The New York Giants and New England Patriots face off this weekend in Indianapolis at Super Bowl XLVI. Super Bowl Sunday is a big deal in the United States, but so is skiing and snowboarding. While there is an abundance of many things in life, time is not one of them. Finding time to relax and watch the game on the couch goes hand-in-hand with finding time to get up to the mountain to ride and glide on the snowy slopes. We at the Ski Channel do not believe you should have to choose between your two loves -- we think you should be able to have it all! That's why we've compiled a quick list of some of the nation's top ski resorts to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. While there are of course a plethora of options to choose from, these are a few stand-out resort options that hopefully start the ball rolling and get you out on the slopes during game day!
Those of you in So Cal have some great game-day options on the slopes of Big Bear Mountain! While everyone else is at home slaving away making Buffalo Wing Dip you can hit the slopes of Bear Mountain and Snow Summit throughout the morning. After a successful shred you can retire in time to catch the 3:30 PST kick off at either the Board Room or Summit Inn (respectively). In all honesty, while the Board Room is fantastic in its own right, your best bet is the Summit Inn. They boast big screen TVs on all four walls, a classy party atmosphere that rivals LA's top venues, and appetizer specials to feed the hungry bear living inside of you! Get up to Big Bear this weekend and do it all!
Vermont's Stratton Mountain Resort also holds the belief that to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday one shouldn't have to sacrifice a day of skiing and snowboarding. They've got snow, big screen TV's, wings, and mile high nachos! Bentley's and Grizzly's will both host Super Bowl parties and promise to supply all the game day trimmings. Grizzly's has day food and beer specials starting at 11am. To celebrate the game they will offer $5 off cheese pizza, buy one appetizer at regular price and get the second for 50%, and $4.00 drafts all day long which includes Heineken, Newcastle and Amstel Light. Bentley's is offering $6 burgers and sandwiches, $4.00 beer specials, 50% off Long Trails Dip, Wings, Quesadilla and Onion Rings!
In addition to all the game-time goodies, skiers and snowboarders will be able to take advantage of great game day lift ticket deals! At Stratton Mountain you can buy a one-day lift ticket and receive a second at half price! All you need to do is book online. The best part about spending Super Bowl Sunday at Stratton is if you end up having too much fun the "super" can extend into Monday with an opportunity to get first tracks with no post game clean up required!
Colorado's Vail Resorts provides football fans as many Super Bowl Sunday options as they do world-class resorts. Whether you are hitting up Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, or Keystone your après skis plans are taken care of - the only decision you have to make is whether you are going to root for your team with the gang at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, or head over to the Vail Four Seasons.
If you decide upon the Cascade make sure you get there early, because you are going to want to claim premium Super Bowl seating around any of the five big screens airing the big game. The Cascade is well-known for being the best of the best when it comes to providing its guests with all the creature comforts of home (and then some!). For their 2012 Super Bowl party they've introduced their very own special oven Half Pipe Pizza! They've created some mouth-watering combos with a trail rating theme. You have your choice between combos rated "green circle" (easiest) all the way to "double diamond" (most difficult). Feel like blazing a trail through the backcountry? Then feel free to design your own combo with over 20 different toppings to choose from! They even have gluten free pizza pie options for the health conscious football fans - if there is such a thing! These pies are an absolute steal at just $13 for a large.
To wash it all down the Cascade has a full craft beer selection available with some exclusive micro brews that you will not find anywhere else! They take their beer seriously in Colorado and employ a full time director who brings in brew masters from around the world, special beers, and unusual seminars like cigar and craft beer pairings. Whether you like it light or dark, there is a craft brew designed to satisfy all taste buds. Look for the Weihenstephan Hefe-Weiss, Dixie Blackened, Voodoo Victory Hop Devil, Avery The Reverend and the legendary Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout! Here is the best part; you don't have to decide! Cascade loves its Super Bowl fans and to prove it they've created a sampler arrangement so you can try all five for just $7.00. Whether you are a Giants fan or a die-hard patriots supporter - everyone wins at Cascade!
