it, and a truly epic mix it is, of all things new in interactive social media. The Epic Mix is the Foursquare and Nike+ of the mountain, and has updates for both Twitter and Facebook.

Vail Resorts kept the EPIC Mix a secret until they debuted the mobile and web-based application today at a press event at the Ace Hotel in Manhattan. But then, out of nowhere, they unleashed the “EPIC Mix” to the world, announcing that the skiing and snowboarding would be so much more social this season, because of their innovative location-based gaming application.

[Credit: EPIC Mix]

So what does the EPIC Mix do? The EPIC Mix is somewhat like Foursquare, but instead of unlocking Foursquare “badges”, you unlock EPIC Mix “pins.” Everything from tracking your vertical drop, to how many runs, or how many days on the mountain. This is a game of multiple location-based programs all rolled into one.

The key to letting the EPIC Mix become a reality is the RFID chip that is inside the card that you get when you purchase your season pass. The cool thing about this is that you don’t have to be on your phone checking in. Your RFID chip gets scanned at the lift, and automatically put into the “EPIC Mix” of things, if you like the pun.

What I would have really enjoyed to see was a summary of what I did last year. Yeah, I know I got 50 days on the mountain, but I would have liked to have relived it somehow. The EPIC Mix will give me what I’ve always wanted, and more. I can log in to the website, check my stats, see my scores, view my friends, and so much more.

What else can the EPIC Mix do? The EPIC Mix links to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, letting you compare your pins with friends, see who’s got the most days on the mountain, or vertical feet passed, or even WHERE your friends are!

Vail Resorts is always open to new ideas, new trends, and new methods of interaction. Their EPIC Mix is the next best thing out there, fellas! I’m definitely downloading the app on my android after I buy the EPIC Pass, and racing all my friends for the most pins, most days, and most vertical feet.

Congrats to Vail Resorts for providing me with an EPIC Mix of social media interaction, and giving me the drive I’ve needed to get back out on the mountain!

If you’re unable to make it to Oktoberfest in Beaver Creek next weekend, fear not!  Vail will be continuing the party the two following weekends, the 10^th-12^th and the 17^th-19^th.  Festivities will take place in Lionshead Village the first weekend, and in Vail Village the second weekend.  Both weekends are sure to be jam-packed with activities, with everything from Bavarian music, to bratwurst, to beer, beer & more beer!  The party kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday both weekends, so head on over straight after work (or maybe cut out a little early!) to start your weekend off right.  Saturday’s festivities last from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday’s last from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Start practicing your yodeling now, and bring your old alpine horn out of hiding, because both are sure to be prevalent throughout the Fest.  Possibly the most exciting event of all is sure to be the Beck’s Keg Bowling Contest.  Contestants can sign up Saturday and Sunday of each weekend.  What does the contest entail, you ask?  Two chances to push an empty keg strapped to a dolly into a pyramid of six more empty kegs.  Participants with the highest total of fallen kegs will advance to the finals!  Entry is free, and there’s a reward for the winner of the finals, so there’s no excuse not to give it a whirl!

If you’re not up for Keg Bowling, try a lighter fare, the Brat-Eating Contest.  This event is also free, so join eight-ten participants and eat as many brats as you can in three minutes to achieve a full belly and a prize for the winner!  Sign-ups are available on site Saturday and Sunday.

The Oktoberfest Fun Run is the perfect opportunity to stave away your guilt from eating all those brats! The race will take place on Sunday, the 19^th, and includes a free commemorative t-shirt for the first 150 registered runners, a 10k, 5k run/walk/blade and kids race, an after party, and awards for the top three overall male and female finishers.  Registration is $20 online and $25 on site.  Participants under 18 are $10 both online and on race day!

To schedule lodging for either weekend, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.  If your phone doesn’t work, just yodel as loud as you can!

Herbert Jeffrey a.k.a. “Herbie” Hancock is one of the world’s most influential jazz pianists and composers of all time, and he’s making his first Beaver Creek appearance this Wednesday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center! His stop at the Vilar Center is a part of his “Imagine Project,” a nation-wide tour in honor of Hancock’s 70^th birthday.  This is an experience not to be missed. A huge contributor to the “post-bop” era of Jazz, Herbie has performed with everyone from Miles Davis, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart, to Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Freddie Hubbard.

