Spring-A-Ma-Jig at Mountain High

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Spring-A-Ma-Jig is here! Spring-A-Ma-Jig
is Mountain High’s annual spring break celebration with a full lineup of
contests, activities, and live performances.

Every Saturday and Sunday through Easter guests are invited to
participate in events like Pond Skimming, Frozen T-shirt Contest, and Get Ready
to Rock…Band.

There will also be special events like the Miss Mountain
High Bikini Contest presented by X103.9, Snowboard Magazine BBQ, and Easter Egg
Hunt.

 

Daily events begin at 11 a.m. with the
Big Ollie contest where skiers and snowboarders
see who can ollie the highest.

At noon the Tug-O-War begins and at 1 p.m. contestants
must break a t-shirt out of a block of ice and put it on before their
competitors do in the Frozen T-shirt Contest.

At 2 p.m. Get Ready to
Rock…Band puts wanna-be rockers in the limelight as they play the video
game Rock Band on the main stage
in front of adoring fans.

To finish the day guests skim across
a 50 foot pond of freezing cold water in the ever-popular Pond Skimming at 3 p.m.

All activities are free and open to anyone with a Mountain High lift ticket.
Prizes go to standout performers in each Spring-A-Ma-Jig event.

Miss Mountain High Bikini
Contest Presented by X103.9 – April 5, 12pm

Winner of the bikini contest
receives a 2009/10 Season
Pass
, commemorative
t-shirt, Fresh Peaches bikini, and a page in the 2010 X103.9 calendar. Tune
into X103.9 for entry details. X103.9 will be broadcasting live from 9am to 12pm. 

Easter Celebration

Bring the kids and the kids at heart
to Mountain High’s annual Easter celebration. There will be two Easter
Egg Hunts (one for adults and one for kids) and both have a GOLDEN EGG hidden
with a free 2009/10 Season Pass inside.

The adult Easter Egg Hunt begins at 8 a.m.
with eggs located throughout the West resort. Children 12 and under can take
part in a children’s Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 10 a.m. in front of the
Children’s Academy.

 To check out Mountain High’s
Spring-A-Ma-Jig video spoof, please visit mthigh.com/video or get additional Spring-A-Ma-Jig
details at mthigh.com.

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Late storm dumps snow in Wrightwood

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Winter returned to
Mountain High over the weekend as temperatures dropped nearly 20 degrees in 24 hours and snow began falling on Sunday.

This dramatic change in
weather is a welcome treat for skiers and snowboarders looking for a few more
powder slashes this season.

Weather forecasts are calling for up to four inches
of new snow from the weekend storm and the snowmaking crew expects to begin snowmaking this
evening.

 

Mountain High West is open today from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with night
skiing tonight night from 5-10 p.m. Up to six lifts will be in operation
accessing 22 trails with terrain for all levels and abilities.

Please
note that lifts and trails are subject to change without notice. All
trails at West have been groomed and we currently have a 12 to 36 inch
base of firm machine groomed snow.

For more
information please visit mthigh.com.

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Big Bear resorts offer Screamin’ Deals

Hit
the slopes for FREE with Big Bear Mountain Resorts’ deal on
2009/2010 Season Passes! Just purchase a season
pass for the 2009/2010 season and ski or board the rest of this season
FREE.

“During these difficult economic times our guests need to get away and
we want to help them do just that while keeping more of their money in
their wallet,” said Chris Riddle, Director of Marketing. “Our season passes pay for themselves in as little as
four visits – there is no better way to save a lot of money and
continue to enjoy the slopes.”

2009/2010 Screamin’ Deal Season Passes are valid for both Bear Mountain
and Snow Summit. Prices start at $89 for children and $249 for adults.
Season pass holders can use a single pass to access both Bear Mountain
and Snow Summit which includes 26 lifts, 438 developed acres, more than
55 runs, and the #1 Park in the Nation.

