Nachtspektakel Ski Tour presented by Dynafit

Wilmington, NY - Nighttime ski touring, an age old European tradition made popular in Germany, is coming to the Adirondacks. On its tour of America’s finest winter ski resorts, Nachtspektakel Ski Tour Event presented by Dynafit will be stopping over at Whiteface, in Wilmington, N.Y., to greet in the New Year, Saturday Jan. 1.

A truly unique event, participants will begin the evening at 4:30 p.m. by “skinning” up to mid-station lodge to enjoy a delicious catered three-course dinner and cocktails at Boule’s Bistro. Skiers will then gear up, put on their headlamps and ski back down to the Whiteface Base Lodge by 9 p.m. Nachtspektakel skiers will be professionally guided by certified American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Jesse Williams, Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides owner and Dynafit athlete.

Nachtspektakel or “night spectacle” is a fun night event where skiers can eat, tour and ski, but also have the opportunity to demo the latest in Dynafit ski touring equipment. Equipment is limited so it will be first come, first served, but rentals will be available at High Peaks Cyclery and The Mountaineer.

Guests are encouraged to make reservations by Friday, Dec. 31 in order to ensure a spot on this fun and exciting adventure. Individual rates will be $75 per person, which includes the three-course dinner, two free drinks, guides and free demos. A percentage of all ticket prices will be made to the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF).

ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge

Whistler, BC - January is a sacred month to Whistler locals and snow lovers alike as intense weather systems routinely drop a bounty of powder on the Coast Mountain Range. For the fifth year in a row, the ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge prepares to pay homage to the beloved storm season and the skiers, snowboarders and photographers who cherish it.

The Deep Winter Photo Challenge will take place Saturday, January 15 and is the marquee event of the GORE-TEX Deep Winter Experience which storms into Whistler January 8-16. The Challenge will feature slideshows from six of the industry’s best ski and snowboard photographers taken over three days at Whistler Blackcomb.

Tickets to the ARC’TERYX Deep Winter Photo Challenge are $17 and available at any Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations location or by calling 1-800-766-0449.

Wildcat Mountain Supports National January Learn a Snow Sport Month

Learn to Ski or Snowboard Free January 3rd through January 9th

Pinkham Notch, NH - Wildcat Mountain has been introducing persons to winter recreation since it began offering lift-serviced skiing and riding over 50 years ago. Today, with a staff of instructors that collectively represents over 850 years of experience and more than 90% certified by the Professional Ski Instructors Association & American Association of Snowboard Instructors, that tradition continues with the Wildcat Mountain Learn-to-Ski and Learn-to-Ride programs intended for first-timers. Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire joins several other resorts in states across the nation taking part in the snow sport industries campaign to introduce persons to winter sports.

As a special offer to support January’s Learn a Snow Sports Month, Wildcat Mountain has joined with Ski NH to invite “never-evers” to sign up for a free Learn-to-Ski/Ride lesson package, including rentals and novice lift ticket valid at Wildcat Mountain only, during the week of January 3rd -9th.

Winter Feels Good!

Banner Elk, NC - The 16th annual National Winter Trails Day will take place at Sugar Mountain Resort on Saturday, January 8, 2011. Discover the possibilities of fun and fitness in the snow. Winter Trails day is a one-day national event offering children and adults new to snow sports the chance to try snowshoeing for FREE.

Free one hour snowshoe guided tours include snowshoes. Tours are available at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Saturday, January 8th. Adult tours are for 12 years or older. Children’s tours are for 8-11 year olds. Participants should meet at the ski/snowboard school building at least 15 minutes prior to the tour time. Participation is limited and is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Meadows Extends New Year’s Eve Lift Schedule to Midnight!

Mt. Hood, OR - Mt. Hood Meadows will operate lifts until midnight New Year’s Eve as part of the Brrring in the New Year celebration featuring fireworks, a feast and a party.

Lifts are scheduled to run until midnight. A fireworks celebration will launch at 10:15 PM, and party goers can dance to the soulful music of “The Essentials” – the West Coast’s most popular party band from 8:00 PM – 12:15 AM, enjoying party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. An elaborate dinner buffet will be served earlier in the evening. Reservations are required for the dinner buffet and the party, but not for night skiing or enjoying the fireworks.

New Year’s Eve busses will run from the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas, making shuttling to the mountain New Year’s Eve convenient. The buses head to the mountain around 3 PM and depart from the mountain at 12:30 AM. The Monarch Hotel is offering special room rates for those wanting to spend the night when the bus returns (and drive home the next day).

Whiteface is Vertical and Family Friendly

Wilmington, NY - Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., may be best known for having the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies and for hosting the 1980 winter Olympic Alpine events, but it’s also recognized as one of the nation’s top ski resorts for families.

According to About.Com, Whiteface is one of the country’s top family ski destinations, one of only three eastern resorts to make the list. The on-line article touts the mountain as “an ideal venue for a family ski vacation,” and also describes many of the off-hill activities found in Wilmington and in Lake Placid including a tour of the Olympic sites, ice skating and partaking in the full schedule of winter events for the family.

“This is another tremendous recognition not only for the mountain, but also for the two communities and the entire region,” noted New York State Olympic Regional Development president/CEO Ted Blazer. “Our vertical drop is an important message, but it’s also equally important that the mountain and the region be recognized as a great family destination. This, combined with being ranked the number-one ski resort in the eastern United States by both SKI Magazine and SnowEast Magazine, continues to show that we’re a destination for everyone.”

Whiteface recently completed a 10-year, $20-million capitalization project that also included renovation of Kids Kampus. With nearby parking and one-stop shopping for lift tickets, lessons and rentals, Kids Kampus offers a safe and fun environment for young skiers. The Bunny Hutch chair lift connects Kids Kampus to the rest of the mountain, and a shuttle service runs to and from the newly constructed, state-of-the-art Kids Kampus Lodge all day.

Sun Valley is 100% Open!

Sun Valley, ID - Thanks to an abundance of early snowfall, 100% of Sun Valley’s ski terrain will be open tomorrow, Wednesday, December 22.
“We’re very excited to report epic ski conditions for this time of year. Our 75th winter season could not be off to a better start,” Peter Stearns, Sun Valley Resort Mountain Manager, said.

Sun Peaks Ranked with the Best in the World in recent Condé Nast Magazine Poll

Sun Peaks, BC - Sun Peaks Resort continues to stand up with the best resorts in the world after a top 20 ranking in one of the world’s leading travel publications. Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Ski Poll ranks Sun Peaks as the 2nd best ski resort in Canada, and 13th best in North America.

Close to 26,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers voted in this 15th Annual Ski Poll.

Resorts were judged on terrain and conditions, lifts and lines, après-ski/activities, dining and local ambiance. Sun Peaks was one of three Canadian resorts to make the Top 20: Whistler Blackcomb (#1), Sun Peaks (#13), and Mont Tremblant (#14 tie).

“Sun Peaks is honored to be recognized with Whistler as the leading destinations in Canada,” says Christopher Nicolson, President of Tourism Sun Peaks. “The resort is known for it’s village design, reliable snow and expansive terrain spread over three mountains. But perhaps more importantly, visitors pick up on the genuine sense of welcome and hospitality of residents.”

New Tubing Park Lodge, Part of Opening Day Celebrations at Snow Trails!

Mansfield, OH - The Vertical Descent Snow Tubing Park at Snow Trails will open this Friday, December 17th 5:00pm- Midnight. The Park's brand new Tubing lodge will be part of the celebration, offering restrooms, snack bar, seating area, and panoramic views of snow tubers sliding by.

The Vertical Descent Tubing Park opened in 2006 and is home to the longest tubing runs in Ohio, at 1,100'. For the non-skier it's a great opportunity to enjoy the out-of-doors in winter with family and friends. The Park is open weekends and holidays all day and evenings and Monday through Friday from 5 p.m.

Arapahoe Basin's Montezuma Bowl to Open This Saturday

Montezuma Bowl Opens for its Fourth Season in Time for the Holidays
Arapahoe Basin, CO - Arapahoe Basin’s Montezuma Bowl will open to the public at 9:00 am, Saturday, December 18.

A-Basin has received over 100” of snow since opening day in October, helping to make this Montezuma Bowl opening the earliest one in its four year history. Open terrain will be growing quickly to include additional runs with the anticipated snowfall this week. Hike back terrain and other areas of the West Bowl will open as soon as possible.

