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Heavenly Valley Winter Still in Full Swing! With nearly FOUR FEET of fresh powder in 36 hours and over SEVEN feet of new snow in the past two weeks, March is nowhere near ready to go "out like a lamb." These storms continue to blanket Lake Tahoe's largest resort with top-to-bottom powder and the forecast calls for even more in the coming days, setting Heavenly up for an epic season of spring skiing and riding! Event



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Sugarloaf
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, ME -- Bud Light Reggae Festival With 10 bands performing over 4 days, Sugarloaf/USA's 18th annual Bud Light Reggae Festival on April 6-9 promises to be the biggest and best ever. The sounds of the Caribbean will be heard throughout the Sugarloaf Village from Thursday night right through Sunday afternoon. The line up is equally split between crowd favorite Reggae Festival veterans and first-time Sugarloaf performers

Events

Upcoming Events March 17 St. Patrick's Day Celebration with the Gobshites at the Widowmaker March 18 Bud Light presents Violent Femmes March 19 Kids Pay Their Age Day March 25-29 U.S. Alpine Championships

Sugarloaf

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Timberline Lodge _ Mt Hood
Bluebird skies, calm winds, and plenty of snow. Sounds like the perfect combination for yet another epic day of skiing and riding. Join us for the first official day of Spring here on the slopes of Historic Timberline Lodge. Don't forget, Timberline and Ski Bowl have paired up to bring you a special deal. Receive 25% off your lift tickets purchase at either ski area simply by showing your current season pass! (You do need to show your season pass to take advantage of this great offer.) If you're joining us on SATURDAY or SUNDAY, be sure to ask about CAT SKIING on PALMER. Cat Skiing is complimentary with your purchased lift ticket. Timberline Lodge - Mt Hood


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Vail - Beaver Creek
Sunshine-filled days and soft snow are the trademarks of spring skiing, but with all the snow so far this season, spring conditions are better than ever. Not only is the snow amazing, but some of the best events of the season are right around the corner.

Don't miss spring skiing! 4 Night/4 Day packages from $181 per person.
Beaver Creek
Snow Conditions - Mid Mountain (As of 5:30am) Total 24 hrs Last 48 hrs 5"/13 cm 10"/25 cm Past 7 days Snow Conditions 15"/38 cm Powder/Packed Powder
Occasional snow, mainly before 5pm. High near 40. NW wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Beaver Creek

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US Ski Team News

KEARNEY, ROARK GO 3-4 AT WORLD CUP FINALS
PENTICTON, B.C. (March 18) - Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) finished third Saturday in moguls at World Cup Finals, her fourth top-3 of the 2006 season, as U.S. skiers had four women in their top 10 in the last World Cup contest of the winter. U.S. men, led by Tim Preston (Campton, NH) in fifth, had three in the top 10 at Apex Mountain Resort.
FREESTYLE WORLD CUP -World Cup Finals
Apex Mountain Resort
Men’s Moguls
1. Dale Begg-Smith, Australia, 27.04 points 2. Warren Tanner, Canada, 26.84 3. Guilbaut Colas, France, 26.27 4. Marc-Andre Moreau, Canada, 26.22 5. Tim Preston, Campton, N.H., 25.90 6. David Babic, Washington, Vt., 25.84 9. David Digravio, Farmington, Maine, 25.38

Women’s Moguls
1. Nikola Sudova, Czech Republic, 26.70
2. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 26.60
3. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, Vt., 26.38
4. Michelle Roark, Denver, 26.32
5. Kari Traa, Norway, 26.15
6. Shelly Robertson, Reno, Nev., 25.91
10. Jillian Vogtli, Ellicotville, N.Y., 25.03
13. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, Calif., 24.82
14. Emiko Torito, Denver, 24.75
15. Heather McPhee, Bozeman, Mont., 24.30
16. Eliza Outtrim, Hamden, Conn., 24.15

For complete results:
FIS SKI and
US Ski Team

SHAUN WHITE COMPLETES THE PERFECT SEASON WITH U.S. OPEN VICTORY STRATTON, Vt. (March 18) - Olympic gold medalist Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) completed the perfect season Saturday winning his first U.S. Open halfpipe, while Australian Olympian Torah Bright took the women's event. The 20-year-old "Flying Tomato" swept the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix series before winning the X Games and the Olympic title.
JENNIFER HUDAK TAKES SECOND AT WORLD CUP FINALS SKI HALFPIPE PENTICTON, B.C. (March 17) - Jennifer Hudak (Park City, UT) laid down a strong final run Friday to finish second in the ski halfpipe contest at World Cup Finals behind reigning world champion Sarah Burke of Canada. Jessica Cumming (Wilton, CT) was 11th. Burke received 37.9 points for her first run and it held up. Hudak , whose 32.5 from her first run would have made her second, anyway, got 33.9 for her final run to hold off Norwegian Ingrid Bertsen, a Middlebury College graduate who also skis moguls. The field of 12 was cut to six after the qualifying round.
For complete details:
http://www.ussnowboarding.com/


