Colorado! here i come...

[e.]

* a warning up front that this is going to be a long post*

After long and carefull thought, i have decided to move out west to colorado, providing i am able to find a job out there. first off, i want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to listen to me whine about being afraid of the move and all the ppl who have or are making a similiar move themselves. thanks for the support.

now i still have many issues i need to fix and i thought u guys might be able to help me out some more.

getting a job.
i just graduated college with my bachelor of science in Computer Information Systems (CIS). I have been applying for jobs online for the colorado area, but i dont really know the area well. if anyone has any job leads for maybe the summit county area or anywhere really let me know please. i am looking for any work associated with computer programming, computer analyst, analysis and design, object orientated design and analyst, software engineering, etc. u get the idea. i know over ten programming languagues, most of them high level object orientated, so i can almost do it all. i have to start paying back my student loans in januarary so i a job is first is a must.

where to live.
i am from columbus, oh. a small city with lots of farm land. now, just because its somewhat country doesnt mean its white trash. it takes a lot skill and money to run a farm. i spend my whole life living in a middle to upper class white suburan-rural environments. the ghetto to me is like a neighborhood with houses that only only cost half a million dollars each. point being is that i do not know the colorado area. i want someplace nice, yet affordable and safe to live. i would like someplace quite like steamboat or telluride but on the map it appears to be far away from any other resorts. i am leaning torward the summit county area because of the amount of close by resorts. i want to live somewhere like 30 minutes max drive to the mtn. this way after work i can trade my tie for my googles and hit the slopes. ****, i hope there is night riding. does anyone know of any good parts of town to live in or any condos, apartments, or for rent. or even ppl who need roommates? i have looked online at www.apartments.com (http://www.apartments.com) and www.vaildaily.com/section/CLASSIFIEDS (http://www.vaildaily.com/section/CLASSIFIEDS). i see stuff but i know nothing about the community or neighborhoods.

my car.
i drive a 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T. with my rims and tires in the winter time i cant even get in my drive way at home, so i am guessing this car is useless for the colorado winters. should i buy a suv, truck, or van for the move. how bad are the roads for the city and for mountains. i know how to drive in the snow and ice, i just want a good car for it too. my jetta is only 150HP. how much do u think i will need for colorado? does it have to be 4 or all wheel drive?

lift tickets
damn!! i thought tahoe was expensive. i saw lift tickets onine for like 75.00 for all day pass. in columbus it's 48.00 for all. And i also saw season passes for like 1500.00. well my question is how to get them cheaper. when i buy my season pass here i buy with a group discount from a local shop so i get it at min. 50% off retail. does anywhere else offer group discount passes and how do i join a group?

- well thats it for now, so thanks for being patient and any input or advice would be great

[e.]

i am asian and now my family is tring to tell that there is a lot of racism in colorado. is that true or they just tryin to mess with me?

[SnoChick]

Don't know if this is true, but I heard a 4 pack goes for $100 early season and a season pass good for unlimited riding at a-basin, keystone & breck is about $300 or for $50 more you get 10 days at Vail & Beaver Creek too... might want to look into that.

[e.]

$300.00 bucks for a unlimited season pass to brecken? did i read that right. that cant be right. in columbus, oh a regular retail for full season pass is 480.00. i thought brecken. would cost alot more?

[e.]

sorry i just checked for my local mtn its 370.00 not 480.00 for full season pass

[Satan]

moving to colorado is so easy and most people don't know that. i moved to colorado without knowing anyone. and now i've been here for 5 years now. yeah you can get the 4 mountain pass for $300. and for another $80 you get 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek. last year a Vail day pass was $72. so it's definitly worth it. But with the 4 mountain pass you get Brek, Keystone, Copper, and A-Basin. it's pretty sweet if you don't mind dealing with I-70 traffic all the time. the best time to ride then is mid week. but Summit's pretty fun. anywhere else you move to is gonna cost you way more. the best thing to do is get a job in a shop or for the resort to get a free pass. most resorts only require about 10-20 hrs. a week to get a pass. you can also vollenteer about 40-70hrs. to get a pass for the entire season. look and see if the need someone for race crew.

[e.]

4 mountain pass for $300. and for another $80 you get 10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek

all that for under 400.00! damn. are there restrictions on the pass?

well its all comes down to getting the job. if i can get a computer related job i will definately make the move. if not, idk, maybe just spend like 2 months there and then come home keep looking for work or something.

[Satan]

vail and beaver creek have blackout dates. but i only really like to ride them mid week and on a pow day.

[kelly]

The blackout dates aren't too bad either, just the days you wouldn't want to be at vail anyway - like christmas and prez. day weekend (hella crowded). Plus, since you only get 10 days at vail, it's easy to work around the blackout dates. Oh yeah, and Satan was slightly confused - Copper isn't on the pass with Breck, Keystone, and A-basin, since it's owned by a different company. The copper pass is about $300 and includes winter park.

