Mammoth hosts Sprint Grand Prix on the road to Sochi

GrandPrix_Faint2

America’s best snowboarders will compete on Mammoth’s famed Unbound terrain park and superpipe to determine who among them will represent the United States at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

As the final stop of the Grand Prix series, Mammoth will be the location where the Men’s and Women’s halfpipe and slopstyle Olympic teams will be formally named, and will be broadcast on NBC. For a full competition and broadcast schedule visit – www.ussnowboarding.com

COMPETITION & EVENT SCHEDULE

January 16 (Thursday)

8:30am-9:20am     Slopestyle Practice

9:30am-11:00am    Slopestyle Finals U.S. Olympic Qualification #3 (awards immediately following)

10:00am-1:00pm   Halfpipe Practice

12:30pm-1:20pm   Slopestyle Practice

1:30pm-3:00pm     Slopestyle Finals U.S. Olympic Qualification #4 (awards immediately following)

 

January 17 (Friday)

8:40am-9:20am      Halfpipe Practice

9:30am-10:45am    Halfpipe Finals U.S. Olympic Qualification #3 (awards immediately following)

10:00am-1:00pm    Slopestyle Practice

11:30pm-12:00pm   Halfpipe Practice

12:10pm-2:30pm   Halfpipe Finals U.S. Olympic Qualification #4 (awards immediately following)

 

January 18 (Saturday)

10:00am-10:50am  Slopestyle Practice

10:00am-1:00pm    Halfpipe Practice

11:00am-1:00pm    Slopestyle Finals U.S. Olympic Qualification #5 (awards immediately following)

 

January 19 (Sunday)

11:00am-11:30am   Halfpipe Practice

11:40am-2:00pm   Halfpipe U.S. Olympic Qualification #5 (awards immediately following)

3:00pm-3:30pm      2014 U.S. Snowboarding Olympic Team Announcement (Sponsor Village)

3:30pm-4:00pm      2014 U.S. Snowboarding Olympic Team Press Conference (Mountainside Conference Center)

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New Zealand scores big in international travel survey

With publicity from high-profile films like “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” New Zealand scored big in the survey. The island nation is one of the adventure travel centers of the world. We recently completed our travel series with exciting adventures ranging from zip lining to jet boating.

Australia came in second, but this small continent offers a wealth of travel experiences. From Little Italy in Melbourne to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Sydney, tourists can then try tropical Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

“Also exciting in our results are the unique destinations that are starting to gain a foothold with our Travel Leaders Group clients as the next great place to visit,” said CEO Barry Liben.

Up-and-coming European destinations include Croatia and Iceland. Croatian friends brag about the Dalmatian coast.

Every travel writer seems to love Iceland. Residents brag about their land of fire and ice, fire from active volcanoes and the ice of a Nordic country.

Delta Air Lines began serving Iceland’s capital of Reykjavik in 2013 and will resume summer service this year.

Peru came out on top of the Central/South American trends thanks largely to Machu Picchu. Brazil came in second because it is hosting the 2014 World Cup as well as the 2016 Olympic Games.

Vietnam is the hottest trend in Asia/Southeast Asia. Burma/Myanmar was second.

“At one time, Burma seemed off-limits due to its former government,” Liben noted. “But since its peaceful transition in 2010 to a civilian reformist government, this still relatively isolated nation is really opening up to tourism, and a growing number of American travelers are responding to its truly exotic allure.”

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Caribbean tops international destinations for 2014

Disney Dream docks at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the tropical waters of the Bahamas. (David Roark, photographer)

Disney Dream docks at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the tropical waters of the Bahamas. (David Roark, photographer)

By Staff Writer Richard Irwin

The overall top international destination for 2014 is the Caribbean. Every cruise line has ships plying the warm, blue Caribbean waters.

Disney Cruise Line has added its special touch to the competition. Its ships are specially built for families with extra storage and special areas for each age group.

Beginning this month, all four Disney ships will sail out of Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas. The Disney Wonder will sail from Miami, while the Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy sail from Port Canaveral.

Evily Giannopoulos of Disney Cruise Line said the ships will offer a variety of itineraries. Every cruise from Port Canaveral includes a stop at one of my favorite places, Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

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Viking River Cruises adds 30 Longships in last three years

Viking Freya sailing the Rhine River with Viking River Cruises (Photo courtesy of Viking)

Viking Freya sailing the Rhine River with Viking River Cruises (Photo courtesy of Viking)

By Staff Writer Richard Irwin

While working on your New Year’s resolutions, did you promise yourself a great vacation in 2014?

If you need some ideas, here’s a list of the hottest travel trends.

The annual travel survey by the Travel Leaders Group found European river cruises to be the single hottest travel trend. Only three years ago, European river cruises ranked 21st. Based on actual booking data, the survey suggests this is the next big thing.

“If Europe could find a way to create additional scenic rivers, the travel industry and, in particular, our agents would be sending even more clients on European river cruises,” said Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben.

Many travelers don’t realize the biggest river cruise company is based in Woodland Hills. Viking Cruises was recently named “Best River Cruise Line” in Cruise Critic’s 2013 Annual Editors’ Picks Awards.

