Spring Skiing & Riding at its Best

East Burke, VT - Celebrate Spring the True North Way
Temperatures have been colder than expected this first week in April, bringing 5 " of new snow to the mountain in the past 3 days. Spring skiing & riding conditions are the best they have been in years; upper mountain trails are in tip top shape, making snow conditions on open terrain absolutely phenomenal right now - just in time for our 22nd Annual Pond Skimming Celebration. Join us at Burke Saturday, April 6 and you'll get it all - skiing, riding, music, sun and fun. We'll have the grills loaded with burgers, hot dogs & more along with the Magic Hat Beer Garden overlooking the pond where over 50 brave souls compete for fame, prizes and the chance to be crowned the 2013 King & Queen of the Pond. We hope you can join us!

2013/14 Season Passes-Ski Free & Save
Get the absolute best pricing of the year and purchase your 2013/14 season pass before May 13. And- if you buy now, you'll ski the last days of the season for free. Upgrade to The Judge Pass (Burke + Jay Peak Combo), and you'll be skiing for free at Jay Peak well into May.

'Bikinis for Breast Cancer' Raises over $11,000

Sun Peaks, BC - Under a perfect blue sky and spring sunshine, 14 participants skied, snowboarded or otherwise slid their way to raising $11,500 for breast cancer research at Sun Peaks last Saturday. As participants in the official ‘Bikinis for the Breast Cancer’ fundraiser, the brave ladies embarked down Tod Mountain in their bikini tops and snow pants to raise money and awareness for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

“I have to say for this being the first time for the event at Sun Peaks it exceeded all of my expectations,” says Karen Guidos, director of Three.Two.Done! event planning and event organizer. “I am so excited with how it all went.”

Plans are already in the works to make next year’s 'Bikinis for Breast Cancer' at Sun Peaks even more successful in raising awareness and funds for the Foundation. Several breast cancer survivors were on resort for the event, including members of the Spirit Warriors group in Kamloops, B.C.

After skiing down, participants warmed up in a slopeside hot tub provided by Sun Peaks Aquatics. Each participant paid a registration fee and collected pledges in the weeks prior to the event. Donations were also collected around the resort from guests and skiers.

Another Bikinis for Breast Cancer fundraiser will take place at Lake Louise on May 4, 2013.

Ski the Rest of the Season FREE & Other Spring Deals

East Burke, VT - With an anticipated closing date of April 14 and the best Spring skiing & riding conditions in years, there's no reason not to spend your days on the slopes at Burke. With just over two weeks left of the season, take advantage of early 2013/14 season pass pricing and ski & ride the rest of the season for free. Already a season pass holder? Order your 2013/14 season pass and get the best prices of the year. And- if you're still looking for Spring turns later in the season, upgrade to The Judge Pass (Burke + Jay Peak Combo) for just $699 and ski into the month of May for just $699!
If you're not quite ready to commit to a season pass, we have got a lift ticket deal for everyone. Bring a 2012/13 lift ticket from any other ski area for a $55 lift ticket. $45 if you have a season pass from another ski area.

Our biggest celebration of the season is just around the corner. Join us for a day of spectacular Spring skiing, riding and splashing! The 22nd Annual Pond Skimming Celebration will take place on Saturday, April 6. Join the competition for a chance at the title of King or Queen of the Pond and other fabulous prizes, or watch the brave contestants skim the pond from the Magic Hat Beer Garden and BBQ.

It May Be Spring....But We Have Tons Of Snow!

Highmount, NY - Are you a current season pass holder for the 2012-2013 season or did you purchase your pass for the 2013 -2014 season? We want to say thank you to you for all of your support by offering pass holders "5 for 5 Friends Days" on March 24th and March 29th, 30th, 31st & April 1st. That is five days with up to five friends for $25 per person each day. Share the Belle, Promote the Belle, Love the Belle! Make your weekend plans now. For those of you who don't have passes take advantage of the "5 for 5 Friends Day" deal and purchase your pass now, online or over the phone at 845.254.5600 ext. 2404/2444. If you aren't a pass holder don't forget that Sunday the 31st is the $30 Easter Special lift ticket. **Note: Midweek pass holders can take advantage of this promotion only on March 29th and April 1st.