Good luck with the moving, I don't know how it is with IT jobs in the mountains, I have a friend who has been trying to move back to Steamboat (her hometown) for a while, but her husband is having trouble finding a job as a programmer. I do know a few guys who do freelance IT consulting in Steamboat though, and they do well, because there are tons of smaller companies that need help setting up networking and stuff.

Also, you could consider living somewhere on the way up I-70 and working in Denver, for better job options. From the western Denver suburbs, it's only 30-45 minutes to the slopes, and if you live someplace like Golden, it's even closer.

[e.]

hmmm west denver, thanks i will look into it. is it a good neighborhood?

[kelly]

Oh yeah, and the Summit Daily is the newspaper that covers the summit county towns - www.summitdaily.com.

Oh, and to ramble a bit more - a huge 4wd truck isn't necessary in the mountains - too big of a car will hurt you if it's icy because of the added momentum for braking - most people I know in steamboat like subarus. Personally, I just put some blizzaks (sick snow tires) on my honda civic and it was fine.

[e.]

thanks again kelly, i will take any advice u got

[e.]

actually if u dont mind, do u recommend any apartment complexs or communities to live in that is still close to the mountains?

[kelly]

hmmm west denver, thanks i will look into it. is it a good neighborhood?
Well, not the neighborhood - they're suburban towns - like Wheat Ridge or Arvada. Further into the mountians, you also have Golden and Evergreen, both of which have some jobs - Golden might be worth trying because that is where the Colorado School of Mines is (cheesey as it sounds, it's a good geek school). Lots of people also commute between golden/evergreen and Denver for jobs, but it's a bit of a haul. All of those towns are fairly nice, they all kind of have posh neighborhoods and more ordinary ones.

[kelly]

actually if u dont mind, do u recommend any apartment complexs or communities to live in that is still close to the mountains?

Ok, I'll try not to babble too much, but it's a lot of info!

I'm not sure about any apartment complexes in the west denver burbs, because I live downtown (which is nice, but adds 15 minutes to the mountain commute). I know that the area around Genesee is all fairly nice newer neighborhoods, mostly with views across the front range, because Genesee is on the way up the foothills (and right near some popular biking at lookout mountain). I guess if you found a place, I could tell you if I had been in that area, and if it was nice... Any of those towns though, you're looking at sort of typical western suburbs - sprawly with lots of new subdivisions and stuff.

Although I wouldn't give up your dream of living in the Summit, there are tons of huge IT companies in the Denver area, so you could probably get a good job and still be close to snowboarding. I went on a tour of Sun's new facility out here a few years ago, and it seems like a lot of those companies do a lot of telecommuting so people can still live in cool places.

Also - as far as summit county is concerned, I'd say the best area would probably be in the Breck - it's still got some of the town-ish atmosphere, but it's a bit pricey I think. Other than that, Dillon has nice condos that have a pretty view of the lake there (although prepare for 80's decor! I looked at some with my parents a few years ago, and everything was covered with mirrors and brass!) - anything around the lake would be nice, and Frisco has a nice cute part of town that's been recently fancied up as well.

Whew, lots of typing.

[e.]

:idea: thanks kelly i will look into it. :grin:

[kelly]

You're welcome! Good luck, if you end up out here, let me know - my friends and I will drag you up snowboarding.

[e.]

lol, it will probably be like 2-3 more months before i can move. i need to finish up this project i am working on for The Limited brands Inc.

[kelly]

Well, it's 2 months (ish) to snowboard season anyway. Oh, and another tip - there are deadlines for those cheap-o season passes - I think usually sometime in september or early october. I'll let you know when I hear the deadlines - they usually go on sale in september. Passwagon.com has info on the WP/Copper pass, but I think you have to go to a Denver area REI store, or one of the ski expos here to get the 5 mountain buddy pass (keystone, breck, etc.).

[e.]

those cheap-o season passes - I think usually sometime in september or early october. I'll let you know when I hear the deadlines - they usually go on sale in september 8) cool, i appriatate it alot. thanks again :D

[coloboardin]

You'll love it out here! Definitly get a pass, well worth it! Your car will be perfectly fine out here, they keep the roads nicely plowed, especially I70. I took my M3 up there all the time last year and didn't have any problems, and thats a RWD car. Good luck man!

[e.]

what about the tires and rims? i got Z racing tires and 18" enkei rims. wait? do u know of any snow tires that will fit an 18" rim

[kelly]

what about the tires and rims? i got Z racing tires and 18" enkei rims. wait? do u know of any snow tires that will fit an 18" rim
I don't know anything about that fancy tire stuff, except that you obviously don't want racing tires in the snow. You don't necessarily need snow tires, because like Coloboardin said, they're pretty good with plowing here - a good set of all weathers would do. If you end up livin in the mountains, you could consider non-studded snow tires, which are a bit more practical than studs. I had bridgestone blizzaks, which are a really popular snow tire in the mountains - dunno anything about sizes tho, mine were on a honda civic with whatever wheels came with it.

