America versus the Alps

We are thinking about skking in Colorado in February as we have to be in Denver for work. We have 3 children twins of 10 and a six year old - they are all good skiers with 3 weeks+ under their belts. I find it hard to tell whether we will find the same 'charm' in the states as we do skiing in Champoluc? Could anyone advise - we have looked at Copper Mountain which seems in the photos to be a large hill by a motorway. Any help much appreciated. My husband is a non skier and used to watching from restaurants and bars on - piste- is this possible in the US? Also does any one know about disabled skiing in any of the resorts as my husband has a broken neck but would love to ski.

Sorry for the endless questions

Welcome to J2ski :D I've not skied Champoluc, but I have spent several days skiing Copper Mountain.
Compared with Italian resorts I've skied, a village ambience will be hard to find in Copper. However I didn't notice a motorway, I found good snow and varied terrain. The village seems to be a collection of apartment blocks and hotels with car parks.

Adaptive skiing is well developed in many US resorts. I suggest that you email the Tourist Office and ask what options are available for your husband.
I don't know if the chair lifts in Copper can be used by pedestrians to access mountain restaurants, you may have to consider a resort with Gondola/cable car uplift.
Copper is within easy drive of Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. Vail is also within reach if you have a car.

Copper was developed by Intrawest, of Whistler fame, during the boom post millennium years. Expect lost of newish buildings and modern facilities, and spacious family condominiums (often ski-in ski-out).

As Bandit says above, in the US and Canada they cater, very well for what they call 'adaptive' skiing which is what you refer to as disabled skiing. Take a look at http://www.boec.org/

The restaurants in US resorts, often as an integral part of the business model, are often of a consistently high standard. You also get the North American service culture.

You should be able to talk/email to a ski school director, or the adaptive specialist at the ski school about your husbands specific needs.

http://dsusa.org/chapter.html

I'd love to hear a first hand report from Champoluc, and photos is possible?

Thank you so much for all your advice -I had a great chat with somebody in the advice center in Winter Park so hopefully we will go there. Does anyone know of a way of getting discounted ski passes and ski rental? Would love to pass on more about Champoluc - should I write on this forum?

Cressida Ross wrote:Thank you so much for all your advice -I had a great chat with somebody in the advice center in Winter Park so hopefully we will go there. Does anyone know of a way of getting discounted ski passes and ski rental? Would love to pass on more about Champoluc - should I write on this forum?

First, there is no such thing as discounted lift passes I am afraid. If there was, we'd all have them.

Second, yes write a report based on how you found the place in terms of the skiing, apres, accommodation, food, prices etc and post it on here, along with some photos you took.

That would be great.

Cressida Ross wrote:Would love to pass on more about Champoluc - should I write on this forum?

Yes please - and please put it in the Italy Forum.

:thumbup: