News

The Vail Valley Foundation will face substantial financial ramifications from the cancellation of all three Birds of Prey World Cup races earlier this month. Still, the nonprofit expressed gratitude to the partners, workers, volunteers and sponsors who did everything in their power to prepare for the events — and said it remains committed to hosting … Read More

The Vail Valley Foundation recently issued the following press release on receiving a large grant in support of its YouthPower365 and its Eagle River Valley Childcare Initiative from Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise: The Vail Valley Foundation today announced the receipt of a substantial grant in support of its YouthPower365 and community work force initiative, specifically the … Read More

Most people in Colorado love the outdoors. In the Rockies, nature is boundless, offering something for everyone. So it makes sense that festivals around the state celebrate outdoor activities, some showcasing films about world-class athletes, others offering you the chance to zip down the slopes on cardboard, jump into a freezing-cold pond or take on … Read More

With a résumé full of wins at kayaking’s most prestigious competitions and historic first descents of the planet’s deadliest whitewater, Nouria Newman is considered one of the greatest paddlers around. So why can’t she turn her passion into a sustainable career? The night before Nouria Newman nearly drowned in India, in August 2018, she used … Read More

Written into the culture of the Vail Valley, engraved in its history, and embedded in its future are the countless contributions Donna Giordano has made into virtually every aspect of life here.

For her many contributions to this community, the Vail Valley Foundation has named Giordano its 2020 Vail Valley Citizen of the Year. The honor has been awarded since 1981 to a deserving citizen who has provided broad support, vision, and leadership to the betterment of the community.

“I feel very blessed and grateful to receive this recognition,” Giordano said in a news release. “It is really all of you in this community who are such an inspiration — there are so many wonderful people and organizations in these beautiful mountains, and I simply love being a part of it with all of you.”

Tommy Ford made history on Sunday by winning the Alpine World Cup Men’s GS race at Beaver Creek. It was the first U.S. Ski Team win on the men’s side since January 2017, the first podium on the men’s side since January 2018, and Ford joined Ted Ligety and Bode Miller to become only the … Read More

BEAVER CREEK — Who was the last American to win at Beaver Creek? It’s not Ted Ligety because Mikaela Shiffrin won here at the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in slalom the day after Ted won giant slalom. Technicalities aside, it’s been a while for the Americans on their home snow, but the red, … Read More

Most everyone who has witnessed Memphis jukin’ icon Lil Buck perform at the Vail Dance Festival over the years is impressed if not enamored with the dancer. And you have Tom Russo to thank, at least in part.

“I like to joke I brought Lil Buck to Vail for the first time,” said Russo who picked Charles “Lil Buck” Riley up from Denver International Airport in 2011 and drove him to Vail as part of his duties as a Dance Festival volunteer.

It’s one of many long-standing contributions Russo has made to the community since the early 2000s. The Vail Valley Foundation has announced that Tom Russo is the 2019 recipient of the Vail Valley Volunteer of the Year award. The award is given out each year to a deserving person who has contributed volunteer time, effort, and vision to the entire Vail Valley community.

Ballet Hispánico, the nation’s premier Latino dance organization, brings its bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance to the Vail Dance Festival for the second year in a row on August 9-10, 2019. Following its thrilling Festival debut in 2018, Ballet Hispánico returns to close out this year’s Vail Dance Festival with a new performance … Read More

If, like us, you’re anywhere that isn’t the Vail Dance Festival right now, you’re obviously bummed to be missing all the amazing performances, premieres and collaborations currently underway. Luckily, many of our favorite bunheads have been keeping us updated on the amazing work being done up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains via Instagram. Here’s a roundup of … Read More

As I wrote about in an article posted earlier this week, the 18th annual GoPro Mountain Games were held in Vail, Colorado organized by the Vail Valley Foundation June 6-9, 2019. That article recapped results from the trail running events at the Games. This article shares the story behind what makes the GoPro Mountain Games one of the … Read More

