Hit the slopes
Ski resorts prepare for season, popular retreats
Jacob McCormick
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Showcase
Czarnecki added that programs and lessons are offered for all ages, from kids around 3 years old to senior citizens.
"There are private, semi-private and public lessons," she said. "Really it is based on the skiers schedule … We've gotten a lot of complements that we are one of the best resorts in the Midwest if you can't make it out West."
Located in a river valley with trees consistently lining the slopes, Afton Alps includes 48 different runs, with an estimated 30 percent green, 20 percent black diamond and 50 percent intermediate blue. Black diamonds or double black diamonds are more challenging courses; green indicates beginner hills and blue is a novice hill. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays and 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays, according to the Afton Alps Web site, www.aftonalps.com.
Like Granite Peak, Afton Alps manager Amy Reents said there are a wide variety of skiers and snowboarders at the resort.
"We have programs for kids starting at (age) four and we have people all the way up to 80, but the bulk are families," Reents said. "College kids and teenagers tend to snowboard a little more."
Reents said the resort hosts racing teams as well as "beer league" type teams.
"We host some adult groups on weeknights and we have about 400 people involved in adult racing," she said.
The most unique things about Afton Alps, Reents said, are its size, variety and proximity to the Twin Cities area.
"We have the most skiable acreage in the Twin Cities area so we have everyone from beginners to experts," she said. "We have 18 chairlifts to keep everyone moving so no one has to wait in line for too long and offer many different terrain options depending on a person's preferences."
Junior Lydia Justman started skiing at age four and has been to Colorado every year since she was six. She is also on the Eau Claire ski team and travels to Afton Alps weekly during the winter.
"There are private, semi-private and public lessons," she said. "Really it is based on the skiers schedule … We've gotten a lot of complements that we are one of the best resorts in the Midwest if you can't make it out West."
Located in a river valley with trees consistently lining the slopes, Afton Alps includes 48 different runs, with an estimated 30 percent green, 20 percent black diamond and 50 percent intermediate blue. Black diamonds or double black diamonds are more challenging courses; green indicates beginner hills and blue is a novice hill. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays and 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays, according to the Afton Alps Web site, www.aftonalps.com.
Like Granite Peak, Afton Alps manager Amy Reents said there are a wide variety of skiers and snowboarders at the resort.
"We have programs for kids starting at (age) four and we have people all the way up to 80, but the bulk are families," Reents said. "College kids and teenagers tend to snowboard a little more."
Reents said the resort hosts racing teams as well as "beer league" type teams.
"We host some adult groups on weeknights and we have about 400 people involved in adult racing," she said.
The most unique things about Afton Alps, Reents said, are its size, variety and proximity to the Twin Cities area.
"We have the most skiable acreage in the Twin Cities area so we have everyone from beginners to experts," she said. "We have 18 chairlifts to keep everyone moving so no one has to wait in line for too long and offer many different terrain options depending on a person's preferences."
Junior Lydia Justman started skiing at age four and has been to Colorado every year since she was six. She is also on the Eau Claire ski team and travels to Afton Alps weekly during the winter.
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