For five winning students, when the credits roll on five inspiring projects in 2013, it'll be Timbers Resorts that helped to make it happen.

In its third year supporting the 5Point Film Festival's high-school outreach Dream Project, Timbers Resorts is pleased to be the title sponsor of the current program.

Let's take a moment to look at the 5Point Dream Project, where it comes from, and what it means to the young people who join it as participants.

5Point Dream Project

What do you dream about? Do your dreams keep you going, every day?

The organizers of the 5Point Film Festival, held annually in Carbondale, and the folks at Timbers Resorts think these are two important questions.

For high school students local to the 5Point festival area — roughly speaking, that'se the Roaring Fork Valley, from Aspen, Colorado to Rifle, Ohio — the chance to find out just what a dream can mean is a chance to win a scholarship that will help them pursue a life-changing opportunity. All they have to do is dream it up.

Lucien Blakemore, a junior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, took one such opportunity with the help of 5Point, in March 2012.

With a scholarship from the Dream Project, he was off to the mountains of Chile, hiking and skiing the rugged Andes before joining a sustainable agriculture project in Peru, working specifically on recycling and waste sorting in small communities.

"Every day held new challenges, most of them physical," he told the Project. "And seeing the ease with which the Peruvian locals carried stones and trees which doubtless weighed well over 100 lbs,, the experience was a humbling one, to say the least."

In other projects: Claire Woolcott, a junior at Polaris High School, went to Canada to work with international caregivers in communities of people with special needs.

"I learned that I am stronger than I thought," she said to 5Point, "which gives me so much confidence for anything I do in the future.”

5Points asks its student applicants to submit essay materials that describe something that they'd like to accomplish, and how they mean to go about that, and to show the ways that they exemplify 5Points' five guiding principals: respect, commitment, humility, purpose, and balance.

"While we can ultimately only give five students the opportunity to go on a unique adventure," says Crosby Nordblom, festival manager and Dream Project coordinator, "we find that we are offering all applicants the opportunity to search their dreams, find a channel to chase a passion, and fully realize their potential.

"Requiring students to describe how they will embody these principles, we want them to throw themselves into a life-changing experience that will inspire them to create something meaningful, push them to be a better person, and have a positive impact on a community."

The deadline for applications is March 1. Download the forms at the 5Point website.

5Point Film Festival passes and individual tickets can be ordered via the website or at the Carbondale Rec Center's front desk leading up to and during the festival.

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine magazine and the Food Network every winter brings together everything Timbers Resorts loves and stands for: fine food, wine and travel, all while staying in the finest luxury accommodations. This year from February 21 through February 24, the biggest stars from the food and wine worlds will descend upon Miami for four star-studded days of tastings, parties, seminars and brunches.

After taking part in the New York City Wine & Food Festival in October, Timbers Resorts has been invited to take part in its winter equivalent, affectionately known as SOBE Wine & Food (or in Twitterspeak, #SOBEWFF). And with many of our Owners and friends residing in Miami all or part of the year, there's nowhere else Timbers Resorts would rather be.

If you join in the festivities, you'll find Timbers Resorts at Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Miami on Friday, February 22, and at the Tribute Dinner at Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Saturday, February 23.

Best of the Best is all about perfect pairings. Leading chefs from around the country select from Wine Spectator’s top-rated wines to accompany their dishes, bringing the experience of both the food and wine to new heights.

At SOBE Wine & Food Festival’s must-attend event — a tribute dinner for Nobu Matsuhisa hosted by Martha Stewart — Timbers Resorts will be a contributor to the live auction, so don't forget your checkbook.

Chef Matsuhisa is hands down the king of stylish, inventive Japanese cuisine, with 35 red-hot restaurants worldwide. Top chefs Daniel Boulud, Thomas Buckley, Frederic Delaire, Ricky Estrellado, Matt Hoyle, Johnny Iuzzini, Yoshihiro Murata, Yuji Wakiya and Roy Yamaguchi will each prepare a course for an unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime meal.

Of course, simply attending the main event — SOBE Wine & Food Festival's Grand Tasting Village — is a fun and exciting excursion in itself. Catch demonstrations from rock star chefs including Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Rocco DiSpirito, Rachael Ray and others, or simply taste the wares from hundreds of wineries, restaurants and even liquor companies and tourism boards.

Whatever your “taste,” SOBE Wine & Food Festival will have plenty to satisfy. But tickets to the hottest events and rooms at the most luxe hotels are going fast, so don’t waste any time in booking your trip. Bon Appetit!

