Colorado Ski Country resorts serve up killer spring ski deals, events throughout March, April

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) resorts prepare to welcome guests for spring skiing and riding by offering money saving deals and crowd pleasing events. Savvy spring skiers and riders can find bargains on lessons, lodging, concerts, and ski passes. Some resorts are even offering free skiing and 2-for-1 passes with resort reciprocation.

The 2010-11 season has brought fantastic snow conditions across much of the state, and Colorado's snowiest month is still ahead. March typically brings robust snow storms, creating powdery playgrounds for spring break revelers. Bountiful storms in March are part of the reason Colorado's ski season stretches well into May.

Below is a round-up of resort deals and events being offered in Colorado Ski Country this spring:

Arapahoe Basin

Big air at Crested Butte.

A-Basin is offering $15-$20 off its Extreme Ski & Ride clinic for $75 per day or $210 for one session. Available for intermediate through advanced level skiers and riders, participants take a tour to explore Arapahoe Basin's hidden gems while discovering tricks and tactics to conquering the steep and deep. Session I dates are March 5, 12 & 19. Lift tickets are not included. Use promo code – XMT when purchasing. Call 888-ARAPAHOE for more information or visit www.ArapahoeBasin.com

Arapahoe Sports, located in the base lodge A-Frame, is offering 30 to 40 percent off merchandise. Bins filled with sale items will be located around the store and will include gloves, socks, hats and more. Guests can only find A-Basin logoed gear at Arapahoe Sports retail store.

Aspen/Snowmass

The 11th Annual Bud Light Spring Jam will be held March 18 – 20 and March 25 – 27. The multifaceted event will bring two weekends of competitions, downtown concerts and parties to Aspen/Snowmass. The festival kicks off on March 18 with the Core Party concert in downtown Aspen at 8 p.m. featuring indie-rock phenomenon Broken Social Scene and continues the next day at the 3rd annual Fallen Friends Memorial Event and the 12th annual KickAspen Big Air.

A Terrain Park Boot Camp, March 19, 20, 26 and 27, offers both adults and kids instruction on how to slide a box or hit a rail in a mini-park on Snowmass. Two Bud Light Hi-Fi concerts during the event will feature Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk on March 20 at 4 p.m. in the Snowmass Base Village and rock band Pepper will play on March 25 at 8 p.m. at the base of Aspen Mountain. The 4th annual Helly Hansen Battle in the Bowls will once again join the Spring Jam lineup.

On March 19, Aspen/Snowmass will host the 12th Annual KickAspen Big Air Invitational at Aspen Mountain.

In the 12th Annual KickAspen Big Air, the best regional ski and snowboard athletes will compete under the lights at the base of Aspen Mountain. Prize giveaways, a beer garden and a DJ will round out the action at the base of the mountain.

Also on March 19, the 3rd annual Fallen Friends memorial event will gather teams of two to five to compete in a course of jumps, bumps and park features on Scarlett's Run at Aspen Highlands. The event will feature a DJ, announcers and food and drink specials on the deck of the Merry-Go-Round. Teams are encouraged to dress in a costume and incorporate a common theme. All the proceeds from the event will benefit an Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC) scholarship fund in honor of local fallen friends over the past few years.

Helly Hansen Battle in the Bowls returns for the fourth year and features teams of two racing against each other to ski/ride the bowls of Aspen Highlands as fast as they can. On a course designed by Aspen/Snowmass athlete Chris Davenport, the teams can take any route they desire as long as they complete every run listed on the course. Flaik GPS devices will track the athletes as they charge across the mountain. Each team's final time is a collective average of its members' times. Last year's winning team finished the course in 3 hours and 4 minutes.

Aspen/Snowmass' Kids Ski & Stay Free in April package must be booked by March 18, 2011. Savings of at least $340 per child off the window price rate can be hand based on a four day lift ticket and rental package.

