Snow Alert- Crystal Mountain Wa
Homewood Mountain Resort
Weather and snow conditions pending, we'll be opening December 14th, and then celebrating with our Ho Ho Homewood Toy Drive the following day, Friday December 15th. Guests can bring a new unwrapped toy and ski for just $20!

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A few topics from Canadian ski Council
Official Season Kick-Off at Mont-Sainte-Anne Postponed to November 25th!

Official Season Kick-Off at Mont-Sainte-Anne Postponed to November 25th!
-Sun Peaks Open for the Season!
-Two Top-10 Finishes for Canadian Alpine Skiers in Opening World Cup Races
-Rail Jam Kicks Off 2006/07 Event Season at Lake Louise

-Alpine Canada Alpin Unveils Canadian Alpine Ski Team for 2006/07
First Women's Downhill and Super G Races of the Season on Schedule for Next Weekend
www.skicanada.org

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Courchevel
This season, Courchevel will open its doors on Saturday December 9 to close them on April 22, 2007. Very soft prices (1ères snows) were set up until December 22 for a field at the progressive opening. Do not hesitate to return to you over the site of the station to consult the tariffs in the heading “the ski” and the evolution of the opening of the tracks in the heading “Weather”. • Fixed price P@S (Ready to ski) combines all the advantages of technology “free hands” to the pleasure of the ski: • Ecologique… its recharging at will limits the number of rejections in nature (guaranteed 3 years minimum) • Assured Loss & Vol… its replacement is carried out on simple presentation of the document in proof of purchase, with the help of 10 € of overheads • Refillable… on Internet and Call Center for a direct access to the skiable field without passing by the cases, for an absolute comfort of use. ++ Gold ++ Women From the 14 at December 17 Handing-over of the rewards on Saturday December 16 to the skating rink of the Forum with Courchevel 1850. The Gold Women traditionally open the season of winter of Courchevel. This demonstration rewards for the women of exception who made the topicality during the year. These women are selected after deliberation of the committee of election, with distinctions by fields like art, the fashion, the spectacle but also research or the sport and the adventure… To the sides of the partners of the event, during 3 days, Courchevel pays a beautiful homage to the women! The Gold Women also allow to clarify an association chaired by a woman: she becomes the Noble-hearted woman.
And throughout the year, Courchevel and its partners organize caritative actions to collect funds bound for the association of the Noble-hearted woman. In 2005, Valerie Picavet-Wertheimer thus received this very special trophy for her association Action Innocence which fights against the paedophilia on Internet.

++ 60ème Birthday of the station ++ On Sunday December 17 as from 7 p.m., one evening is organized in the skating rink of Courchevel to celebrate the 60 years of the station. The 1st part will introduce the history of the station, and the witnesses of this extraordinary epopee, and will be followed of a second more festive part, with an exclusive concert of Foly Liana. The evening and the concert free, are offered by Courchevel tourism. Countermarks will be to withdraw in Courchevel tourism.

www.courchevel.com
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US Ski Team
LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (Nov. 23) - U.S. coaches will use a downhill training run Friday to determine the final starting spots for World Cup weekend races - the first speed events of the young 2007 season - at Lake Louise where it has snowed almost every day or night this week.
"We've got four guys chasing two spots Saturday for downhill," Head Coach Phil McNichol said Thursday night after the second day of official DH training, "and five are going after two places in super G on Sunday. It's going to be pretty competitive."
The U.S. Ski Team will have eight starters in the downhill, seven in super G. Already assured DH start places are reigning world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) and Steve Nyman (Provo, UT), who led Thursday's training run, plus Scott Macartney (Redmond, WA), JJ Johnson (Park City, UT), Chris Beckman - the junior world champion in DH, and Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA). Assured a SG start are Miller, Sullivan, Nyman, Macartney and NorAm champion Erik Fisher (Sandpoint, ID).
Fisher will be competing against Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), Kevin Francis (Bend, OR) and Bryon Friedman (Park City, UT) for the two places in downhill. In super G, Friedman, Ligety, Johnson, Beckman and Francis will be after two spots.
"We've got great conditions. They had a solid course and then they got about two feet of snow Tuesday, so there's more snow, but it's a little soft and the light is tricky...but we'll certainly take the snow," McNichol said. "The organizers have been doing a tremendous job staying up with the snow."
www.usskiteam.com

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Killington
Killington is open for the 2006-07 season with the MOST open terrain, served by the MOST lifts in the East!
Thanks to our incredible snowmaking team, you'll experience top to bottom skiing served by the K-1 Gondola on Killington Peak and the Snowdon Triple on Snowdon Mountain serving 6 miles of the MOST open terrain in the East on 16 trails - 14 of them groomed! Plus, two terrain parks on Reason and Upper Double Dipper, featuring numerous hits, rails and boxes!
The majority of OPEN terrain is designated as MORE DIFFICULT or MOST DIFFICULT. There is no EASIER route from top-to-bottom. Please make sure your decision to ski or ride with this in mind. Early season conditions exist. Ski and ride only on open trails. Fencing, ropes and signage are in place to inform you and indicate possible hazards or obstacles.
www.killington.com

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Air France

Webfares to Europe
This Thanksgiving Weekend, Air France is jumping into the festivities with some crazy webfares to your favorite European destinations. Travel through March 31, 2007 - no blackouts. Purchase through November 27th, 2006. learn more
France, O/W:
New York - Paris $178*
New York - Nice $178*
San Francisco - Nice $231*
San Francisco - Paris $263*
Miami - Paris $268*

For complete details rules and restrictions: www.airfrance.com


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Stowe
Join us on Saturday, November 25th for The First Trick Rail Jam on Upper Lord! Warm up for the competition season with this fun & free event in the Jib Nation Rail Park on Upper Lord near the top of Lookout.