To learn more about Timbers Resorts' lifestyle of fine food, wine and travel, please contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

Action sports make their home at Buttermilk Mountain again this January, as the ESPN X Games bring the world's cutting-edge skiers, snowboarders, and other athletes right to the doorstep of Timbers Resorts' luxury private residence clubs at Dancing Bear Aspen and the Timbers Club.

In its 12th year on the slopes, many well-known X Games faces will be back: Snowboarding star Shaun White, Snowmobile standout Tucker Hibbert, Ski hero Tom Wallisch and others. Check the full list of athletes on the X Games website.
A fresh, new face will be appearing front and center this month as the host of the global X Games circuit: Ramona Bruland. The Aspen local and Aussie native has been a familiar fixture in the Aspen Snowmass area for several years as a host on Plum TV. She makes the giant leap to ESPN with this January's Winter Games and the support of friends from the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.

There are all kinds of additional surprises in store this year, and so, in the run-up to the action, we turn to the hottest moments and unbelievable records from last year's action.

On the Trail of 2012: Remarkable Moments

Aspen 2012 was very much about honoring the achievements of the late, great Canadian Sarah Burke, a world renowned freestyle skier who passed away shortly before the Aspen events convened.

In a sense, many of the accomplishments that came out of last January's competitions were infused with the spirit of that 29-year-old phenom.
— It was the Canadians who scooped up a special honor in Burke's name. Her teammate Roz Groenewoud nabbed the country's first gold in the wake of the tragedy. And Burke's teammate Kaya Turski notched a nearly flawless ski run in the champion's honor as well.

A lot of perfection showed up on the slopes.
— Take Shaun White's snowboarding perfect score. Carving up a super-pipe with an injured ankle, he still managed to tick every box in the competition ranking: 100 out of 100 points.

— Torstein Horgmo also logged a perfect snowboarding score with dramatic new spins, including a triple cork spin that sent ripples through riders' worlds.

X Games Aspen by the Numbers

It wasn't just the athletes and the stories that caught enthusiasts' attention last time. The 2012 games marked the record second-highest attendance in the history of the event — some 108,000 attendees showed up to watch.

If you're thinking of coming — making a day-by-day breakdown (courtesy of Aspen Daily News) should help you plan things this coming year.

— In 2012, crowds peaked on Saturday at 45,000.

— Sunday was the second busiest, at 26,800 people.

— Thursday and Friday were lighter days: 16,200 and 20,000 respectively.

So, set your schedules. X Games Aspen 2013 is scheduled for Jan. 24 through Jan 27. The full schedule is now online.
And leave some time each day for entertainment such as DJ Calvin Harris at Belly Up Aspen and Major Lazer at Buttermilk.

Another ideal way to unwind is enjoying your own luxurious finishing line at Dancing Bear Aspen for a bit of post-game relaxation — running the numbers and the highlights of your own over a plate and glass at Brexi Brasserie as the perfect way to recap the action.

See you on the slopes!

To discover the X-traordinary lifestyle at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, stop by our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].

What's the secret to happiness for Owners at Dancing Bear Aspen when in their adopted home (Aspen)?

It's not just the exquisite surrounding at Dancing Bear 's luxury accommodations and fractional living spaces, it's Aspen itself. The community is rich with ideas, with arts, with options for the active lifestyle ... and Timbers Resorts is a part of that community.

Let's take a closer look at what that means. When you move here, when you stay here, the place itself is a part of a tapestry — day to day, night to night — this is the town and these are some special ways to explore it.

Opportunities and Ownership

The short list of ways that Aspen and Dancing Bear intertwine could stretch on for quite a length, but some highlights are worth a moment. We'll touch upon seven: ways you'll play to the ways you'll relax, from the spots you'll dine and drink to the events that bring together Owners and other members of the Aspen community.

— Aspen Outfitting Company: Getting outside is part of the Aspen experience. The Outfitting Company helps Owners at Dancing Bear to see and experience everything about the stunning landscapes in this part of the world. Timbers Resorts Owners enjoy preferred rates on equipment and outdoor activities (including prime access to private fishing spots).

— Aspen Music Festival: In the summer, especially, Aspen comes alive with culture. A key event is the music festival. From concerts to receptions, Dancing Bear Owners are invited to private performances and guest status at the main events.

— Aspen Center for Environmental Studies: One can't underestimate the importance of nature to the environs of Aspen. The ACES brings Owners into the rich landscape surrounding Dancing Bear, up into the woods and mountains on guided hikes at preferred rates.

—Remède Spa: After a day of play, an afternoon or the next morning at the spa makes for a healthy mind and body. Dancing Bear Owners enjoy 10% off the menu of soothing services at Remède, plus complimentary access to the spa and facility.