The intermediate and advanced terrain to open on Saturday will include Columbine, Larkspur, Shining Light, Ned’s Cache, Miner’s Glade, Independence, Eureka, Torreys, Grays and Bierstadt all accessible from the Zuma chairlift.

Montezuma Bowl opened for its inaugural season in January of 2008. The expansion increased the ski area’s terrain by 80 percent. The 400-acre Montezuma Bowl, located on the backside of Arapahoe Basin, was the nation’s largest terrain expansion for the 2007-2008 ski season.

190+ Inches of Snow and Three Parks

Twin Bridges, CA - Three weeks into the season and Sierra Resort has already logged over 190 inches of snow, four blower powder days, top-to-bottom skiing and riding every-day-all-day-since-day-one, three terrain parks, and some amazing turns in Sierra's legendary trees. As the whirlwind opening gives way to the calm-before-the-holiday-storm , you can rest your weary legs, finally get that detailed tune on your skis or board, get your holiday shopping done, and get ready for La Niña to deliver the goods this winter.

Have a friend who doesn’t ski or ride? You know the ones – they hang out in the bar all day or cuddle up on the couch with a book while you shred your face off. Turn them on to the $35 Learn to Ski or Ride package and watch them turn from couch potato to shredding maniac in just a few visits. The $35 package is affordable and offers a 2.5 hour beginner lesson, a limited access lift ticket, and all day equipment rental. It’s just what you need to get started. (Beginner package is available online only, 24 hours in advance, for adults 13+ only, excluding restricted dates. Limited quantities available).

Greek Peak Ski Area Reopens!

Cortland, NY - Lake Effect Snow and good snomaking weather have allowed us to reopen the mountain.

Greek Peak Mountain Resort wants you and your family to celebrate your New Year with us! With two party locations, kids activities, Crossroads the Clown, Fireworks and a Torchlight Procession, you are almost guaranteed a night to remember.

Mt. Hood Meadows Holiday Schedule

Mt. Hood, OR - Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort holiday season kicks off this weekend. For the next two weeks Meadows has scheduled special Après Ski live performances and holiday entertainers, as well as ski school clinics and camps. Lifts are scheduled to operate daily beginning at 9 AM, including Christmas and New Year’s Days and there will be extended night operations during Christmas week. It culminates with a New Year’s Eve spectacular, exquisite dinner, fireworks and a party with “The Essentials” the top rated dance party band on the west coast!


Mt. Hood Meadows celebrates New Year's Eve with a fireworks display, spectacular buffet dinner and party featuring “The Essentials” – the top rated dance band on the west coast! We'll run the lifts until Midnight to allow revelers to ski or ride in the New Year. A fireworks display will be launched at around 10 PM. The dinner has two seatings (5 - 6:30 and 7 - 8:30) and “The Essentials” will perform from 8 PM - 12:15 AM!
Brrring in the New Year at Mt. Hood Meadows - presented by Widmer Brothers Brewing and Brrr Seasonal Ale. Adult party buses scheduled from the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas.

Mont SUTTON’s opening : Friday, December 10th

Sutton, PQ - Skiers and snowboarders will start the 2010-2011 season at Mont SUTTON this Friday, December 10th, and this, with great snowy conditions.

An early season rate will be available: $30 for adults (18-64 years old) and $20 for all other categories. This rate will be available until the anniversary day at $5 on December 17th, when Mont SUTTON will celebrate its 50th birthday.

Children aged five and under always ski for free at Mont SUTTON.

Activities during the first opened weekend
In addition to enjoy the first opened weekend of the season at Mont SUTTON, skiers and snowboarders will have the chance to take part to the first activities of the season on Saturday December 11th:

Rider’s Reunion with the Adrenaline team: a special module will be installed at the foot of the trails, close to the main chalet, entertainment, prizes and surprises.
First party of the season at the Bar Le Tucker : the bar will be opened from 2 p.m. and the party will start at 4 p.m. Among the prizes to win, there will be 2 VIP zone passes for 2 people for the show of Les Trois Accords, on December 18th in the occasion of the Mont SUTTON’s great 50-candle celebration.