For nearly half a century, Herbie Hancock has been changing people’s lives with his progressive sound. Tickets are still on sale at vilarpac.org, and for those of you in the Denver area looking for a place to stay for the night (or for the long weekend?), Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals is offering discounted local rates. Call us to book your lodging for the event at 1-888-866-2305.

Herbie Hancock is one of many amazing artists to play at the Vilar center this summer, including country star Randy Travis, guitarist Jonny Lang, and bluesman Keb’Mo’. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can take care of all your vacation planning, including lodging, restaurant reservations, family & adventure packages, and transportation.  We are friendly, knowledgeable, local vacation specialists who love Vail, and want YOU to love it too.  Come check out Herbie Hancock’s performance this Wednesday and see for yourself why we’re proud to call our home “the best place on earth.”

What could possibly be better than a day of food, beer and live music?  Two days of food, beer and live music!  Add your finest Bavarian costume to the mix, and you just might find yourself at the 10^th annual Oktoberfest in Beaver Creek.

The Oktoberfest celebration will take place in the Beaver Creek Village Saturday, September 5^th through Sunday, September 6^th.  Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with the third annual Oktoberfest Shuffle, with proceeds benefitting the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group.  The Shuffle, presented by the Beaver Creek Resort Company, is a non-competitive 5k or 10k run/walk/hike that will take participants along trails through the resort and along the mountain.  The race is $25 for breast cancer survivors and $30 for all other entrees. Participants can preregister for the race online at active.com or on the day of the race in Beaver Creek Village for an extra $5 charge (day of race registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on race day).

The rest of the weekend’s events will include food booths and a beer garden in Beaver Creek Plaza accompanied by live music from Trachtenkappelle and the Helmut Fricker Band.  Special performances will take place by Super Diamond from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and by Beatle Mania Live from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Complimentary children’s activities will be available from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days, and will include an interactive children’s theatre, indoor museum and outdoor fun zone.  Make sure you’re present at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday to watch the kid’s European Alpenhorn Contest at the Kid’s Fun Zone.  Youths 16 and under are invited to sign up by 1:30 p.m. on Sunday to participate.

Other free activities for adults include culinary demonstrations both days at the demo kitchen in Beaver Creek Plaza.  Receive free cooking tips and taste a few samples from top chefs!  And of course, the weekend’s can’t miss event is the Bavarian Costume Contest, taking place at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday.  Dress in your finest Bavarian apparel, bring your friends, and prepare to take the main stage to walk the catwalk during judging!

The Beaver Creek Oktoberfest is a weekend you won’t want to miss, so make sure to make your last-minute lodging reservations with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals by calling 1-888-866-2305.

Episode IV

Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley.  I am recently new to Vail and have a passion for exploring the beautiful nature while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley, or even current locals, of the incredible activities the Valley has to offer.  Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of.  During these activities I will be capturing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.

When I moved to the Vail Valley, I made sure to bring all my toys: a mountain bike, Honda Ruckus, fishing poles, backpacking gear, and my long board.  Recently I took a cruise on my Ruckus to explore parts of Avon I had not yet seen, and I encountered some very steep hills that seemed ideal for long boarding.  A couple days later, as my friends and I were discussing what we should do after a long day’s work, we decided to test them out so we grabbed our long boards and headed to the hills! To get to the hills, take Exit 167 and continue through the first turn in the roundabout that will head towards 7-11.  The road I discovered before, Buck Creek Road, was a little intimidating when we had our boards facing the horizon, but another road, Switch Gulch Road, seemed to be less a intense hill to warm up on.  (Swift Gulch Road is the immediate right after 7-11.)