— Casa Tua: If all this good living has encouraged an appetite, step into this elegant nightclub and restaurant for fine dining (and a little dancing after). Dancing Bear Owners are also invited to the art and fashion shows for which Casa Tua is also known.

— Brexi: The onsite bistro at Dancing Bear is part of a family of great eating establishments in Aspen. Step out to Wild Fig, Steakhouse No. 316, or Above the Salt, and present your Dancing Bear Aspen Restaurant card for a 10% discount.

— IWM Cellars: If you've a taste for fabulous pours, explore the selection via IWM and The Little Nell, where preferred rates and online cellar management is part of the Dancing Bear experience in Aspen.

For more information on living like a local at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, stop by our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].

Timbers Resorts is honored to be included among the nominees with Castello di Casole and The Sebastian - Vail in two esteemed contests - the  2013 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards Survey and the 2013 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards.

• For info and instructions on The 2013 Travel + Leisure Awards Survey, simply click here.

• For info and instructions on The 2013 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards Survey, simply click here.

Thanks for voting! To learn more about Timbers Resorts and its travel award-worthy lifestyle, please contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

Timbers Resorts flew South to Miami last month for the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. The annual winter extravaganza brings many values together Timbers Resorts appreciates and stands for: fine food and wine, beautiful destinations, and time spent with friends and family. The star-studded series of events encompassed seminars, wine tastings, parties, brunches and concerts.

On Thursday, February 21, Timbers Resorts hosted a Taste of Timbers reception at the new Design District establishment, MC Kitchen, with Chef Dena Marino at the helm preparing savory appetizers, flatbreads and decadent desserts. On Friday, February 22, Timbers Resorts took part as the silent auction sponsor and an official photographer for the Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Hotel where 1800 guests dressed to the nines to enjoy wines rated ninety points and higher on Wine Spectator's list along with delicious dishes. On Saturday, February 23, Timbers Resorts participated in the Tribute Dinner for Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Christophe Navarre of Moët Hennessy with Martha Stewart as the Mistress of Ceremonies. The evening began with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, the live auction with a deluxe trip to Castello di Casole in Tuscany among the coveted items and an awards presentation to Chef Matsuhisa.

See below for several photos from our few days in Florida or click on the event links above to view galleries from each evening. To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

In an age of mass production, there’s something very special about products still made by hand with craftsmanship as their core value. Matt Cudmore began creating skis in his garage in 2009, and it wasn’t long before Meier Skis was born. The quality spoke for itself.

Cudmore continued holding down his day job as an engineer until 2012 when he finally quit and was joined by wife Rosie in running Meier Skis full-time. The Glenwood Springs, Colorado-based duo continues to keep everything about their skis local and eco-friendly.

It all begins with the wood, shown off by the skis’ clear topsheet, which is a combination of local Aspen trees and recycled pine known as "beetle kill" due to the onslaught of the forest by the Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle. Then, metal, ink, glue and other supplies are purchased from local vendors and the entire product is held together by resin made from pine oil and recycled vegetable oil instead of petrochemicals.

The added perk of Meier Skis’ local presence and hand manufacturing is that if one of the company’s six models ($590 and up) doesn’t do it for you, they’ll customize a one-of-a-kind ski to your specific needs. Either way, riding a pair of Meier Skis makes you part of a special club. The company currently sells fewer than 100 pairs per year, with distribution limited enough that you’re likely to be the only one on the mountain rocking a pair.

Timbers Resorts enjoys a partnership with Meier Skis, having created skis for One Steamboat Place and The Sebastian - Vail with custom designs to expand into a Dancing Bear Aspen ski next. Through our Owner Referral Program, Owners at each of these properties are eligible to receive skis for the whole family when referring friends or family who close on ownership.

Learn more about Timbers Resorts and our Owner Referral Programs at each property, by contacting us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

Work hard, play hard. Or as they say in snow country, ski hard, play hard. And what better place to kick back after a long day hitting the slopes than one of these stellar après-ski hot spots?

If you're visiting...

The Timbers Club in Snowmass

Ski-in/ski-out at Timbers Resorts' first property is what makes this Snowmass resort the finest at the foot of the slopes. Daily après-ski drinks and appetizers are served in the Owners' Lounge, which also serves at the social center of the property. Another option in Base Village is Base Camp Bar and Grill located across the pedestrian mall from the Elk Camp Gondola. This laid back, hot spot is tricked out in simple decor, making it the prime place to grab unfussy grub like burgers, dogs and sandwiches, as well as classic cocktails like a Bloody Mary or an Old Fashioned.

