Winter’s cold is loosening its grip on the Rockies as the sun stays in the sky longer, and skiers and snowboarders begin to shed a few layers of clothing. The coming of March also means it’s time to party in the out-of-doors at Colorado resorts.

Pacific storm systems appear to be fighting through a persistent high-pressure ridge in the Northwest and lining up for a productive latter part of February, especially for the southern Rockies.

You’ve got a whole summer of warm weather around the corner, but just a precious few weeks left of winter skiing and riding, so why not head for the hills this college spring break and work on that goggle tan? SnoCountry.com has gathered up the country’s best spring break destinations for you and your buds, where there’s no danger of getting sand in your margarita.

Mikaela Shiffrin, 19, from Eagle-Vail, Colo., wasn't to be denied defense of her slalom title on her home turf as the FIS Alpine World Championships wind down at Beaver Creek. But, it took a burst of energy near the end of the course. 

Four feet at Mt. Rose, two feet at Squaw Valley, 19 inches at Northstar – winter returned to the Tahoe area with a vengeance this past week. But, California and across the West will see things quieting down and warming up for much of Presidents' Week.

Another day at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships at Beaver Creek, Colo. and a third medal for Slovenia’s Tina Maze who once again spoiled the Austrian party. American Lindsey Vonn was seventh in the downhill portion of the women’s Alpine Combined event but straddled a gate atop the slalom course and did not finish.

It’s about the halfway point of the FIS Alpine World Championships at Beaver Creek, Colo. and there’s still no gold for the U.S. trophy case. But, the U.S. men continue to provide some surprises as Ted Ligety picked up a bronze medal in the Alpine Combined (downhill and slalom) on the strength of a “let it all hang out” slalom performance.

The much ballyhooed and anticipated women's downhill at the FIS Alpine World Championships at Beaver Creek, Colo. is now being bally-hooed in Slovenia where Tina Maze, it's own superstar, won gold in a time of one minute, 45.89. 

What a difference a day makes. After the men’s super-G at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championship at Beaver Creek, Colo. was postponed Wednesday due to heavy snowfall and high winds. Thursday’s re-scheduled race was staged under dream conditions with blue skies on a well-prepared course. 

A $5 million investment in Powderhorn Resort outside Grand Junction, Colo. was announced this week by owners Gart Capital Partners and Andy Daly. Goal is to improve both winter and summer recreation.

The weather map displays more action up north this week, after a period where most of the action has been at the southern edge of ski country in the West.

Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation announced that Chris Diamond, president and chief operating officer, will step down from his current role in June, 2015, the end of the company’s fiscal year. 

Locally sourced ingredients and stunning views make for some of SnoCountry.com’s best mountain top dining destinations. Many offer unique modes of transportation to the restaurant, including sleigh or snowcat rides, making getting there part of the experience, and intimate gatherings that create the opportunity for guests to mingle with other diners and compare notes after a day on the slopes.

The West will continue a season-long a pattern of localized storms that have yet to significantly inundate any particular region, even as the Northeast gets knee-high powder.

Quite clearly, the future of the ski and snowboard industry will rely upon a younger generation that wants to get onto the slopes and trails at a winter resort.

The urge to go beyond the ropes and track up virgin powder often plagues the skier or snowboarder. So one of the best ways to satisfy an off-piste jones is snowcat powder skiing.

More than a few people likely called in sick with the powder flu in and around Salt Lake City this week as a couple of feet of powder fell on the Wasatch – and quickly. 

In these days of high-speed quads, heated seats and WiFi in gondolas, it’s heartening for traditionalists to know that the ritual of climbing up to ski down is still quite popular.

It’s long been a desire of ski and snowboard resorts to get kids on the slopes at as early an age as possible in hopes that they get hooked on the sport early on. At the Aspen-Snowmass Ski and Snowboard Schools, this concept has been taken to another level.

It’s January and while there’s a pause in big powder dumps across the West, it’s a good time to take stock of what skiers and snowboarders have after the holidays.