Summer did not come quickly to Vail this year – but when it arrived, it did so in full-force. The GoPro Mountain Games in Vail have become the traditional signal of summertime’s opening in the mountains, and recent snow seemed like a distant memory as tens of thousands came here to compete or spectate in … Read More

A little more than a month and a half ago, we were in Vail, Colorado for the 2019 GoPro Mountain Games in beautiful Vail, Colorado. For those of you who don’t know what the GoPro Mountain Games is all about, here’s the gist: Thousands of pro and amateur adventure athletes sign up each year and … Read More

Whether you’re a serious athlete, music buff, or family in search of outdoor fun, Vail’s biggest summer festival has something for everyone It’s billed as the “best all-around mountain event experience anywhere in the world,” which sounds like hype—unless you’ve been to the Vail Valley Foundation’s GoPro Mountain Games. Complete with three nights of free … Read More

The Vail Valley Foundation today announced it has promoted Tom Boyd, Director of PR and Communications at the organization, to a new role as Director of PR & the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. The promotion puts Boyd at the helm of the Ford Amphitheater, Vail’s iconic seasonal performing arts venue, as it enters its 32nd year … Read More

Afterschool and summer learning programs aren’t just a place for kids to kill time while their parents work — these programs provide an environment where students can make academic gains, remain engaged in learning, stay physically healthy and active, and have access to positive mentors. In rural communities, where one in four children live in … Read More

AVON — An endless summer is every child’s dream, but for many parents, it can also create added stress. That’s because a long summer can be a huge financial strain, as parents try to figure out what to do with the kids while they go to work. Where should kids go during the day? What … Read More

There’s a problem facing children in rural communities: a lack of adequate afterschool and summer programming. Research shows that quality afterschool programs can improve students’ reading and math grades, classroom behavior, attendance, academic aspirations, dietary habits, physical activity and reduce the risks of dropping out of school or using drugs, according to the federal Interagency … Read More

Last week, Dance Magazine‘s owner Frederic Seegal visited the Vail Dance Festival. He was so excited by what he saw there that he wanted to share with Dance Magazine readers a few of the highlights that made the biggest impression on him. Having been fortunate enough to be on the board of New York City Center when Arlene Shuler introduced Fall for … Read More

VAIL, Colo. — On paper, the Vail Dance Festival looks more repetitious than it is. Lil Buck, Herman Cornejo, Tiler Peck and others return here year after year: Isn’t this just a club or clique? When in Vail, though, what you see is how these returning artists extend themselves here — tackling new idioms, developing … Read More

For a decade, local notables have been getting out of their comfort zones and dancing in front of hundreds of guests at YouthPower365’s annual Star Dancing Gala each summer. It’s known as one of the most exciting fundraisers of the year and it raises money for the valley’s youth. The Star Dancing Gala started as … Read More

Vail entered an unlikely love affair with dance three decades ago—a fling that began with a little bit of luck and a lot of push from some local movers and shakers, including a former First Lady. Back then, few could have imagined where that relationship would lead. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the … Read More

The annual event returns to Vail this weekend, which can mean only one thing: it’s officially summer in the mountains. It’s not often that you get to run with Joseph Gray, watch dogs compete in big air competitions, or witness Shauna Coxsey sending it up a wall in the IFSC World Cup. So don’t miss your chance … Read More

From July 28 – August 11, the Vail Dance Festival will celebrate its 30th year with a season of newly commissioned choreography and music, highlighting Festival debuts by acclaimed companies and dancers, who join an ever-expanding team of returning artists. In the spirit of pioneering collaborations at Vail, the season is designed to give dancers … Read More

AEG Presents Rocky Mountains in partnership with DDM Presents announced a new collaboration with the Vail Valley Foundation to book the legendary Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater for the Whistle Pig Vail concert series. The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado, is a spectacular outdoor venue that seats 1,265 guests in covered seating and an … Read More

Winter is coming! In this year’s installment of the Edge, Westword’s annual guide to winter activities, we’ve got the what’s what, the what’s new, and the what to do at ski areas and mountain towns across the state. From skiing and snowboarding to new mountain roller coasters, fat-bike tours, snowmobile adventures, hot-springs soaks and more, … Read More

EverBank, The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 and EverFi teamed up to challenge local Eagle County students’ financial literacy skills for a chance to win a trip to the 2017 Audi FIS Birds of Prey World Cup in Beaver Creek, CO.

