Why do you ski Sunlight?
Answer the question: Why do you ski Sunlight? The Sunlight staff will choose the best answer and post the results on our website. The winning Sunlight fan will receive an 08/09 season pass and be featured in our fall television commercial. If you choose to submit your entry via blog post, please make sure you double-check your e-mail address.
Send entries to dylan@sunlightmtn.com or submit your entry below by July 1st.
Please join us at Rivers on Thursday, July 3rd between 4 and 6 PM to hear the winning answer to “Why do you ski Sunlight?”
Rivers will have 2 for 1 Trout Pate and offer $1 off any house wine.
I will give a free drink to anyone that would like to answer the contest question on film. And of course, the winning answer will be featured in our commercial.
Good luck!
Here are some entries we have received so far…
| Submitted 6-6-08 | Why do I ski at Sunlight??? WHY WOULDN’T YOU?!?! There is no better place to be, the wind loves to wisp under my bandana when I’m flying down Ute. Sun king rocks my world and I can tell you it has embarrassed me a few times with some awesome falls. And I get my guts up to shoot down Rebel, Blue Tango usually calls my name especially after a good snow. The “lift guys” (that’s what my friend and I call them) are fun and respectful. Sunlight is the place where I learned to ski and board. I’ve been to other places up valley and nothing beats Sunlight. It’s just a simple place with something for everyone, which makes me want to come back for more. And for the 08-09 season I’m looking for a Showdown!!
-Kerani Kent |
| Submitted 6-9-08 | Good Lord, that’s soooooo easy. First of all, it has every kind of terrain you could possibly want whether you’re looking for a personal challenge or just a great day of carving and relaxing on your boards. It’s so strategically located for everyone’s convenience and the price for the lifts is not like a trip to the pumps. I always see my friends there and we get to make new ones on the slopes. What can I say? It’s like a big, white, wintery second home.
-Ron Oliver |
| Submitted 6-9-08 | Sunlight offers pleasent skiing twenty minutes from my home, at a reasonable price. The weekday crowds are much to my liking. What more do I need?
-Larry Trudell |
| Submitted 6-9-08 | I ski Sunlight because it is the perfect place for our 3 little ones to learn to ski. Yet Dad and I can still get some great intermediate-advanced skiing in too! It has a great location, not being too far from Glenwood. The price is right!!
-Jennifer French |
| Submitted 6-10-08 | I ski Sunlight because I don’t have to worry about being able to find my kid! I ski Sunlight because it’s friendly and laid back (and there’s alway great snow)!!!
-Beth McCafferty |
| Submitted 6-10-08 | I’ve been skiing and snowboarding at Sunlight since the early 80’s. I love Sunlight because Sunlight loves me!
Top Ten Reasons Why I Ski Sunlight: 1. It’s affordable. At half the price of the upvalley resorts, it’s an activity worker bees and their familes can afford. Season pass prices are truly a steal and locals can often earn a pass by working. 2. Friendly staff. It’s nice to avoid the upvalley attitude. The folks at Sunlight seem delighted to share their mountain with me! 3. Natural terrain. Unlike resorts that have been bulldosed into wide, flat boulevards to please the weak and meek, Sunlight has all the stunning terrain features of a very natural mountain to keep things interesting. If you learn to ski at Sunlight, you can ski anywhere. 4. No lift lines. Anyone who’s dealt with the crowds at Vail, Aspen or Copper Mountain can appreciate the fact that at Sunlight, we get to spend our time riding/sking rather than waiting in lines. 5. It’s close to home. I can be at the mountain for first tracks in the morning and still get to work by lunchtime. 6. The lodge and bar. The lodge and bar are very reasonably priced and full of people I know and like. At what other ski area can you get a yummy Bloody Mary for $5 and a satisfying lunch for under $10? And what other mountain eateries actually welcome brown baggers and give patrons free entertainment? 7. The lifts. Call me crazy, but I love the slow two-seater lifts. They give me a chance to rest between runs, enjoy the awesome scenery and converse with my seat mate - all things things I appreciate more every year. 8. Ski/Ride School. I learned to both ski and snowboard at Sunlight and know that their crew is unbeatable for getting beginners up and sliding, helping intermediates learn break-through techniques and giving advanced snow sliders the skills they need to conquer the entire mountain. 9. They cater to kids. Everything about Sunlight makes it fun for kids and easy on their parents. Babysitting progresses into fun mountain activities and before you know it, they’re screeching down the hill in a flying wedge. At school age, they can ride the bus with instructors and attend all day learning camps on weekends and during school breaks. Since all runs lead to the lodge, getting lost is not a problem. 10. The scenery. It takes my breath away and reminds me why I will live here forever. -Mary Bowling |
| Submitted 6-11-08 | Skiing Sunlight is like going home–great,familar runs, friendly staff and still reasonable in price. We have been skiing there for over 40 years and both our boys learned to ski there and we can’t wait until net season.