[coloboardin]

what about the tires and rims? i got Z racing tires and 18" enkei rims. wait? do u know of any snow tires that will fit an 18" rim

Oh yea just go to discount tire when you get here or go online and you can find plenty of snow tires that will fit 18s. My buddy had 18s on his M3 and found some cheap-o snow tires at discount that actually worked great. My other friend has a GTI that is slammed with 18" bbs rc wheels and street tires, he left those on there through half the winter and had no problem. The only thing you are going to dread are rock chips... so get a clear bra

-Kyle

[e.]

thats were i bought my tires. they dont have any winter tire that fit my rims. that why i park on the side of the street in the winter time, because i cant make it up the drive say with out flooring it and spinning out the tires.

[kelly]

Oh no, you might have to sacrifice your fancy rims for snowboarding? Do you have those funny lookin little baby tires or somethin?

[Crash Override]

I too am coming out to Colorado, but only for a week, and it starts Sept 5. I know the answer to this question already, but for curiousity sake, is there snow out there yet? I have never gotten to ride out there yet and if I can get a day while i'm out there on business that would be awesome. I know I know its only august, but a guy can dream can't he?

[Satan]

sorry bro, nothing opens untill october. you should come back out in Jan or Feb, definitly the best months to ride out here. great snow and not that many people. you just have to avoid the Christmas and New Years rush. then it's pretty slow till spring break.

[Benjb]

Would you like two roomates for a little while. My friend Jay and I are moving there in november to ride. We have a two bedroom townhouse in Winter park season pass is 309 including WP mary Jan AND copper. PM me or hit up my cell 614 581-7261. Its a very nice place and would be great to stay at till you get established. I am from columbus as well so i am in the same boat as you, please gimnme a call sometimes, it would be great to rid eout there with another person from the same city as i

[Benjb]

Oh, I am also pretty established out there if you need any help. I have family in Westminster, Denver, Arora, Colembine, Fort Collin, Breck, Steamboat and Colo Springs. My uncle is a General Contracter in Denver and could probobly get you a great deal on a house on the west suburbs of denver that he built if you'd like.

Also don't worrie about racism, I think your family is messing with you. I'm moving there with a black kid (whitest black guy you will ever meet, but still) I'm in Denver for 2 moths out of the summer, and a month in the winter, and I have never herd of Colorado being more racist than any other city.

[Crash Override]

yeah i figured that would be the case, hrmm looks like i'll have to sabotage my customer somehow and then trigger it to break in january so i'll have to go back out to fix it for, 2 possibly 3 weeks....hehe man if only that wouldn't get me fired

[kelly]

sorry bro, nothing opens untill october. you should come back out in Jan or Feb, definitly the best months to ride out here. great snow and not that many people. you just have to avoid the Christmas and New Years rush. then it's pretty slow till spring break.

I like March best - most likely to have that nice weather pattern where it snows at night and it's sunny all day :)

[kelly]

Also don't worrie about racism, I think your family is messing with you. I'm moving there with a black kid (whitest black guy you will ever meet, but still) I'm in Denver for 2 moths out of the summer, and a month in the winter, and I have never herd of Colorado being more racist than any other city.
Yeah, I wouldn't be worried too much about racism either. I mean, I'm a white girl, so I haven't had any experience with it, but Denver is fairly diverse (large latino population). One of my best friends out here is one o' those adopted Korean orphans and she doesn't seem to have much trouble. Well, except that lots of the white boys follow her around asking her out.

Lots less diverse in smaller towns - Benjb's friend might end up being the only black guy in WP. Nah, I'm sure there's at least one other black guy. Maybe two. But everyone's pretty chill in my experience, and my Korean friend goes snowboarding all of the time and doesn't seem to have any problems.

I will warn you though, people will make fun of your car if it has those little baby tires. :)

[e.]

?little baby tires? lol, where do u get this this!??? hehehe

[Benjb]

Columbus's populaton is actually larger than Denver... but Denvers surrounding Suburbs are HUGE compaired to Columbus's.

[e.]

cool, i start working in two weeks for a short term project. should be able to save up a few grand plus be able to buy some new gear too. after that its all colorado.

[Benjb]

I feel that man. I am in the saving stage right now. We secured our lease out in Colorado just this past couple of weeks. I should have a few grand before I leave in November.

peace out OHIO

[kelly]

?little baby tires? lol, where do u get this this!??? hehehe
What, 18" whatevers, aren't those little baby tires? I don't know where I got that.

[e.]

no, they are like big racing rims. its cool, not everyone is dorky enough to be sport'in them.

[kelly]

Ah, I figured they were those little (as in diameter) tires that are all wide. I don't know my car stuff though.