Additionally, the Spring Escape MVP package (Buy 2, Get 3) is available and offers direct to lift packages and last minute lodging specials. All deals can be found at www.aspensnowmass.com/deals.

Copper

Mardi-Gras celebrations kick off on March 5 at Copper Mountain with a Gumbo Cook-off. From 3 – 5 p.m. guests can celebrate the Big Easy with a Gumbo cook-off hosted by Endo's Adrenaline Café.

Copper lights up with O'Fuego on March 19. En Fuego meets the luck of the Irish with O'Fuego. The event will bring live music, Marg O'Ritas from Margaritaville, a Pipe and Drum band, and plenty of green beer.

This spring Copper Mountain is offering four transferable lift tickets for $219. Tickets are flexible and can be used in any combination. Purchase is non-refundable and not for resale and not valid March 11 - April 4. At least a 48 hour advance purchase is required and is limited to four per customer. Limited quantities are available and details are subject to change.

New this year, Copper is offering a Secret Pass. The Secret Pass provides a passholder a dedicated lift line at: American Eagle, American Flyer, Super Bee, Excelerator, Kokomo, High Point and Timberline Express lifts. As a bonus, Secret Pass holders have the option of a 15-minute head start on American Eagle every morning, increasing the chances of getting first tracks that day. Skiers and riders merely need to say the words, “Secret Pass” at any Copper ticket window and pay an additional $20 per day upgrade on the full window price for both adult and child tickets. For more details on Copper's spring events and deals please visit www.CopperColorado.com.

Crested Butte

On March 12 Crested Butte will feature Big Air on Elk. The main street in downtown Crested Butte is transformed into an "urban" terrain park, featuring a huge kicker. Spectators line both sides of the street, cheering, as skiers and riders are towed-in via snowmobile to see who can boast the biggest - and best – boost at night.

March 17 – 20 will bring the15th Annual Extreme Telemark Freeskiing Championships to Crested Butte when more than 100 free-heelers take to the slopes to compete in this Telemark Freeskiing event complete with welcome reception and awards party. The two-day big mountain event attracts the biggest names in the Telemark industry and is unique to Crested Butte. Free Telemark demos and specialty clinics also take place during this Telemark celebration culminating with the legendary Al Johnson race.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), in conjunction with StraightOut Media & Marketing and the Matthew Shepard Foundation, will host its inaugural gay skiing event: “Butte 11: Matthew Shepard Foundation Gay Ski Week,” March 19 – 26. The weeklong celebration features après ski tubing, a “Shoot the Butte” pub crawl, the Splash Pool Party, ski hook ups, opportunities to learn more about the education, advocacy and awareness work of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and the chance to check out O.A.R. at the inaugural FestEVOL (pronounced Fest-ee-vuhl) event on March. 26. For more information visit www.matthewshepardgayskiweek.com.

On March 26 Crested Butte will host FestEVOL featuring O.A.R. EVOL Burritos, in partnership with Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Nordica, Reverb and the Bud Light Concert Series, announce the launch of a new concert and lifestyle event called FestEVOL (pronounced: Fest-ee-vuhl). In its inaugural year, FestEVOL is bringing O.A.R. and Pete Kilpatrick Band to Crested Butte on March 26 for a unique lifestyle experience combining mountain sports, live music, innovative natural brands and a sustainably focused “Eco Village” to help keep the event green. This interactive village includes local, regional and national environmental non-profit groups alongside alternative energy and transportation exhibits. The Eco Village also highlights all natural/organic food sampling and ski/snowboard equipment demos with Nordica and Burton Snowboards. Event-goers can take advantage of special all-inclusive pricing for lodging, lift and concert tickets starting at $149 per person, based on two people staying in an Apex Double/Queen Courtyard View room at the Elevation Hotel & Spa. Concert tickets cost $35 if purchased before March 19.