Don't miss the best and craziest cardboard contraptions

Have you ever wanted to sled down Belleayre Mountain? Here's your chance! Everyone is welcome to make their own sled out of cardboard and duct tape, then race down the slopes. Make a sled at home or here. We will be supplying a limited amount of Duct tape and cardboard. Sled building will take place from 9am to 12pm in the Longhouse lodge. Registration will begin at 11am and the race begins at 1pm. Use your imagination to build the most stable and aerodynamic sled you can! Don't miss the best and craziest cardboard contraptions as family and friends race behind the Longhouse Lodge. The awards ceremony will follow directly after the event with prizes awarded to the most creative, fastest sled, best crash, & best Belleayre staff. The cost is FREE to enter and Helmets are required.

Celebrate Spring with Great Snow and Warm Temperatures

Flagstaff, AZ - As rewarding as an Easter egg hunt, finding those desirable spring skiing conditions is a real joy to many skiers and snowboarders, and Arizona Snowbowl is the place to look. The ski resort continues to have some of the best snow in the Southwest, riding out the season with discounts and specials, as outdoor recreationists transition from jackets to T-shirts in prime Arizona spring skiing style.

Arizona Snowbowl will maintain its regular operating schedule, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily through March 31, with extended hours on Family Fridays. The ski resort will be open three bonus days in April, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 5, 6, and 7 (closed April 1-4).

"With daytime high temperatures climbing toward the 40s on the San Francisco Peaks, we have the perfect spring skiing conditions on a 62-inch snow-packed base," said Arizona Snowbowl Marketing and Sales Director Dave Smith. "For many of our guests, this is the best time of year on the mountain. Just don't forget to use the sunscreen!"

With one Family Friday remaining in the season, March 29, guests can celebrate the end of the work week from 2- 6 p.m., with $10 lift tickets, $10 rentals and $10 group beginner lessons. Agassiz Lift will remain open until 4 p.m., while the Hart Prairie and Sunset lifts and the Little Spruce conveyor will stay open until 6 p.m.

This week, online lift tickets go on sale for $40 for Wednesday and Thursday. Meantime, guests can enjoy one more Two for Tuesday special on March 26. Two lift tickets may be purchased for the price of one online by midnight the night before.

Arizona Snowbowl plans to close its spectacular 75th anniversary season with a grand finale long weekend in April, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 5, 6, and 7, with live music on the Agassiz deck that weekend.

New Lift, Royal Gorge XC, 12/13 Spring Skiing, Free Skiing at Grand Targhee all part of Sugar Bowl Resort’s More Affordable 2013/14 Season Passes

Donner Summit, CA - Free skiing for the remainder of this season and a new chairlift for next season have skiers and riders excited about the new lower-priced 2013/14 season passes at Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge. Season passes go on sale March 23, starting at just $299.

The 2013/14 Sugar Bowl season pass offers numerous new benefits for significantly less money. Passholders will have access to the new Crow’s Peak chairlift, planned for installation this summer, opening up a variety of new intermediate and expert terrain, old-growth tree skiing and beautiful glades on the western edge of the resort. Other benefits include $30 off lift tickets on any pass blackout days, discounted tickets for a friend, 50% off rentals and group lessons, as well as free lessons and rentals for the remainder of the 12/13 season. All Sugar Bowl season passholders will receive a free trail pass/rental/lesson package at Royal Groge, North America’s largest cross country resort, while Royal Gorge season passholders will receive a free lift/lesson/rental package at Sugar Bowl. Combo Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge season passholders will receive the package of their choice. Sugar Bowl Season Passholders can also ski and ride for free at Grand Targhee Resort, located in the Tetons of Wyoming, when staying two consecutive nights in Grand Targhee lodging.

