Cover photo courtesy of Shallan Knowles
After a hard day’s play in the snow—whether you pedal, ski, ride, or snowshoe—there’s a magical time when you come out of the elements and seek a place to warm up and unwind. That après winter sports window is filled in many ways, but typically shares a few things in common— finding warmth, food, a tasty beverage or two, good people, and the right après aesthetic to fuel your stoke.
What’s your favorite post-winter adventure place to relax or celebrate after a day out in the snow? We asked a few of our writers what they look for and got some answers you might expect — hot drinks, cold beer, a crackling fire — as well as a few more unique ones, like cheese dip!
Editor’s Note: While we like to unwind with a drink too, please don’t overindulge in your après alcohol and drive. Plan ahead with a designated driver.
Good Tunes and a Fire
As a jaded, old-school skier, I like to think my après skiing requirements are simple. I don’t need weird recovery drinks made from alfalfa and beet juice or a deep massage by some dude named Lars while New Age meditation music drones in the background. What I do prefer is a cozy atmosphere, quality beer, and good tunes.
After rolling into the lodge bar after the final run of the day, nothing puts a smile on my face like seeing a crackling fire warming the bodies of my fellow skiers and riders. Once I’m able to pry my frozen boots off, tears of joy nearly stream down my face as my frosted feet begin to thaw in front of the roaring fire. To help ease the pain, a pint of the darkest beer on tap goes a long way. If I can see through it, it’s too light. Add in some ‘80s hairband metal, like Poison or Motley Crue, and I’m in heaven. (Brad Northrup)
Skier/Snowboarder Community
My all-time favorite places to warm up and have a beer after a day riding the lifts or earning turns in the backcountry have always had one thing in common: other skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, fat bikers, and snowmobilers reveling together. That community and energy that comes from being surrounded by other people who spent the day outside in the snow helps keep the buzz from the mountains going a little bit longer. Bonus for having a ski, snowboard or mountain bike movie playing instead of Fox News or CNN. Live or streaming music isn’t critical, but is ideally classic rock, classic country, or pretty much anything in the alternative/grunge genre from the ‘90s. Fried food and burgers are standard pub fare for ravenous shredders, but I find myself always hankering for healthier yet hearty whole food options like a medium rare steak, baked potato, and steamed or sautéed veggies! (Derrick Knowles)
Dry Clothes and Cheese
Hyperhydrosis (really enthusiastic sweat glands) and Reynaud’s syndrome (really enthusiastic constriction of blood vessels in my hands and feet when it’s cold) make après-winter-sports a bit different for me than most. While most are happy to kick back with a beer and recap the day, my focus is, of necessity, getting dry and warming up my deathly white digits.
An ideal après environment for me involves a private place to change (out of a sweaty sports bra, primarily), a warm fire or heating vent directly overhead, cozy blankets, fresh toe warmers, and hot beverages for my cold hands. But the most important thing after a cold day outside . . . is cheese. Cheese dip, cheese soup, cheese platters, grilled cheese, spray cheese, beer cheese, string cheese. All those other things warm my body, but cheese . . . it warms my soul. Lookin’ at YOU and your perfect queso dip, Perry Street Brewing! (Carol Corbin)