March 25 – 26 is the Elk Mountains Grand Traverse. This is an extreme endurance race that links Crested Butte to Aspen. At the stroke of midnight, skiers start out over a 40-mile course that takes them from the base of Mt. Crested Butte through remote wilderness terrain, across two mountain passes and finishes at Aspen Mountain. Skiers must start, compete and finish in teams of two. For more information please visit www.elkmountaintraverse.org.

This spring Crested Butte is offering a 3rd Night/3rd Day special. Buy two days of lodging and two days of lift tickets and the 3rd night and 3rd day are free. This offer is valid for travel between March 25 – April 3, which is the resort's closing day. See www.skicb.com for more details or call 800-600-2803.

Echo Mountain

This spring Echo Mountain has adjusted its operating hours. Normally closed on Tuesdays, Echo Mountain will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 15, 22 and 29 in celebration of spring break. After 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays, Echo glows with lights and offers the only night skiing and riding within an hour of Denver. More information can be found at www.Echomtnpark.com

Eldora

This spring Eldora invites passholders from other ski areas to ski free. When skiers present a lift ticket or season pass from any other ski area they will receive a free Eldora one day lift ticket. It's a one time offer and only valid Sundays through Fridays, not available on Saturdays. The Ski Free promotion kicked off Monday, February 21 and will run for a limited time only.

Additionally, guests exchanging a ticket or pass from another area may also purchase a $99 Eldora season pass valid for the remainder of this season. Spring passes will go on sale March 1. For those who purchased a $99 pass, an upgrade to a Spring Pass is available with a $99 credit toward the 2011-12 pass. This offer is valid until closing day only. For more information visit www.Eldora.com.

Loveland

On March 26 Loveland will hold its Tall Ts N Tacos slopestyle competition. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities are invited to come out and compete for the chance to win some of the $10,000 in prizes. Registration cost is $20 and includes a free Tall tee and lunch from Wahoo's Fish Tacos. Coupons for half price registration and a discounted lift ticket are available at all Colorado Wahoo's Fish Taco locations.

Loveland Ski Area has partnered with lodging properties in Clear Creek and Summit Counties to provide skiers and riders deals on ski & stay packages. Packages start at $119 per night and include lodging and lift tickets for two. Please visit http://www.lovelandreservations.com/skiandstay.html for details.

Monarch

Slopestyle Showdown, the annual slopestyle contest sponsored by Bolle, Drake, Alkaline, Mountain Khakis, Blindside, and Smith, is March 6 and will take place on Aftershock. The course will include rails, boxes, and a series of hits. Open to all ages, contestants pull out their best skills and get judged on finesse, difficulty, and line choice. Registration is from 9 – 9:45 a.m. in the Sack Lunch room, is $20 and includes an event t-shirt. Please visit www.SkiMonarch.com for more information.

Powderhorn

On March 19 Powderhorn invites guests to the Snow Bar. Snow Bar, presented by Palisade Brewing Co., will feature a bonfire, beer and music, all inside a massive snow fort.

Powerhorn is offering a Stay & Play Package this spring. The $199 package includes a one night stay for two at the slopeside Inn at Wildewood, lift tickets for two and a $25 dinner voucher at the Skiers Union Cafe. Lift tickets may be exchanged for two cross country or snowshoe rentals. Available March 1 – April 3. Call 970-268-5170 for reservations.

New this year is the Fill a Quad deal. Powderhorn season pass holders can bring up to three buddies and get 25 percent off each of their lift tickets. Offer is valid for same day only and available March 1 – 15. Visit www.Powderhorn.com for details.

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort

Visitors can celebrate Mardi Gras at Purgatory on March 5 and 6. Diners can enjoy some Louisana-style cookin' at Purgy's with a traditional King Cake and Crawfish Boil at the Bear Bar. For more information please visit www.DurangoMountainResort.com.

Ski Cooper

From February 22 – March 6 skiers and riders can bring a season pass from any ski area in Colorado and buy two full day adult lift tickets for the price of one. No more than one transaction per season pass holder per day. Not valid with any other offers. No cash value. More information can be found at www.SkiCooper.com.