Pass prices have been reduced significantly for the 2013/14 season. Adult Midweek Plus passes are priced at $299, Summit Sunday Plus passes are $399, Slightly Restricted passes are $469 and the Unrestricted pass is $799. All passes offer 7-day unrestricted access both early and late season. The pass prices are a $30 to $60 savings from last season’s prices.

A standalone unrestricted Royal Gorge XC pass is $299. Combined Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge passes start at $449.

Sugar Bowl Resort receives the most annual snowfall in Tahoe, and has a wealth of backcountry access from the resort’s open boundaries. The resort is the closest Tahoe resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area, and is known for short liftlines, easy parking and a skiing-centric vibe. The resort has been California owned and operated since 1939, and was voted as one of the top 25 ski resort in North American by Outside Magazine in 2012.

Pats Peak Banquet Center Named Top Wedding Venue In The Knot Best of Weddings 2013

Henniker, NH - Pats Peak Banquet Center is pleased to announce they have been selected as a 2013 ­­winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section featured on www.TheKnot.com/BOW.

TheKnot.com is the number-one wedding destination website, most trusted by brides. Recent brides in New Hampshire rate and review their wedding vendors. The results create the annual list of the best wedding venues and top wedding pros in New Hampshire.

The Knot Best of Weddings 2013 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources. Engaged couples across the country want the inside scoop on the best from real brides.

“It’s an honor to have been chosen as a top wedding venue by our brides,” said Lori Rowell, Marketing Director. “We strive to provide personalized service for our couples and we appreciate them honoring us with a great review.”

Powdr Resorts and Woodward Offer Youth a License 2 Ride

Park City, UT - Powdr Corp. (Powdr), a leading mountain resort and action sports camp owner and operator in North America, today announced License 2 Ride, a unique program supporting the youth in the snowsports industry. Passholders aged 17 and under (18 and under for Killington and Mt Bachelor resorts) who purchase their winter 2013-14 season pass to one of six participating Powdr resorts will receive privileges to ride the other five additional resorts for free. Plus, pass holders who currently have a 2012-13 youth/teen pass or who purchase their 2013-14 season pass by May 1, 2013 will save $200 on a week at summer camp at one of Woodward’s four locations in the United States.

“Powdr and Woodward know that the youth are the future of our industry,” said John Cumming, chief executive officer of Powdr. “License 2 Ride is our first program focused on the youth to encourage access to our incredible network of diverse resorts and action sports camps in North America.”

Participating resorts include Boreal Mountain Resort in California, Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado, Killington Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mt Bachelor Resort in Oregon, Park City Mountain Resort in Utah and Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort in Nevada. Participants redeem their License 2 Ride by bringing their home mountain season pass to a ticket window at the other resorts – adult pass holders (18 and over) are eligible for 20 percent discount off of lift tickets.

Woodward is the leading action sports camp in the nation. Woodward currently has four camps in the United States including Camp Woodward in Woodward, Pennsylvania; Woodward West in Tehachapi, California; Woodward Tahoe at Boreal Mountain Resort in California; and Woodward at Copper in Summit County, Colorado. Pass holders who currently have a 2012-2013 youth season pass or purchase their 2013-14 season pass by May 1, 2013 will receive a promo code valid for $200 off a week at summer camp.

Results from Asessippi Resort

Inglis, MB - Record snowfalls have been reported in many areas throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan and for at least one business all this snow simply means great conditions.

"We are confident that we will have plenty of snow for our March 31, Slush Cup and last day of the season this year," said Roz Pulo, director of marketing for Asessippi Ski Area & Resort.

Last year at this time, Asessippi had already been forced to close a full two weeks ahead of schedule, so this is no doubt a nice change for the largest ski area on the prairies. It was a similar story for most of the ski areas right across western Canada, this season they hope the fresh snow will keep visits strong over the spring break and also drive more season pass sales. Asessippi Resort offers a discounted season pass in the spring, called the Super Pass, it is a season pass for next season but can be used from the day you purchase it.

"The pass not only allows guests to save close to 50% off regular season pass prices, it also offers a lot of bonuses, like a bring a friend lift ticket plus a single day river tubing voucher," Pulo explained.

