By Henry Meller
Hollywood is a constant contradiction, a bizarre juxtaposition of health fads and hard partying.
And just a two hour flight away is another misnomer – a holiday for those without the slightest interest in resting, perfect for those keen on exorcising the demons of the workplace with, well… exercise!
At the foot of the upscale ski resort of Beaver Creek, nestled amidst Colorado’s Rocky mountain range is the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa.
Stylish, modern in both architecture and attitude, LEED certified for their environmentally friendly approach and boasting a private gondola to the lower slopes, skiers and snowboarders alike will relish the chance to play in the powder regularly scattered across 1800 acres of skiable terrain just three minutes after slipping on their freshly warmed boots.
But what sets this resort apart is the plethora of non-alpine activities on offer, either to those who don’t want to build an entire holiday around charging down a mountain on giant tooth picks, or to those who simply can’t get enough of those exercise endorphins. The resort offers an extraordinary range of sports activities and fitness options that until now have simply not been available at an altitude of 7,400ft.
These include a dedicated spinning studio, a fully equipped reformer based Pilates clinic, a “hot yoga” room, mountain bike tours, triathlon training program, a professional grade gym, a sports medicine clinic, and a heated outdoor lap pool which also boasts adjacent spa baths lest one should forget to do at least a little relaxing. The result is heaven on earth for the fitness fanatic.
There is further bliss to be found in the on-site Spa Anjali, home to every imaginable variety of beauty treatment and massage for soothing those tired post-ski or post-sport muscles. Or you can enjoy some more traditional apres ski indulgence at the hotel’s stylish modern bar and gourmet Mexican restaurant, Maya by chef Richard Sandoval. The bespoke guacamole, tailored to your personal taste, is a devilishly more-ish delight that still finds favour with “sugar free, dairy free, wheat free” types. And believe me there are plenty of high achieving healthy holidayers in Beaver Creek.
The ski resort has built a reputation for offering an elite level of personal service, their tongue-in-cheek slogan “Beaver Creek – Not Exactly Roughing It…” makes light of the resort’s commitment to spoiling their well-heeled skiers, that thankfully never crosses the line to being pretentious or snobby. With the number of skiers on the slopes kept astonishingly low, Beaver Creek represents the perfect place to learn without pesky strangers constantly whistling by.
Meanwhile experienced downhillers will relish the chance to fly down seemingly deserted slopes, reaching lifts where queues are virtually unheard of. If you do find yourself waiting even a moment there is quickly someone on hand with a complimentary hot chocolate or fresh baked cookie. Not exactly roughing it indeed. Nothing here is hard work, well unless you opted for spinning straight after skiing of course…
