What do you like to do while on vacation, sleep in or get up early? Many vacationers, whether at the beach or skiing in the mountains like to sleep in. They get a lazy start, enjoy a nice breakfast and get out on the slopes sometime by mid-morning. There’s nothing at all wrong with that, but as an avid skier Ira Riklis wants to be out on the slopes. When he goes on vacation, the goal is to make the best runs and the most runs without waiting in line or dodging other skiers, many of whom have questionable skills and lack good slope etiquette.
At Vail, Ira Riklis’ favorite place to ski, the numbers tell the story. While there are plenty of lifts to get you back into the large network of trails, these are fed by just four main feeder lifts which most skiers use. Even though these are remarkably fast, you still face long waits in long lines when the slopes are crowded. But get up and out early, before the rush, and you’ll have them to yourself. By the time the late risers get to the slopes you’ve already had some great runs on untouched slopes. And by mid-day, while others are fighting the crowds, you can be back at the lodge enjoying a nice lunch and a lazy afternoon!