Club Med Crested Butte, Colorado Rockies
By Odyll Santos

With bathing suit season not far away, vacationers can frolic for one more
month amid the Colorado Rockies, enjoying the last of the snow that
had attracted avid skiers and snowboarders. At Crested Butte, the powder,
the slopes and the camaraderie made it seem like wintertime bliss
would never end, with snow season lasting through April.

This was mid-January at Club Med Crested Butte, a ski village at the base of the Silver Queen and Keystone mountains, where everyone, individuals and families, is encouraged to simply indulge. Ski instructors greeted guests arriving near midnight, singing, clapping and urging us to get ready for the fun. It was an invitation to do more than sit back and relax during a vacation. There were opportunities for serious adventure here.

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It's all part of Club Med's drive to persuade vacationers to experience its vast playground. The economic downturn and the September 11 terrorist attacks hit Club Med as it did other tourism related groups, but it's fighting back. The global tourism company, which has beach and ski resorts in 40 countries, hopes to inspire people to live life to the fullest. The key phrase is “Wanna play," and it's silently asked of everyone who arrives at Crested Butte. Wanna play? Then get ready to meet the challenge of the mountains.

So it was that the next day, the slopes were filled. Longtime skiers raced down the mountain with glee. Women bonded with each other in a special ski clinic led by World Extreme Skiing champion Kim Reichhelm. Teenagers fresh from snowboarding lessons were eager to show off.
Even those who've never skied before can comfortably hit the slopes. First-timers learn to slide. Fast learners are persuaded to ride the lift up the mountain in a day or so. Club Med Chairman and Chief Executive Philippe Bourguignon, who flew to Colorado from Paris for this "Wanna Play" weekend, said novice skiers find slopes that are easy to tackle as they hone their skiing skills. "This is the best place to learn, he said.

But adventure also applies to other activities. If you wanted something different, you found it in several excursions. Never mushed with the best of 'em? Dog-sledding with Alaskan huskies in the forest will give you the opportunity. Feel the urge to ride high and explore the backcountry? Go on horseback to Powder Ranch and head up through the snow to the log cabin. If something a little tamer is more your idea, there's always a sleigh ride around the Victorian mining town of Crested Butte.

Naturally, Club Med offers guests gourmet meals and entertainment, from shows produced by the resort's dedicated managers and organizers to performances by visiting acrobatic groups. My weekend there featured extensive buffets, with attractions like seared sesame-crusted tuna with ponzu sauce, lamb chops, wild boar stew and buffalo steak. On one night, we were impressed by a European group called Les Farfadais, their musical acrobatics reminiscent of performances by the famed Cirque du Soleil.

But there's no doubt that activity is the main focus here.

 

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