"Endless Winter Snow"

2.14.2007

Snow Alert - Alyeska,Chamonix

***
Durango
We received 13 inches of new snow since Sunday and with some of the best snow in Colorado, this weekend is shaping up to be a great time to come on up to Purgatory.

Remember to check durangomountainresort.com for all events planned during our season.

Saturday February 17th
Ska Brewing/Venture Snowboards Weekend
The gangs from Ska Brewing and Venture Snowboards will be on Purgy's Beach serving up goodies. Venture will have free demos of their locally made snowboards. Ska will be serving up tasty suds. With every purchase, you'll be entered into the drawing for the Limitied Edition Ska/Venture Snowboard. Live Ska music will be rockin Purgy's on the 17th and 18th with 12 Cents for Marvin.

Coke Race Series at the Nordic Center
The Nordic Center at Purgatory will be hosting their last race of the season on Saturday, February 17th, sponsored by Coca-Cola. The race, a skate criterium will start at 10am, registration will end by 9.30am. The cost is $6 for DNSC members and $12 for non-members. For more information, call the Nordic Center at 385-2114.

Sunday February 18th
Four Corners Dual Moguls
The dual mogul skiing event is the fourth stop of the Southwest Freestyle Tour. These developmental races are designed to give competitors ages 13 and under and non-competition juniors age 13-18 a chance to gain USSA competition experience. USSA is the sanctioning body for the U.S. Ski Team. Competitors will ski head-to-head on the Wapiti mogul course. For more information call 382-9302.
www.durangomountain.com

***
Tignes - France
Entries are rolling in for this years contest and there is only 2 weeks left before the contest entries close on the 1st March, so if you fancy a piece of the action get online and get involved in the riding and film contest of the year. Once entered you are in with a chance to win some of the 6000 euro prize money or one of the many other prizes get your team together and before you know it your film could be one of the most watched clips on the web, www.jib-vid.com/entry.asp.

Alongside the local teams who always provide a great backbone to the event teams from all over make there way to Tignes to see if they can take the title. The Dutch team from Tacky.nl is looking strong have their eyes set firmly on the title but with teams coming in from Norway , Spain , UK , France and Austria it is going to be hotly contested. Last years top 3 will also be returning along with the local contingents who have been working on their film ideas since last years contest.

All information and entry forms are on the website so check out www.jib-vid.com to find out more and to listen the fresh music acts who are working with us this year in the music lounge.

On the music front we have acts and the best atmosphere in town every night in the Couloir Bar in Val Claret and Joey Driscall has confirmed as our main act along with DJ Square 1 taking the projection party into the early hours again this year so it is looking like its going to be a hell of a party.

If you are thinking about coming out to Tignes from the 18th Mach to check out the contest and what is going on check out www.tignes.co.uk for accommodation, there is a 5% discount if you quote Protest Jib-Vid when booking (limited places available).
www.jib-vid.com
***

FIS

Wonderful festival of Alpine Skiing in progress in Åre

Despite the early weather challenges, the speed disciplines in the 39th FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre (SWE) were completed on schedule. The men’s and ladies’ super-combined events – a premiere in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships – were held according to plan whilst both the men’s and ladies’ downhill races took place on ‘Super Sunday,’ 11th February. The ladies’ giant slalom kicked off the technical event finals on Tuesday, following the introductory qualification race for the men’s giant slalom that took place on Monday. At this point, seven nations have won medals in Are, five of them gold. While Sweden leads the medals table with three golds and one silver and bronze each, Austria has won the most medals, six in total.

Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht became the first FIS World Champion in super combined on Thursday as he leapfrogged six fellow racers with better downhill times in slalom to win the event. The Swiss team dominated the men’s super combined, taking three of the top four spots and four of the top eight. In the men’s downhill, Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR) conquered the Olympia downhill course and made history by becoming the first Norwegian to win a downhill gold medal at the World Championships. Behind him the Czech-born Canadian Jan Hudec grabbed a surprise silver medal, the first-ever for a Canadian male, and 37-year-old Patrick Jaerbyn (SWE) became the oldest skier ever to medal in the FIS World Championships.

To the great joy of the local fans, there was only one winner in the ladies’ speed events. Following her gold in super-G and a superb victory in the ladies’ super combined on Friday, Anja Paerson, the Swedish ski racing queen, sealed her third straight gold on Sunday by besting the field again in the ladies’ downhill. By doing so, the 25-year-old became the first skier ever to earn medals in all five disciplines at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. In total, it was the seventh World Championship and a ninth World Championship medal for Anja Paerson and she now matches Pirmin Zurbriggen (SUI) for fifth on the all-time championship medal list. Behind Paerson, the ladies’ speed medals were equally divided between USA and Austria.

