How to Make the Most of a Long Weekend on the Slopes
Looking to pack everything possible into a long weekend trip to the slopes?
Vacations always sound better when you’re sitting at a desk.
Heading to the mountain for a few days of skiing sounds epic. But if you’re not careful…
You’ll spend half your time waiting in line for rental equipment. The other half you’ll be hiking up and down the mountain, realizing you packed the wrong stuff.
Don’t sweat it, friend.
Vacation time doesn’t have to be full of logistical headaches. Sure, you’ll have fewer days on the mountain than a typical vacation. But that just means you have to be strategic with your time.
Let’s walk through everything you need to know about maximizing your skiing during a long weekend getaway.
Table of Contents
- Planning Ahead Will Give You More Time on the Mountain
- Have Ski Equipment Ready to Go When You Arrive
- Take Advantages of Every Minute on the Slopes Each Day
- Tips for Avoiding Crowds on the Mountain
- Ski Vacation Tips for Experienced Travelers
Planning Ahead Will Give You More Time on the Mountain
Remember how I said vacations are better at a desk?
When you only have a long weekend to enjoy the mountain every hour matters.
But most skiers completely throw away a significant portion of their trip.
How come?
People who “wing it” and show up without any preparation assume they’ll sort everything out once they arrive. And that’s just foolish.
Rental lines. Finding gear that fits. Buying lift tickets. It’s going to take a significant chunk of your first day just standing around doing nothing.
Resorts are busier than ever these days. U.S. ski areas reported 61.5 million skier visits for the 2024-25 season, according to recent data. That’s a 1.7% increase from last season and marked the second-busiest season on record.
Busy resorts equal long lines. If you’re flying in for the weekend, plan ahead so you can hit the slopes as soon as you arrive.
Have Ski Equipment Ready to Go When You Arrive
Here’s where a lot of vacationers lose time.
Skiers pack their bags weeks in advance. Book flights months ahead of the trip. But wait until they land at the airport to think about equipment.
Why not sort things out at home before leaving? Having access to convenient ski and snowboard rentals will change your experience completely.
Nobody wants to waste a second day waiting in rental shop lines. That’s why Park City ski rentals are so valuable.
Park City ski rentals are a gamechanger if you’re planning a long weekend. The right rentals prepare your equipment before you arrive. Showing up at the resort lets you skip straight to the ski lifts.
Keep these tips in mind when renting gear online before your trip:
- Book popular sizes ahead of time. High-demand skiing gear doesn’t last long during peak weekends.
- Provide accurate measurements. Boots, height, weight, skill level. Tell rental companies everything you can so they can prep the right gear for you ahead of time.
- Look into seasonal rentals. Many resort town dwellers purchase seasonal ski passes. Take advantage of these rental options if you frequently visit the same mountain. You’ll save money and ensure gear is available.
Bottom line – Do everything you can to eliminate decisions on arrival day. The less you have to think about, the quicker you can get from the parking lot to the ski lifts.
Take Advantages of Every Minute on the Slopes Each Day
THREE DAYS. ONLY THREE DAYS.
That’s all you get when scheduling a long weekend vacation. Which means it’s crucial to spend every minute on the mountain wisely.
Wake up early.
First chair equals the best part of any ski trip. Everything is freshly groomed. Crowds are limited. And the mountain is in its best condition of the day.
Yes, waking up at the crack of dawn sucks. But only for about ten minutes. After that first hour of skiing, you’ll wonder why you ever slept in again.
A majority of the average skier won’t hit the mountain until 10AM. That’s 2 hours of premium skiing you’ll miss by waking up too late.
Take a real lunch break.
Go inside. Grab something to eat. Relax for an hour.
I know what you’re thinking: “If I stop skiing I’ll fall behind!”
Trust me, skiing until your legs are cooked is a recipe for disaster. Stopping for lunch recharges your batteries and you’ll kill more verticals per day.
Not to mention lunch crowds at the cafeteria. Eat at off times (11:30 or 1:30 instead of noon) to avoid the longest lines.
Don’t ski until the lifts close.
“Skiing until the mountain shuts off the lifts” is a badge of pride for many skiers. But you aren’t getting home until 3 or 4PM.
You’ll be more tired, more irritable, and simply plain burnt-out. If you’re skiing until the lifts close, you’re doing it wrong.
Tips for Avoiding Crowds on the Mountain
Aside from going early, beating the rush is nearly impossible during holiday weekends.
However, there are some tricks you can utilize to dodge large crowds.
Tour unpopular mountain terrain.
Every ski resort has their “poster boy” runs. The ones featured in all their marketing materials. Popular trails become overcrowded…fast.
Take your group off the beaten path. Explore every corner of the mountain and avoid the main chute. Skiing unpopular terrain is the best way to avoid a crowd of skiing d-bags.
Avoid skiing during busy times.
There’s a reason why resorts are busiest from late morning to early afternoon. Crowds come predictably. Avoid them by hitting the mountain when nobody else is.
The first hour a resort opens and the last hour they close are going to be less crowded than any other time of the day.
Skiing during “off-peak” times is much easier on weekends. But if you plan your trip correctly, you can avoid the masses.
Try to schedule weekdays into your trip when possible.
Sure, a Friday to Sunday trip maximizes your weekend. But Friday and Sunday are two of the busiest skiing days of the week.
Move your trip to Thursday-to-Sunday or Sunday-to-Wednesday and you’ll ski circles around the weekend crowds. Literally.
Ski Vacation Tips for Experienced Travelers
These aren’t ski tips. They’re trip tips. Small things seasoned vacationers know to prepare at home.
Pack everything the night before.
Make a list and check it twice. Prepare as much as possible the night before your trip.
Bottoms, goggles, gloves, lift ticket, sunscreen. Literally grab your bag and go.
Stay close to the mountain.
Did you spend half your day driving to the mountain? Try and find lodging within walking distance to the ski lifts.
Fewer car rides equals more skiing.
Check the snow report each morning.
Weather in the mountains can change in an instant. Maybe there’s fresh snow overnight and new trails opened.
Or maybe the mountain is ice today and you should avoid certain sections of the mountain.
Checking the report each morning lets you pivot and make the most of every day.
Don’t over-schedule yourself.
Have a plan. But don’t cement yourself to a schedule.
Your body will tell you when it needs rest. So rest.
Another storm blew in? Don’t sweat it – explore the resort!
Vacations are about relaxing and having fun. If your schedule becomes stressful, you’re doing something wrong.
Wrapping Things Up
Trying to fit an entire ski vacation into a long weekend is tough. But with enough preparation, it can be more rewarding than trips twice as long.
Book rentals ahead of time. Wake up before everyone else. Avoid crowded areas on the mountain. And most importantly, be flexible when plans change.
The ski industry isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Just last season Utah ski resorts reported over 6.5 million skier visits.
More people are skiing now than ever before. If you don’t plan accordingly, you’ll spend more time in lines than skiing.
To recap real quick:
- Use Park City ski rentals to prepare gear beforehand
- Hit the mountain as soon as you arrive
- Wake up early and take legitimate breaks
- Explore more of the mountain to avoid crowds
- Be willing to change things up if need be
Get out there and make every second count!