Viking says unprecedented consumer demand has made it the company’s biggest year to date. Almost all of its 2013 itineraries were sold out as well as more than half of all 2014 staterooms. And the company is responding with more ships, said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic.

Viking will add 14 new Longships this year. Last March, the L.A. cruise line set a Guinness World Record by christening 10 ships in a single day.

Viking’s fleet will grow to 51 vessels by the end of 2014. This includes 30 new revolutionary Longships in the last three years alone.

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Banff-Lake Louise getting tons of fresh powder

Photo: Paul Zizka/Banff Lake Louise Tourism
Photo: Paul Zizka/Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Banff-Lake Louise is preparing for up to 30-40cm of fresh powder by Saturday morning. Heavy snow is forecast to fall over the next 36 hours over the mountain park regions of Alberta.

Kicking off the new year in style and just in time for the weekend, what better way to burn off that turkey/Christmas chocolate/adult beverages than by plowing through fresh powder at Canada’s Big 3 Resorts.

Happy New Year, we’ll see you on the slopes.

 Ski Banff–Lake Louise–Sunshine is Canada’s largest ski destination, a joint venture of three of the world’s finest ski resorts; Mt. Norquay, The Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village.
Available on one tri-area lift ticket, our three resorts offer almost 8,000 acres of skiable terrain and one of the longest ski seasons in North America, from mid November to late May, all in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Canada’s Protected Playground, Banff National Park.
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Grab some real deals at Red Mountain

By Staff Writer Richard Irwin

And while the weather in British Columbia was brisk, I couldn’t wrap my head around the centigrade system so I didn’t really know how cold it was. It was about 23 degrees Fahrenheit at the lodge and 17 halfway up Red Mountain.

The lifts close at 3 p.m., 3:30 after Feb. 15. That may seem early, but there are virtually no lift lines, so you’ll get in so much skiing that you will be tired by mid-afternoon anyway.

Red’s lift tickets are $72 per day for adults, compared to more than $100 at comparable ski resorts. Lift tickets for youth 13 to 18 are $58, juniors 7 to 12 cost $36 and seniors 65 and older pay $47.

We prefer the package specials. Book three nights of lodging at Red Mountain Resort Lodging with three days of lift tickets and you’ll get two more nights and lift tickets for free.

Even better, book four nights and lift tickets to get three free nights and lift tickets. This special offer is valid Jan. 6 to 17.

Call Red Mountain Resort Lodging at 877-969-7669 to book or send an email to lodging@redresort.com.

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Red Mountain offers 110 marked runs for skiers of all abilities

Great selfie taken with a GoPro on the summit of Red Mountain in British Columbia. (Photo by Francois Marseille courtesy of Red Mountain)

Great selfie taken with a GoPro on the summit of Red Mountain in British Columbia. (Photo by Francois Marseille courtesy of Red Mountain)

By Staff Writer Richard Irwin

Red offers 110 marked runs. These break down as 16 percent for beginners, 47 percent for intermediate and 37 percent for advanced skiers.

There are only seven lifts, but Granite permits 360 degrees of skiing around the peak from a single lift. The same is true for Grey, the new mountain that like Granite, is volcano-shaped.

Beginning skiers or snowboarders can learn on the magic carpet slope, then hone their skills on the new beginner terrain off the Silverlode chair.

Beginners who want to ride to the top of Granite Mountain can take the Motherlode chair, then follow Rino’s Run or the Southside Road. It’s a very beautiful run.

Intermediate riders and skiers will love Paradise Basin. It has mostly intermediate runs, but skiers can still get to Paradise Lodge with green runs by taking the Silver Sheep trail.

Advanced riders will soon find out why Red was ranked as one of North America’s top 10 resorts for experts by “Forbes Traveler.” Fall lines off Granite Summit will excite or terrify experts. Ledges, Jumbo or Powder Fields have great views, few trees and deep powder. There are also many challenging runs at the end of Buffalo Ridge in the Slides, Cambodia, Roots or Needles.

More double diamonds and a single black can be found off Ridge Road, including Coolers, Doug’s Run, Oil Can and Beer Belly. And you’re going to need a beer afterward, because these runs are extremely advanced. Don’t even try them without a buddy to back you up.

Red’s terrain park offers jumps, jibs and park-wide sound system. A variety of rail features include kinks, a rainbow, flat downs, boxes and street rails.

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Comfortable condo houses five easily at Red Mountain

Lodging at Red Mountain Ski Resort. (Photo courtesy of Red Mountain)

Lodging at Red Mountain Ski Resort. (Photo courtesy of Red Mountain)

By Staff Writer Richard Irwin

At Red Mountain Ski Resort, we stayed in the Slalom Creek condos. 

With five people sharing a four-bedroom unit, space is usually at a premium, but our comfortable condo was large enough that four of us had a bedroom, and the fifth sacked out in the living room, with its stone fireplace, big screen TV and stereo.

The ultra-modern kitchen and dining room gave us a great place to share breakfast before catching first tracks at 9 a.m. It would be easy to return to prepare lunch or dinner if we chose to come in off the mountain to warm up.

Slalom Creek is the newest, largest and closest lodging to the day lodge. It has earned four and a half stars from TripAdvisor.com. There are several other lodging alternatives, including condos and townhomes.

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