Not to be missed : Mont SUTTON’s great 50-candle celebration
Mont SUTTON will celebrate its 50th birthday on December 17th, 18th and 19th. In addition to the multitude of activities organized all weekend long, as the anniversary day at $5 on December 17th, the tapas and show evening at the Bar Le Tucker, the torchlight descent, the commemorative dinner… there will be a free outdoor show of the group Les Trois Accords on Saturday evening, which will be followed by fireworks and a party with a DJ at the Bar Le Tucker.

Kimberley Alpine Resort with Great Snow, Ready for Preview Weekend

Kimberley, BC - Kimberley Alpine Resort is set to open for a special preview weekend this Saturday December 11th and Sunday December 12th. The resort has received over 70cm of snowfall already, and skiers and snowboarders will get to experience amazing snow conditions for the first turns of the season. With incredible snowfall already, more significant snowfall in the forecast for later this week could make it that much more epic.

Lifts operating this weekend include North Star Express Quad, Easter Triple Chair, and the Owlette Magic Carpet.

Super Sunday is ‘Stylin’ at Whiteface

20th Annual High Peaks Cyclery Demo Day
Wilmington, NY - The 53rd season of skiing and riding at Whiteface, in Wilmington, N.Y., is underway and the Olympic mountain is kicking off its winter events, Sunday, Dec. 12, with its first of five Super Sundays presented by Bud Light.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter as clues are revealed throughout the day for our on mountain scavenger hunt featuring gear from our favorite local ski shops Cunningham’s Ski Barn, Maui North and Viking Ski Shop.

Skiing and riding during 'Stylin’ Sunday’ is just $35 for adults, $30 for teens and $25 for juniors, and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. skiers can demo the top ski and boot brands, get telemark lessons and discount coupons during the High Peaks Cyclery 20th annual Telemark/Alpine Touring Demo day at the mountain. At the end of day, the party moves to the Cloudspin Lounge for Bud Light specials, prizes, and DJ.

Celebrate the Holidays with Deer Valley Resort

Park City, UT - Deer Valley’s magical holiday events have become beloved annual traditions for the entire Park City community, locals and visitors alike. Deer Valley makes coming up with gift ideas a synch with products from their Resort stores, gift cards and more.

To celebrate Christmas, Santa Claus himself will visit Deer Valley on Friday, December 24, 2010. The jolly old elf will be found in the Snow Park Lodge area at the Resort base from 9 to 11 a.m., and from noon to 1:30 p.m., and will visit guests in the Silver Lake (mid-mountain) area. Guests are invited to bring a camera and have their picture taken with Santa.

Another highlight of Deer Valley’s holiday season is the annual torchlight parade. The parade takes place Thursday, December 30, 2010, at dusk (approximately 6 p.m.). The Resort’s renowned Ski School will dazzle with torches, synchronized skiing and all sorts of “illuminating” moves. The parade takes place on Big Stick ski run on Bald Eagle Mountain and is best viewed from the plaza area of Snow Park Lodge, where complimentary hot cider and cookies will be served.

Almost Two Feet of Fresh Snow Blankets Snowshoe, with Opening Day Planned for December 8th!

Snowshoe, WV - Snowshoe Mountain Resort is once again a winter wonderland, and that’s good news for skiers and riders anxiously waiting to kick of ski season in West Virginia with Snowshoe’s opening on Wednesday, Dec 8th. Since December 1st, Snowshoe has seen 20 inches of natural snowfall, and the resort’s 150 snow guns have been working around the clock across the mountain for 120 hours. The forecast contains more good news for snow enthusiasts, as another foot of snow is expected to fall on the resort before Wednesday. And for skiers and riders planning to be at the Pocahontas County resort for rope drop at 9am on the 8th, the weather should cooperate, with temperatures creeping back into the 20s after days of highs in the teens.

Federal District Court Rules in Snowbowl's Favor?

Flagstaff, AZ - Arizona Snowbowl, on behalf of its skiers and supporters is very pleased that its position and that of the U.S. Forest Service has been upheld, once again by the Courts. Snowbowl looks forward to starting construction of the snowmaking system, and plans to proceed in cooperation with the Forest Service once the weather and other conditions permit. The project will benefit Flagstaff as a whole with respect to the creation of construction jobs and an increase in winter visitors once the project is complete.