If you're looking for a little south of the border in the snow, try Venga Venga on the Snowmass Mall. This cantina and tequila bar features authentic Mexican cuisine by Chef Richard Sandoval. Warm yourself by one of the fire pits while you enjoy panoramic views. From 3- 6 p.m. the restaurant features an après-ski special that includes a DJ and happy hour drinks and bites.

Dancing Bear Aspen

Aspen is home to some of the sleekest settings for drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and none fits the bill more than the resort's Rooftop Lounge. There you can catch the sunset over downtown Aspen as you soothe sore muscles in one of the hot tubs, or enjoy a martini by the fire pits.

39 Degrees at the Sky Hotel is a sleek spot with enticing mood lighting and cozy couches -- the perfect setting for an après-ski rendezvous. Enjoy creative cocktails from mixologist Denis Côté while sharing small plates from their menu.

For premier outdoor dining, try Ajax Tavern. This ski-in/ski-out bistro located at the base of Aspen Mountain is known for its sun-drenched patio where you can nosh on one of their innovative twists on an old favorite, like the Soft Shell Crab "BLT" or indulge in their après-ski Pristine Raw Bar selections. Pair with a microbrew or one of their signature martinis for the perfect wind down.

One Steamboat Place

Located at the base of Mt. Werner - aka Steamboat Mountain - the Truffle Pig offers casually elegant dining, beautiful views and both interior and exterior fire pits to thaw out frozen limbs. Enjoy an après-ski menu filled with nibbles made from fresh ingredients and a wide selection of wines, specialty cocktails and Colorado brews.

Owners at One Steamboat Place cherish the property's daily après-ski fare served in the Owners' Lounge with an expanded evening on Fridays for the popular Wine Down.

For family-friendly atmosphere, hit Slopeside Grill, located just above the Steamboat Ski Base Area. Ski right up to their Ice Bar for a cocktail or give your legs a rest and relax on their super casual outside patio. The menu features items even picky kids will enjoy like pizza and calzones, as well as gluten-free options for those with allergies.

The Sebastian - Vail

Frost at The Sebastian redefines cool. From the chic, moody interior to the hip guests who gather there, this is the spot to see and be seen after hitting the slopes. Order several small bites to share and pair with an après-ski microbrew or a selection from their signature Scotch collection.

For a little après-ski entertainment, visit the Red Lion, located at the top of Bridge Street. Every day from 4 - 6 p.m. you can catch co-owner Phil Long cover classic songs by well-loved artists like Elton John and Billy Joel. Red Lion is also known for their award winning cuisine and an extensive list of "Winter Warmers," inventive cocktails that are sure to cure that post-slopes chill.

If you have a favorite après-ski gem that we didn't mention here, share it with us in the comments section!

Learn more about Timbers Resorts and the best spots for every activity at our properties by contacting us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

Learning is fun when you're at ski school at one of Aspen/Snowmass’s four mountains – Snowmass, Aspen, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. For many Owners and families at Dancing Bear Aspen and The Timbers Club, heading "back to school" can be the highlight of any ski trip.

Whatever your age or ability, Aspen/Snowmass (which is run by the Aspen Skiing Company) has a program that will fit the bill. Lots of families at The Timbers Club in Snowmass favor that ski area for its convenient ski-in/ski-out access.

Parents can cruise with their kids right over to the Treehouse Adventure Center at Snowmass Base Village. In addition to being a meeting place, this unique facility is home to a climbing gym, themed play rooms, stores, rental equipment and family entertainment. Kids as young as two-and-a-half can start getting the hang of skis in a private learning area, while older kids will zoom all over the mountain. They’ll have so much fun on race courses, in terrain parks and making new friends that they may not notice how much they’re learning along the way.

Daredevil teens can even sign up for a three-day park & pipe camp and learn to ride boxes and rails in a Buttermilk park so cool that it’s the home of the Winter X Games.

Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax, so named from its former days as a silver mining mecca) is famous for its black-diamond terrain, so skilled skiers love staying at Dancing Bear Aspen close to the action.

Owners often head out for the day with their favorite Diamond Pro instructor for a full-day of private instruction. The Diamond Pros are the country’s only private affiliation of ski pros and are available exclusively at Aspen/Snowmass. Each Pro is trained and overseen by Weems Westfeldt, the former Director of Operation for Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass. Westfeldt now focuses exclusively on providing the very best private instructors who are exceptionally equipped at getting skiers of all levels to master new skills.

There are no pop quizzes or homework at ski school –- just plenty of fun tearing up the mountain. Reach out to the Aspen/Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Schools for more information. See you on the slopes!

Learn more about Timbers Resorts and where the best slopes are for your family, by contacting us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.