As you already know, Vail is well known for providing its visitors with a plethora of options for slopeside fun -- and apres ski is no different. If you'd like another great option for Super Bowl fun then perhaps the Vail Four Seasons is the destination for you! Their Fireside Lounge is an award-winning establishment that provides the highest quality in dinning and beverages. The lounge has recently been listed by the U.S.News & World Report in their compilation of the Best Hotels in Colorado and Best Hotels in Vail. They've also earned the Luxury Travel Advisor Award of Excellence for Best New Resort in North America. In addition, the property is a Forbes Four Star hotel and The Spa is a Forbes Five Star Spa. If you are still looking to book lodging for the weekend you have the option to reserve a four-night stay at the Four Seasons Resort at Vail and you will not only receive a three day lift ticket and ski/snowboard rental, but children 5 and younger dine free! If you plan on brining the whole family out to enjoy the game together then this is the option for you!
If you are coming from Nevada or Northern California then Mammoth Mountain is an absolute no-brainer for your Super Bowl Sunday destination. Our recommendation? The Hyde of course! Mammoth has been recently blessed with a ton of fresh snow, so if you're looking to get in some Sierra Mountain fun before the game you are in the right place. Winter X Game snowboarder and Red Bull athlete Greg Bretz confirms, "The Super Bowl is a whole lot cooler when you're at Mammoth!"
The Hyde, located in The Village at Mammoth is everyone's favorite entertainment hot spot. They'll be offering a Super Bowl Happy Hour all day! Whether you make it up to the mountain or not, you can take comfort in the fact that Hyde's comfy booths or plentiful bar stools are waiting for you when you arrive! Did we mention they have the biggest flat-screen HDTV in town? Yeah, they've got that going for it too!
There will be a Super Bowl-specific bar menu that will get you into the team spirit with New York and New England inspired cuisine. The menu features Bronx New York-style Pizza, Mini Street Hot Dogs, China Town Dim Sum and Buffalo Wings (a New York standard!). Patriots fans can dine of some seafood fare that will make you wonder which coast you are on. Options include Lobster Rolls, Crab Fritters, New England Sliders and Patriot Wings (not as authentic as Buffalo Wings but just as American!). If you don't make it off the mountain in time to trek over to Hyde you can always catch the game at the Dry Creek Bar located on the second floor of the Mammoth Mountain Inn. You can watch the event on their many flat screen TV's and have quite possibly the best view in town! Do not miss it!
Finally, the piece de resistance of Super Bowl Sunday options (and quite possible the ski resort industry at large) is the legendary Whistler Blackcomb Mountain in British Columbia. Where better to be for the Super Bowl than the No. 1 Après Ski Bar in North America?
The Garibaldi Lift Company known as GLC to B.C. locals will be showing the game and then will transition into the "Afterburn" party. The Afterburn is a weekly gathering held every Sunday night after the Fire and Ice Show. The show features fire spinner, athletes jumping through a giant ring of fire, and much more.
"The Fire and Ice Show is a great community event and Whistler Blackcomb would like to thank a broad group of resort stakeholders who help make the show happen," says Rob McSkimming, Whistler Blackcomb's vice president of business development
The Fire and Ice Show goes down at Skier's Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain every Sunday starting December 18 and running through April 18. To break it all down, skiers and snowboarders will be able to hit the slopes of Whistler/Blackcomb all morning and into the afternoon, watch the game with the Garibaldi Lift Company, witness the dare devil feats in the Fire and Ice Show, and then completely cut loose at the Afterburn party. Wow, just wow. The Fire and Ice Show actually goes down every week at 6:30pm each Sunday, the event features fire spinners and Whistler Blackcomb Snow School instructors hitting a big air jump through a ring of fire. This outrageous spectacle is capped off with fireworks that will light up the sky.