Snow Alert for Lake Tahoe Basin, Mammoth Mountain

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USSA News
DAWSON WINS BRONZE IN OLYMPIC MOGULS Bloom 6th, Mayer 7th, Cabral 9th in Sauze d'Oulx SAUZE d'OULX, Italy (Feb. 15) - First-time Olympian Toby Dawson (Vail, CO) won bronze in moguls Wednesday night under the lights in Sauze d'Oulx. Jeremy Bloom (Loveland, CO) was sixth, Travis Mayer (Steamboat Springs, CO) was seventh and Travis Cabral (South Lake Tahoe, CA) finished ninth. Australian Dale Begg-Smith, who leads the World Cup moguls standings, won the gold and was followed by Finn Mikko Ronkainen who took silver. Dawson, currently fourth in World Cup points, sat in the silver medal spot behind Ronkainen with just Begg-Smith left to ski.
XX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

Sauze d'Oulx, ITA - Feb. 15, 2006 Men's Moguls
1. Dale Begg-Smith, Australia, 26.77 2. Mikko Ronkainen, Finland, 26.62 3. Toby Dawson, Vail, Colo., 26.30 4. Marc-Andre Moreau, Canada, 25.62 5. Jesper Bjoernlund, Sweden, 25.21 -- 6. Jeremy Bloom, Loveland, Colo., 25.17 7. Travis Mayer, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 24.91 9. Travis Cabral, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 24.38
For complete results: FIS SKI

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Sun Valley
The history of the “American Shangri-La,” as Sun Valley is sometimes referred, is not too different from the magical village of legend. It all began in 1935, when Count Felix Schaffgtosch, under the hire of Union Pacific Railroad chairman Averell Harriman, set out in search of the perfect spot for a grand American resort.

The count spent months searching the mountains of the west and surveying many areas that would latter become famous resorts, but none of them met his strict criteria. Feeling defeated and ready to abandon the search, the Count was preparing to wire Harriman the bad news when he heard locals talking about Ketchum, an old mining town in central Idaho. The Count postponed his return home and set out for the Ketchum area. Upon reaching the Ketchum valley, Count Felix Schaffgtosch was overwhelmed by the area and wired his employer, saying: “This combines more delightful features than any place I have ever seen in Switzerland, Austria or the U.S. for a winter resort."
Harriman was determined to build Sun Valley into a resort worthy of its breathtaking and majestic setting. "It is not enough to build a hotel and then mark with flags and signs the things you propose to do in time to come.” Harriman said. “When you get to Sun Valley, your eyes should pop open. There isn't a single thing that I could wish for that hasn't been provided." Part of what he “wished for” included a timeless lodge complete with glass-enclosed pools, haute cuisine, impeccable service and nightly orchestra performances


Snow Basin
Home to the Winter Olympics 2002 Downhill (Mt Allen )
Snowbasin offers nonstop skiing on a daily basis with runs for various skill levels. Located just 40 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport, Snowbasin is a must for any dedicated skier. Experience 3,200 acres of skiable terrain and a 3,400 foot total vertical drop. Snowboarders are welcome as well.
Forecast: Today: Snow. Snow accumulation 3 inches. Probability of measurable precipitation 100 percent. Northwest wind 13 mph. High 22. Tonight: Snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 70 percent. Northwest wind 5 mph. Low 6. Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 30 percent. West wind 7 mph. High 17. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 30 percent. South wind 7 mph. Low 14.