Kids from Edwards who don’t currently have ready access to the kind of outdoor recreational amenities many Eagle County youngsters take for granted just received a great, big, early Christmas gift — a $1.4 million Great Outdoors Colorado Inspire Initiative grant. On Friday, Dec. 15, the GOCO Board awarded the $1,412,710 grant to Eagle County … Read More

BEAVER CREEK – Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal returned to the top of the downhill podium at the FIS Birds of Prey World Cup on Saturday, Dec. 2. Swiss racer Beat Feuz was the second fastest on the day, and Germany’s Thomas Dressen finished in third. It was Svindal’s first World Cup win since Jan. 22, … Read More

Feast your eyes on the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD All Mountain concept, a snow-tackling monster capable of taking on the toughest terrain. If you thought you knew offroad trucks, think and look again. The Sierra All Mountain concept takes GMC’s signature bold design and intricate engineering a step further with tank-like tracks that allow this … Read More

RootsRated

You’ve probably heard of Colorado vacation destinations such as Vail, Aspen, Denver and Colorado Springs, but this photogenic state is also home to out-of-the-way towns and villages that offer the same stunning beauty without the crowds… READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Birds of Prey World Cup race week has always been good to the U.S. Ski Team’s Ted Ligety. The Giant Slalom phenomenon has won six times in the past seven years on the course, making him one of the winningest racers ever at the famed Beaver Creek venue. “Beaver Creek and the Talon Crew have … Read More

The concept of a leader’s jersey has roots that go back to the origin of competitive sports, but in all that time, there’s never been a leader’s jersey quite like the ones that will adorn a few fortunate athletes at the 2017 GoPro Mountain Games in Vail. It’s all part of a new partnership between … Read More

If you’ve never taken a ski-focused vacation, you may be missing out on one of wintertime’s most fun diversions, said Nadine Davidson, a travel planner with the Los Angeles travel agency TravelStore who specializes in ski trips. “Skiing is an opportunity to be immersed in a beautiful snowy environment,” Ms. Davidson said, “and you don’t … Read More

Dancers couldn’t be more different than Lil Buck and BalletX. He’s a solo act specializing in the ultra-contemporary, American street style called jookin’. They’re a traditional troupe rooted in classical movement that dates back to 15th-century Europe. But they share an adventurous spirit that makes their efforts just right for a week at the Vail International Dance Festival. Both … Read More

EAGLE COUNTY — Nearly 20 years ago, a group of local businessmen wrote some checks to help area school children. Today, that modest idea has grown into a much larger project. Now, the Youth Foundation has a new name: YouthPower365. The first idea behind the Youth Foundation was to provide funding to new and existing … Read More

How can the world’s largest alpine ski race lead to sustainable tourism? During February 2-15, 2015 the Vail Valley will be hosting the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, showcasing athletes from over 70 nations with an estimated 750 million television viewers. In preparation for the event many community committees and volunteers are playing an active role. … Read More

VAIL — The Vail Valley has come together to support its own Olympic champion, Mikaela Shiffrin, in a partnership that will see the 19-year-old Eagle-Vail resident help endorse her community and the 2015 World Championships during the course of the coming year. “I was born and raised here,” Shiffrin said. “I’m just so happy to … Read More

VAIL, Colo. — A number of Romantic ballets have central scenes set in the woods. Far from the madding crowd, within the realm of nature, the hero discovers the otherworldly heroine who satisfies his longing as the women of his own milieu do not. Therefore, as the audience could see at the Vail dance festival’s second International … Read More

Vail – To the rest of the world, he was Mr. President. To many people in the Vail Valley, however, he was simply Jerry. Gerald Ford brought the “winter White House” to Vail and placed the developing ski town on the map by regularly schussing down the slopes. He was considered a friend and regular guy … Read More