By Eileen Ogintz
COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO — Talk about kid (and teen) heaven.
Just an hour from Denver at popular Copper Mountain, Woodward Copper is an innovative action sports center that offers year-round skiing and snowboarding plus a nearly 20,000 square foot indoor training facility called The Barn with skate parks, Olympic-grade trampolines, foam pit jumps, indoor snow sports training and more. (There are two-hour Intro Sessions for $59 and after that, drop-in sessions for $49 for two hours.)
What’s your kids’ favorite sport? Here they can hone their technique on everything from snow sports to skateboarding, BMX, mounting biking, scooters and more. Check out the residential summer camps (for kids 7-17) with pro athletes dropping by to offer tips and encouragement.
In winter, the Woodward Mountain Park at Copper is a network of featured terrain zones with on-mountain fun—and learning—for all abilities and ages—with areas that are designed for learning, experiencing the terrain and performance. Choose your own path!
Woodward, incidentally, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Originally founded in Pennsylvania in 1970 as a gymnastics camp, it has grown to be a leader in action sports progression with There are Woodward programs across the country including in winter at snow resorts including Killington Resort in Vermont, Mt. Bachelor in Oregon, the nation’s first all-in-one action sports and ski resort, Woodward Park City, Utah. Inspired by US Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard’s own DIY backyard terrain park, Red’s Backyard at Copper, Killington and Woodard Park City, enables guests to challenge themselves and progress at their own pace.
Copper Mountain has long been a favorite for Denverites because it is just 75 miles west of the city, it offers plenty of varied terrain (over 2400 acres), three main villages (ski school meets at the West Village) along with plenty of off-the-slope fun—tubing, a mountain coaster, snow shoe tours (including a free moonlight one once a month) casual dining and affordable lodging, all the while protecting the environment and encouraging families to venture outdoors with the Play Forever initiative with parent company POWDR. (Buy discounted lift tickets for Fridays online and a portion of the proceeds will go to charities; Kids ski free with an Adult purchase from Feb. 29- March 8. ) New this season, you can even rent ski clothes as well as equipment.
Join the party at Subaru Winterfest Feb. 28th-March 1 with music, free s’mores, giveaways (including toys for your pooch!) If you’ve got a Subaru, get VIP parking and a special gift!
Come summer, the new 127-room moderately priced Creekside Hotel is scheduled to open early this summer as Copper Mountain Resort, like others in ski country, offers more summer and fall activities—hiking, mountain biking and music festivals among them.
Download the Copper Mountain app to connect with family and friends, tracking their location on the hill as well as tracking your stats. Who gets bragging rights to skiing the most vertical?