Vail, Beaver Creek brace for two storms this weekend

Both resorts in solid shape for slew of big-name spring events

A very snowy weekend is in store for the Vail Valley following a cold and snowy week that boosted snow totals and generally improved ski and snowboard conditions at both Vail and Beaver Creek. Both resorts should now be well-positioned for solid spring-skiing conditions and a host of spring events from the Burton U.S. Open to Spring Back to Vail.

Forecasters predict two storms will roll through the Vail area both Friday and Saturday nights, and then after a brief dry period to start the week, another storm is on track to hit Vail and Beaver Creek by the middle of next week.

“We’ll see additional storms on Friday night and again on Saturday night,” Opensnow.com meteorologist Joel Gratz wrote Friday. “Multiple days of consistent snow usually leads to the best conditions, so get out there and take advantage of this cycle! Dry weather will likely return early next week, then we’ll have a chance for a storm during the middle or end of next week, with a semi-active pattern continuing through early-to-mid March.”

The Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships come to town March 5-10, with many of the newly-crowned 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic medalists competing on Vail’s massive superpipe at Golden Peak.

Also this spring, Vail’s iconic (and free) Spring Back to Vail event will be spread over two weekends, including big-name free concerts and plenty of other action. Here’s a full press release from Vail Resorts on the annual Spring Back to Vail event:

Spring Back to Vail Returns to Vail Mountain for Two Weekends of Celebration

 VAIL, Colo. – February 21, 2018 – Spring Back to Vail will return to Vail Mountain for two weekends of celebration this year. The first weekend will kick off on Saturday, March 31 with a live concert at Solaris presented by Bud Light. The World Pond Skimming Championships will commence on Sunday, April 15 for the second weekend of celebration with on-mountain and après events as well.

“To close out the 2017-2018 winter season, Spring Back to Vail will return better than ever for two weekends of celebration on Vail Mountain,” states Phil Metz, Senior Marketing Director of Vail and Beaver Creek. “Both weekends are a way for the mountain to celebrate with the community and our guests and say farewell to another great winter.”

 Spring Back to Vail will kick off with a free concert at Solaris presented by Bud Light on Saturday, March 31 with headliner SOJA and opening act, Houndmouth, The venue will open at 5:30 p.m. with music starting at 6 p.m.

SOJA, a D.C. area based band, blends reggae, go-go, D.C. hardcore, Latin, rock and hip-hop. Originally formed by a group of friends while still in middle school and has built a massive, dedicated fanbase around the world since. For SOJA, whose live show is an explosion of energy and positivity, music is a means of helping people relate in a more affirmative way. It also asks people to look inside themselves and really ask what it is they want to do with their life and how they can be happy.

The 16th Annual World Pond Skimming Championships and The Bud Light Bags Tournament will draw Spring Back to Vail and the 2017-2018 winter season to a close on Sunday, April 15.  The top male and female in the contest will each be awarded the grand prize of a 2018-2019 Epic Pass. Food and drink specials along with an Expo Village will start at 12 p.m. The Pond Skim contest gets underway at3:00 p.m. Registration is required to pond skim and will be available starting March 15 at vail.com/springback.  

Schedule of Events

• Saturday, March 31

o   Expo Village at Gondola One | 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

o   Music with a View, presented by Verizon, at Sarge’s Mid-Vail | 12 – 2 p.m.

o   Après music at Express Lift Bar, presented by Bud Light | 2:30 – 5 p.m.

o   Free Concert at Solaris, presented by Bud Light: SOJA and opener: Houndmouth  |  Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

• Saturday, April 7

o   Music with a View, presented by Verizon, at Sarge’s Mid-Vail | 12 – 2 p.m.

• Saturday, April 14

o   Free ski/board demos in Vail Village | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

o   Music with a View, presented by Verizon, at Sarge’s Mid-Vail | 12 – 2 p.m.

o   Après music at Express Lift Bar | 2:30 – 5 p.m.

• Sunday, April 15

o   Expo Village | 12 – 4:30 p.m.

o   Bud Light Bags Tournament | 1 – 3 p.m.

o   16^th Annual World Pond Skimming Championships | 3 p.m.

Spring Back to Vail is presented by Vail Mountain, Bud Light, Pepsi, GMC, Verizon, Helly Hansen and Town of Vail, and brought to you in part by, Nature Valley, Vail Resorts Retail, Vail Racquet Club and Colorado Mountain Express.

Admission to all Spring Back to Vail events is free.

For additional information and for registration, visit vail.com/springback.

Vail’s scheduled closing day for the 2017-2018 season is Sunday, April 15.