We drove to the top of Switch Gulch Road and started with the back side, which has a lot of curves and was not as exciting as we hoped, but definitely a good first run.  We hit this section a few times before we decided to head the other way.  It started well with decent speed and great cruising and carving opportunities, and as the road started to decline, we continued with no concerns…until our friend who was in front took a head first slider into the rough gravel. I believe he was safe.  The rest of us stopped to make sure he was okay; thankfully he had his helmet on and was alright, with the exception of a few scrapes and bruises. Once I knew he was in good shape, I got back on my board with an adrenaline rush which I blame for what happened next:  As I was going down an even steeper part of the road, I noticed there was nobody behind me, but I continued forward, thinking this was an amazing hill.  I decided to stop carving and go for speed, which was clearly not the best idea. I started to feel speed-wobbles and I tried to correct myself by carving but just threw myself off my board instead.  Thankfully I didn’t injure myself, just some scrapes on my hands and elbows.

Amid the falls, I still had a great time on this hill; it is not too steep in some areas making it great for cruising, there are not a lot of vehicles, and the views are great.  Next time I go I will definitely bring some more protective gear, including:

• A helmet
• Elbow pads
• Knee Pads
• Long boarding gloves

For more experienced long boarders, Buck Creek Road would be an epic ride.  Please be properly prepared before embarking on any adventure.  If you are planning on visiting the Vail area, make sure to book your trip through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, your Friendly, Knowledgeable Locals, by calling 1-888-866-2305.

As the sun sets in the beautiful Vail Valley on a perfect summer night, the only place you need to be is at the Gerald R. Ford Ampitheater listening to free music, hanging with your friends, and enjoying some great people watching. Tonight Toad the Wet Sprocket is on stage as part of their summer tour for everybody in The Valley to enjoy. Dancing is encouraged, but not necessary. Food can be brought in, blankets are always a good idea,  and with all these combined, your fun-meter is guaranteed to be overflowing.

If you enjoy any of the following: fun, friends, food, sunshine, mountains, the 90’s, dancing, laughing, music, meeting new people, getting out of your house, or enjoying some local mountain culture, then I should see you at the amphitheater tonight in East Vail. I’ll be there tonight with my friends from here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, and you owe it to yourself to come and enjoy some free music as well.   I see only positives coming from an evening of fun at the Hot Summer Nights concert series this evening.

Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of the most popular alternative rock/folk bands of the early 90’s, with two platinum albums and multiple chart topping hits, and you can see them FREE tonight.

For more information regarding the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, the Vail Valley or on finding lodging in Colorado, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305. See you there. You owe it to yourself.

Episode III

Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley.  I am recently new to the Vail Valley and have a passion for exploring all the beautiful nature around me while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley or current locals on the incredible activities the Valley has to offer.  Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in the acts of hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of.  During these activities I will be observing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.

The adventure I embarked on this week was a rugged hike to Lost Lake.  After work one day a few co-workers and I headed back up Red Sandstone Road. This road leads to Piney Lake (episode I), but if you stop about halfway through the road there is a parking lot on the right for the Lost Lake trail head.  After we parked, we put on our hiking shoes and made sure everything was packed up in my A-frame. Here is a list of things you should bring for a half day hike:

• Water!!!
• Dry food
• Flashlight
• Pocket knife
• Fishing gear
• Rain gear
• First aid
• Compass/map

The Lost Lake trail winds into the trees and through the wilderness, steadily inclining the whole way up. Along the way, you are greeted by breathtaking views of the horizon.  As you continue through, the trail begins to narrow and twists and turns.  After about three miles the trail begins to decline.  Once you hit the decline there is only about a half mile left before you reach Lost Lake.  You may think you are lost, but just continue following the trail and you will eventually see an old wooden post sign pointing to the right that reads “Lost Lake.”  Lost Lake will appear through the woods, a beautiful sight!  My coworkers and I did some fishing up there but not for long because the mosquitoes were really bad.  The abundant bird species in the area make Lost Lake a great place for bird watching. There were two what I believe were finches hanging out with us the entire time. It was very amusing.  We stated to head back before it got dark.  The roundtrip took us three and half hours and was about 7.5 miles long.

The Lost Lake Trail is a great hike for any level of hiking experience. The amazing views and entertaining wildlife make it a great hike for anyone. This trail would be great for mountain biking and also a magnificent place to camp.  Please be properly prepared before venturing into the wilderness for your safety and my piece of mind.  If you are planning on visiting the Vail area make sure to book your trip through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, your friendly, knowledgeable locals.

