The worst thing about skiing and snowboarding is getting beat up on the slopes. When I come off a mountain, I look more like I just stepped out of a ring with Lennox Lewis. So it's only fitting that the best part of skiing and snowboarding is the excuse you have to go a' spa-ing to soothe your poor, frozen, aching limbs. One of the best snow-season openings in my book is the Sebastian Vail by the reputable Timbers Resorts, which is offering the perfect package for intermediate mountaineers and spa lovers like myself. The boutique resort and private residence, which opened this month in Vail, Colorado, has put together a "Ski Free, Spa Free" package that includes free lift tickets to the mountain and complimentary massages at their destination spa, Bloom Spa. The spa itself is a centerpiece, and the incredibly-priced packages, with an on-site Pop-Up spa initiative, make the snow/spa deal even sweeter.

Bloom Spa, along with the San Francisco-based spa consulting firm Francis & Alexander, have focused their direction toward more therapeutic and restorative treatments. Treatments focus on six basic initiatives: Thrive, Nourish, Flourish, Luxuriate, Glow and Refresh, with a menu that includes appropriate treatments like the “8150 Elevation Attunement,” which includes oxygen inhalation, a high altitude massage, and an oxygenating elixir to promote adaptation to the higher altitude of the Rockies. For a pre-ski treatment, guests can book the “Morning Glory,” which is a 50-minute oxygen inhalation/stretching/foot balm and sunscreen application to prepare your body for the damage you're about to inflict upon it (again, this could be just me).

The "Ski Free, Spa Free" package combines a day of skiing for free in Vail with complimentary massages at Bloom. It's sort of the adventurer/relaxer's package, for those who like the best of both worlds. The cherry? A three-night package starts at $199 per person, per night. Which, if you've ever purchased a lift ticket, you know is quite a deal.

On top of that, the Spa is aiming to offer a daily Pop-Up Spa, surfacing at The Sebastian’s on-mountain experience they're calling “Basecamp.” No reservation required, the spa will likely be found near your favorite on-site après ski watering hole. Guests will be able to put their names on the list, order a cocktail or and relax in a—get this—zero gravity chair as their feet are skillfully massaged.

In a statement given by Spa Director Ivonne van Loveren, the focus is on luxury. "Bloom Spa will cater to the most discerning clientele," she explained. I'm not sure how discerning one has to be to say "yes" to a foot rub after a day on the mountain, but I would agree that it's not exactly roughing it.