Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Crested Butte Strives to Host a Stage of the New Quiznos Pro Challenge

The recent announcement of a Pro Road Race event in the spirit of the past Coors and Red Zinger Classics has created buzz and excitement in Colorado and the towns aspiring to host the events. The folks at Crested Butte are one town really abuzz with the announcement of an effort to ensure they host a stage in Crested Butte. Be sure to check out their Facebook Quiznos Pro Challenge - The Crested Butte Stage. 

I for one think it would be a classic venue and great for the state as well as Crested Butte. Tell us your thoughts.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Sunlight Mountain Offers 2 for 1 Lift Tickets and Half Price Weekend Savings

Sunlight Mountain in Glenwood Springs, Colorado will once again extend valuable lift ticket discounts and savings to Mountain Sports Club premium members. This coming 2010.11 ski and snowboard season Mountain Sports Club premium members will enjoy 2 for 1 lift tickets midweek and half price tickets when purchasing another full priced lift ticket at Sunlight Mountain. This is a weekday savings of $50 each visit and $25 on weekends. Simply register and update your membership and print personalized coupons for savings this winter.

Always a popular destination for skiing families, Sunlight offers value and fun for everyone. With a selection of hotels and lodges in nearby Glenwood Springs you are sure to have a great ski day, getaway or vacation. Be sure to schedule time for a soak in the hot springs in Glenwood.

Sunlight Mountain Resort is a unique Colorado winter playground that is affordable and family oriented. Sunlight has hundreds of acres for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Sunlight's summit on Compass Mountain in the White River National Forest, overlooks majestic Mount Sopris and the awe inspiring Elk Mountain Range. Amenities include a restaurant, lounge, rental and retail shop, ski school, children's center, and snowmobile tours.

Sunlight features 67 named trails covering over 470 acres. In addition to miles of cruising intermediate terrain, Sunlight's East Ridge has one of the steeper runs in the state. Aptly named, The Heathen falls beneath your feet at a breathtaking 52 degrees. Sunlight is home to one of the longest trails in ski country, Ute, a beginner slope that winds more than 2 miles from summit to base. Sunlight also hosts some of the best tree skiing in Colorado with many aspen groves untracked days after snowfall. All trails converge at the base lodge, so friends and family can always keep track of each other.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Ski Resort Openings, Season Pass Sales and Tidbits

As cool air moves through the Rockies the feel of a new winter season for skiing and riding emerges from the hot temps of summer. Resort news and offers on gear, season passes and packages are starting to flow.

In just the last few days we have seen reports of snow on the mountain peaks surrounding Crested Butte.

Every day more season pass sales and promotions are announced. We will keep posting them here as we find them. Here are several great deals we have seen recently:

Santa Fe Ski Area - Announces a price freeze on all passes and discount cards.
Monarch - This pass includes a variety of free days and discounted days at many resorts.
Vail's Colorado Pass, Epic Pass & Keystone Pass - maybe the best deal on the planet.

look for many more offerings ot keep rolling our over the coming weeks.

Newspapers over the last week in Colorado report that new owners of Cuchara Valley in the southern part of Colorado will launch an effort to get the area reopened in the next 2 years. For our two cents it is always great news to see a previously shuttered area reopen. The success at Echo Mountain over the last several seasons should offer encouragement and a model for smaller resorts/areas to succeed.

In Utah the big news this summer and into next season is the major improvements with new lifts, more terrain and significant development at the Canyons. The new ownership group is making the most significant capital investment at Canyons to move the resort up another level. The resort, on mountain terrain and snow has been excellent and this next wave of improvements will only ensure their place at the top or premium ski and snowboard resorts in Utah and North America.

Last chance early bird SpeciaL Save 65% on Goggles

HaberVision is offering these 2 one days specials:

The Nice - The Nice is a classic rectangular shape in a wrap style. 8-base lens geometry allows little in the way of peripheral light to disturb you. Choose Corelex™  light adjusting photochromatic polarized glass when visual optimization is mission critical.  Anti-reflective and hydro repellant coatings make for unrivaled performance.

and the Highline Eliminator Goggle- Save over 65% now only $89.99 
 
A new addition to our goggle collection, the Highline goggle features a spherical lens geometry that gives it a thoroughly modern look. Haber brings the benefits of polarization and combines it with proven double lens no fog technology. Combined with our Eliminator fan module you have the most exemplary representation of goggle technology on the market today. 