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Crystal Mtn
Crystal Mountain, WA- With over 400 inches of snow falling this season already and a 159 inch base, Crystal Mountain Management has decided to extend the ski season thru at least Sunday, April 16th. Crystal Mountain was originally set to close on Sunday, April 9th. All 2005-2006 season passes & ticket vouchers will be honored until the final closing date. Chairlifts will continue to run daily from 9am-4pm. Since we will now be open on Easter we will continue with the Easter Sunrise Service tradition. The service will take place at the top of Crystal Mountain, near the Summit House Restaurant. Lifts will begin uploading at 5:00am until 5:45am. The Service will begin at 6:30am. All foot passengers must download to the base area by 8am, lifts will open at 9am as usual. No ticket is required for foot passengers to ride the lift. Anyone wishing to take skis or a snowboard must purchase a lift ticket or have a pass. There will be one window open for ticket sales from 5:15am-5: 45am. A continental breakfast will be available at the summit house starting at 5:30am.

Photo: Crystal Marketing Dept
You also won’t want to miss your chance to join us next weekend, March 25th-26th, at the North American Snowboarding Finals (NorAm Finals). This is the alpine snowboarding championship of the US Snowboarding and the Canadian Snowboarding Federation. At the 2006 NorAm Finals we will crown an American and Canadian National Champion in the men’s and women’s Parallel Giant Salomon (PGS) and Parallel Salomon (PSL).
Nor Am Finals

Crystal

Snow alert for Alyeska
Snow alert for Alta , SnowBird, Snow Basin


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SteamBoat

Steamboat’s cumulative snowfall officially hit the 400-inch snowfall mark at mid-mountain for the first time in nine years. The 2005/2006 season is now considered the third snowiest season year-to-date on record in the past 27 years, and the conditions couldn’t be better at Steamboat.
With nearly 4 feet of Champagne Powder® having fallen at mid-mountain in the past nine days on top of already spectacular conditions, this is truly a season that powder hounds will be talking about for years to come. Visit www.bigsno.com for take-your-breath-away powder images, ski movies and more.
In celebration of the big 400+ mark and beginning Friday, March 17 2006, the Steamboat Ski Resort will bring back the BigSno.com Ridiculously Deep Sweepstakes, offering the ultimate prize of a dream vacation to Steamboat, April 6-10, 2006. One lucky winner will enjoy the grand prize of a dream vacation with seven other people, including 3 nights lodging in a luxurious penthouse suite at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel & Condominiums, three days of lift tickets for eight people, three days of high-end demo rental packages for eight people, three First Tracks clinics for eight people and skiing with an Olympian.
EVENTS
March 18 - Bud Light Rocks the Boat FREE Concert featuring The Freddy Jones Band
March 19 - The 20th Annual Jimmie Heuga Vertical Express for MS
March 23-26 - Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships at Steamboat
March 23 - Bud Light Rocks the Boat FREE Concert featuring The Gin Blossoms
March 24 - WME Rail Jam
March 29-April 2 - The 3rd Annual Rock Slope at Steamboat

Staeamboat

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Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort presents its annual unlimited $99 2006 Spring Pass. On sale and valid every day from March 21 until the end of the season. The Alpine Meadows Spring Pass gives skiers and riders full access to the best spring snow in Tahoe for less than the price of three lift tickets.
Alpine Meadows boasts over 18 feet of new snow! Alpine is one of the best spring seasons in the Sierra, known for its follow-the-sun corn snow runs, four outdoor barbeques, Tahoe’s best terrain park, live music on the sundeck, and unique spring events. Alpine Meadows also offers Tahoe’s longest, continuous top-to-bottom spring snow runs.
Alpine Meadows

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Alyeska Resort
15" of new snow at the base, 14" @ midway and 14" of new snow @ the top. The snow is super light powder and it is the best skiing and riding conditions of the year.
Since the chairlifts closed yesterday @ 5:30pm, we have received 7" new at the base, 7" at midway and 7" of new snow at the top. The skiing was TERRIFIC yesterday and will be even better today!! The storm total is 28" in the last 3 days and it keeps on coming!!
For a full report of current conditions at Alyeska Resort please check out our website at www.alyeskaresort.com.
As of 8am it is 29 degrees at the base, 26 at midway and 26 degrees at the top. The winds are 0-10 mph. It is moderately snowing and the visibility is fair to poor.
Ski Patrol is planning to open the North Face from Christmas Chute down later this morning! EPIC!!
Alyeska Resort

