Story Ideas
Big air = Big Bragging Rights and Big Vacation Memories
Terrain parks aren't just for "park rats" anymore. More and more parents, as well as 30-something-year-olds, 40-something-year-olds are getting into the parks and checking out the beginner hits, rails and funboxes. The terrain park is becoming the new "big fish story" of the ski industry. Kids, adults and grandparents are going home with vacation glory stories about sliding a rail or hitting a jump instead of (or in addition to) the stories of racing down double black diamond runs.
This year, Keystone continues to invest in A51 Incubator - its beginner area located adjacent to its super-sized A51 terrain park. This is in direct response to feedback from guests and the needs of the Keystone University (our ski/ride program) instructors for a "jumping off point" for their students and for the beginner freerider/freeskier.
Keystone Adventure Tours - Backcountry skiing/riding 101
Most skiers and riders dream of fresh tracks in the backcountry, however they don't have the backcountry skills, knowledge, fitness or time. Keystone’s new guided snowcat tours is just the ticket to give advanced to expert skiers/riders their first taste of untouched terrain without the typical 30-40 minute hike. Instead, a heated snowcat whisks skiers and riders to more than 860 acres of bowl skiing/riding in just 10-15 minutes.
As part of the program, skiers and riders must participate in a an introductory avalanche awareness talk where they learn to judge slope angle, how to pick safe lines, where not to ski, how to ski, who to ski with, what equipment they’ll need and how to use the equipment. Last year’s cost was only $71 for a full-day guided tour (about 4-5 hours), making it one of the most affordable (and safe) ways to experience snowcat skiing/riding in the industry.
Betty Fest
Women's adventure travel is all the rage. Girls just want to have fun and...pink boas. Keystone’s Betty Fest is a chance for women to get together on and off the hill. The two-day high-energy, fun-spirited fest includes extensive on-hill training, video analysis, yoga and discussions about nutrition, women’s specific concerns and equipment. It also includes pink boas and lots of laughs. The two-day sessions are recommended for skiers comfortable on green terrain and snowboarders of any level. One-day camps are available, as well. Visit keystoneresort.com or call (800) 468-5004 for more information.
Keystone Youth Freeride Team
Keystone’s “groms” - kids in the tween and teen years - will again represent Keystone with their skills, energy and positive presence as the future of the ski/snowboard industry. The grom skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers will compete and help to promote local youth programs. They’re ambassadors to the new Keystone.
For Keystone, it’s a smart marketing move. Kids are influenced primarily by other kids. Traditional marketing and advertising isn’t as effective with this group as with other, older demographics. The echo boomers rely on word of mouth first.
Many resorts are reaching out to the young, up-and-comer skiers and snowboarders by offering them a secondary role on a development team or a spot on their predominantly all-pro team. Keystone was one of the first to create a primary team comprised entirely of groms.