The ski resorts offer excellent coverage with a deep snow base that will last
well into April. New features include $12 million in snowmaking capabilities,
new Rideshare Program and Know B4 U Go Text Messaging Program.

For the most current weather, road and snow conditions, call
800-BEAR-MTN or 888-SUMMIT-1 or text “NOW” to 52406. To view updated
terrain maps, log on to www.bearmountain.com or www.snowsummit.com.

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Mount Hood an intermediate skier’s dream

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Story
and photos by Marlene Greer
/Correspondent


If
you want to feel like you are king or queen of the mountain, head to
Oregon’s Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort.

That’s
the way my daughter and I felt on a recent day in February. We
stopped midway through a run and stood under a mostly sunny sky – a
rare occurrence in Oregon in winter – looking down the snow-covered
slopes of Mt. Hood, across the fog-shrouded valley and took in the
sweeping vista of the Cascade Range.

Miles
of pine tree-covered mountains and snow-capped peaks stretched as far
as the eye could see. If we weren’t so focused on enjoying our
first ski trip of the season, we could have spent the afternoon
parked mountainside savoring a cup of hot tea and the fabulous view.

Stopping
frequently to take in the views is one of the joys of skiing at Mt.
Hood Meadows on a good day. And with a solid 12-foot base and six
inches of fresh snow this week, those good days should last well into
April.

Mt.
Hood Meadows, a little over an hour’s drive from Portland, is the
largest and most popular of the several ski resorts around Mt. Hood.
It’s also an intermediate skiers dream. With 50 percent of the
mountain labeled intermediate, skiers at that level have the run of
the place. That leaves 35 percent of the mountain for experts and 15
percent for beginners.

Experts
can hike the peak’s Superbowl ridge and make their way through
Clark Canyon – all double black diamond terrain. For the less
adventurous, a jump off into Heather Canyon from the Cascade and
Shooting Star lifts offers a smorgasbord of double black diamond
choices.

Beginners
have a quiet little edge of the mountain all to themselves. Tucked on
the resort’s west side off the Vista Express is a selection of
green runs offering a fun variety for the novice skier.

Being
so close to Portland, Mt. Hood Meadows can get crowded on the
weekends, with the biggest crush at the Main Lodge and the Mt. Hood
Express in the mountain’s central ski area.

To
get away from the crowds, skiers can head to the more remote Shooting
Star Express on the mountain’s east end. Here, my daughter and I
felt like we had the place to ourselves – even on a Saturday. Many
times we could look 50-plus yards in all directions and not see a
single person. This portion of the mountain is quiet, peaceful and
perfectly suited to immediate skiers.

There
is no lodging at Mt. Hood Meadows. Several hotels in Hood River on
the Columbia River about 30 miles from the ski resort offer ski and
stay packages, including room, hot breakfast and lift tickets for
two.

For
those staying in Portland, bus service direct to Mt. Hood Meadows
picks up at locations throughout the Portland Metro area. Or shuttle
services are available through private companies.

Visitors
can find information on lodging in Hood River and bus service from
Portland on the Mt. Hood Meadows website.

MT.
HOOD MEADOWS SKI RESORT

Lift
tickets:
$54 adults, $44 college students 18-24, $35 juniors age
7-14, $9 children age 6 and under; $99 unlimited spring season pass

Information:
www.skihood.com

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Skiing in luxury at Squaw Creek

RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK

By
Marlene Greer

Correspondent

When
you cruise down a long run, hitting the base of the mountain at the
end of the day and a ski valet politely takes your skis and poles for
the night, saving you the schlep to the ski check, you know you’re
being pampered.

And
when you kick back in your room wearing a thick robe enjoying a cup
of tea and aprs-ski snacks, gas fireplace glowing, you know
this is the luxe life.

That
luxury is what defines a ski vacation at the Resort at Squaw Creek,
the premier on-mountain lodge at Squaw Valley USA in North Lake
Tahoe.