Photo: Snowbasin Marketing / MT Allen Tram
Events
Date: Feb. 18-20 Event: Intermountain Snowboard Series Description: Snowbasin has joined with the Park City Snowboard Team and the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) to offer the Intermountain Snowboard Series Races. Time: Visit the USASA website then scroll down to the section about Snowbasin. Where: Visit the USASA website then scroll down to the section about Snowbasin. Price: $27 per person, per event Reservations: To pre-register, visit the Park City Snowboard Team

Snow Alert For MT Hood; Timberline& Mt Hood Meadows
Torino mild temps
New England, digging out


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Big Sky
The Artic northern air is bringing us colder temps, but also snow! Expected High Expected Low Wind Skies 9 degrees (F) -8 degrees (F) gusty from the North Snow Showers
Dax comments, We've been spoiled all season with tons of snow, we're in a five day roll with sunny skies and people are wondering where the powder went. But the skiing is a blast, and as soon as the next storm rolls through, we'll have people wondering when the sun will shine again. Weather in the mountains is a crazy thing, but if you take any of my advice, you'll notice I have fun with it all. After all, is there anything in the world more exhilirating than skiing when you're skiing well? I can't think of anything else.
Big Sky Resort in Montana offers you three mountains graced by over 400 inches of annual snowfall to delight skiers and snowboarders. Our signature Lone Peak rises to a lofty 11,166 feet with European-style expert terrain accessed by the Lone Peak Tram. Andesite Mountain has some of the resort's most notable intermediate trails, some comfortable south-facing beginner trails, several expert tree runs and a giant half-pipe and terrain park with rail slides. Flat Iron Mountain is on the eastern shoulder of Andesite and offers even more variety.
Big Sky

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Soelden -Austria
Perfect snow conditions and inexpensive package deals guarantee unlimited winter sports. Take full advantage of our top "Rent a Trend" programs available from 3 nights - Daily check in. 150 km of immaculate slopes and 34 ski lifts await you!

FREESTYLE EVENT
Freestyle Show Ausserwald February 27, 2006 The world's most spectacular skiing acrobats get together at Sölden's Ausserwald ski and racticing are on Monday, February 28. Truly risky jumps performed by Teams from Germany and Italy await you as well. The fantastic Ausserwald nature arena provides an outstanding ambiance ideal for such a unique event. Thrilling moments are guaranteed when all athletes perform their jumps one after the other. And afterwards, everyone can take part in the ultimate Hill Run - the closing event of the Sölden Freestyle Night, boasting great prizes. The sporty highlights and entertainemnt programs are followed by a giant musical firework presented by the Bergbahnen Sölden Lift Company. The event takes place in Ausserwald and can easily be reached with the shuttle buses running between the town center and the event venue. Admission to the Sölden Freestyle Night is free!
The Bergbahnen Sölden Lift Company warmly invites you to enjoy a night skiing adventure of a very special kind every Wednesday from 5.30 pm. Besides a perfectly groomed, 4 km long ski run with floodlights a great entertainment program with "Stars & Fire" night ski shows on Wasserkar slope, carving and snowboarding demonstrations, live music, entertainment shows, and Tirolean specialities are on the program. A highlight not to be missed - performed by 100 ski instructors of the local Sölden Hochsölden Ski School
Wednesday, 15.03.2006 Final Night-Ski-Show 5.30 PM - 11.00 PM the highlight of the night-skiing season with lots of surprises, live-music, etc.


Soelden

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Timberline LOdge
Winter is back! We received 1" of new snow last night! It is currently 16 degrees making for some great conditions.

Bring your loved ones up and enjoy the new snow or just kick back in the Historic Timberline lodge.
Palmer Cat Skiing is available SATURDAY and SUNDAY (weather permitting) and is complimentary with your purchased ticket.
February 5th, 19th, & 26th USASA TIMBERLINE CLASSIC SERIES Halfpipe: The 7th Annual Timberline Classic Series open to all ages and ability levels, snowboarders and skiers. Timberline joins forces with USASA to offer athletes the opportunity to compete on the USASA level. Non-USASA members are more then welcome to competefor 20 dollars extra. Helmets are required. The event is limited to 100 riders, for details call 503-622-0754.
timberline Lodge

