Mountain High opens in Wrightwood

Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood opened Saturday with the Easy Rider chairlift at the East Resort and a 6″-12″ base. Because of an inversion, snowmaking conditions have been better at the bottom of the mountain than at the top so snowmaking crews took advantage of the cold temperatures and have been blowing snow. 

Look for Easy Rider chair to service beginner terrain with a complete rail garden and several lines of jibs fashioned by the Faultline Terrain Park. Early season lift tickets are just $25 and regular operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until additional terrain opens. 

“We’re happy to be open and to have something to offer our seasonpass holders and guests who have been anxiously waiting for the season to start,” said John McColly, Director of Marketing. 

Snowmaking expanded to the West Resort Thursday night where the crew has been making snow top to bottom. Operations will continue as long as temperatures permit and Mountain High expects to open more terrain in the next several days.

Weather forecasts are calling for a favorable change with possible snow showers beginning Dec. 10. Please keep in touch with the resort’s website at mthigh.com for the most up to date information. 

This season snowmaking efficiency at Mountain High has been increased by installing 25 new top-of-the-line Ratnik snowmaking nozzles. The nozzles utilize a new patent-pending design requiring half the amount of compressed air for snowmaking.

This results in increased efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, and energy savings. Best of all, manmade snow is real snow. It is made using only two ingredients: compressed air and water. 

A limited number of Mountain High season passes are still available at a discounted price of $349 (save $250). Visit mthigh.com for details.

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Steamboat Ski Resort opens

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It’s official, the 2008-09 winter season at Steamboat Ski & Resort is now open. The season kicked off on Wednesday with the resort’s traditional opening day benefiting the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s Scholarship Foundation. Lift tickets were $20 and more than 500 people came out to take advantage of the perfect early season day and support the local organization.

The resort is running 2 chairs with access to 10 trails and 40 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain. As cold temperatures continue in the area, our hard working snowmaking crews will continue to add to the base and open more terrain. A natural boost from Mother Nature could possibly drop snow on the resort over the weekend, allowing even more terrain to open. Forecasters are calling for a La Nina weather pattern this year, which bodes well for Steamboat.

We’re looking forward to the next season to remember, after last year’s record breaking 489 inches of snow. The best way to keep up to date on snowfall, on-mountain conditions and weather reports is by visiting www.steamboat.com.

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Northstar opens in Lake Tahoe

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, recently ranked among the top three resorts in the country by the readers of Transworld Snowboarding and in the top 25 by the readers of SKI Magazine, is  opening for the winter 2008-09 season on Saturday, Dec. 6.

 

Consistently cold temperatures this week allowed Northstar to fire up North Lake Tahoe’s largest snowmaking system, creating some of the best early season ski conditions in North Lake Tahoe. The National Weather Service forecast calls for temperatures to remain low the next few nights, which will allow the resort to continue to make snow and open additional terrain as temperatures permit.

The resort will operate three chairlifts; Arrow Express and Vista Express will open at 8:30 a.m., providing access to five beginner and intermediate ski trails, and Bear Paw will experience a late opening that will provide access to beginner terrain in the resort’s teaching area.

A variety of terrain park features including boxes and rails will also be offered. Early season lift tickets are available for $45 for adults and young adults, and $15 for children ages five through 12 (under five ski for free).

Additionally, ski and snowboard lessons will be offered for adults and children through the resort’s Ski & Snowboard School, rental and demo equipment will be available, and food and beverage locations both in the Village at Northstar and at mid-mountain will be open.

Monday through Friday, from opening day through Dec.19, Northstar Resort invites first-timers ages 13+ to learn to ski or ride for just $25. This offer includes a two and a half hour lesson, lift ticket accessing beginner terrain and rental equipment, and can be purchased in advance online at www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com, or on the day of at the resort’s rental equipment shop.

