On Lift Chairs and Legacies with Mark Phillips

Getting a “Passport” to Some of Colorado’s Best Runs

By Mark Phillips, 1-10-06

My son Oscar and I live in Boulder, Colorado. With thousands of miles of open-space and back-country trails, a million-dollar view to lighten the load of the daily commute, and a few hours’ drive (or, in the case of Eldora, a half hour’s drive) to the world’s best snow resorts, we have many wonderful options to help balance our daily electronic activities.

Not everyone has it so easy, especially where snow sports are concerned. Not everyone has a local shop like Christy's Sports which offers a convenient upgrade program for parents worried about children outgrowing $1000 worth of gear and clothing every year. And not everyone can have breakfast at home, get four hours of runs in (after four hours the meltdowns kick in anyway!), and be home in time for the afternoon soccer game or, more likely, nap. Yet, precisely because it’s been so easy, Oscar and I have done little exploring outside our hometown.

This year, thanks to the Passport we spread our wings! Fifth graders in this state are entitled to three complimentary lift passes to each of twenty-four Colorado resorts. I’m confident that there’s sound business logic behind the program, but it feels like an incredible gift. I grew up waterskiing in central Florida, and in my mind, this offer is akin to a marina offering up a boat for the summer.

Oscar and I are excited about this year’s trips. We expect to explore most of Colorado’s Gems, a group of eight “mom and pop� mountains (like Eldora) throughout the state and we hope to catch our share of turns on the bigger mountains, too. And of course, we also plan on some quality time at our home mountain with friends. I have a rough itinerary sketched out, but to some degree, we’ll follow the snow. As luck would have it, we’ve had almost forty powder days since the resorts opened in November and this year is being touted as the best in twenty years!

At the very least, this column will serve as an archive of tips on how to make a family ski-season without breaking the bank and how to make good use of the Passport. At its best, I expect the column to communicate how blessed we are to live where we live and how something as simple as a plan to ensure future consumers can turn into a significant mark in a Colorado family’s life.

I look forward to your comments, suggestions, and input.

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