To purchase this  special and a 50% discount on all other HaberVision products visit by clicking here HaberVision or visit www.habervision.com and Enter Affinity Member Code: MSC  

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Vail Resort adds 4 x 4 tours as New Summer Activity

VAIL, Colo. – Aug. 6, 2010 – Vail Mountain’s new Top-of-the-Mountain Tours debuted today at Adventure Ridge. The hour-long adventure 4x4 vehicle tours begin at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, travel east across the mountain to the top of China Bowl and back to Eagle’s Nest, allowing up to 12 guests of all ages to see and learn about Vail Mountain like never before. Drivers highlight the flora, fauna, wildlife and topography of Vail Mountain and surrounding areas from a custom-fabricated one-ton truck with an open-air passenger seating area, safari-style roof and zip-off side panels for inclement weather.

“The Top-of-the-Mountain Tours are an exciting addition to Adventure Ridge activities and allow guests an easy alternative to see areas of Vail Mountain in the summer that they may not see otherwise,” said Alex Gentry, general manager of Vail Mountain’s Adventure Ridge. “With up to nine tours per day, guests have the flexibility to see Vail Mountain at their leisure and with plenty of time left in the day for other activities and dining on the mountain and in town.”

Guests should bring a hat, sunscreen, water and a light jacket as weather conditions can change quickly. Top-of-the-Mountain Tour tickets start at just $20 per person and can be purchased in combination with lunch and lift ticket packages. Children must be at least 36 inches tall to participate in the tour. Tours run hourly Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday until 7 p.m. for the duration of the 2010 summer season.

Summer 2010 Eagle Bahn Gondola Hours & Dates

June 24 – Sept. 6
Sunday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sept. 10 – 19
Weekends only: Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

To book a Top-of-the-Mountain Tour or for more information about Vail Mountain, visit www.vail.com, stop by the Mountain Information Center in Lionshead open daily from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Save 50% on High Quality Glasses and Goggle with HaberVision

You can now save 50% on high quality performance eye wear from HaberVision and the Mountain Sports Club. Make sure to shop at HaberVision for all your sunglasses and winter ski and snowboard goggle needs.

Savings of 50% - ski and snowboard goggles, sunglasses and more.

United States Men's 1-2-3 in New Zealand Giant Slalom Ski Race

After a very successful Winter Olympics it looks like the US men's ski team is ready for another successful winter season. The following release is great news as another season of ski racing is around the corner. 

CORONET PEAK, New Zealand (Aug. 16) –  American men found their speed early in the season as Warner Nickerson (Gilford, NH) led Olympic gold medalists Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) to a giant slalom podium sweep Monday at Coronet Peak.

Up-and-comers Will Gregorak (Longmont, CO) and Colby Granstrom (Lake Stevens, WA), the reigning Junior World Champion in combined, also landed in the top 10 with fifth and seventh respectively.  Vancouver Olympian Megan McJames (Park City, UT) posted the top U.S. women's result with fifth, followed closely by Julia Ford (Plymouth, NH) in seventh.

The races kick off the second stop of the 2011 Australian New Zealand Cup series and fall near the end of the U.S. Ski Team's annual summer on-snow camps in the Southern Hemisphere.

"The general energy of the entire group at this camp has just been awesome," said men's Head Coach Sasha Rearick. "Bode, Ted and all the guys have been giving incredible effort and just training like mad. It's a really positive scene."

Both Rearick and women's Head Coach Alex Hoedlmoser gave credit to the Canadian Ski Team for injecting a few trails with water prior to the Team's arrival allowing both programs to hit the ground running. The U.S. program then added a few more injected slopes providing the Team with incredible winter conditions for training.

"The men's and women's teams each brought an injection bar and we had a couple extra lanes already set thanks to the Canadians," said Hoedlmoser. "So far the conditions have been great. We've been able to train with the guys a lot, and the girls are getting in the laps. It's exactly what they need at this time of the year."

Hoedlmoser and Rearick also noted excellent results on equipment testing with Hoedlmoser pointing out incredible feel from three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) on her new equipment from Voekl.

"Julia has had some solid results with her giant slalom and super G skis and we'll get things worked out with slalom. Lindsey [Vonn, Vail, CO] is also figuring some things out, particularly with her GS and slalom skis. We're getting great feedback from the girls all the way around, both positive and negative, but it's all working towards making sure they're on the fastest, most comfortable equipment by the time we start racing."

McJames, and teammate Chelsea Marshall (Pittsfield, VT) are also working out equipment switches with McJames moving to Fischer and Marshall now working with Head. Additionally Hailey Duke (Boise, ID) made the move to Fischer boots, but still races on Voekl skis.

On the men's side, Ligety took the first race runs of his career with Head racing and reported positive results with his second place finish, while Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) is getting in laps on his new set-up from Rossignol and Lange.

"Marco is looking great," said Rearick. "He's showing some good ankle flexion and feeling positive about his new gear. Ted hasn't lost any ground and is just flat out charging. He definitely has some things to figure out, but it's all moving along nicely."