SolVista Basin

Sol Vista Basin will hold a Beach Bash and chill out on March 19. The resort will serve island drinks from a tiki snow bar and play reggae music. There will be fun for the whole family with snow games, an outdoor BBQ, an all-natural log jam, and night skiing and tubing from 5 – 8 p.m. For more information please call 1.888.850.4615 or visit www.GranbyRanch.com.

Steamboat

The Steamboat Ski Area's Bud Light Rocks the 'Boat free music series offers eight free concerts from Feb 26 – April 10. This year's line up is: North Mississippi Allstars-Feb 26, Sam Bush-March 4, JoJo's Mardi Gras Band-March 5, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real-March 19, John Popper and the Duskray Troubadors-March 26, Los Lonely Boys-April 2, and Katchafire & The Wailers-Closing Day, April 10. For more information visit www.steamboat.com/concerts.

Visitors can celebrate Mardi Gras March 4 – 8 with a free concert by Sam Bush on Friday. A Mardi Gras Parade will be on Saturday followed by the Cajun BBQ and Beer Festival, Carnival Activities and a special Bud Light free concert from JoJo's Mardi Gras Band, featuring JoJo Hermann of Widespread Panic. All celebration long, guests can enjoy on-mountain Mardi Gras themed lunch specials, Après Ski at the Bear River, and a special Creole Dinner at Hazie's. For more details please visit www.steamboat.com/mardigras.

The inaugural Ski 4 Yellow on-snow fundraising event offers a chance to ski and ride with Olympians, World Cup, X-Games and professional athletes in the fight against cancer. Ski 4 Yellow will happen March 25 – 26. Registration is open through Ski4Yellow.com to the first 200 participants.

Guests can ski free at Steamboat this April. The resort is extending free skiing to guests who purchase three or more nights' lodging April 1 – 10, through Steamboat Central Reservations®. Guests can build a customized Ski Free at Steamboat lodging package starting as low as $119 per adult. Additionally, Ski Free package participants can receive 20 percent off rental equipment at all Steamboat Ski & Sport locations. Price is per adult, based on double occupancy, limited to two lift tickets per bedroom. Some restrictions apply. Visit www.steamboat.com/packages for details.

Steamboat's Springalicious Pass is a $99 spring photo pass for skiing and riding any four days at Steamboat from April 1 – 10. The pass is non-transferable and may only be purchased online at www.steamboat.com/spring at least 24 hours prior to the first day of use.

Sunlight

Sunlight invites skiers and riders to "Learn to Shine" with a 3 day lesson, rental and lift ticket package. Skiers and snowboarders that participate in the "Learn to Shine" program are matched with top instructors from Sunlight Mountain Resort. The three lessons can be taken on the dates of the student's choice and participants get a free 5-Day ski pass to practice upon completion of the lessons. Skiers can take advantage of this package for $280 and snowboarders for $295.

First time skiers and snowboarders who take a lesson will be able to navigate beginner terrain by the end of their first day. The 3 day "Learn to Shine" package enables snow-riders to develop life-long skills and independence on the mountain. For more experienced skiers or boarders, Sunlight Ski School offers a full range of exciting options. For details please visit www.sunlightmtn.com/snow-school.

Sunlight Mountain Resort has partnered with many of the Glenwood Springs hotels to offer a Ski Swim Stay package that includes lift tickets, lodging and passes to the Glenwood Hot Springs. Some package offers start at $89 per person per night which includes free lift tickets for kids 12 and under. Visit www.sunlightmtn.com/ski-swim-stay for participating hotels and offer details.

Telluride

Telluride and Land Rover recently partnered to bring guests a unique on-snow experience. Land Rover will be integrated throughout the resort and guests will have the opportunity to experience driving off-road during Ride & Drive weekends. On March 4 – 6 and March 18 – 20, skiers and snowboarders can put the vehicles through the paces. Guests can choose from 2011 model year Range Rovers, Range Rover Sports and Land Rover LR4s. For a full schedule see the community calendar at www.visittelluride.com/festivals-events/calendar.

