The Legend of Bob Beverly and Skiing the Grand Mesa in Colorado
I didn’t learn to Ski until my late 30’s. But when I did I learned about the Legend of Bob Beverly and the Grand Mesa in Colorado!
“Hi my name is Bill Beverly. Son of Bob Beverly. Ha I wish i was, just kidding!”
These were the first words spoken to me by my ski instructor on minute one of lesson one of my “learning to ski” experience. I was enrolled in the Bob Beverly Learn to Ski (or Snowboard) for FREE program at Powderhorn in Colorado. The program is named in honor of the late Bob Beverly and he’s a big enough legend around the Powderhorn area that my first instructor joked about being his son.
Fast forward a few days later…my gaze peered down at my INTIMIDATING bunny slope…and I couldn’t believe I was already on a slope. (The first lesson we rode up a little conveyor belt and went down some small hills with a fence in case of crash landings but that was about it.)
This was just my second ski lesson ever.
I still hadn’t even used ski poles but I was about to embark on a run that required me to take a chairlift. I was OFFICIALLY able to ski.
My name is Mike. I am 37 years old. And I learned to ski in February of 2021 on the Grand Mesa of Colorado in thanks to the legend of Bob Beverly.
Today I am excited to share how Powderhorn Mountain, on the Grand Mesa (the largest flattop mountain in the world), came to be the place I would finally learn to ski. MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY it is also an affordable place to learn a notoriously expensive and privileged sport (think golf on snow) and it is in large part due to their Learn to Ski/Snowboard for FREE program.
Bob Beverly (and I am sure countless others) are a big reason for that and I am going to share my experience in the program along with the legend of Bob.
We decided that for February and March of 2021 we would pick two different locations to live, one where we could learn to ski and one where I could learn to surf. We were in California for several months prior to this and we looked at all the hot spots to ski in Cali (Tahoe, Mammoth, etc) and then in Colorado (Aspen, Breckenridge, etc) as well as spots like Flagstaff in Arizona.
Our choice we settled on, based on affordability, availability of places to live, and surrounding outdoor adventures took us to the community of Grand Junction Colorado!
A big reason for this was Powderhorn. Then after we had booked our airbnb we discovered the Bob Beverly Learn to Ski for Free program. Bob was one of the founders of Powderhorn and started skiing at the age of 3 and never missed a ski season until he turned 90. He loved the outdoors and accessibility to everyone to be able to have it. The articles i read about him made it seem like he also had a genuine love for Colorado and adventuring around the world. He passed away a few years ago at the age of 96. You can read one of the articles about Bob HERE.
I was less intimidated about falling when I learned to ski than I was about the cost. Looking at rental gear, clothing, and paying for lessons was something that seemed like I would be spending more than I would make in our month of learning to ski! That’s when we found Bob’s program at Powderhorn. Here’s what Powderhorn spokesperson Ryan Robinson says about the program:
“The entire aim of the program is to create lifelong skiers. So we know the barriers to entry are cost and having appropriate equipment. Those are the two big ones.”
Here’s the Powderhorn Ski Resort in Colorado Deal:
Three lessons. $19.00 each. Refundable after the two hour lesson if you don’t want to stay on the slopes that day. Don’t take the refund, push it towards your Rookie Season Pass!
Pick skiing or snowboarding. Stick with it. To actually learn how to do one instead of jumping back and forth. That’s about the only rule you need to know. Pick one!
Includes rental gear and boots and a helmet!
If you like it (and of course you will!) you can snag a rookie season pass for $69.00 (only $12.00 additional dollars after your six hours of lessons) for the rest of the year AND they have a sophomore pass deal as well.
You can learn to ski and decide if you want to buy gear or not without breaking the bank.
It’s the BEST deal I have ever heard of for what is known as a VERY expensive sport to enter or quite frankly to enjoy ongoing. My friends at HERO USA and other non-profits around the country actually have set up programs because of this. What they have done at Powderhorn to me is nothing short of a beautiful way to conduct business.
This is one way America could learn how to operate business better. For-profit yet also for-people. Of course you would still have to get to Powderhorn, I am not saying that is easy. But we were able to receive 3 two hour ski lessons with rentals for less than $150.00. There are places where that could cost upwards of $1,500-2,000.00 here in the US. Powderhorn also partners with area schools and has children’s programs.
So am I going to be Lindsey Vonn by the time I leave Grand Junction? Probably not.
Have I learned enough to be able to actually ski down a hill or go skiing with friends? Absolutely.
Did I get to be humbled and learn something new in my life? 100%.
Was I able to appreciate a new outdoor winter activity and place on this planet? Check.
And did I learn about a caring human who did his best to make the world a better place? You betcha!!!!
This post isn’t about skiing; though I 100% would encourage you that no matter the age you can learn to do it!
But it is about being your best version of Bob Beverly. Sharing the goodies that nature, the outdoors, and adventure can bring to others. And taking care of the planet while enjoying the adventures and playing your part to make sure that money is not a deterrent to anyone doing anything.
If we can all be a little bit more Bob Beverlyish in our lives I am confident the world will have more kindness, peace, and joy ingested into it.
Plus you’ll be able to nail a bunny slope, or like me, gain a lot of speed before falling over on your side!
The sticky note that was the CERTIFICATE of COMPLETION!
I love offering free yoga classes to anyone who wants them and I love that Powderhorn is doing the same for skiing. There’s a lot of good people in the world, sometimes you just have to work hard to find them!
Have you ever been to Powderhorn? Ever tried to learn a new sport later in your life? Comment below and sign up for our newsletter in the footer for more curated outdoor adventure guides!
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R