Skiing is our favorite way to connect with Vail history, and we had many historic moments to celebrate this season. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 57 years since Vail’s 1962 opening. Since then, Vail has transformed from a swath of bare land where sheep herds roamed into a world-renowned skiing destination. From our store at the base of Gondola One in Vail Village, VBSR is at the heart of Vail history. We’re closed for the summer season, but read on for highlights from this legendary season while looking forward to the next.
Looking Back: 2018-2019 Ski Season Highlights
LEGACY: If one word could sum of the theme of the 2018-2019 ski season, it’s legacy. Vail kicked off a series of events to celebrate this theme, including the 10th Mountain Legacy Parade. This event was repeated on four Friday nights throughout the season and brought viewers into an experience of Vail history. Skiers dressed in traditional 10th Mountain Division Ski Trooper uniforms meandered down the mountain with illuminated torches in hand. A parade of uniformed military veterans also marched through town while fireworks added another level of excitement to the scene.
10th Mountain Division Legacy Parade Honors Military History. | Photo Credit: CBS Denver
Also in line with the legacy theme, Legacy Days events spanned the weekend of February 15-18, 2019. Events included parties, historic mountain tours, a Black Hawk helicopter landing at the top of Chair #2, and more. VBSR ambassador Chris Anthony hosted an event at the Colorado Snowsports Museum that focused on 10th Mountain Division history.
LEGENDARY SNOW: There’s no better way to celebrate Vail history than to celebrate while skiing legendary snow. Vail had one of its biggest, earliest openings on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, due to several early-season snowstorms. And by the end of December, 100% of Vail’s skiable terrain was open.
Tea Cup Bowl: Genghis Kahn. | Photo Credit Alexander ObregonOn December 28, 2018, Vail Chief Operating Officer Doug Lovell said:
“It has been a legendary start to the season, with the second-earliest opening for Blue Sky Basin in history, to offering all 5,289 skiable acres before the New Year. With excellent early season snow conditions, this has been the strongest start to the season in decades, thanks to the hard work of our mountain operations teams and a little help from Mother Nature.”
Luckily, the legendary conditions continued through spring, and Vail accumulated more than 330 inches of snow for the season!
Looking Ahead to 2019-2020 with VBSR
Vail offered skiing and riding out of both Vail Village and Lionshead Village from opening day in the 2018-2019 season. Since VBSR is only steps away from Gondola One in Vail Village, guests could easily pick up gear and hit the slopes. We hope to see upload and download access to the Mid-Vail area via Gondola One again from the start of the 2019-2020 season. Vail also plans to expand its snowmaking capacity in 2019-2020 for another legendary early-season opening.
Puma assists Karen with her tuning needs.You can also expect these good things from VBSR in 2019-2020:
- the best ski rentals and latest demo skis
- a variety of rental options to match conditions and skills
- friendly and knowledgeable staff
- easy online gear reservations
- gear storage solutions
- ski tuning and repair
- advice about skiing, nightlife, dining, recreation—and beyond
In 2019-2020, we look forward to giving each guest the best experience possible with ski rentals, online reservations, and storage. Even though we love summertime in the mountains, we can’t wait until the first snow flurries start flying next season! Until then, keep your skiing memories fresh by checking back on the VBSR blog for monthly updates during the off-season.
It’s true! We’re just steps from Vail Village’s Gondola One. We love hearing from satisfied customers about how VBSR makes your Vail ski season a memorable one. Send us an online review and include your highlights at the following locations: Facebook | TripAdvisor |Yelp.