-Sandi Siakel |
| Submitted 6-10-08 | I ski Sunlight because I am never happier than when I have my “rock star” ten-year-old smiling with me at the summit! And because it’s 2000 vertical feet of excellent terrain within 15 minutes of home. Unbeatable. Colorado skiing at its finest, from a skier who’s been all around Colorado.
-Kate |
| Submitted 6-10-08 | It’s like skiing when we were younger and skied on Red Mountain (brings back the good memories – but not the jerry-rigged ski equipment! ) Also, the staff is great; I’ve never had bad snow. This year was outstanding. Love the view at the top – best view of Sopris there is. It’s such a beautiful place to be able to sit on the patio and watch for your friends and grandchildren, etc. Food’s great, no long lines, it’s almost like going to a family picnic as you can always find someone you know. And if you’re tired or lose track of your party (or grandkids), the deck is a great place to wait and watch. We were gone so many years from Glenwood that we’ve been thrilled to move back here and enjoy Sunlight! The passes are so reasonable – and I think I’ll qualify for a freebee this year!!!!
-Mary Linda (Clapham) Vawter GCHS Class of ’55. PS: We love to come in the summer and enjoy rides at the Riding Stable. Great horses. |
| Submitted 6-11-08 | Here’s my top ten list on why I ski Sunlight
10. I’ve skied at Sunlight every year since I was three. Next year will be my 40th year in a row, so why stop now. 9. Friendly people up there from the lift operators to the ski patrol. In fact, I’ve only been hurt once up there and the next day Norm, a ski patrol guy, calls to see if I’m ok. Now that’s a class act if you ask me. 8. I’ve skied other areas before where a powder day is more like a powder run. At Sunlight, 10 inches can be a powder week if you know where to look. 7. The only thing bad I can think about Sunlight is if you don’t take a left at the bottom of Perry’s Plunge like you’re supposed to. I was like hey, all this powder, hadn’t ever been here before. Yea, won’t be back either. Took me half a day to get back to the parking lot. 6. I love to ski in the woods and Sunlight has the best tree skiing than anywhere I’ve ever seen. 5. I love Sunlight Ski area so much that I not only wrote a couple of songs called “Gnarly Knob” and “Blue Finger” but one of my e-mail addresses is gnarlyknob@yahoo.com. 4. I’ve spent so much time on Sunlight Mountain that I feel like it’s my second home. 3. At Sunlight, you’re not looking at an interstate highway and you get a better feeling of being in nature, and I like that. 2. Next season is too early, but the year after my son will be three and he too will fall in love with Sunlight. 1. And the number one reason I love to Ski Sunlight is because on a powder day, when I’m at the top of the east ridge looking down, I’m in heaven. -Darren Faris |
| Submitted 6-11-08 | I ski Sunlight because it makes my heart happy! 
-Lauren Gueriera |
| Submitted 6-11-08 | Good people, nice friendly area, great grooming, wonderful runs, some fantastic challenging runs - I love it because it has the steepest run in North America!!!!
-Bill Woertz |
| Submitted 6-19-08 | I ski Sunlight Mountain Resort because it is “Fun.” Why is it fun, the variety runs, friendly atmosphere, no lift lines, free close in parking, special events, great web site, fabulous snow, and convenient location. I don’t have to drive hours to get there, I don’t have to stress about parking. I just have a great day.Sunlight Mountain resort has it all, from one of the steepest runs in the state (the Heathen) on the Ridge to Ute one of the longest green runs and everything in-between. There are glades, groomers, bumps, and steeps. At the end of the day you ski almost to your car, take your boots off and drive home. The best thing of all is you can do it all again the very next day and have just as much “Fun.”So why would you not want to ski Sunlight? It has it all, value value value.
