If you’re hoping to grow your skills and confidence on the slopes this season, we have three words for you: you’ve got this! But that’s not all– we’re also going to give you run recommendations for progressing your skills on the slopes. Winter Park is an amazing place to level up your skiing and riding, and one way to get the experience you need (in addition to lessons) is getting on some blue runs. Keep reading to find out what blue runs are perfect for working on specific skills and prepping for more advanced terrain. After getting some practice runs in and fine-tuning your form, you’ll be ready to confidently explore more of the mountain!
Jabberwocky
Located just off the Olympia Express, this run is great to dial in your turns since there’s typically low traffic. It also offers some outstanding views– win-win! This run can be a bit of a doozy, as the slopes are angled down and to the right. Here’s your opportunity to perfect those turns when the turning gets tough! an extensive, open trail perfect for warming your legs up and preparing for the day! Plus, “It’s a little longer than most trails and is also kind of a forgotten trail,” said Zach Akselrad, Assistant Director of Ski Patrol. That means you can find open space and ample fresh snow. We recommend starting on skier’s left for this one, so that you have plenty of room to follow the natural slope. Keep the core tight and turn with your lower body, not your shoulders. If you start to gain speed, turn up the hill to the left for the fastest way to slow down. Look no further than Jabberwocky to master turning on an angled slope.
Stagecoach
Continue from Jabberwocky to the bottom of the Wild Spur Express lift. Ride to the top of Vasquez Ridge where you’ll have a wide array of groomers to choose from. We recommend Stagecoach, where you’ll find minimal crowds and abundant fresh turns. Plus, the corduroy lasts late into the day in this part of the resort, so you’ll be able to claim first tracks even if you get a late start!
Lonesome Whistle
Spin another lap up Wild Spur Express, but this time go to skiers’ right from the top of the chair. Cruise down Gunbarrel, which will take you to Lonesome Whistle. This trail is a cruisy, rolling route that is perfect for practicing turns, surfing the sidewall and dialing in your technique. Thanks to its location in a wooded, north-facing gully, Lonesome Whistle retains quality snow conditions even when other parts of the mountain are warmed by the sun.
Mary Jane Trail
Hop on the Olympia Express lift and head up and over the mountain to Mary Jane. Start your exploration on Mary Jane Trail, a long, wide, top-to-bottom run. A perfect route for digging in your edges and satisfying your need for speed, Mary Jane Trail is also a friendly introduction to more advanced terrain. It is consistently groomed and offers soft snow all day, meaning you can set your edges with confidence!
Lower Arrowhead Loop
Give Lower Arrowhead Loop some love to avoid ski and ride traffic on Mary Jane Trail. The best and fastest way to access this run is to take the Pony Express. With dips, turns, and razzle-dazzles, the skills to maneuver down this run will increase your confidence to new levels. This run will give you lots of variety in terms of slope steepness, so keep your knees soft to help absorb any changes in slope. If you are ready, try out the spread out trees on the right side for added practice! Pro-tip: look where you want to go, not at the trees.
Bellmar Bowl to Roundhouse
If you’re looking to improve your mogul skills, Bellmar Bowl is a great place to start (an even better place to start is reading our tips to ski & ride moguls blog). Located on top of Mary Jane, this short bump run through some trees is a blast and a half. Keep your balance over the middle of your board or skis, and remember to look forward. This run provides a gentle slope for taking it easy, and the views will leave you breathless! After the bumps, the rest of the run is a fun cruiser down toward the Sunnyside & Panoramic Express lifts.
Forget-Me-Not
It’s not a complete day at Winter Park unless you take a run in Parsenn Bowl. Take a scenic ride up to over 12,000 feet on the Panoramic Lift, then show off your new and improved skills as you cut underneath the lift line and head into the trees. In the trees, there are alleyways between tree islands, leaving plenty of space for you to make your turns and easily duck in an out of the trees! An important thing to remember when attempting to ski in glades, is to always be prepared to stop on a dime. Practice quick, controlled stops in these alleyways before diving in.
Edelweiss
“It’s not a hard trail, but it’s all about the experience at the Jane and seeing it all,” explained Tony Terreri, Director of Ski and Ride School. Continue from the egress of Forget-Me-Not onto another famous Sunnyside groomer: Edelweiss. Another gentle trail with plenty of opportunities to dip into the trees, find powder pockets or catch air off of any of the numerous side-hits that line the trail. This run provides abundant terrain to dial in your technique, practice new skills, or simply savor the sensation of skiing and snowboarding.
Ready to level up your learning? Grab a lesson this season or try out our 60-Minute Pro Tips! You can also stay on top of our deals and packages and you could save on lodging, lift tickets, and lessons!