Boarding A-Basin Monday, Dec. 29th

I recently went boarding at A-Basin and I was a bit disappointed. Not only was a lift ticket $65 for the day, but I spend half the time in lines. This ski resort is definitely one for the intermediate to expert skiier/boarder; most of the runs are blaks/blues and even the greens seemed a bit steep to me (not that I mind, but a beginner might).

I started off on the Pallavicini Lift and once I got off the lift headed toward the West-Wall run. This took forever! There wasn't much of an incline and I ended up just taking my board off and walking over to the cliff. I took that down to Jamie's Face and crossed Wrangler to T.B Glade. This was probably my favorite run because the snow was really packed and in T.B. Glade there was still some powder to be found.

I then took the Exhibition Lift to the Norway Lift for the rest of the day and continued exploring the blue runs (they're my favorite). I never made it to the terrain park areas ( there are two) but passing by they seemed pretty sweet.

Personally, I probably won't go back there until the very end of the year, a.k.a. this summer when its the only place open! It was really crowded, the runs were pretty quick and pricy for what you get. I realize it was during the holiday season, but I doubt it will get any better until spring. I look forward to hitting up some of the bigger resorts like Winter Park, Breckenridge and Vail by the end of Feb. I also want to check out Echo Lake - while being pretty small, it seems to have a lot of 'terrain park' style runs as well as a learning school - just bought my 5 year old son his first snowboard for Christmas!

Namaste, Michele