This past summer, Northstar Resort improved the snowmaking efficiency of its already extensive snowmaking system with the addition of 16 new high-efficiency fan guns, 100 new low-energy stick snowmaking guns, and the retrofitting of older snowmaking equipment, making it 24 percent more efficient and reducing the amount of resources needed to make snow. The resort’s snowmaking system can cover more than 50 percent of the resort’s trails, allowing Northstar Resort to offer some of the best early season conditions in North Lake Tahoe.

And, new this season, guests can track weather patterns in real time over precise locations at the resort with Northstar Resort’s new Interactive Radar, available online at www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com.

The 35 shops and restaurants in the Village at Northstar and the Village Skating Rink are open daily. Access to the rink is complimentary; skate rentals are available for just $5. The rink is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., conditions permitting.

For the latest snow conditions, upcoming event information and opening day updates for Northstar Resort, visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com or call 530.562.1330.

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com.

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Peak 2 Peak to open in Whistler

Winter is here! Whistler Ski Resort prepares for the one year countdown to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This season promises to be more epic than ever with the much-anticipated opening of Whistler Blackcomb’s record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola on December 12.

The showcase event of the 2008/ 09 winter season – Whistler Blackcomb’s PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will officially open to the public December 12, 2008. The launch of this mountain marvel set to become a new Canadian tourism icon will forever revolutionize the way visitors experience this all-season resort.

Plenty of activities and celebrations are planned for opening day, beginning with an official ceremony and performances atop of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Following a traditional ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will depart both terminals with its first guests on board.

Those guests will include ‘Ride of Their Life’ winners, 22 well-deserving Whistler citizens who were nominated by the community for their passion for life in Whistler. The Gondola will then run throughout the afternoon, open to all guests – skiers, snowboarders and sightseers. After a historic day on the mountain, the celebration continues into the evening, with a ‘Grand Apres’ in Skiers Plaza, live performances, film, DJs and family-friendly entertainment.

The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is a phenomenal feat of engineering and will break three world records, including longest unsupported span for a lift of this kind (3.024km/1.88miles), highest lift of its kind (435m/ 1,427 feet) and longest continual lift system (guests can ride up Whistler Mountain Gondola, across the valley to Blackcomb Mountain on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, and down Solar Coaster and Wizard chairs, a unique all-season experience for sightseers.) www.PEAK2PEAKgondola.com

7-Eleven Fire and Ice Show
Every Sunday starting December 14, 2008 – April 5, 2009
Whistler Blackcomb will be kicking off the Fire and Ice season with a special show during the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Grand Opening December 12 (weather and snow permitting). Following the kick off, Whistler Blackcomb will turn up the heat every Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. at the base of Whistler Mountain.

Ski and snowboard schools’ hottest pros throw down big air and tricks to music with fire spinners, fireworks wrapping it all up with Johnny Cash’s familiar voice and the famous ring of fire. This is a free, family friendly event not to be missed.

Kokanee Valley Race Series, starts December 18
The Kokanee Valley Race Series is held on Thursdays throughout the season and is open to skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders with different gender and age divisions. No racing experience is required, just come along and have some fun!

The Whistler Holiday Experience, December 19, 2008 – January 4, 2009
This FREE family fun zone is unparalleled for indoor entertainment and fun! Running daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the holiday season at the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre, enjoy mini-golf, bouncy castles, kid’s movie screenings and video games for the whole family to experience; Santa arrives on December 20 at 11 a.m. for the official opening party. Please note: Due to alternate programming, the Whistler Holiday Experience will be closed December 24, 25, and 31.

Dress like Santa Day – and ski for free, December 20
Don ye now your Santa Claus apparel. To get in the Christmas spirit, Whistler Blackcomb welcomes all holiday enthusiasts to ‘dress like Santa’ on December 20 and ski or board Whistler or Blackcomb mountains for free!