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Kimberley

Kimberley Alpine Resort, a ski destination that is well know for it's consistent snow conditions, short lift lines and an abundance of sunny days! Extensive on-mountain and terrain expansion over the past few years have developed Kimberley into a true family destination resort. With over 1800 acres of groomed, cruising terrain, moguls, gladed runs and an exclusive beginners area, the resort offers an abundance of terrain for everyone. The town site of Kimberley, located only minutes from the ski area, is called "The Bavarin City of the Rockies". With a variety of restaurants and shops, this historic, charming resort is complemented by friendly Canadian spirit.
EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE! HELICOPTER SIGHTSEEING TOURS
The ultimate way to see the beauty of the Kootenays. Get the birds eye view of the majestic Purcell and Rocky Mountains, alpine lakes, river canyons, dense lush forests and the valley of the Rocky Mountain Trench. The helicopter will pick guests up directly from the Kimberley Alpine Resort for their mountain adventure tour. What a way to enjoy the unique splendor of this amazing area and be enlightened by the mountain views. -Bavarian Tour
-Steeples Tour
-St. Mary's Tour
-Wilderness Tour

Kimberley

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Torino
A total of 1128 athletes, including 408 women and 720 men, were declared eligible and entered to participate in the six FIS disciplines and 38 events at the XX Olympic Winter Games in Torino.

The most athletes, 131 ladies and 200 men making up the total of 331 athletes were entered to compete in Cross-Country Skiing. There are 52 nations represented in the twelve events held in Pragelato Plan.
In Ski Jumping, 86 athletes from 21 nations will divide up the honors in Pragelato while 67 athletes from 15 nations will take part in the Nordic Combined competitions also held in Pragelato (Ski Jumping) and Pragelato Plan (Cross-Country Skiing).
The most nations, a total of 59, are participating in the ten Alpine Skiing events held in Sestriere Borgata/Colle (men) and Cesana San Sicario (ladies). Altogether 324 athletes were entered, including 138 ladies and 186 men.
In Freestyle Skiing competitions staged in Sauze d’Oulx, 22 nations are represented by 125 athletes (56 ladies and 69 men).
In Snowboarding (held in Bardonecchia), a total of 195 athletes including 83 ladies and 112 men from 24 nations will compete in the three events for each gender.

Snowboarding entered into the Olympic program in the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano with giant slalom and half-pipe. At the Torino 2006 Games, the Snowboard events for ladies and men include half-pipe, parallel giant slalom and for the first time, snowboardcross (SBX).
After snowboardcross premiered in the FIS Snowboard World Cup in the season of 1996/1997, it has established itself as one of the most exciting events. In last season’s eight competitions, there were 81 men and 64 ladies scoring snowboardcross World Cup points, led by Doresia Kings (AUT) and Xavier Delerue (FRA) who took home the event World Cup victories. Delerue also leads the men’s snowboardcross World Cup this season while the ladies’ World Cup is led by Dominique Maltais (CAN).
Defined by some as a mix of freestyle and Alpine snowboarding, snowboardcross could be described as an all-out, close contact race with riders lined up in heats of four athletes on a course that includes a series of jumps, banks, gaps and rollers, also known as features. The features are what bring variety to the different courses and their diversity is critical for accommodating differing riding styles. While the qualification runs are timed, the ranking in the final heats is determined by the order of finish.
In Bardonecchia, the Olympic competitions – held on February 16th (men) and 17th (ladies) - will be staged on one of the longest snowboardcross courses ever used: the course is 955m long and includes a vertical drop of 213m.There are 38 features, including “Tall Boy” (a bum whose back side is 16m high), “Colomion Curve” (named after the host lift company) and “Coliseum” (a full wrap around a bank put in to reduce the riders’ speed). Given the number of features, the course is very tactical and physically as well as strategically demanding. Whopping 135,000 cubic meters of snow were produced for the SBX course that has required the work of 140 people from mid-January to prepare. The course was built and designed by Jeff Ihaksi (CAN) and his assistants David Ny (SWE) and Andrea Matteoli (ITA).
International Ski Federation


