Powerful Winter Storm Drops as Much as 14 Inches of Snow on Vail Resorts' Mountains in Colorado, Utah and Lake Tahoe, Setting Skiers and Riders Up for a Snow-filled Holiday Season

- Vail's Colorado resorts to add up to 1,500 acres of new terrain for the weekend

- Canyons in Park City, UT, leads the way with 14 inches of new snow

- Combination of Mother Nature and ideal snowmaking conditions gives a boost to Vail's Tahoe resorts

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Dec 05, 2013, 03:00 ET

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A powerful and well-timed winter storm swept across the western U.S. Tuesday and Wednesday, touching each one of Vail Resorts' mountains and leaving up to 14 inches of new snow in its wake. With the Colorado resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone) ready to add a combined 1,500 acres of new terrain by the weekend, holiday skiers and snowboarders are licking their chops and waxing their powder skis and boards.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131205/LA28653)

Skier Dave Velasco floats through up to a foot of fresh powder on Spider trail at Beaver Creek on Wednesday. Credit: Zach Mahone, Beaver Creek Resort. (PRNewsFoto/Vail Resorts, Inc.) (PRNewsFoto/VAIL RESORTS, INC.)

"We're within three weeks of the holidays, so this storm couldn't have come at a better time whether you're planning on visiting our resorts in Colorado, Utah or Lake Tahoe," said Vail Resorts' chief marketing officer, Kirsten Lynch. "The only problem is if you want to ski over the winter break, you had better act now!"

In Colorado, Vail Mountain, one of the largest ski resorts in the world, anticipates opening more than 500 acres of new terrain soon, including Golden Peak and the Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6), Game Creek Bowl and the Game Creek Express Lift (#7), and the Sourdough Express Lift (#14). This would bring the resort's skiable acreage to nearly 1,400.

Beaver Creek, where they received over a foot of new snow at the top of the mountain, opened 244 additional acres Wednesday bringing the total acreage to 760 acres. Three more lifts are set to open this weekend including Riverfront Gondola Lift (#7), Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express Lift (#15) and the Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express Lift (#18).

At Breckenridge, where they will debut Peak 6 this winter representing the largest ski area expansion in recent memory, they've opened another 120 acres thanks to over a foot of new snow, with an additional 300 acres expected to open over the weekend.

Kids ski free at Keystone, and those freeloading rug rats will have 600 new acres to explore by the weekend as the resort expands its terrain from 341 acres to well over 1,000.

Canyons Resort, in Park City, UT, already blessed with the light and dry, was further blessed with the biggest snowfall total, weighing in with a healthy 14 inches. Look for more terrain to open there soon.

With up to nine inches of new snow, and more expected this week, and optimal cold temperatures for the West Coast's two largest snowmaking systems, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood are poised to expand terrain this weekend, providing the most open terrain and the best snow surface conditions at Lake Tahoe.

Lift Tickets
For the lowest guaranteed price on lift tickets to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar or Kirkwood (up to 25 percent), guests need only purchase seven days in advance for the Colorado resorts, three days in advance for the Lake Tahoe resorts, and one day for Canyons, Utah. Skiers and riders can call 1-888-216-8538 or visit www.snow.com.

Lodging
Since snow is free, Vail Resorts' hospitality properties across its mountain resorts are following suit with the ever-popular Ski Free, Stay Free. Guests save up to 30 percent when they book their lift and lodging packages now – by purchasing lift tickets and lodging for three nights they get the fourth day and night free. It can be booked here.

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.