Outdoors

Everything You Need to Know about Ski Biking and Snow Tubing on Vail Mountain

Two new on-mountain adventures to add to your winter must-try list.

By Kirsten Dobroth February 11, 2019 Published in the Midwinter-Spring 2019 issue of Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine

Snow biking on Vail Mountain

Image: Jack Affleck

After the sun disappears just west of the pastel-hued eaves of the Arrabelle in Lionshead Village, you may gaze up at the mountain and wonder at the string of headlamps bobbing and weaving down Born Free from Eagle’s Nest. It’s not a torchlight parade, just one of the ski bike tours dispatched twice each evening from Vail’s midmountain fun park, Adventure Ridge. Although the Forest Flyer mountain coaster has attracted most of the attention since it debuted in 2016, ski biking has been Adventure Ridge’s signature activity for years. Try it and you’ll understand why. Adrenaline seekers fly down the slopes behind the handlebars of a bicycle modified with ski blades instead of wheels, with skate-skis strapped to their feet and headlamps on their helmets, following a guide with one of the most enviable jobs in the valley. And yes, the experience is as wild as it sounds, but doable for anyone over the age of 10 who’s mastered the pepperoni pizza skier’s wedge. And once you’ve made it safely down to the ski yard? Head straight to El Sabor (970-477-4410, elsaborvail.com), the slopeside cantina across from the Eagle Bahn Gondola to toast your bravado (and your crew’s) with a round of salt-rimmed margaritas (Tuesday-Saturday through April 6, 5 & 5:30 p.m., $99 per person). 970-476-9090, vail.com

Image: Jack Affleck

ALSO TRY

Adventure Ridge’s multilane snow tubing slide sends jumbo-size inflatable doughnuts packed with kids (and adults who scream like them!) zooming down the track to sputter out at the bottom in squeals of laughter—before riding the magic carpet back up to do it all over again … and again … and again (3 runs, $49 per person; unlimited slides, $79 per person; unlimited tubing and Forest Flyer rides, $95 per person). 970-476-9090, vail.com

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