Employee Profile

Who is Gladys Villeda?

Just one of the sweetest housekeepers ever to enter a unit at the Antlers.

Gladys was born in Honduras and managed to move to the United States in January of 1989. Her dream of living and working in New York was short lived and she didn't last a full winter there. The last I checked, the climate in the Honduras is a bit warmer than up-state New York and I think that may have had something to do with her decision to relocate.

Her choices were clear and after short deliberation of where to settle next, she choose Vail. Ehmmmm?

In January of 1990 Gladys was in Vail to do all the things she has dreamed of doing in a summer wonderland. She realized quickly that she was living in a winter wonderland and decided to stay right here anyway and start her career at the Antlers. We are so glad she did.

Ask her about her hobbies (she has never attempted to ski) and she will tell you that she has four hobbies. They are her children and that keeps her busy enough. If she is not watching Antonio Bandaras movies, she is planning her trip to Hawaii or Puerto Rico (imagine that).

You're Welcome!

Gladys speaks excellent English and speaks with sincerity. She often radios the front desk after cleaning a unit and a typical conversation would go like this: "Unit 204 is ready for check in". The front desk responds "Thank you Gladys". She says "You're welcome". Or "The guest staying in 605 would like service next". "I will do it next"....."Thank you Gladys"....."You're welcome". If you happen to see her leave for the day...."Thanks for a great job today Gladys"...."Your welcome, I will see you tomorrow, sleep well tonight".

You're welcome to come stay with us and and meet this great gal.

Vail Ski Conditions February 2008

2/29/08 Spring skiing baby! Wow, it has been a great week. Powder on Monday night created powder conditions for both Tuesday and Wednesday. Sunshine and some spring warmth on Thursday on Friday. Lots of sunburn, be careful out there. We had a group (including Bob Grossman, owner of 208) that did the Minturn Mile on Wednesday. So crazy with all the snow. Everything was really covered so well. Rocks or stumps that we would usually jump off of (or avoid) we would just ski right over without realizing it. So much snow in Minturn we could still ski down the streets to the Saloon for beers. The sun has probably melted that off the last few days but they are predicting snow again for March 2nd!

2/22/08 2 inches of fresh snow today. Vail reported that we are a record for snowfall from Dec 1st through Feb 22nd. Over 314 inches so far this season.

2/21/08 Yep, we have been a bit lazy keeping up on the snow conditions lately. I'll tell ya this much, we are finally seeing the SUN every now and then. Yipee! In the last 10 days we haven't received a lot of new snow but the mountain is keeping up pretty good. Last weekend (Sunday) we had 3-5 inches up on the mountain. Overall, the top 1/2 of the mountain is great, the bottom half has had some freeze and thaw cycles so it is a bit icy down low unless you are on the groomed. Don't worry about the snow base. There is PLENTY on the ground here in town. Weather predictions are for a bit of snow for the Northern mountains (that's us) for Monday/Tuesday Chris R.

2/8/08 Some of you might be wondering...."where are the snow updates"? Well, it seems like it has been non-stop this winter and we almost sound like a broken record with, "another powder day". We had that drought in November, which made us all nervous. Channel 9 news out of Denver interviewed Rob (our General Manager) right before Thanksgiving due to the lack of snow and I remember Rob saying, "when we get a dry November we usually have an above average winter". I can't remember his exact words.... but when I heard that I was thinking, "yeah, RIGHT". Well, here we are and it has certainly been an above average winter. Right now they have Interstate 70 closed in both directions from Georgtown to Avon. That's about 60 miles of freeway. Nothing else to do, so I'm going skiing. Chris R.

2/1/08 It just doesn't end. Another powder day. 7-9 inches of super light snow and not too many people on the hill. Not as much snow in Game Creek bowl which was weird. I think there was maybe 10 inches outside the Antlers, then 6 inches up in Game Creek. I had to get off the mountain for work but I saw BERT FARIN heading to the Gondola with Randi and Rob. He was on those super thin Telli skis. 20 year old technology! I don't know how he does it. Chris R.

And oh how he does it ... here's a picture of Bert cutting it up on Jade Glade. A lot more snow there than there was in Game Creek, Ratz. This next picture of Randi was taken as she popped out of the woods at the bottom of Way Over Yonder. That was followed by some frivolity on the lift with Bert's boda bag of lemoncelli (similar to limoncello, but not quite).

