WINTER LIFESTYLE: MOUNTAIN LIVING
HIGH-ALTITUDE PAMPERING BUT SOAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR MORE THAN RELAXATION
By Stephanie Miller / Photos courtesy of The Spa Man in Granby

In mountain communities, spas are almost considered a necessity, not a luxury. Grand County’s winters can be long and harsh, and with so many outdoor activities at our fingertips, most bodies crave a good soak.

But spas have improved since your parent’s hot tub. Yes they’re still containers of hot water, but spa dealers know they’re catering to a different clientele who are demanding more than just a product. Today, customers are seeking benefits for their bodies, their health, their minds, and the environment, not just a luxury item.

When we think of spas, we think of warm, swirling bodies of water, relaxation and luxury. Today’s spas offer that and so much more. The home spa and hot tub industry continues to grow as more homeowners are discovering the health benefits of owning their own spa. Not only does a warm soak soothe the nerves and relax the mind; the warmth and buoyancy of warm water can relieve muscle pain and improve flexibility. It can also help relieve symptoms of arthritis, improve blood circulation and restore muscle strength.

Today’s spas contain powerful jet pumps that penetrate the muscles through hydro massage, a massage based on therapeutic use of warm water. The jets are designed to massage the body evenly, and some are customizable so that different muscles can be kneaded more than others.

For an active community such as Grand County’s, owning a home spa offers many benefits besides pampering. Residents and visitors play hard all year – skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking – and their bodies pay a price.

Rex Hastings, owner of Bear Dance Spas in Fraser, agrees that many customers use spas for therapeutic value. “People up here tend to be active. It’s not a retirement community,” Hastings said. “People use spas for arthritis, health and therapeutic reasons.”

THINKING GREEN -
What else do Grand Countians look for in a hot tub? “Energy efficiency is huge,” says Dan Machiniak, president of The Spa Man, located in Granby. “It’s the number one question.”

With Grand County’s extreme temperatures and climate, a hot tub needs to be well insulated. The material it’s made out of should sustain extreme conditions, and how the hot tub is engineered is equally important. “If a company is still using old technology, chances are their hot tubs are not heating efficiently, and customers lose money in the long run,” Machiniak points out.

Bear Dance Spas, for instance, uses multiple layers of highdensity foam to keep heat inside the spa. “The pumps take less energy to operate than a 75-watt bulb,” claims Hastings.

The Spa Man uses internal plumbing in its spas, which recycles heat created by the pumps and “saves on your electricity bill,” Machiniak notes. A sturdy, insulated cover is also important for keeping the heat in.

As far as savings go, inefficient spas can cost anywhere from $80 to $100 a month in Grand County, where winters are rigid and temperatures dip well below freezing. But a spa that is well insulated and energy efficient can run on an average of 262 kilowatts a months, costing roughly $20 a month to heat.

Maintaining a constant temperature year-round reduces the cost of heating and keeps spas running smoothly. This is especially important for second homeowners who only stay at their mountain homes twice a year. If their spas are losing heat, maintaining it becomes a chore instead of something to look forward to.

“You want hot water in there. Plus when (the homeowner) comes up, they don’t want to wait all day for it to heat back up,” Hastings said. “That’s where a cheaper spa can be expensive. They lose a lot of heat and are not energy efficient.”

Using fewer chemicals is also more environmentally friendly. Almost everyone has sat in a spa that reeks of chlorine and stings the eyes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. When spas are treated correctly and often, the water is clear and non-irritating. Some spas contain ozonators, which reduce chemical use and create cleaner water. Having a lot of filtration, a circulation pump, and additional cleansers such as natural spa enzymes can also help break down wastes and oils that keep chlorine from working harder.

Maintaining a proper chemical balance is not only earth friendly, but also it’s good for the spa’s plumbing, heaters and pumps. It reduces the amount of time needed to clean the spa as well, so water does not have to be replaced as often.

“People don’t want to maintain spas anymore then they have to. But it’s hot water – you have to maintain it,” Hastings said. “(But) there’s a lot of things you can do instead of putting a lot of chemicals in.”

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY -
Another major theme in the spa industry is ease of use. “Low maintenance” strikes a chord in all Grand County locals. When they return from a long day on the slopes, the last thing they want to do is worry about whether their spa is working.

“People just want to pull the cover back and jump in,” Hastings said.

That’s why spas are now made of material that doesn’t require sanding or staining every year; they are constructed to last longer, inside and out.

Still, problems are inevitable, so spa companies offer the next best thing – dependable customer service. That’s why Hastings and Machiniak live in Grand County, not on the Front Range. When people have problems with their spas, they don’t want to wait weeks to have their spas fixed. They want someone there they can count on.

A dependable spa company will deliver and set up the spa, and explain how to maintain it properly. Knowing that most of their clientele are second homeowners, The Spa Man also offers to service the spas when the owners are out of town.

MOUNTAIN FOLKS AREN'T INTO FANCY GADGETS -
Some magazines report that the biggest luxury trends this year are hot tub entertainment systems, spa TVs and DVD combinations. But in a mountain community where snow measures in feet, not inches, and temperatures can drop below 40 degrees, Machiniak admitted he doesn’t push any of these features.

“It’s very harsh up here – anything’s possible. It’s more sensible to wire speakers from your home,” he explains. “You want to keep it as simple as possible.” Hastings said he also doesn’t receive a lot of requests for sound systems or TVs. Many homeowners have music on their deck or some other source if they need it, he added. All in all, customers want to keep it simple. Mountain communities reflect a laid-back lifestyle, and owning a spa should be part of that way of life.

But there’s no denying the luxurious aspect of owning a spa. Mountain living isn’t always a walk in the park, and although durability, low maintenance and energy efficiency all play important roles in the spa industry, spa owners also crave relaxation and therapy for their minds and their bodies. After all, they deserve it.

“I think people want simple, but they also want the luxury and benefits the hot tub and spa can deliver,” Hastings said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for massage therapy, tranquility, arthritis (treatment) … or you just want to sit there. There are so many things you can do with it that appeals to your mental and physical health … (and) the luxury features in today’s high quality spas continue to evolve and provide all those benefits.”

“Why wouldn’t everybody have one?” Hastings wonders with a smile.


READ MORE STORIES ON WINTER LIFESTYLE IN:
• In the Backcountry: Randonnee Skiing on Berthoud Pass Colorado
• Seventies to Sensational: Small Cabin Project Evolves into Grand Renovation
• Home Spas: Mountain Living Deserves High-Altitude, Eco-friendly Pampering
• Winter Sports Can Lead to Injuries: Find Out How to Avoid Them
• Wood Stoves: Popularity of Burning Wood Heats Up
• The Glide: Nordic Classic Ski Basics