Whistler First Night, December 31
Whistler’s First Night is the legendary come one, come all New Year’s Eve celebration that takes over Whistler’s Village Stroll and the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre, to say goodbye to the old and to welcome the new. This year’s program promises new, fun and fresh ideas, featuring an inspiring program of great live music, art workshops and street entertainment for people of all ages.
www.whistlerfirstnight.com

Packages…

Whistler is the holiday winter wonderland everyone dreams about, and there’s incredible packages to take advantage with great value offerings.

If you book before December 19 enjoy two nights’ accommodation and two days skiing from less than CAD $200 per person! Visit www.whistler.com or call 1.800.WHISTLER for more information and additional ski and stay vacation packages. Skiing Magazine readers recently voted Whistler Blackcomb as North America’s #1 ski resort for the 12th consecutive year – so what are you waiting for?

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Crested Butte opens

Crested Butte Mountain Resort opened Nov. 26 for the 2009 ski season.

“We are in better shape this year than last without a doubt,” says Ken Stone, Chief Operating Officer. “The team is really getting the resort set for a successful season on and off the mountain. Skiing and riding is only a part of the experience here.”

 Passholders of other resorts will enjoy half price skiing! Simply bring your pass to the CBMR ticket office through Dec. 17, 2008 to receive a half-price ticket. The discount applies to full and multi-day tickets only, and includes adult, teen, and kid’s pricing. Adult tickets are as low as $29.50.

“With the new Thin Air Sports retail shop, updated ski and snowboard rental and retail areas, the new Camp CB Ski and Snowboard Center, a completely new culinary program at each restaurant, and so many other improvements here, guests are going to be inspired for the season,” Stone said.  

 Skiers and riders can check out snow conditions, get the latest snow report, and more information at www.skicb.com.

 Crested Butte has been named as Skiing Magazine’s #1 Best Steeps, #8 Best Trees, #10 Best Powder, and Outside Magazine’s Top Places To Live Now, Sunset Magazine’s # 3 Top Dream Towns, SKI Magazine’s #20 Readers Survey Top Resort, and SkiNet’s # 3 Top Ski Town. Crested Butte was also named one of America’s Best Small Ski Towns by Travel + Leisure Magazine.

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Alpine NorAm Cup begin at Loveland

The 2009 Alpine NorAm Cup, a steppingstone tour for aspiring World Cup racers, began today at Loveland Ski Area in Colorado with men’s slalom races on Dec. 2 & 3 and women’s slalom races Dec. 4 & 5.

 

Originally scheduled to start on Monday, the races had to be pushed back one day because a holiday storm covered Loveland Ski Area with 58 inches of snow in 72 hours.

 

“The NorAm races are a right of passage for young racers and enable us to track the progress of those coming up the pipeline,” said U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director Jesse Hunt.  “This tour is important in both getting athletes experience and gaining World Cup starts.  Last year we had good success and won nine out of 12 NorAm titles.”

 

Athletes winning discipline titles, as well as the runner-up, receive World Cup starts for the following season.

 

“Every athlete that’s been to the Olympics or who races on the World Cup competed at the NorAm level at one time including Olympic champions Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso who started their careers racing the circuit and both actually also won NorAm titles when they were younger.”

 

“Loveland is proud to be hosting the kickoff of the 2009 Alpine NorAm Cup,” said Rob Goodell, Director of Business Operations at Loveland Ski Area. “We were forced to postpone the races because of the huge storm over the weekend, but we will get things started on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Loveland Valley and invite everyone to come out to see some of the best young ski racers in the world.”

 

The first run is at 10 each day with the second run starting at 1 p.m.  Spectators are invited to watch the race and will be able to access the race course via Chair 3 at Loveland Valley.  Walking spectators will also be able to access the course via a walkway from the base area.

Loveland Ski Area is located 53 miles west of Denver, or 12 miles east of Silverthorne at Exit 216 on Interstate 70.  
Call (303) 571-5580 or visit www.skiloveland.com for the latest snow conditions, live web cams and additional information.

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