In the ladies’ giant slalom, it was finally time for the first gold for Austria as Nicole Hosp, bronze medallist in the downhill, delivered a stunning second run moving up from tied 4th place after the first run. As Anja Paerson failed to finish the second run, a young Swedish talent ensured another medal for the host country: Maria Pietilä-Holmner, 2006 Junior World Champion in slalom, took silver after a fantastic second run while Denise Karbon, back from severe injuries in 2004, claimed bronze for Italy. In the men’s giant slalom, Aksel Lund Svindal took his second straight gold while Daniel Albrecht added a silver medal to his surprise gold in combined. Didier Cuche of Switzerland was third, for his first medal at a major championship after having missed a medal by just hundredths of a second several times.

ISPO- winter 07 trade fair

Held in Munich (GER), from 4th – 7th February, the ispo winter07 trade fair made history in many aspects. With 180’000 square meters, it set a new space record. And with 1’970 participating companies or organizations from more than 40 different countries, a new exhibitor record was seen, as well as with 65’000 industry visitors, +5% over 2006, a new visitor record. Many FIS partners and sponsors were present, as well as Halti, one of the official sponsors of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre, that was showing live broadcasts from Åre at its stand. As in the past several years, FIS shared a presence with JOSKA, the exclusive producer of the famous FIS World Cup crystal globes, that presented samples of its most special trophies. A special feature at ispo winter07 organized by FIS was the installation of the AUDI video wall usually to be found on site at the FIS Alpine World Cup events, which was transmitting live coverage from the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Ǻre.
The FIS Council took advantage of the occasion of the 39th FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre (SWE) to stage its gathering on 12th February. In addition to reviewing current business affairs, this meeting of the Council - which takes place during either the Alpine or Nordic championships alternately - serves as an opportunity to brainstorm and exchange ideas about the direction of the sport and the organization.

“On behalf of the FIS Council, I congratulate the organizers of these FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Åre 2007 AB, for excellent work and thank them for their determination to deliver one of the best FIS Alpine World Ski Championships despite the changing weather conditions. We were pleased to see the speed disciplines conclude precisely on schedule and are looking forward to a great final week with the technical disciplines and the Nations' Team Event,” commented FIS President Gian Franco Kasper. As part of its proceedings, the FIS Council confirmed that Audi has prolonged its engagement as sponsor of the FIS Alpine World Cup until 2012, and appointed Turkey with Antalya as host of the 47th International Ski Congress in 2010.

The FIS Council will next meet in Portoroz (SLO) on Monday, 28th May 2007 immediately after the FIS Calendar Conference. The dates of the Calendar Conference are Thursday 24th - Saturday 26th May 2007.

www.fis-ski.com
***

***
When in France

Glisse mag

***
Zermatt- Switzerland

Events
Off-piste skiing
Skiers don't have to content themselves with just skiing on the pistes! We will guide you down slopes in their natural state to isolated valleys. If we have sufficient participants we offer these guided tours for groups at the price of CHF 165.- / EUR 110.- per person. For information and reservations contact the "Alpin Center", Mountain Guides' Office, tel. 027 966 24 60 Alpin Center (8F / 111)
2 days guiding
Exciting guiding through the stunning Matterhorn ski paradise. A professional snow sports instructor will lead you through our fabulous international skiing area and give you some valuable insider tips. Skiing fun at its best! Prerequisite: you must be able to do safe parallel turns. Required number of participants: 4 persons, max 6-7 persons. Price: CHF 180.- per person. Tel.: 027 966 24 66

6th Ski-mountaineering Race Zermatt - Rothorn
24 February, 2007
Categories:
FUN: women, men & juniors (until 1986) / starting place: 4.45 p.m. at Sunnegga.
SPRINTERS: women, men / starting place: 5.00 p.m. at Sunnegga
ELITE: women & men / starting place: 4.45 p.m. in Zermatt.
SNOW SHOES: starting place: 4.45 p.m. at Sunnegga
For information and reservations contact the Sports Office, tel. 027 966 81 18.
URL: http://sac.zermatt.ch/gebirgslauf/e.html

And say hello to Walter at the Victoria Rest !! Great people and good food.

And Bump Bash Mogul Competition
22nd Bump Bash Classic
April 5 - 8, 2007
Mogul ski race for all-comers.
URL: http://www.bumpbash.com

Swiss Freestyle Championships
28 - 29 April 2007
Swiss Freestyle Championships
URL: www.bergbahnen.zermatt.ch

And say hello to Walter at the Victoria Rest !! Great people and good food.

***