BEAVER CREEK – The skiers – and occasional snowboarder – didn’t know what they were missing.
At least not those meandering down the subtle Dally Trail, away from nearby Red Tail Stadium – the heart and soul of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, which casually kicked off Monday and runs through Feb. 15.
While skiers and snowboarders headed down the hill, snowshoers – you can hike, too – headed up to the stadium in a “share-the-road” scenario. The trail is named, aptly, Trail 2015 – in conjunction with the 2015 championships and because the trail is 2,015 meters from the start at the base of Beaver Creek to the stadium – or about 1.3 miles.
The trail is pure Vail – which is just next door, snowshoeing is big here and spectators, whether on skis, snowboards, snowshoes or foot, are very much a part of the landscape for these championships.
And they can skip the bus.
“People don’t have to use the buses (to get from Beaver Creek Village to the stadium),” said Martha Brassel, Trail 2015 coordinator for the championships. “We’re starting to spread the word as people stand in line for the buses. That’s the premise behind the trail – the elevated traffic with the buses. (The trail) is good for anyone who wants to get to the stadium.”
Red Tail has 3,500 seats – and can hold up to 7,000 with standing room – and most are free and available on a first-come basis. There is also a large standing area between the stadium and finish area, perfect for those snowshoers who make the climb to mid-mountain.
Brassel said the trail also embraces skiing, these championships as well as Beaver Creek and Vail. There are several stops along the way, complete with entertainment, snow sculptures and giveaways. On Monday, they were handing out hot-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies.
But the true treasure for ski-race fans is the pins. There’s a different pin available to trail users each day, and there’s a special pin – the 2015 activity green pin – given away by the U.S. Forest Service.
“Pins are a tradition in ski racing,” Brassel said. “The pins are coveted. People like to collect them.”
And if it’s a workout you’re looking for, the trail is all that. Besides being almost a mile-and-a-half in length, it’s also a decent uphill trek – from around 8,100 feet to about 8,800 feet. According to Brassel, it takes anywhere from 35 to 55 minutes to snowshoe the trail, depending on ability and physical condition – and how many stops trail users make along the way.
Starting Tuesday and running through Feb. 15, Atlas Snowshoes will allow trail users to demo its shoes. Brassel said “street entertainers” also will start Tuesday, along with the giveaways and more snow sculptures – a pair of bears were etched in the snow at the first stop as of Monday, which was mostly a dry run for Brassel and the trail crew.
That was the case at the championships as a whole. There was no competition Monday, just women’s downhill training, and that was pushed back three hours because of snow – yes, snow. The Vail area received about 4 inches early Monday morning.
That may have been a downer for those women’s downhill racers looking for ideal track conditions, but it was good for those who don’t need ideal snow conditions – recreational skiers and the few snowshowers and hikers in the fresh powder on Dally/Trail 2015.
Late Monday morning, ski and snowboard traffic down Dally was about as heavy as motor vehicle traffic up the mountain in the snow mid-morning. Brassel expects snowshoe traffic to pick up starting Tuesday. And all trails will be open for public skiing and snowboarding, with the exception of those under the Birds of Prey men’s course and the Raptor women’s course. And at Vail, all trails will be open with the exception of Golden Peak, home of several qualifying races and the Nations Team Event.
“This is an active community,” Brassel said. “This (Trail 2015) allows us to share that part of that lifestyle with those who come.”
And that could be a big number. The races are free, and during the 1999 event at Beaver Creek, despite a weak team, the men’s downhill reportedly drew around 20,000 spectators in the vicinity of Birds of Prey – thought to be the most ever for a U.S. race. So, with one of the strongest U.S. teams ever this year, organizers are hopeful for huge numbers. Overall, organizers are expecting about 150,000 people in and out of the area between Tuesday and closing day. And reportedly, credentials have been issued for 450 print/Internet media members, and that doesn’t include those in the new International Broadcasting Center under the stadium.
That will make for a lot of shuttle buses up the mountain.
Or not.
bpeterson@durangoherald.com