The Banff Ice Big Air competition was held Saturday, March 16, and once again attracted skiers and snowboarders from across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Results are below.

Asessippi Ski Area & Resort is located just west of Inglis, near the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border.

Grizzly Ultra Race - Special Two Event Weekend at Panorama

Panorama, BC - On August 31, 2013 mountain bikers will challenge an enduro style race and on Sunday September 1 runners can compete in an ultra trail-run race. In both the biking and the running events, racers can choose if they want to do the whole 36km course solo, or split it amongst a team of up to 5 people. The $250 team fee is the same regardless of team size and the solo fee is $80. Team captains may add, delete or substitute team member names any time after registration until 14 days prior to the event at no cost. In the relay categories, awards will be presented in three classes: all male, all female and mixed.

“Grizzly Mountain Events is very excited about expanding their Canadian series to include a spectacular two day event at the world class Panorama Mountain Village. The addition of the Saturday Mountain Bike event will appeal to the established Panorama mountain biking community,” states Tony Smith Event Director with Grizzly Mountain Events.

“The five legs of the Grizzly Panorama Mountain trail running and mountain bike course offer varied terrain and difficulty levels suitable for all abilities. The solo category will appeal to more seasoned trail enthusiasts looking to take on the challenge of tackling all 5 legs,” continues Mr. Smith.

The first leg is a 3 km sprint on fairly flat ground. The second leg, although only 4 km, is likely the most difficult due to its half kilometer vertical ascent. Leg three is long at 10km but it is mostly downhill. Both leg four and five are about 10 km with leg five being shorter, slightly less hilly and rated less difficult.

The Grizzly Mountain Event expects the Panorama races to draw in about 500 participants in total. “The September 1 Panorama event is perfectly positioned on the Grizzly Mountain Events calendar as a stepping stone towards the very popular October 13 Grizzly Canmore Ultra Marathon & Relay. Last year's Canmore event hosted almost 1,000 runners. Many of the Canmore participants have their sights set on Panorama,” according to Mr. Smith.

“We are delighted to host these new events at Panorama as we continue to add to the repertoire of experiences,” commented Panorama’s Race Training & Mountain Events Manager Patrick Gillespie.

Exciting Future Ahead for Greywolf Golf Course

Panorama, BC - An exciting future lies ahead as Panorama Mountain Village finalizes full ownership transfer of the award winning Greywolf Golf Course at Panorama Mountain Village to Totem Golf Ltd. With completion of the purchase, Totem Golf Ltd. has announced a renewed focus on customer service and released plans for a new clubhouse to be open in 2014.

The values of Totem Golf Ltd. are centered on offering exceptional course conditions, maintaining a consistent pace of play, and creating a phenomenal golfing experience that both appeals to and challenges golfers of every level.

Totem Golf Ltd. plans to build a new Clubhouse scheduled for construction in the fall of 2013. Club and cart storage and full service locker rooms are included in the plans, along with an expanded Pro Shop and dining facilities.

"We welcome Totem Golf Ltd. and the addition of a General Manager, Head Professional & Superintendent to Panorama." states Rick Jensen, President & CEO of Panorama Mountain Village. "We are excited about working closely with the Totem Golf team and continuing to offer our guests an exceptional experience on and off the course."

Greywolf is rated among Canada’s Top 25 courses per Score Golf magazine and is home to “Cliffhanger” one of the most dramatic par 3 holes in the world. Summer golf packages are now available through Panorama Mountain Village.

The Wailers Come to Crested Butte for FestEVOL 2013

Opening Band Twiddle Will Bring Funk to the Reggae Sounds of this Spring Show
Crested Butte, CO - FestEVOL, Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s (CBMR) springtime concert series returns for another show this spring. FestEVOL is a unique lifestyle experience combining snowsports with live music, innovative natural brands and the sustainably focused Reverb Eco-Village. In its fourth year, FestEVOL will showcase a great line-up of live music, skiing and riding, and all-natural foods to CBMR. On Saturday, March 9, local band Mine Control will start the festivities off, followed by Vermont-based band Twiddle, with special guest John Popper of Blues Traveler. The main act will be The Wailers, reggae legends and also crowd pleasers.

