If you are in the middle of Denver, you are (on a normal driving day)
- 01:00 from Eldora
- 1:15 from Loveland
- 1:45 from Breck or Keystone
- 2:00 from Copper or Winter Park
- 2:20 from Vail
- 2:35 from Beaver Creek
...if you aren't satisfied with this skiing, you might as well take up bowling!
Additionally, you might choose to live in the foothills - Evergreen, Chief Hosa, maybe even Idaho Springs - then you'd be one hour from the flying, but even closer to the skiing!
In general you won't find heli schools near mountain resorts - piston trainers don't do well at 8,000'...