Friday, May 03, 2013

Another hill calls it quits for the season

Posted for Nancy Yearout
RE/MAX Properties of the Summit, Breckenridge, Colorado
nyearout@colorado.net
http://www.realestate-breckenridge.net

#Breckenridge, Colorado

As Mother Nature so kindly reminded us this week, ski season isn’t over. Get your last fix of rail jams, rock bands and powder turns at Loveland this weekend before the resort calls it a year.
 
“The snow was a little slow to come in the early season,” said Duncan Maxwell, events coordinator for Loveland. “In the past month or two, we’ve had so much snow coming and the conditions are the best of the season.”
 
As of Thursday morning, the ski area was reporting 21 inches of fresh pow in the past 24 hours and a 75 inch base.
 
Rail jam
 
After a day of abusing your shred sticks, head to the base area for Loveland’s Last Chance Rail Jam.
“We have a terrain park up on the hill, but we’re bringing it down so people can showcase their tricks and show off a little bit,” Maxwell said.
 
There’s no cost to participate, and the jam is open to all ages, abilities and disciplines with a signed waiver and a valid lift ticket. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 11, and the event starts at 1 p.m. Prizes range from skis and snowboard to outerwear, Maxwell said.
 
“We don’t always do a closing day rail jam,” Maxwell said. “In the past, we’ve had some large slopestyle events that we’ve had to cap at about 100 people, so we are expecting a decent turnout.”
 
Rock band
 
Denver band Boo Daddy will get Loveland dancing Saturday afternoon with a mix of rock, funk, blues and Motown. The band plays mostly covers, with a few originals thrown in.
 
“Anything from Tom Petty to Ray LaMontagne to Maroon 5 to Red Hot Chili Peppers — we even do some Bruno Mars,” said Ron Gatzen, drummer and vocalist for Boo Daddy.
 
Gatzen said the band plays for every demographic, from the young 20s to “old folks with canes.”
“This is our 13th year (as a band), so you try to have something that’ll keep everybody a little interested in what you’re doing on stage,” he said. “We try to stay current but throw a bunch of old stuff in, too.”
 
This is the fourth or fifth time Boo Daddy has played closing weekend at Loveland, Gatzen said.
“It’s an absolute blast,” he said. “We’re all skiers, so we all enjoy the mountain anyway, but the folks — like closing day for any resort, people get dressed up, do silly things, wear costumes and are ready to party.”
 
Gatzen said it’s cool to watch skiers and riders kick back and relax, bobbing their heads and their feet to the music.
 
“It’s a good energy from the band, good tunes, good interaction with the crowd and nudity — oh no, I didn’t mean that. There’s only a few band members you’d want o see nude anyway; some of them are pudgy,” he said with a laugh.

Familiar face
 
Sunday is closing day, which means the return of local après legend Arnie J. Green to the Loveland patio. Green has been playing the ski area’s grand finale for a lot of years.
 
“I love it over there,” Green said. “It’s a fun gig. I used to live in Clear Creek County, so I’ve got a lot of old friends over there and a lot of friends over here, and it’s a chance for us to get together.”
Green described his music as “all over the place,” with unique cover renditions of some recognizable tunes.
 
“Expect the unexpected,” he said.
 
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News