Concert tickets are now on sale for the Crested Butte event at www.SkiCB.com/festevol. General admission tickets are $25 per person and a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $50 per person. CBMR season passholder discounts are available when purchasing in the Adventure Center at the resort. Lodging, lift ticket and concert packages are available at a 25% discount, when purchasing all together. Call Crested Butte Vacations for more information at 800-600-2803 or locally at 970-349-4554. Guests can also buy concert tickets onsite for $30 per person until the show begins.

This year, FestEVOL begins its three stop tour at Crested Butte Mountain Resort March 9th. Then heads east March 16th to Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont, where O.A.R will open for Yukon Kornelious and Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire on March 23, featuring O.A.R.

As a little background, FestEVOL began three years ago in Crested Butte, Colo. as an idea among friends and now partners; combining mountain sports, live music, innovative natural brands and a sustainably focused “eco village” to keep the event green and to help spread environment consciousness among concert-goers. FestEVOL teamed up with the IZSTYLE winter tour to feature the Reverb Eco Village. This interactive village includes local, regional and national environmental non-profit groups alongside alternative energy and transportation exhibits. The Eco Village also highlights all natural/organic food sampling and ski/snowboard equipment demos with Nordica skis and Burton snowboards.

Reverb is a non-profit started by Guster band member Adam Gardner, and his wife Lauren Sullivan as an effort to “green up” concert venues, including things like enhancing recycling efforts, switching tour buses to bio-diesel, and using LED lights for on-stage lighting to name a few.

Spring Deals at Mount Snow!

West Dover, VT - Snowsports enthusiasts in the northeast will find an abundance of deals to ski and ride at Mount Snow Resort in southern Vermont as March rolls in, including the Vernal Eternal Spring Pass which provides the pass holder unlimited direct to lift access from March 1 through the end of the season. As a major snow storm deposits several inches of snow on the mountain during the waning days of February, the spring skiing and riding season is shaping up to be stellar which will make the list of deals that much more appealing.

Mount Snow branded the last five weeks of the winter season Vernal Eternal as a way of identifying the timeframe that is jam packed with annual festivals, events, competitions and live music; Vernal Eternal is also known as a time when the sun is higher in the sky and the deals are easy to come by.

Vernal Eternal Spring Pass - Valid every day from March 1 through the end of the winter season with direct to lift access; non-transferable. Available online Feb. 28 for $249.

Bud Light St. Patrick's Day Celebration - Green Eggs and Kegs, live music, outdoor party and $17 lift tickets on Sunday, March 17. Lift ticket deal is only available for advance purchase online with a limited quantity of 2,000 available.

Timberline Lodge Joins Historic Hotels of America

Government Camp, OR - RLK and Company, operators of Timberline Lodge is pleased to announce it has been accepted into the Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Timberline Lodge is now one of a distinctive group of hotels, resorts, and lodges throughout the country that is recognized by Historic Hotels of America for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance.

"The trend of cultural and heritage travel in America continues to grow," said Lawrence Horowitz, executive director of Historic Hotels Worldwide. "By inviting Timberline Lodge into our collection of distinguished properties, we are continuing to encourage historic preservation while at the same time showcasing the lodge's rich history. Our goal is to bring these historically special hotels and their authentic experiences to the attention of the traveling public."

Timberline's General Manager, Mark Vincent commented that "We are very pleased to have been recognized by The National Trust for Historic Preservation and to join this wonderful grouping of historic properties. Timberline Lodge is rich in history and architectural beauty. We love to share this special place with others. What we offer our guests is a quality, authentic, and memorable experience."

Snowing! Castle is taking shape for this weekend's Winter Carnival!