For spring, Telluride Resort Lodging is offering March Spring Break Packages starting at $101 per person per night. Vacation rentals range in size from one bedroom to five bedroom homes. Each vacation rental offers full kitchens, washer & dryers and easy access to the slopes. Packages are based on per person/per night, max occupancy. Some restrictions apply, subject to availability, not including taxes and fees. For details call 1.800.778.8581.

Telluride invites three guests to grab a fourth guest and receive the fourth night of lodging and fourth person lift ticket free. When guests book at Bear Creek Lodge, they will also receive $25 in mountain money per person for free. Some restrictions may apply, and offer is subject to availability. For more information please call 800-778-8581.

Winter Park

There are plenty of activities and events at Winter Park this Spring. Starting March 24 – 27, Winter Park will host the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships featuring the world's largest recreational ski and snowboard race program. The following week, Winter Park will host the US Ski Team as they compete against the best FIS men and women in the United States and Canada in the U.S. Alpine Championships, March 31 – April 3.

Benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), the 36th Annual Wells Fargo Cup will be held March 3 – 6. This anticipated event brings together world-class disabled racers, Denver celebrities, and Bronco's alumni, among others. Guests can catch the Celebrity Challenge as celebrities and former football stars make their way down a race course. A giant silent auction will raise money to support life changing programs for NSCD.

The three-day Steep and Deep camp is paired with Backcountry Awareness weekend March 11 – 13.

Guests to Winter Park in March can make plans to attend the Mardi Gras party on Saturday, March 5 and then celebrate all that is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, Thursday, March 17.

Winter Park is putting a new spin on daylight saving time by offering savings of 25 percent off nightly lodging, with a minimum stay of two nights, from now until the end of the season. Guests can book in advance and save on lift tickets, lessons and rentals. For details please call 866.423.5173 for reservations or visit www.WinterParkResort.com.

Wolf Creek

Spring skiing at Wolf Creek will feature a Fun/Holiday Race Series. All ages and abilities are welcome to compete in the 28 gate race course. The Mardi Gras Race will be held on March 5, the 7th Fun Race will be held on March 12, and the Spring Fling Race will be held on March 20.

Wolf Creek is offering three Local Appreciation Days during the month of March, and guests don't have to be a local to take advantage of the savings. On March 2, 20 and 30, all adults will receive $31 lift tickets and all children and seniors will receive an $18 lift ticket.

Wolf Creek wants to reward hard working college students with a day of fun in the snow at a discounted price, away from books, profs, and campus cafeteria food. All college students with a valid college photo ID can receive a $31 lift ticket on March 27.

For spring skiing and snowboarding lessons, Wolf Creek is offering First Day Beginner Packages for skiers and boarders, every day at a discounted price. The package includes four hours of group instruction and a lift ticket for the Nova Lift. Beginner Skier Packages are $52 and Beginner Snowboard Packages are $62, no pre-registration required.

For those who know how to ski and ride, Wolf Creek is offering a Ski/Board Clinic at a discounted price this spring. On March 5, female instructors will offer lessons to women of all ability levels in the Ladies Ski/Board Clinic. March 12 is Men's Ski/Board Clinic with male instructors teaching all male classes. Seniors are invited to attend a Senior Ski/Board Clinic on March 26, with senior instructors. People of all ages, genders and ability levels are welcome to join Wolf Creek's Telemark Clinics on March 6 and 26. Adult Clinic attendees will receive a $31 lift ticket, senior Clinic attendees will receive an $18 lift ticket and all Clinic attendees will receive a $30 two-hour group lesson. Clinic attendees will also receive a discount on rental equipment with $11 ski rentals and $15 snowboard rentals.