-e.rosendale |
| Submitted 6-26-08 | Sunlight is great! I love to cruise down Teeds because in my opinion Teeds is the best run in the world!!!!!!! Sunlight is like my home away from home. I can spot friends around each and every sloping curve. Plus new friends appear every where. You can find a new friend anywhere because Sunlight is such a friendly mountain. Not any single person can steal the spirit of Sunlight. PRESERVE OUR SKIING HERITAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your Friend, |
| Submitted 6-27-08 | My wife and I absolutely love Sunlight Mountain because of the variety of the terrain and the laid-back atmosphere of the resort. Fresh snow is more of the norm than the exception. We can make fresh tracks most of the day and the instructors are top notch and very friendly and accommodating. It is always a touch decision as to whether we ski Aspen or Sunlight. Whenever we have family in town, the unanimous choice is Sunlight.
-Jim Markuson |
| Submitted 6-28-08 | Hi Sunlight Mountain,So why do I like to ski at Sunlight? Well let me list some reasons. I like to ski and would rather not spend a lot of time standing in line waiting for the lift to get to the top of the run. You can’t improve your skiing standing in line. Also Sunlight has a great choice of runs..from Ute..who doesn’t like Ute? to steeper stuff like Showdown and of course there’s The Heathen. There is a lot of choice for every ability so no matter who you go with you’ll have fun..Let’s not forget the friendly atmosphere, the powder pass (which I would love to be the beneficiary of) and the car you can practically ski to at the end of the day. So Sunlight really has it all..plus the lucky green chair.
Thanks |
| Submitted 6-29-08 | Why do I ski at Sunlight?! Let me count the ways:
1. Because it’s close: 30 minutes, on snow-packed roads, from my driveway to strapping on my skis at the bottom of the slope. 2. Because of the runs: beginners¹ slopes for trial runs, intermediate slopes of differing degrees of difficulty for some serious skiing after warming up, and black diamond runs for when I feel suicidal. 3. Because it¹s never crowded: even with a full parking lot, I don’t wait long in lift lines. 4. Because of the instructors: after 12 years of not skiing, two hip replacements, fuzed vertebrae, and a new knee, they helped me back into the routine with flair and élan. 5. Because of the people: lift operators give me a cheery ³hi dude,²concession servers are courteous, and customer service people actually serve. 6. Because it¹s cheap! Where else can an old codger get a season pass for $40 (and the downtown ski shop rents me skis, boots, and poles for a little over $100 for the season). -Karl Oelkes |
| Submitted 6-29-08 | Why do I ski at Sunlight?
Sunlight Feels like Family! Sunlight is sense-sational! Sunlight is snow-sational! Sunlight satisfies! Sunlight celebrates snow! It’s easy to be me at Sunlight! There’s no business like snow business at Sunlight! Sunlight understands me! Thanks, Debra Cerri |
| Submitted 6-30-08 | Sunlight’s convenience means I never miss a powder day!
-Katie Haefner |
| Submitted 6-30-08 | During the long winter in our small house, in our small town the world seems Bigger and Brighter among friends and neighbors on the family friendly slopes of Sunlight.