Summer is halfway through and that means there is only one more month left to take a yoga class in Vail’s beautiful Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.  Classes are offered Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and are taught by experienced yoga instructor Maria DeSimone.  All abilities are welcome, but be sure to bring a yoga mat or towel, a bottle of water, and loose fitting yoga attire.  Classes are held at the Alpine Plaza at the base of the waterfall, so participants are able to enjoy magnificent views of the Gore Range, unless they’re in Downward Dog, that is.  The last day of class will be Friday, September 3^rd.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is located at 8,250 feet above sea level, making it the highest botanical garden in the United States.  Access to the gardens is free and there are many youth and adult educational programs offered throughout the summer.  So come find your inner sensei and do yoga at altitude—you might find your highest higher power yet!

For more information on the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens or to book your vacation in the Vail Valley, please contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305. Yogis and non-yogis welcome!

Avon’s Lakeside Cinema summer movie series will start tomorrow at dusk! The movies are free, and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket, picnic basket, and of course, popcorn. The first 100 guests will also receive free root beer floats! Seating is on the grass field and is on a first-come, first-served basis, but if you were at Nottingham Lake for the Fourth of July fireworks, you know there is plenty of room!

Movie Schedule
• 7/23: “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”
• 7/30: “Nine” **
• 8/6: “More Than a Game”
• 8/13: “Invictus” **
• 8/20: “Dear John”

**Date night movies. Free childcare will be provided by the Avon Recreation Center. Children must be registered, childcare lasts from 8:00-10:30 p.m.

For more information on Lakeside Cinema summer movies or to plan your next Avon/Vail/Beaver Creek vacation, please contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

If it’s a summer weekend in Vail and you’re not outside, you shouldn’t be in Vail. Period. With endless amounts of outdoor activities, from hiking to biking, from camping to climbing, rafting to kayaking, it’s easy to stay active while constantly trying something new.

So this past Saturday when one of my coworkers had friends in town and the idea of a lazy day of tubing was brought up, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. After quickly searching the internet for inner tubes, we arrived at a nearby Sports Authority and each purchased a $20 raft. Who says fun has to be expensive? We drove out to Edwards to the Colorado River Center, where the entire Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals staff had recently been on rafting and duckying excursions. This time there were only three members of staff, myself included, and four of our friends. We dropped one of our cars off at State Bridge where we would be exiting the river and drove the other car three miles upstream. After inflating our tubes, we eased ourselves into the water and soon found ourselves floating in wet, leisurely bliss.

The sun peaked out at us from behind the clouds as we passed beavers busily working on their dams. Every now and then, a train would roar past us on our right and blast its greeting as we waved from our floats. It wasn’t complete languor, however, as every now and then one of us would get stuck in a quagmire, but they were easy enough to maneuver around, and those who couldn’t provided the rest of us with a laugh. Then came the rapids. Now, we’re not talking about class five rapids here. Maybe class two. But any kind of rapid on an inner tube is security for a fun, wild and bumpy ride. As we traveled down the river, the rapids came larger and faster. Pretty soon we would just be recovering from one set when we would find ourselves immersed in another. The only thing louder than the rush of the rapids was the roar of our laughter. The water was pretty low so we constantly had to be on the lookout for protruding rocks, but this only attributed to the size of the rapids. About three hours later we found ourselves at our destination and reluctantly pulled ourselves and our tubes to shore. It was another great day on the Colorado River and I’m sure we’ll be back soon.

For more information about tubing the Colorado River or vacationing in Vail, please contact  Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

It was a tough day at the office for the Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals crew as we stepped out of the Venture Sports van at the top of Vail Pass and prepared to bike 14 milesthrough the Aspen and Evergreen glades.  We sat down at the edge of a cliff to eat our sandwiches which had been graciously prepared for us by Columbine Bakery.  The only thing more delicious than our food was the sight that awaited us just past the cliff:  a palette of the most exuberant greens and blues stretched out in front of us as vibrant as a painter’s wet canvas.  Feathery white clouds streaked the sky, all rolling towards the immense, snow-capped mountains (yes, in July!) in the distance as if magnetized by their grand significance.  We finished our sandwiches and soon found ourselves following the clouds.