A pair of slalom races are set for Tuesday at Coronet Peak with the women's camp wrapping up the following day. The U.S. men will remain in New Zealand another week.

Australia New Zealand Cup
Coronet Peak, New Zealand
August 16, 2010

Men's giant slalom
1. Warner Nickerson, Gilford, NH, 1:38.77
2. Ted Ligety, Park City, UT, 1:38.79
3. Bode Miller, Franconia, NH, 1:39.13
4. Felix Neureuther, Germany, 1:39.21
5. Will Gregorak, Longmont, CO, 1:39.91
-
Women's giant slalom
1. Marie Prefontaine, Canada, 1:44.47
2. Marie Gagnon, Canada, 1:45.17
3. Chloe Fuasa, Norway, 1:45.86
4. Susanne Riesch, Germany,  1:45.67
5. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 1:47.74

Here are complete results at this web site - http://www.fis-ski.com.

Monday, August 16, 2010
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tom Kelly, tkelly@ussa.org

MEDIA NOTE: Rights free photos are available for editorial use at http://ussa.smugmug.com. Please credit Coronet Peak/Michael Thomas.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Free Lift tickets to Whiteface - how to get one

Whiteface Mountain in New York has announced a unique targeted and limited promotion offering a free lift ticket to Whiteface Mountain to those they find at specific locations dressed up as skiers.

The Whiteface Road Warriors scheduled appearances in New York's Capital Region this Friday and Saturday will include lift tickets and other prizes to give away. On Friday, the Whiteface Road Warriors will be at the Farmer’s Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and at Red Square from 8 to 10 p.m. On Saturday, they’ll be at the Crossgates Mall (in front of Best Buy) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as well as additional mystery locations those two days. They are looking for eager skiers to show up wearing their winter ski gear, including a helmet, goggles, skis or ski boots. If you’re spotted dressed for winter, you’ll automatically win a lift ticket to ski Whiteface this 2010-11 ski season.

The following weekend, Aug. 20-22, the Whiteface Road Warriors are scheduled to appear in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. As the seasons turn the Whiteface Road Warriors have trips planned to New York City and across the border into Canada.

This is another a true sign that the winter ski and snowboard season is not far away we are seeing more and more ski resorts come up with creative ways to create awareness and start to build enthusiasm. We think this is one of the more interesting promotions we have seen in a while.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Discount lodging and activity at Silver Strike Lodge in Park City, Utah

Resorts West property management company in Park City, Utah has just updated new coupons and promotional offers at the Silver Strike Lodge.

Resorts West welcomes you to our newest luxury community, Silver Star at Park City! This summer we invite you to enjoy a complimentary third night when you book two at one of our Silver Star properties. These 2- to 4-bedroom condos, townhomes and cottages feature direct access to the biking and hiking trails of Park City Mountain Resort, a community fire pit, swimming pool, hot tub and weekly live music on the Silver Star plaza. The shopping, dining and nightlife of Main Street Park City is just minutes away.

Specials include up to 33% off rates. Book now and save.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

More terrain and Bowl Skiing and Riding at Kicking Horse

Golden, B.C., Aug. 3, 2010—Kicking Horse Mountain Resort will open a fourth bowl for winter 2010-11. Now about to enter their 10th season, the new opening into Super Bowl introduces “an epic selection of advanced and expert skiable terrain,” states the area in a press release.

With more and more resorts in the western US and Canada opening advanced and expert terrain like this it was a natural expansion for Kicking Horse. Super Bowl covers up to 1,000 vertical feet and includes more than 15 new advanced and expert chutes, bring Kicking Horse’s total to 85. The entire bowl has an off-piste, out-of-bounds feel, but is now part of a controlled inbounds environment.

Summer guests also will now see a new hiking trail along the Bowl Over ridge to the Super Bowl saddle. This will be providing easy access to views of the Columbia Valley, Canyon Creek and alpine meadows.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Circus now at Winter Park, Free Circus tickets

As summer marches through there are still lots of activities in the resort mountain towns. One of the more interesting acitivites is the Circus tent coming to Winter Park. They just announced a special offer and promotion.

Two FREE Circus Tickets with Lodging!
The Zoppé Family Circus welcomes guests into the intimate 500 seat tent for a one-ring circus that honors the best history of the Old-World Italian tradition. Starring Nino the clown, the circus is propelled by a central story (as opposed to individual acts) that feature acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowning and plenty of audience participation. 

Circus Performance Times
Friday, August 6 & 13: 7pm
Saturday, August 7 & 14: 1pm, 4pm and 7pm
Sunday, August 8 & 15: 1pm and 4pm 

Circus Ticket Pricing
Adults: $13 / Kids ages 4-12: $8 / Family 4 Pack: $35
Kids 3 & under: FREE 

Nightly Circus Lodging from $59 pp/pn.