Eric Borowsky, general partner, had the following reaction to the District Court's most recent decision: "Snowbowl will proceed as it has in the past, in accordance with the legal process and Forest Service approval. We appreciate the time and effort that Judge Murguia put into deciding this case. We are disappointed that these plaintiffs plan yet another appeal, but we are confident that the outcome of the District Court will be upheld. The people who brought this suit, and others of like mind, appear determined to try and stop this snowmaking project despite the fact that the Courts, in two separate cases, the first of which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, have determined that the snowmaking project meets all legal requirements".

Telluride Ski Resort Cancels Backcountry Guide Program

Telluride, CO - Telluride Ski Resort announced today that it is canceling its backcountry guide program in the Bear Creek drainage, which is located immediately east of the ski area. The resort cited a lack of alignment with private owners of mining claims in the drainage.

The Resort was originally encouraged by the U.S. Forest Service to provide a guide service to help manage the growing use of the backcountry area.

"Telluride Ski Resort believed it was providing a much needed public service which would help people learn to safely navigate the area," said Resort CEO Dave Riley. "However, certain owners of mining claims, Irene West, Tom Chapman, and Ron Curry, have not accepted our offer to provide insurance and indemnification agreements in return for access privileges across their property."

Despite numerous attempts to reach out to the private land owners, the Ski Resort was unable to get a response. "They literally would not return emails or agree to get together to discuss a solution", said Riley.

The Ski Resort contends that the Chapman mining claims don't cause a barrier to fall line skiing in Bear Creek, but the West mining claim does create a barrier as there is no way to travel down through the drainage from the upper basin to the lower terrain without crossing the West property.

Woodward at Copper Takes Next Step to Integrate Into Every Aspect of Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain, CO - Woodward at Copper is possibly the raddest place on the planet. Some even call it the premier trick-stomping playground in the world. It features The Barn, a 19,400 sq. ft. comprehensive ski and snowboard freestyle training facility complete with indoor artificial snow jumps, jib lines, foam pits, skate features and Olympic fly-bed trampolines, offering indoor and outdoor training programs where you can learn tricks in the Barn and take them on snow the same day.

NEW this season, the teams responsible for helping build/shape the parks and pipes at Copper now are working in conjunction with the folks at Woodward at Copper. This move will leverage the best builders from Copper with the innovation and programs commonly seen from the minds of Woodward at Copper. This will expand the Woodward at Copper experience and the terrain parks/pipes experience across the resort and better integrate our people.

“I believe that this integration will prove to be a defining moment at Copper Mountain,” says Ben Brown, Director of Woodward at Copper. “I see so much passion for our parks from both the Terrain Park Crew as well as Woodward at Copper that combining the two will be explosive. The plan is for the transition to happen over time, but you should see some immediate impacts this year. Copper opened the season with more than 10 features in the Eagle Jib Park and will continue to expand throughout the season to our other five parks.”

This new decision shows Copper’s commitment to terrain parks, Woodward at Copper, progression and the integration of two very parallel departments, to form a happy union that should benefit all.

Deer Valley Celebrates 30th Anniversary with $30 Tix!

WHAT:
Please join us in celebrating our 30th Anniversary with $30 lift tickets December 6 - 8, 2010!

COST:
Full-day lift tickets will be available at the special rate of $30* Monday, December 6, through Wednesday, December 8, 2010.

*Please note, $30 lift ticket is not valid opening weekend, December 4 - 5, 2010

LIFTS:
Due to amazing early season skiing conditions, 20 of 21 lifts are planned to be open!

WHERE:
Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah

Sugarfest – Nothing But Fun!

Banner Elk, NC - SugarFest kick starts the winter season with a weekend of pure winter fun! Sponsored by the Village of Sugar Mountain Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and hosted by Sugar Mountain Resort. SugarFest will be held Saturday, December 11th and Sunday, 12th, 2010.

The eight annual, two-day festival is packed with a long list of winter activities and coincides with Sugar's 17th Annual Adult Preseason Ski Clinic. Olympic Gold & Silver medalist Diann Roffe; two-time Olympian, Krista Schmidinger and US National Sugar G Champion, Keely Kelleher top the list of the ski clinic's coaching staff.

Both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm 2011 ski & snowboard equipment will be available for demo from Salomon, Volkl, Nordica, Burton, Head, Never Summer, K2, Atomic, Dynastar, Rossignol, Ride, Line, Fisher and Forum. You must have a valid lift/slope ticket as well as a valid driver's license or credit card in order to demo the equipment.