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US SKI & SNOWBOARD TEAM
UPCOMING MEDAL EVENT COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Wed., Feb. 15 Alpine: Women's Downhill, San Sicario Fraiteve Freestyle: Men's Moguls, Sauze d'Oulx Nordic Combined: Team Large Hill, Pragelato
Thu., Feb. 16 Cross Country: Women's 10km Classic, Pragelato Snowboard: Men's Snowboardcross, Bardonecchia
Fri., Feb. 17 Alpine: Women's Combined, San Sicario Fraiteve Cross Country: Men's 15km Classic, Pragelato Snowboard: Women's Snowboardcross, Bardonecchia
U.S. SKI TEAM AND U.S. SNOWBOARDING MEDAL COUNT
Gold (3) Ted Ligety, Men's Alpine Combined Hannah Teter, Halfpipe Shaun White, Halfpipe
Silver (2) Gretchen Bleiler, Halfpipe Danny Kass, Halfpipe

TOP U.S. FINISHES AT 2006 OLYMPICS
Alpine Men's Downhill: Miller, 5th Men's Combined: Ligety, 1st Women's Downhill: February 15 Women's Combined: February 17 Men's Super G: February 18 Women's Super G: February 19 Men's Giant Slalom: February 20 Women's Slalom: February 22 Women's Giant Slalom: February 24 Men's Slalom: February 25
Cross Country Men's 30km Pursuit: Carl Swenson, 40th Women's 15km Pursuit: Rebecca Dussault, 38th Men's 6x1.4km Team Sprint: Cook/Newell, 7th in semifinals Women's 6x1.2km Team Sprint: Randall/Wagner, 10th in finals Women's Relay 4x5km M: February 18 Men's Relay 4x10km M: February 19 Men's Sprint 1.4km Freestyle Final: February 22 Women's Sprint 1.2km Freestyle Final: February 22 Women's 30km Freestyle Mass Start: February 24 Men's 50km Freestyle Mass Start: February 26
Freestyle Women's Moguls: Shannon Bahrke, 10th Men's Moguls: February 15 Women's Aerials: February 22 Men's Aerials: February 23
Jumping NH Individual: Alan Alborn, 40th LH Individual: February 18 LH Team: February 20
Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen NH/15km: Todd Lodwick, 8th Team LH/4x5km: February 15 Sprint LH/7.5km: February 21
Snowboarding Men's Halfpipe: Shaun White, 1st Women's Halfpipe: Hannah Teter, 1st Men's Snowboardcross: February 16 Women's Snowboardcross: February 17 Men's Parallel Giant Slalom: February 22 Women's Parallel Giant Slalom: February 23

OFFICIAL OLYMPIC TEAM Alpine - http://www.usskiteam.com/public/team.php?dId=2&sN=2 Cross Country - http://www.usskiteam.com/public/team.php?dId=3&sN=2 Freestyle - http://www.usskiteam.com/public/team.php?dId=1&sN=2 Jumping - http://www.usskiteam.com/public/team.php?dId=4&sN=2 Nordic Combined - http://www.usskiteam.com/public/team.php?dId=4&sN=2 Snowboard - http://www.ussnowboarding.com/public/team.php?&dId=7&sN=2
MANCUSO 7th, KILDOW 8th IN DOWNHILL SAN SICARIO, Italy (Feb. 15) - Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) was the top American finisher in seventh in Wednesday's Olympic Downhill. Austrian Michaela Dorfmeister won the race. Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) tied for eighth, Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes, CA) was 19th and Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME) was 21st.
Dorfmeister won the gold in 1:56.49 on the San Sicario Fraiteve course. Taking silver was Martina Schild of Switzerland (1:56.86) and Sweden's Anja Paerson won bronze (1:57.13).
Mancuso's time of 1:57.71 was good for seventh. Kildow posted a 1:57.78 to tie her with Austrian Alexandra Meissnitzer. Cook, competing in her first Olympics, was 19th in 1:58.70 and Clark was 21st in 1:59.07.
Mancuso finished third in Tuesday's third and final training run. She was fast on the top section today, but shed some speed on the middle and lower portions of the hills.
"It was kind of flat today for me, but it was a lot of fun, especially at the top of the course where there are a lot of jumps," said Mancuso. "My time was slower even though I felt kind of confident."
US SKI & SNOWBOARD TEAM