White Pass, WA - Hats off to Hugh Webber, Dave Mahre and Kevin McCarthy for their part in creating the White Pass Winter Carnival! First held in 1987, the event has become tradition for generations of northwest families. Tubing down the castle, making that first run on the Kids' Obstacle Course or competing in the Ski 4 Kids race weekend make memories that last a lifetime! We look forward to seeing you at White Pass this weekend.

Cranmore Joins Three Mountains for New White Mountain Super Pass

White Mountain Region, NH - Bretton Woods, Cranmore, Cannon Mountain and Waterville Valley ski areas announce the launch of the White Mountain Superpass to go on sale February 23, 2013. The pass will be valid any day of the 2013-2014 winter season at all four mountains. There are no blackout date restrictions.

”There has been such great success with our combined 4NH College Pass, we all quickly agreed that offering a season pass to everyone for the same four areas was an exciting proposition,” said Chris Sununu, CEO of Waterville Valley. The 4NH pass includes the same four mountains, but is a college student-only pass and has been offered since 2008.

The new White Mountain Superpass will give skiers and riders access to a combined total of 284 trails, 41 lifts, 1,148 acres and 6,900 vertical feet; and it includes a special “Bring-A-Friend Bonus.” The bonus enables the pass holder to get a friend $15 off the purchase of a one-day full-priced adult lift ticket. The offer can be used once per day for the purchase of one ticket. Pass holders may also receive a 10 percent discount from select retail outlets at each ski area.

"We think it’s a fantastic value and certainly one of the best combined passes in the East,” said John DeVivo, Cannon Mountain’s general manager. “The Superpass really gives skiers and riders amazing options when it comes to choosing where to take their next ski trip.”

Shawnee Mountain Gives Back - 2013 Charitable Event Donations

East Stroudsburg, PA - Shawnee Mountain is pleased to announce its donation of all the proceeds from the Pennsylvania Learn to Ski Day held January 3 on the Ski Area’s Learning Center. A total of $1,340 was donated to the Bushkill Outreach. The Bushkill Outreach is a local food bank affiliated with the Reformed Church of Bushkill and St. John’s Catholic Church of Bushkill, PA.

Also on Saturday and Sunday, Feb 9 & 10, Shawnee Mountain held its annual Race Against Cancer on the Upper Tomahawk NASTAR Race Trail. Race fee proceeds, along with corporate sponsorships and individual donations raised $6,797, all of which has been sent to Monroe County Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Both Pennsylvania Learn to Ski Day and the Race Against Cancer are long standing Shawnee Mountain Events and along with other fundraisers are held annually at the family orientated Ski Area.

Lake Louise Ski Area, Tube Park Now Open

Banff / Lake Louise, AB - Just in time for Family Day and for the first time ever, guests at The Lake Louise Ski Area can experience the delight of tubing. Sunny Tube Park is the latest addition to the Lake Louise Ski Area’s Base Area Play Zone and is perfect for both first timers to a ski resort, as well as seasoned skiers and snowboarders looking for a different kind of snowy adrenaline rush!

We are very excited to introduce this new activity to The Lake Louise Ski Area,” says Mike Moynihan, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager. “There is much more to our winter wonderland than downhill skiing and snowboarding. With snowshoe tours, cross-country skiing, and now Tubing at the mountain, and many more activities offered in the Lake Louise area, we are proud that all ages can enjoy a winter experience of a lifetime here.”

Sunny Tube is located at the base of The Lake Louise Ski Area and will be open seven days a week until the end of the ski season. Guests are carried up the slopes on a moving carpet, and then get to enjoy the thrill ride down a groomed, two-lane track. No previous experience is required; just bring an appetite for fun.

Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Reports Sold-Out 13th Anniversary

Vail, Colorado - The 13th Annual Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival in January,the Big Beers Festival, highly valued for the attendees' ability to connect directly with brewmasters and importers throughout a diverse weekend of events, has been deemed a success once again. A tradition held in well-renowned Vail, Colorado, garnered rave reviews from attendees and presenters, and the three-day festival has earned a reputation for attracting the "who's who" in craft beer, while remaining approachable to all interested. This year the entire event sold-out; some selections gone within the first two hours after tickets were released, including the debut option of VIP tickets and the hallmark of the event: the Commercial Tasting. Big Beers was also was the hot spot for numerous awards bestowed to both homebrewers and commercial brewers, earning national recognition for the winners as a result.