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Sun Peaks Resort
Daily Weather Update Sheet Date: Monday March 20, 2006 Time: 6:00am New Snow: 0cm/0in Mountain Base: 184cm/73in Village: -8C/18F Mid Mountain: -10C/14F Top: -9C/16F Sky: mix of sun & cloud Runs Open: 117/117
Today’s Forecast: Sunny with cloudy periods. High minus 2. Winds variable 10 to 15 km/h.
Extended Outlook: An upper low centre moving towards the coast should spread clouds and occasional snow to the area later on Wednesday through Thursday.
Today’s Report:
We had no new snow overnight, but with 187cm base and a mainly sunny day it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day to be on the hill. The temperature is currently -8C in the Village, at Mid-mountain -10C, and -9C at the Top of the World. The winds are light, and the sky is a little cloudy.
Today we’re expecting sunny skies with cloudy periods. High minus 2. Sun Peaks

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Big Sky

Temperature: 31 ° to 13 ° (Fahrenheit) Wind: 5-10 from North East New Overnight Snow: 0" Snow Fall past 24hrs: 2" Snow Fall past 48hrs: 5" Base Snow Depth: 71-119" Surface Conditions: Powder, Packed powder, machine groomed Terrain Open: 100% Lifts Scheduled to Open: Lone Peak Tram, Swift Current, Thunder Wolf, Ramcharger, Gondola One, Challenger, Iron Horse, Southern Comfort, Lone Peak Chair, Lone Moose, Explorer, White Otter, Shedhorn, Bear Back Poma, Mitey Magic Carpet, Magic Carpet, Pony Express, Cascade
What's Happening - OUR SUPER PIPE IS NOW OPEN!!
Big Sky

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USSA News

EMILY COOK LANDS BACK ON THE PODIUM AFTER FIVE YEARS 2006 Olympian third at World Cup Finals
PENTICTON, B.C. (March 19) - Aerialist Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) stepped onto her first World Cup podium in five years Sunday, finishing third at World Cup Finals. Eric Bergoust (Missoula, MT) had the top U.S. men’s result, finishing sixth. Belarussians won both events with Dmitri Dashinski clinching the men’s World Cup title with his victory.
Alla Tsuper of Belarus won the women’s event at Apex Mountain Resort with 184.63 points and China’s Shuang Cheng was second at 178.44. Cook, clicking with a lay full and full, full (two twists, two flips), had 171.85 while Jill Priest (Park City, UT) was 10th.
It’s the first top-3 for Cook since Jan. 6, 2001 when she also finished third, at Deer Valley, Utah. Cook, who had qualified for the 2002 Olympic Teams, was off the World Cup for two and a half seasons after shattering her feet in a bad landing during training on the eve of the Olympics; she returned before the 2005 season and made this season’s Olympic Team, finishing 19th.

FREESTYLE WORLD CUP

World Cup Finals Apex Mountain Resort
Penticton, BC - March 19, 2006
Men’s Aerials
1. Dmitri Dashinski, Belarus, 259.52 points
2. Ryan Blais, Canada, 250.74
3. Ales Valenta, Czech Republic, 245.14
4. Stanislav Kravchuk, Ukraine, 240.93
5. Sen Qiu, China, 233.61
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6. Eric Bergoust, Missoula, Mont., 232.89
7. Ryan St. Onge, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 230.31
13. Tim Massucco, East Otis, Mass., 158.26
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Women’s Aerials
1. Alla Tsuper, Belarus, 184.63
2. Shuang Cheng, China, 178.44
3. Emily Cook, Belmont, Mass., 171.85
4. Evelyne Leu, Switzerland, 163.50
5. Assoli Slivets, Belarus, 162.77
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10. Jill Priest, Park City, Utah, 125.58
For complete results and World Cup standings:
FIS Ski

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From Traci Max Sachs
Speed Ski
Traci has sent in a link to an article
She is a three-time World Cup Champion — 2003, 2004 and 2005. Her wins are a testament to her consistency in races. She has skied as fast as 142 miles per hour. That's double the speed you're going when you get pulled over on the highway.
To view this article on the Poughkeepsie Journal's Web site, go to:
poughkeepsiejournal

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Whistler
TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival
The largest free outdoor concert series in Canada will once again descend on Whistler with a killer mix of hip-hop, funk, rock and alternative acts set for this year’s TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival from April 14-23

Telus Thinking of a Spring Trip?
Ther is a very good chance some Lake Tahoe resorts will be open through Memorial Day. Nothing official but the snowpack is as deep or deeper, and looking at previous years snow depth , and probabilities ,......