-Mona McAvoy |
| Submitted 7-01-08 | My Top 10 Reasons For Lovin’ Sunlight:
REASON #1 – GREAT RUNS…Sunlight has awesome runs for all levels of skiers or snowboarders. I grew up skiing here, from inching tied-tipped down Midway and Ute, to showing my dad the best route down Joslin, and finally discovering new ways to beat my friends to the bottom of Zephyr Glades. REASON #2 – FRIENDLY STAFF…Sunlight is a mountain where you always hear, “Have a great run!”, or, “Good powder day, huh?”, just as you sit down on the lift. On the mountain or at the ski shop downtown, the staff will always smile, crack jokes, and help you out as if they have been you friend for years. REASON #3 – CLOSE TO HOME…Sunlight is only a 15 minutes from my house (handy if I forget my gloves). I love rolling out of bed at 7:30 on a snow-day when school’s cancelled and getting to the lift before it opens at 8. REASON #4 – FRIENDS ARE THERE…When I get to Sunlight, I can’t take two steps before seeing one of my friends. A lot of kids my age go there, so I can usually spot about six of them by 10:30 on an average Saturday. REASON #5 – PERFECT SIZE…Sunlight is the perfect size for a ski resort. It’s small enough so that I know the mountain by heart and never get lost, but big enough so I can still explore new places. It’s not crowded, so there are never any lift lines, and it doesn’t take forever to get from one side of the mountain to the other. REASON #6 – INEXPENSIVE…My parents love that they can buy us all season passes without spending a fortune. And if they don’t get a season pass, day passes are still reasonably priced. REASON #7 – GREAT LODGE…Sunlight’s lodge is filled with people, chatter, and good food. It’s full of my family and friends all gathered at big round tables eating lunch and listening to the bands that come to perform. REASON #8 – FUN EVENTS…Sunlight has tons of competitions for kids and adults, like 24 Hours of Sunlight, the Big Air Competition, and the Rail Jam. When the competitions come around, music, barbecues, ice cream, and balloons make the whole day so much fun. REASON #9 – FASHION OF ITS OWN…At Sunlight you will never see an $1,000 ski suit. To be “in” at Sunlight all you need to do is land that jump, have an intense goggle tan, and a little duck tape somewhere on your gear. REASON #10 – IT HAS HISTORY…Skiing has been a part of our community since before I was born…before my parents were born! Everyone in our town has left their mark on the mountain, and so has my family; my mom named the run Que Pasa. - Diana Banks |
| Submitted 7-01-08 | I ski Sunlight because it has that great Rocky Mountain Feeling.
-James Shannon |
| Submitted 7-01-08 | Why I ski Sunlight?
“A day in the …light” Roaring down the rolling curves of lower Beaujolais. Some days, skiing at Sunlight, I feel like an 8 year-old kid (although I’m nearly 60) on some great adventure in the high country. Having grown up in Minnesota, I acquired a terrible dread of the fierce cold of the long, gray winter season. Thus, when we moved to Glenwood Springs in the mid-70s, skiing was the last thing on my mind. Until several years later, when the schools and Sunlight offered an affordable program that made skiing for my young children possible. I thought, NO WAY; the cold! The gear! the expense! All the way up that dangerous mountain road! Somehow they prevailed and I decided to give it one try. After a lot of embarrassment and spills, and a ton of patience from Justin and Adrian, I found near the end of that first day at Sunlight, that I could ski. What a thrill! “How can I find a way to this again? Soon!” I thought. In the 25 years since, skiing at Sunlight has become a passionate pursuit for me. On many of my days on the Mountain, I want to stay up there as long as possible. I find joy and freedom on my way through the glades between Beaujolais and Zephyr. I get a charge out of the little jumps in the Cassanova Glades. I find some new path or route nearly every time I ski. The views of Mt. Sopris, the Elk range and down 4 mile canyon to the red cliffs near Glenwood are majestic. As a last note in this narrative; 4 generations in my extended family have shared in the adventures of skiing at Sunlight. The following song is based on an event I witnessed at the top of Ute on Christmas Day, 2007. “Sunburst in a Whirlwind at Sunlight” Atop the snow-packed entry way, Circling round the upper lift, -Terry Glasenapp, Glenwood Springs |
| Submitted 07-01-08 | I ski Sunlight for a lot of reasons but mostly because it is a part of my heart. I am a Colorado native and had never skied until I moved here. I learned to Ski at Sunny 30 years ago. I love Sunlight for all the reasons other locals do – but for me the biggest reason is, that is where I met my husband, Ed…..on the deck at Sunlight after watching him ski Primo. We got married at Sunlight a few years later on a most spectacular Fall day. Part of our wedding vows were about how “we never would have gotten to know each other so well that first season had it not been for the slow lifts” and how we had both been skiing up there for 25 years but never met until it was ment to be. Sunlight holds a very very special place in my heart. Long hair, long skiis, no hair, no air (old high school saying).
-Paige Lillie |
June 11th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Thanks for the great responses so far! -Dylan