The
ski-in/ski-out resort opened in 1990 and completed a $53-million
renovation a few years ago that converted its 405 guest rooms into
privately-owned luxury residential units with gas fireplaces, huge
king-size beds with plush down comforters, resort kitchens with a
stovetop, mini-fridge and coffeemaker, and large flat-screen LCD
televisions.

The
resort, however, continues to operate as it did, with owners choosing
to place their resort home in the hotel rental program.

Skiers
have a choice of a standard deluxe room, one-, two- or three-bedroom
suite, or even a penthouse. And now through April 30, guests can
experience this luxury for 20 percent off for a stay of two nights or
more. Or skiers can opt for the resort’s 3-day Ski Gourmet Getaway
package, which includes deluxe lodging, lift tickets and $100 per day
dining credit. Rates start at $289 per person per night.

One
thing skiers need to be aware of is that the ski-in/ski-out access at
the resort is for intermediate skiers and above. Beginning skiers
must take the shuttle from the resort to the Squaw Valley ski area –
only a few minutes drive. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes
throughout the day.

Recent
storms have dropped several feet of fresh snow at Squaw Valley,
making conditions ideal for spring skiing. And for skiers, what’s
better than fresh snow and on-mountain lodging – with a bit of
pampering thrown in.

And
what’s a bit of pampering without a spa treatment?

Spa
prices at Squaw Creek are in line with other resort hotels. A
50-minute Swedish massage is $125, a firming seaweed body wrap is
$185 and facials are $80-$145. The resort’s signature Tahoe hot
stone massage, a rhythmic massage using various sizes of heated
basalt stones from the shores of Lake Tahoe, is $135.

If
a spa treatment isn’t in your budget, perhaps a few turns around
the resort’s ice rink might be. Or just enjoy an aprs-ski
soak in one of the resort’s three outdoor hot tubs or a swim in the
outdoor heated pool.

For
dining, there are two restaurants (Montagna and Six Peaks Grille),
Sandy’s Pub and Sweet Potatoes Deli. The deli is great for light –
and less expensive – dining. The homemade soups and sandwiches are
prefect lunch and light dinner fare and the breakfast burritos ideal
for a quick meal. For those wanting a full breakfast, a buffet or
off-the-menu selections are available in Six Peaks Grille.

RESORT
AT SQUAW CREEK

(800)
327-3353;
www.squawcreek.com

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Poling around Brighton Ski Resort

By
Marlene Greer

Correspondent

There’s
a lot of poling involved.”

That
was the warning my friend and I received from a passenger on the ski
bus from Salt Lake City to Brighton. We had not skied there before
and he was offering some advice.

You
have to watch out for the flat areas; you need to keep up speed.”

That,
we later discovered, was good advice.

Brighton,
a good-size ski area about an hour’s bus ride south of Salt Lake
City in Big Cottonwood Canyon, is divided into three distinct areas,
and it takes a bit of effort with your poles to get from one to
another and back again. Plus, a large, flat beginning area
mid-mountain will have you working up a sweat unless you heed our
friendly passenger’s advice and “keep up speed.”

With
66 marked trails and several off-piste runs, Brighton’s terrain is
approximately 20 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate and 40
percent advanced. All areas are accessible by high-speed quads.

The
central area of the mountain is where most of the resort’s beginner
runs are located along with its terrain park. Beginning skiers can
ride the slower Majestic Express quad to mid-mountain and hit a few
groomed runs. More advanced skiers can take the Crest Express to the
top of the mountain, where several short runs lead back to the
mid-mountain beginner area.

A
ski-through at mid-mountain takes you to the Snake Creek Express to
the top of the other side of Preston Peak. From here, advance skiers
can blast down several chutes or beginners can take a long track back
to the base.

Though
the mountain was not crowded midweek following a fresh snow, this was
the most popular area with longer lift lines.

