Page 74 - Winter 2018 Journal

Last Lift

Helping Guests Fall
Head Over Heels

BY REBECCA W. AYERS, EDITOR

WHAT SOME PEOPLE REGARD as classic, others think of as
cliché. No matter how jaded you may feel about the epic
romantic serenade, however, you can’t help but enjoy
Ed Sheeran’s recently released music video for his new
ballad, “Perfect”—as much an ode to love as it is to the The look of love on the chairlift in Ed Sheeran’s new music video.
love of skiing.
Filmed at the stunning Hintertux Glacier resort in In Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort offers a “Winter
Austria’s Tyrolean Zillertal Valley, the video and song tell Signature Romantic Getaway Package” for $395 (lodging
the story of former childhood friends—played by Grammy- not included) consisting of a horse-drawn sleigh ride, a fancy
winner Sheeran and actress Zoey Deutch—who reconnect at dinner for two, a dozen long-stem roses, a bottle of cham-
a ski area and fall in love. pagne, chocolate truffles (and a late check-out).
It wouldn’t be the first time two lonely hearts have fallen Several areas will offer $14 lift tickets for the day of the
head over heels (in a good way) on the slopes. Although 14th. In California, Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows will
admittedly a little cliché, there’s something romantic about sell $14 lift tickets purchased online that day. In Vermont,
snuggling on a chairlift ride, having your crush teach you Sugarbush will offer $14 lift tickets too, and in New York,
how to make some slow turns (sorry, PSIA), doing tequila Hunter Mountain will sell a $14 “cheap date” lift ticket
shots in the bar, having a snowball fight, making snow when purchased along with a full-price, $58 pass.
angels, cozying up in front of a fire après ski, and dancing And in Utah, Snowbird not only is offering discounted
in the falling snow to the tune of a heart-rending song. A ski $40 lift tickets on the 14th but also will transform its singles
area is inherently the perfect setting for sparking the flames line at the Peruvian Express into a “commitment-free speed
of love and desire. Heck, even Donald Trump famously dating” event on the chair, followed by an après ski singles
wooed first wife Ivana—a former Jay Peak, Vt., ski instruc- party at El Chanate in the Cliff Lodge.
tor—on the slopes before sitting in the Oval Office was even With so much love in the mountain air this Valentine’s
a gleam in his eye. Day, it’s likely that Sheeran’s “Perfect” will find its way onto
Ski areas do a good job of leveraging such imagery some of those guests’ playlists. Sheeran is a songwriter who
(well… maybe not that last one) with a variety of special clearly has a knack for penning the iconic love song. (He also
packages, particularly around Valentine’s Day. Although wrote the script for the music video with collaborator Jason
this year February 14 falls in the middle of the week, on a Koeing, who directed the project.) “Perfect” is one of those
Wednesday, many areas are offering sweetheart deals, includ- songs that will be played at weddings for years to come,
ing candlelit dinners, cozy sleigh rides, couples massages, along with another Sheeran composition, “Thinking Out
and even babysitting specials for exhausted parents who need Loud,” co-written with Amy Wadge and the winner of two
some precious one-on-one time. 2015 Grammy Awards.
In Colorado, Loveland Ski Area has hosted a “Marry Some of those weddings may be held at the ski area
Me & Ski For Free Mountaintop Matrimony” ceremony on where the couple first met, shared a chairlift, and made
Valentine’s Day for the past 26 years. Couples from all over other priceless memories about a day skiing, riding, and
the country flock to the aptly named resort to exchange or romancing. Whether you’re drawn to the story, or just the
renew their vows at the Ptarmigan Roost Cabin, 12,050 feet images of a magical mountain setting, it’s enough to make
atop the Continental Divide. The cost for taking part in the even the most cynical person sigh.
mass wedding ceremony is a two-for-one lift ticket price,
$75, which also includes a casual after-party with cake, Watch Sheeran’s “Perfect” video at https://www.youtube.com/
music, and prizes. watch?v=2Vv-BfVoq4g.

72 | NSAA JOURNAL | WINTER 2018