Get "Stowked for the upcoming winter! Click here to check out our new youth team video! Stowe Mountain Resort, in conjunction with Meathead Films, announces the production of the first-ever Stowe Team DVD, entitled "Stowked."

This season, lease your ski gear from Stowe ! Toys Demo Centers for the best deal around! Lease your gear, and get service for it, where you use it- at the mountain!

We're looking for a few good skiers & riders! Join the famous Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol! The Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol is looking for some new recruits for 2006/2007. Do you have what it takes?

www.stowe.com

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Maison de la France/French Government Tourist Office

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES IN AVIGNON
The crèche provençale, or nativity of Provence, is composed of 300 figurines produced by a master santonier who makes sure that all the characters and crafts of a typical village of Provence are represented.
RAIL EUROPE ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE FRANCE RAIL DAY PASS FOR DAYTRIPPING
When one great town just isn’t enough For anyone going to Paris but interested in a quick and easy break in another French city or town, Rail Europe announces the availability through December 31 of a special France Rail Day Pass good for one day of travel throughout France, priced at $129
www.franceguide.com

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Bear Valley
BEAR VALLEY Bear Valley offers a special sense of place and experience, to all, whether you visit every weekend or once a year. Home-town friendliness, fantastic snow and the brand new Polar Express high-speed quad chair are great reasons to spread the love with Bear Valley Gift Cards and Direct to Lift (DTL) Gift Tickets. Gift Cards come in a variety of dollar values and are redeemable for lift tickets, toward season passes, rentals, food, drink, repair service or in the retail shop. Use them anywhere on the mountain! Give a DTL Gift Ticket to a friend, family member or associate and they just put the ticket on and head straight to the lifts. Buy Online or give us a call- 209-753-2301

www.bearvalley.com

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Steamboat
The resort is currently reporting an 18-inch base at mid-mountain with packed powder and machine-made conditions on 17 trails encompassing 139 acres. With six lifts, including the eight-passenger Gondola, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A.® with family and friends on incredible early season snow conditions.
Check here for current Early Season conditions and available mountain services and programs.
A number of mountain services and programs will be available for Scholarship & Thanksgiving Weekend. On mountain dining options include Gondola Joe’s, the Stoker Bar & Restaurant and Oasis Deck (weather permitting). The Bear River Bar & Grill will also be open for lunch and après ski. The Thunderhead servery is undergoing a complete renovation and is scheduled to open on December 2nd.
The 2006/2007 winter season is off to a great start this year, and you won’t find a better price for a day of skiing this Wednesday in Colorado than Steamboat!

Events
Scholarship and 2006/2007 Season Opening Day at Steamboat
Nov. 22, 2006

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Ski Ball & Auction
Dec. 2, 2006

Steamboat Orchestra December Concerts
Dec. 2 & 3, 2006

Nordic Combined World Cup B
Dec. 9-10, 2006

Women’s Three-Day Clinic
Dec. 12-14, 2006


www.steamboat.com

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Big White - Silver Star

US Ski Team Picks Silver Star #1
Recently Forbes Traveler magazine polled members of the US Ski Team about their favorite ski resorts in North America. Favorites were solicited from athletes Andrew Newell, Torin Koos, Andrew Johnson and Kris Freeman; coach Chris Grover; and the team's Director, Luke Bodensteiner.
The top ten were as follows.
Silver Star Mountain Resort, British Columbia Mont-Sainte-Anne Cross-Country Centre, Quebec Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Vermont Methow Valley, Washington Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort, California Telemark Resort, Wisconsin Devils Thumb Ranch, Colorado Soldier Hollow, Utah Sun Valley Nordic Center, Idaho Trapp Family Lodge, Vermont
Unlike many "top resorts" polls, this one comes from racers' perspectives. But what is interesting is that the top resorts on this list are very similar to those chosen year after year as the best by publications targeted at recreational skiers. Clearly the top racers appreciate many of the same qualities as mere mortals, such as lots of trails, scenic views, good lodging options, etc. While the current trend in ski trail design for racing and training is to create short loops for sprinting and spectator-friendly courses, it appears that the top racers still appreciate the long, scenic trails.
With the exception of Soldier Hollow, which enjoys a home-field advantage in this poll, the areas listed are all ski "resorts" first and foremost, with racing being a secondary concern. But having said that, it should be noted that nearly all resorts on this list have held major races in recent years. After all, the top skiers are most familiar with venues that hold big races.
Nordic escapes: The U.S. Ski Team picks the top cross-country ski resorts in North America Forbes Traveler, Updated: 8:15 a.m. HT Nov 15, 2006 Stride, kick, push, glide. The smooth cadence of a refined cross-country ski technique is a beautiful thing. And all the more so in an epic setting: a bright winter sky, long mountain views and trees frosty with new snow.
-Vernon's Kerr Family & Kelowna's Hall Family Win Season Passes. -Konichiwa, G'day Mate, Wilkommen, Bienvenue. -Cheers To TELUS Park At Big White.Big White's TELUS Park was ranked number 14 in a survey of the top 30 parks in North America along with only 3 other Canadian resorts! Congratulations to the many hard working men and women of the TELUS Park crew and groomer drivers.
Big White's committment to snowboarders and new school skiers was further recognised by SBC Media, Snowboard Canada and SKIER magazines. In the SBC Editor's Choice Resort Awards we were awarded 'Best Balance Of Pow And Grooming" - "catch deep turns in the alpine, followed by perfect fall-line corduroy".
More at:
www.bigwhite.com



Closed for the weekend, Gone skiing !





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