What fun.
RL

Employee Profile

Born Christopher Allen Ratzlaff of Waconia, Minnesota. We affectionately call him Ratz.

Ratz is a serious and responsible type person. He told his mother and father at the age of 3 that he was moving to Vail to get a job at the Antlers. His loving parents, Dale and Janette, insisted he wait until he finished college. So he was off to Saint Johns University to get his degree in Economics and then he was on his way. We're not sure of the date, but we think he drove his International Scout here when he was 11. (Actually, Ratz has been at the Antlers since 1990).

Ask him a question and the answer will be matter of fact, plain and simple. For instance; who is your favorite president? Ronnie Reagan off course. And your favorite country? He'll roll his eyes, USA. And you always wanted to be? Rich.

One of the most active people we know, he has traveled extensively to pursue his need to ski other countries, bike different mountains, and camp in different caves. He is married now girls and his lovely wife, Sara, enjoys everything he does.

As our Assistant Manager, Chris Ratzlaff is not only respected here, but through out the valley. We all know and recognize his importance in the day to day operation of the Antlers. He is also know as the Director of All Things Big and Small and is not someone that could easily be replaced; and he's a great guy.

Antlers at Vail Employee Profile

Lets meet DARCI WALLS

Employed at the Antlers since 2004, she is our reservations manager and our good friend.

I had a few questions.....and Darci had a few answers......

So where are you from originally? " I was born and raised just down the road in Eagle"

You must be a great skier? " I haven't skied since 7th grade and I only did that because my Dad made me".

So what our your hobbies? "I like to shop, but I think it's more like a habit".

What is your favorite place other than Vail? "Anywhere there are palm trees. And a beach. And pretty drinks with umbrellas in them".

What kind of car did you want for your 16th birthday? "A Ferrari 360 Modenna".

Did you get it? "No. It was a S15 pick-up, with a little rust and bald tires. I graduated to a yellow Cadilac DeVille that got no gas milage, but it had leather seats. Me and my friends were really hot in that car. I'm saving for that Ferrari".

Who is your favorite actor? "Mike Myers and any movie he is in". Ohhh Behave.

What's your sign? "I'm a Scorpio". I never would have guessed.

If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be? "Marilyn Monroe". Good answer.

What is your ultimate goal? "To retire somewhere around the age of 35, with a Ferrari in the garage".

What are you doing this weekend? "None of your business".

When you arrive, Darci will greet you with a smile. She told me that coming to work is a pleasure because of the people she works with. "We are all like family here". I am witness that she is capable of making you feel the same way.

Super Bowl Party

Every year we talk about having a Super Bowl party in the conference room with the big screen. Well, we finally decided to do it this year, but only as a "trial run" with just our staff and few other friends. Of course it was an incredible game, which helped, but overall it was a great time. Half way into the second quarter we whipped up a makeshift box grid and Janina drew numbers for anyone who wanted in. Fifty cents a square. Evelyn mopped up with the 7 - 0 numbers at the end of quarters two and three, worth $15 each. Aaron from maintenance made out with the final $20 when Eli hit Plaxico at the end. Greg, Lisa and I had bets on everything from whether the next commercial would be for beer or a car, to what song Tom Petty would play first. Oh yeah, we bet on the game, too. Ultimately, I'm into them for three bucks. Whoopee.

Joe and Janina Greene (110 owners) joined us, as did Nate and Lisa (from the Sonnenalp and the Christie Lodge, respectively). Staffers Justin, Magdalena (and husband Tony), Darci (with daughter Maria), Crissy, Lisa and Ratz all joined in for at least part of the game. We used up a fair amount of Coors beer, somewhat past the born-on date I believe (but hey, "free" rhymes with "me"). And the foodstuffs were perfect ... Greg boiled some old fashioned tube steaks, which when smothered with Evelyn's elk chili were good enough for me to down a pair of them (or was it 3?). Ratz snagged a bunch of crawfish from the Vail Chophouse, who had a Mardi Gras celebration going on. Plenty of grilled Buffalo wings, chips, deviled eggs and some of Lisa's leftover (but tasty) birthday cake all insured that everyone went home pleasantly stuffed.

All in all it was a hoot. Now that we know this works, we'll have to do it again next year with a few more folks invited. Heck, maybe we'll even crank it up for the Stanley Cup. Give us a shout if you want to join us ... you're definitely welcome.

Rob