British Skiers Exchange Alps for Rocky Mountain Highs

With a snowfall averaging 30 feet a year and the pound prevailing over the dollar, the US ski market has benefited from an influx of British skiers. The well-groomed slopes of the Rocky Mountains have proven to be a magnet for many European skiers happy to wave to goodbye to the Alps in exchange for the more predictable Coloradon snowfall. The chalet business, however, has remained unique to the Alps with European ski lovers venturing across the Atlantic left to their own devices in self-catered condominiums. For the Americans, chalet holidays are still a foreign concept, which few have heard of and fewer understand. The European concept of a leisurely meal over several glasses of wine with friends, is not part of the hectic American lifestyle and of course stopping for tea and cake at 4 o clock is not even an option. A few luxury chalets run by Brtis are now appearing in Colorado, notably in little known Winter Park. The resort receives the most snow out of all Coloradon destinations and happens to be the nearest to Denver International, a two-hour shuttle journey away. Winter Park used to be mostly home to weekend warriors the locals driving up from Denver each weekend, which meant empty slopes and rare lift queues. Now a few more destination skiers are discovering this well kept secret and loving the space they have to turn, straight line or fall. Colorado is famous for its soft champagne powder and Winter Park has oodles of the stuff every year, endearing UK skiers to make that special trip across the pond. Helen Gienke / Rob Brown chalets-usa.co.uk info@chalets-usa.co.uk UK Tel 01223 655642 US Tel (001) 970 726 4857