We mounted our comfort cruisers and full suspension mountain bikes which had been tweaked for each of us personally according to our gender and height, general protocol for all Venture Sports guided tours, in order to ensure the safest, most enjoyable ride.  After a quick (but detailed!) speech on safety and how to control the bike gears, we headed off with our guide Tracy and her two-year old son Hayden leading the way.  Bringing up the rear was another Venture Sports guide, Drew, who dazzled us more than once with bike tricks, even performing a wheelie while going uphill.

The trail, which is considered “95% downhill and 5% uphill,” wound in and out of lush forests, with the hum of Gore Creek always in our ears.  At some points the trail was mere feet away from I-70, and cars rushing past reminded each of us to obtain the utmost control of our bikes, especially yours truly, as my face was still in the process of healing from a previous bike spill (Not with Venture Sports!).  We sped along the trail with the wind rushing through our hair (and in my case, Band-Aids), stopping every so often to ensure that the entire group was still intact and for bathroom breaks.

Just before we entered Vail Village, we realized we were short a few people, and it turned out that one of our posse had a flat tire.  The situation was quickly and efficiently fixed as every bike is equipped with a repair kit and pump as a precaution and because Drew was there to help.  We remounted and wove through one of Vail’s most prestigious neighborhoods, gawking at the size of the houses, before entering the Village.  Luckily it was a Tuesday, so The Village wasn’t as packed with pedestrians and other bikers as usual.  We rounded the roundabout and before we knew it, we were back at the office way sooner than we could have predicted.  We are all so thankful for such a wonderful day with Venture Sports and I personally can’t imagine remounting a bike for the first time (and so soon) with anybody else!

For more information regarding Venture Sports, the Vail Valley or on finding lodging in Colorado, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

Last night, my coworkers and I attended a concert by Darius Rucker at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Rucker put the concert on for free, with all proceeds benefiting the Steadman-Philippon Research Institute. As a former patient at Vail’s Steadman Clinic, Rucker was more than happy to give back to the Vail community.

With chronic knee problems taking a toll on his life, Darius Rucker was referred to Dr. Richard Steadman by a friend who resides on the research board. Steadman successfully cured all of Rucker’s problems, using methods resultant of the research of the Steadman-Philippon Research Institute.

As usual, seats on the lawn were free, while seats within the amphitheater were $40 each. Of course, my coworkers and I opted for the free lawn seats, but were presently surprised when a box office member asked us if we would like to move to real seats for free. We immediately consented, and were soon dancing in the aisles to songs like Rucker’s hit country single “Don’t Think About It,” other songs from his first country album “Learn to Live.” Rucker also performed popular country covers, such as Hank William’s “Family Tradition” and Georgia Satellites’ “Keep Your Hands To Yourself.” The highlight of the night, however, was when Rucker performed the Prince classic “Purple Rain.”

The sounds of the music and the crowd rocked the mountains, resulting in another fun-filled night in the Vail Valley.

For more information regarding the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, the Vail Valley or on finding lodging in Colorado, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305. Keep rockin’, we will!

Those vacationing in Avon or neighboring Beaver Creek won’t go lacking in fun things to do during hot summer nights. Vail may have its free Tuesday night concerts, but Avon has free Friday night movies. Every Friday starting July 23, movies will be screened outside at Harry A. Nottingham Park in Avon. Seating is on the grass so guests usually bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the film. This is a great event to bring the kids to. The park has picnic tables, a playground and paddle boats for Nottingham Lake, so you and your family can spend the whole day here and finish the night off with an entertaining movie. Or if you’d prefer to spend the night with your loved one minus the kids, on “Date Nights” you can leave the kids at the Avon Recreation Center where the staff will babysit them for free. You can’t beat that!

Movies are at 8:15 p.m. every week. Here are the scheduled films:

July 23: “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale“

July 30; “Nine” (Date Night)

August 6; “More Than a Game“

August 13; “Invictus” (Date Night)

August 20; “Dear John“

Loaded Joe’s is a local favorite. A coffeehouse by day and a cocktail lounge by night, Joe’s has been the premier chill out spot for locals since its opening in January 2004 in Avon. This place truly has something for everyone. During the day, you can relax on a comfy couch, read a book, stare out the window at the gorgeous mountains, talk with friends over coffee or simply enjoy some good food. The place is decorated like a living room, so you can unwind and feel at home. When the sun goes down, the action at Joe’s gets kicked up a notch. Live entertainment, karaoke, open mic, dancing, movie screenings and trivia contests are some of the events that happen throughout the week. A schedule of what’s happening is available.