But
over on the east side of the resort, it was practically deserted.
Here, it’s so open that you can go off the groomed trails and
choose your own path through areas of powder. With the exception of
maybe two runs, this is all intermediate to advanced skiing.

The
third ski area on the mountain’s west end is for experts only and
is accessed by the Great Western Express up to Clayton Peak. This
combination area of groomed and not groomed has several chutes coming
off a long ridge. From here, you can ski a track at the top of the
mountain back to the central area of the resort. But if you decide to
ski to the bottom, it will take a bit of speed and a lot of poling to
get there.

Brighton,
with its location in Big Cottonwood Canyon at 8,500 feet elevation,
gets more than 500 inches of snow a season. The latest snow report
shows an 8-foot base with two feet of fresh snow in the last two
days.

Brighton,
and three other ski resorts – Solitude, just minutes from Brighton,
and Snowbird and Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon – can all be
accessed by bus from Salt Lake City. Ski buses pick up from about 10
downtown Salt Lake City locations and take skiers to any of the four
ski areas. The ride takes just over an hour.

BRIGHTON

Lift
Tickets:
$58 adults, $25 children 7-12; free for children 6 and
younger; $20 seniors age 70 and over

Mountainside
accommodations:
The 20-room Brighton Lodge has excellent family
ski packages. (800) 873-5512, Ext. 120.

Information:
www.brightonresort.com;
(800) 873-5512

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Last college night at Mountain High

Mountain High will host the final College Night on Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Bullwheel Bar & Grill.

Toyota Matrix jumpstarts
the party with the Antics street team. The Antics crew will be dolling
out custom t-shirts with an on-demand screen printing machine.

Toyota
is also providing the beats, spun by DJ Slip Matt, and a pair of
tricked out Toyota Matrix display vehicles complete with Guitar Hero.
In addition, newly added product sponsors Ally Distribution, The Hundreds, Elm Company, Omatic Snowboards, Celsius, Nikita, Bataleon, Flow, and Sessions will be hooking it up with product galore.

College Night will feature half-off appetizers,
half-off beer (21+), $1 hot dogs, live DJs, $20 night lift tickets
(with college ID), and hookups from a collection of industry partners. Transworld
Snowboarding, FUEL TV, Active Ride Shop, BNQT, Southern California
Collegiate Snowsports Conference (SCCSC), ForUs Magazine,
and Skinnie Magazine will also be in attendance ensuring College Night rocks to its fullest potential. Hookups include:

Custom printed t-shirts from Toyota Matrix.
Cash and product toss-ups courtesy of Elm Company and Omatic Snowboards.
Awesome giveaways like passes to live tapings of The Daily Habit on
FUEL TV and more from companies like Ally Distribution, The Hundreds,
Celsius, Nikita, Bataleon, Flow, and Sessions.
Discounted subscriptions from Transworld Snowboarding.
Special college discounts and giveaways from Active.
A chance to preview FUEL TV’s new snowboard shows like “Snowboard Diaries” and “Flipside”.
Hookups and party photos from ForUs and Skinnie.
Event coverage from BNQT, FUEL TV, and Transworld.

Join crews of kids from dozens of college campuses
and bring your friends for a rocking college party on College Night at
Mountain High.

 

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Winners take snowboard contest

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Congratulations to the winners of the Snowboard Contest at Mountain High in Wrightwood on Saturday. The competition was sponsored by Active Ride Shop and Signal Snowboards.

You can find a ton of photos at mt.high.com

Mens Open Division
1) Mikey Radziwon

2) Dominic Edwards
3) Robert Englestad
4) Brendon Simons
5) Mathew Ybarra

Womens Open Division
1) Jamie Madrid
2) Kaitlyn Elsick
3) Eleanore Guthrie

Boys Division
1) Christian Koppen
2) Levi Kaseroff
3) Will Keene

Best Trick
Brendon Simons – Huge gap 270 to the Down Flat Down Box.

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