SPRINT U.S. FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
JENNIFER HUDAK MOVES FROM WORLD CUP TO U.S. SKIER HALFPIPE PODIUM Scott Hibbart wins men's title at 2006 Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships KILLINGTON, Vt. (March 23) – After capturing her first World Cup podium just one week ago, Jennifer Hudak (Park City, UT) won the inaugural U.S. Freestyle Championships title in skier halfpipe Thursday at Killington Resort to open the 2006 Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships. Canadian Scott Hibbert stuck a back flip to finish his run and win the men’s title.

Photo:Killington Resort
“I grew up skiing at Okemo (about 40 minutes from Killington),” said Hudak, 19, “and they always had a great pipe that I would go into just for fun. I’d try to go crazy big and get a little out of control. But I was a moguls skier initially and I did that until about four years ago.” All it took to hook Hudak on halfpipe was a formal stage on which to compete. She got her chance in 2003 when she won the World Junior Championships at Marble Mountain in Newfoundland, Canada. Since then she has competed on the World Cup and NorAm circuits (she won a NorAm HP at Alpine Meadows last February) as well as notable domestic competitions such as the X Games. For her winning run, Hudak took five hits starting with back-to-back mute grabs, a critical grab, a tail grab and finishing with a 540 mute grab. She said her skiing has been more consistent this season, leading to more confident runs like her performance Thursday.
Hibbert said winning the U.S. championship title was the highlight of his season and he hopes to continue his success at the upcoming Vermont Open (at Stratton Mtn.) this weekend. Hibbert kicked off his run with a 540 safety and a 540 mute grab, followed by a corked 900 reverse mute, a big straight air (also a mute grab) and a laid-out back flip. The Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships continue Friday with moguls competition. SPRINT U.S. FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS KILLINGTON, VT MARCH 23, 2006 SKIER HALFPIPE
Killington
The Superpipe championship took place Thursday and officially kicked off this year's Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships! It was a heated competition in the men's final, but Scott Hibbert from Canada secured the gold with a flawless backflip on his last trick and Jennifer Hudak took home the gold medal in the women's final. Check back for more updates and results as they come in over the weekend!
MEN 1. Scott Hibbert, Canada, 86.0 2. David Wise, Reno, Nev., 83.6 3. Tony Seibert, Edwards, Colo., 75.2 4. Troy Cook, Truckee, Calif., 72.6 5. Noah Labow, Jeffersonville, Vt., 70.4 6. Tyler Homen, Roseville, Calif., 69.4 WOMEN 1. Jennifer Hudak, Park City, Utah, 65.8 2. Sophia Schwartz, Ketchum, Id., 63.4 3. Kim Sharp, Park City, Utah, 56.4 4. Allison Lee, Manchester, Conn., 56.2 5. Calli DeGrace, Plymouth, N.H., 53.6 6. Elizabeth Maney, Hartland, Vt., 40.6
For complete results:
FIS Ski

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Indoor Snow News From Patrick Throne of; Snow365.com

First Scottish Snowdome Opens This Month
The first indoor snow slope in Scotland is scheduled to have its formal opening party on April 6th with some 10,000 people expected to attends the event. Xscape Braehead near Glasgow is the third Xscape to open in the UK, a little over five years after the first, in Milton Keynes.
The £70million ($125 US) centre features a 200m slope, covered in 1500 tonnes of real snow supplied by sixteen snow-guns and operating at around -3ºC. Drag lifts will provide uplift.
Scotland has five traditional ski areas and a dozen artificial surface year round slopes, including one of the largest in Europe, at the Midlothian centre overlooking Edinburgh. The country's traditional areas have suffered from lack of snow over the past decade and typically are only now able to operate for five or six weeks each ski season since 2000. This year most were unable to open before the start of March.
www.xscape.co.uk
And,...
Kansas Plans To Build World's First Ski-Trac
An organisation called the 110th Street Corridor Development LLC, has announced plans to develop a large leisure centre, incorporating the largest free standing dome in North America, on the town of Edwardsville's 650-acre Riverview Redevelopment Area in Kansas.
The plan envisages the world's first Ski-Trac, a two million-gallon aquarium and a 1,000-foot observation tower.
www.ski-trac.com
For more Indoor and alternative slope news visit
snow 365

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Jade Mtn - China
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is situated north of LiJiang Old Town. The highest point in the mountain reaches a height of 5596 meters. This prominent wonder is made up of thirteen peaks and the highest one is named as "Fan Peak".
This "Fan peak" is still a virigin peak and has yet to be conquered by mountaineering enthusiasts. Above the height of 4500 meters, you can find 19 marine glaciers extending to a width of 30 meters and approximately 100 meters in length. There are cable cars available in this resort that will bring you to a height of 4506 meters above sea level. You can also enjoy skiing on the northeast range of the Fan Peak.

Jade Mtn

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Niseko -Japan
Weather Cloudy with occasional Snow Cloudy with occasional Snow

Ski the 940-m drop in elevation from the top of the lift. Powder flies over your head.
World-famous powder covers one of the biggest ski grounds in Japan. It’s all here at Grand Hirafu, the winter resort. Check out this information and enjoy skiing at Grand Hirafu.

Open until May 7 2006

Grand Hirafu Niseko Japan


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Kitzbühel

The trails are in perfect condition, and the first warming rays of sunshine are turning the terraces of the ski huts into a sheer pleasure!
Even though spring is very much in the air, there is still more than enough snow. Up on the Hahnenkamm the white carpet is no less than one meter twenty deep! At the moment the weather gods are adding a few centimeters almost every night, so that skiers can enjoy dream conditions with sunshine and perfect powder the next morning.
And if you have had enough of the mountains by sundown- instead of skiing on an illuminated slope, you will find the less frosty evenings ideal for a serious tour of Kitzbühel's night life. Above all, a visit to the brand-new casino is a must. As always, the beautiful city in the Alps has lots of new and exciting things to see and do at the moment. Don't miss March in Kitz!
SNOW AND FUN PASS YOUR WINTER HAS NEVER BEEN SO SWEET Book now! Snow and Fun Pass Sweeteners available from 11.03.2006. Or take advantage of an Easter Bunny Sweetener – 6 days + 1 day free – available from 08.04.2006. Prices start at € 219 per person including a 5- or 6-day ski pass

Kitzbuehel

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