This place is more than a coffeehouse and a bar; it’s a way of being. Go to Loaded Joe’s for some good coffee, strong cocktails, rocking music and great people. If you need any other ideas about places to go while in the Vail Valley, contact Rocky MountainVacation Rentals’ concierge service.

Our last Vail Teva Mountain Games update was all about general event information, an overview and the schedule of the first day- June 3 with the Bud Light Lime Steep and Creek Competition and the free concert in the Vail Valley.

Today we will tell you more about the IFSC Bouldering World Cup which is scheduled as of today for Friday June 4^th with the women and men qualifiers, and then with the semifinals and finals scheduled for Saturday June 5^th. The IFSC Bouldering World Cup will be presented by Pyramide and will take place at the Mtn. Plaza at the Vista Bahn Lawn.

Bouldering is a kind of rock climbing. But in contrast to rock climbing, bouldering is usually without a rope, not very high up, rarely higher than 3-5 meters, more vertically along the rock or boulder.  Bouldering is practiced on large natural boulders, rock faces, and artificial boulders, in gyms or even on buildings or public architectures. Unlike traditional climbing that requires a lot of endurance and longer stretches, bouldering focuses on short term power, strength and dynamics. There are three main disciplines in bouldering- lead, boulder and speed.

IFSC stands for “International Federation of Sport Climbing”.  The IFSC World Cup Serious 2010 consists of about 16 competitions all around the world. The world cup started off at the last weekend of April in Trento- Italy. The next bouldering world cup competition will be next weekend, May 14^th in Greifensee- Switzerland. The third IFSC World Cup will take place in Wien- Austria. After three weekends in Europe, the bouldering competitors will come to the US- to Vail where they will compete during the Teve Mountain Games from June 3^rd till June 4^th. After that they will go to Moscow, Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Sheffield- Great Britain, Chaarmonix- France, Daone- Italy, Munich- Germany, and then in August in Xining- China, Chuncheon- Korea, in September back to Europe to Imst- Austria, Puurs- Belgian, at the end of October to Huaiji- China and then for the last bouldering competition one more time to Europe to Kranj in Slovenia.

This is going to be an amazing event. Only the very best boulder competitors from all around the world will give their very best. Come out and watch it. In case you need a place to stay check out Lodging Deals provided by Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals!

See you all !!!!

One of the greatest things about living in Colorado is the shared excitement in watching the snow fall report.  When I was a student at The University of Kansas, snow meant torn up streets, messy sidewalks, and bone chilling winds that shook you to the core. Here in Vail, its a totally different story. We got 32 inches of fresh powder this week, making the valley sparkle and the mountain gleam. Conditions have not been this great all year. Snowboarders and skiers unite with delight at the fresh powder which has increased the base to a whopping 55 inches! What’s more, the dedicated city of Vail makes sure that the village roads and highway are always clear and safe for travel. The Vail/Beaver Creek area is a virtual paradise, attracting visitors from all over the world to come ride, shred, annihilate, take no prisoners, and hot-rod on the mountain! Maybe it has something to do with the Olympics, but I have seen more people just tearing it up and having a blast than ever before. Sure beats that old dreaded Kansas cold!

Speaking of Kansas, March Madness is quickly approaching. Being a die-hard Jayhawk fan myself, I was delighted to find a vast array of local game watching spots. Can you imagine anything better…After a long day of skiing, you unwind and relax with your buddies, drinking beer, watching the game, and laughing about the head-first plunge you took on the mountain! If this sounds in any way appealing, I’m telling you, now is the time to get out here and make it happen!  And when you’re looking for a great place to watch the big game, I recommend the Tap Room or Garfinkles (Both boasting a plethora of TV’s for the sports connoisseur who likes variety). However, if you prefer staying in the comfort of your own home, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can definitely set you up in something spectacular. You can watch the shot clock wind-down from the couch without any distractions!