Demonstrating how an uber-successful craft beer festival (dubbed by one newspaper headline as "The Nation's Best") can still retain an intimate connection with the attendees, festival organizers responded to last-minute requests for an important Denver Broncos play-off football game to be shown during the Commercial Tasting. A selection of all-Colorado craft brewers in what became dubbed "Broncos Alley" presided alongside a five-foot television screen showing the play-off game, surrounded by more than eighty of the world's most innovative brewers, importers and their imaginative and extremely popular creations.

Diversity of programming was another key element that remained a hallmark of the Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival, including a homebrew competition and seminars offered by the brewmasters who presented eclectic sessions on all things brewing, from "Smoke" to "The Beer in My Cheese", and from "Brewing Belgian Styles" to "Creating Flavor: The Art of Blending Hops". A memorable event for attendees of the Cicerone Workshop (similar to a Sommelier program in the wine world) was an "off- flavor" beer tasting-not something that is usually found at beer festivals.

The Best of Show award winning homebrewer, Charlie Gottenkieny from Littleton, CO, won with 'Winter Solstice Saison' which will now be commercially brewed by the Dry Dock Brewing Company and co-entered in the Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am Competition in Denver, Colorado this October. The winner of the People's Choice Award, Odell Brewing Co. from Ft. Collins, CO, was the chosen winner via popular vote from the attendees during the Commercial Tasting for their new seasonal 'Odell Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout', which was provided for the attendees at the welcome reception and in the Fireside Bar over the course of the Big Beers Festival. Shawn DeWitt of Coronado Brewing Co. won the CraftBeer.com Beer & Food Pairing Taste-off for the second year in a row with Coronado's Hoppy Daze Belgio IPA paired with Purple Haze on Raisin Rosemary Crisps from Cypress Grove Chèvre. The win put him in competition with Steven Pauwels from Boulevard Brewing Co, who is the only other Brewmaster to win the Big Beers CraftBeer.com Taste-off twice.

The festival's success continues to boom: The Commercial Tasting welcomed more than 1,100 attendees, and more than eighty breweries and importers showcased their wares--a significant increase over the 2012 festival--and the Fireside program was so popular that more than twenty-five donated five-gallon kegs were consumed on the first two nights.

February Vacation Week Events at Cranmore Mountain

N. Conway, NH - - Cranmore Mountain, located in the heart of the Mount Washington Valley, is the place to be this President's Day vacation week. With skiing and non skiing activities and a full schedule of family events, there is something for everyone.

This February vacation week includes a special farm themed Cranapalooza and fireworks sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger on February 16th, and a Hollywood themed Cranapalooza and fireworks sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink on Saturday, February 23rd. Both of these dates include a bonus family friendly magic show at the Artist Falls Lodge from 4:30-5:30pm, with magician Ryan Mahoney. February also includes a bonus Cranapalooza on Wednesday, February 20th.

Friday, February 22nd, Stonewall Kitchen will be on the deck of Zip’s Pub & Grille with free product samples, and Rockstar will be on property sampling drinks on Saturday, February 23rd.

Cranmore's terrain parks are hosting their second freestyle event of the season, Saturday, February 23rd- RAMP Sports and Arbor Present Retro Fest Rail Jam. Grab your skis and boards, along with your best day glow gear and come out and throw down. Registration starts at 9am in the main base lodge and is $10 plus a lift ticket or seasons pass. The event will start at noon in the Double Feature Park. Winners will walk away with new skis or a board courtesy of the presenting sponsors and other prizes from sponsors, Dakine, Shreddy Times and Frontside Grind. RAMP Sports will be on property throughout the day with demo equipment.

Après entertainment is scheduled daily in Zip's Pub and Grille, February 16th through the 23rd and feature some of the best musicians in the Valley and surrounding areas.