SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 14) - With a bright sun and cloudless sky as a backdrop on the Rettenbach Glacier, the U.S. men's and women's alpine teams staged time trials Friday to complete the starting lineup for the opening World Cup giant slaloms Oct. 22-23.

The format for each was better-of-two runs; men skied first with the entire tech team competing for two places and then the women ran with four athletes chasing three open spots; 10 U.S. women and seven men will ski in the first races. Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and Tom Rothrock (Cashmere, WA) edged two-time Olympian Chip Knight (Stowe, VT) for the men's final starts while Lauren Ross (also Stowe), Stacey Cook (Truckee, CA) and Kaylin Richardson (Edina, MN) earned the women's places for the opening weekend with Libby Ludlow (Bellevue, WA), coming back from knee surgery in the spring, just off the pace.

"It was a fun time, definitely fun to watch - everyone put some urgency into their runs. All three guys skied really well and it was close," Men's SL/GS Head Coach Mike Morin said. "We had everybody in the trial and Ted and 'Rotty' were skiing just as fast as the whole team; they were right in there."

Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA), GS bronze medalist at the 2005 World Championships, led the first run and World Cup overall champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) was the fastest in the final run. "Ted was just a tenth of a second off Bode in the second run...yeah, the slalom specialist making a strong move in GS," Morin said.

NOKIA Snowboard FIS -The Snowdome at Landgraaf which is the largest of six impressive indoor ski centres in the Netherlands has previously staged two Nokia FIS Snowboard World Cups and one FIS Alpine European Cup and this occasion certainly lived up to the success of the previous ones with 57 men and 56 ladies from 21 nations participating in two Parallel Slalom competitions. No less than 20’000 spectators turned up in Rotterdam on 9th October when for the first time the Netherlands staged a NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup Big Air competition. Arranged in spectacular surroundings at the foot of the river Maas 48 athletes from 11 nations were carried across the river in small water-taxis to take part in a competition
**** FIS Schedule for 2005-2006

Date Event Sector Nation Category Ladies Men Comments
15.-16.10.2005 Sölden SB AUT WC PGS PGS
21.-22.10.2005 Saas-Fee SB SUI WC SBXHP SBX
22.-23.10.2005 Düsseldorf CC GER WCSPWQ Tsp
22.-23.10.2005 Sölden AL AUT WC GS GS
29.-30.10.2005 Saariselka CC FIN FIS 5k
4.11.2005 Landgraaf AL NED FIS
5.-6.11.2005 Fairbanks, AK CC USA NAC Dpu
5.-6.11.2005 Muonio CC FIN FIS
7.11.2005 Bottrop AL GER EC SL
11.-13.11.2005 Beitostoelen CC NOR FIS 5k
11.-12.11.2005 Hanty-Mansiysk AL RUS ENL 2xSL 2xSL
12.-13.11.2005 Anchorage, AK CC USA NAC 5k
12.-13.11.2005 Gällivare CC SWE FIS 10k
12.11.2005 Gelsenkirchen / ArenaAufSchalke SB GER WC BA Cancelled
12.-13.11.2005 Kirovsk CC RUS FIS 5k
13.-16.11.2005 Taernaby AL SWE FIS 2xSL
14.-18.11.2005 Tignes AL FRA FIS 2xSG SG 2xDH
16.-17.11.2005 Pyha AL FIN FIS 2xGS 2xGS
17.-20.11.2005 Sajnogorsk AL RUS FIS SL
18.-20.11.2005 Geilo AL NOR JUN 2xSL
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Big White
What’s new at Big White this season?
This winter, Big White Ski Resort will have a number of significant improvements and upgrades all over the mountain.
The biggest news this season is the upgrading of nine runs serviced by the Gem Lake Express. 300,000 cubic meters of organic fill (that’s 30,000 truck loads!) were moved to these runs as part of a massive summer grooming operation. As a result, Gem Lake runs can open much earlier in the season, and will provide a smooth, sweet surface for skiers and ‘boarders.
Big White Marketing in in Canada friday agreeed to allow Endless Winter Snow to carry their news, powder alerts. Thanks!

I wouldn't want the hard core riders to think they are not getting cutting edge time here. Sam of SnoZone Sacramento is demo-ing a prototype "DUECE" split board, or a stride ways Mono adapter. I think the "Truck" linking the two boards has a lot of potential with adaptive skiers / riders to distribute edging pressure a little better than current platform seating. Just one guys opinion.

Post Icer event, unofficial San Francisco vertical challenge practice run

Winter’s arrived early in Toronto!

The Toronto Ski, Snowboard & Travel Show presents an outstanding opportunity for skiers and snowboarders to meet 200 exhibitors at one of the largest snow shows in North America. For the more than 30,000 visitors there are plenty of winter bargains, with special deals on skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, poles, goggles, helmets, clothing and other accessories for snowboarding and skiing. They can see and purchase the latest equipment from retailers representing the major manufacturers, including Burton, Elan, Rossignol, Atomic, Flow, Columbia, Phoenix, Avalanche, Sims, Head, Salomon, Dalbello, Nordica, Serengetti, Salice, Oakley and Kombi. Dozens of resorts in Canada and the U.S.A. will be represented and visitors will book one-of-a-kind winter sport adventures. Get ready for the excitement of four breathtaking days of skiing, snowboarding, travel and entertainment for the entire family!
The Toronto Ski, Snowboard & Travel Show
Thursday, October 13th . . . . 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday, October 14th . . . . Noon - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 15th . . . . 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 16th . . . . 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Admission
Adults: $13.00 Juniors: $8.00 (Ages 6 to 15) Seniors: $8.00 Children (under six years): Free when accompanied by an adult Family Pass: $29.00 (two adults & two juniors)
Toranto ski show