Snow Alert -Saas-Fee, Zermatt


YES you can still grab some freshness at upper elevations in Switzerland
On my last trip to Engelberg in July, it snowed just hard enough, that I needed to unroll a light-weight jacket.

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Whiteface / Lake Placid 2007-2008 Season pass on sale now
NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority

info@WhitefaceLakePlacidInfo.com

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Patrick Thorne of www.snow365.com
News From Indoor Snow and Artificial Ski Surface Centres Worldwide

Bearfire Ski and Snowboard Resort Will Be One Of World’s Largest Buildings
A year after the original plans for what was then the ‘Coolzone Winterplex in Dallas’ were released, the team behind the project have announced a new name and new location for the giant indoor-outdoor artificial ski slope project in Texas. “After careful consideration, the company has decided to move its plans for a winter-themed entertainment destination from Dallas to Fort Worth, Texas. Bearfire Resorts, LLC executives feel they have found the ideal location in a large piece of property situated midway between the Dallas and Fort Worth airports.” Said a company statement. Along with the move comes an important change in the entertainment concept. Formerly envisioned as a theme park the new project will now be known as the “Bearfire Resort” and will feature ski slopes spread over a total ski-able area of 65,000 square metres – making it the world’s largest. Additionally, Bearfire Resort will include a 600-room hotel, a convention centre, and a world-class spa at the base of the ski mountain.

Bearfire’s year-round winter theme is made possible due to Snowflex created by Briton Engineering Developments in the U.K. and currently used successfully at more than 30 locations in Europe. When complete, Bearfire Resort will be six times larger than any existing Snowflex facility in the world. “We are ecstatic to be leading the charge to provide such an unprecedented entertainment experience in such a seemingly improbable place,” said Charlie Aaron, president of Bearfire Resorts, LLC. “It gives the team a thrill to think that in just a few years, we will have made possible the scenario in which people book their year-round ski vacations to Texas.” Bearfire Resort will bring the charm and sport of an Alpine skiing village to the heart of Texas. The resort’s main attraction will be its outdoor ski and snowboard mountain, complete with ski runs, chair lifts, competition half-pipes, toboggans, snow tubing, and ski caves. Fun for families will include ice rinks, rides, and a snowy winter wonder-park for children, an outdoor concert venue, and opportunities for rock climbing. To appeal to the less athletically inclined--or the merely pleasantly exhausted--Bearfire also will offer several retail and fine dining experiences. When complete, this man-made mountain range will rank among the world’s largest buildings, so of course it is no surprise that this project is unfolding in Texas, the land where everything is bigger and better. The addition of the world class hotel and spa, larger ski slopes, a retail village and other new amenities to the master plan will no doubt enhance the overall guest experience and make Bearfire Resort a must-visit destination for families, vacationers and corporate events. The Bearfire Resort master plan, developed by Greg Damron Design, is the foundation from which the project will move forward. Baker Leisure Group, the company behind such high-profile venues as Coca-Cola’s Olympic City at the 1996 Centennial Games in Atlanta, Georgia and Al Shallal, the largest theme park in the Middle East, developed the feasibility study and business plan for Bearfire Resort and will provide operational consulting and management for the project. The project manager for Bearfire Resort will be McGillivray Consulting Group (MCG), specialists in themed entertainment, attraction and hospitality projects. MCG provides project, cost, and construction management services to both public and private clients worldwide. With over 200 projects completed globally, clients include the majority of major entertainment, gaming and hospitality companies. MCG has provided services on projects with budgets ranging from under $1 million to more than $5 billion. The project team benefits from the addition of Utah’s Park City Olympic Parks Director Rex Dabling.

“I am a complete supporter of the concept and design,” said Dabling. “I believe it will be an absolutely fabulous sports and recreation venue. I look forward to lending my experience in the ski and sport industry towards the final product.” With several key elements related to design and funding now in place, Bearfire Resorts, LLC expects to be in a position to make an announcement regarding the resort’s new grand opening date in the next few months. Looking even further into the future, the company also has plans for additional locations domestically and internationally upon the successful completion of the Fort Worth Bearfire Resort. The company’s new website is due to go live later today at
www.Bearfireresorts.com


Year Round Skiing Comes to Istanbul
A new ski simulator slope has opened at the Mars Athletic Club at the fashionable new Kanyon Mall in the Levent region of Istanbul, Turkey.
. The 5 x 7-metre (17 x 25 foot) slope, with a synthetic ski surface, has an inclination of 12 degrees and works on the same principle used in a treadmill, reaching a speed of up to 20 kilometres per hour (13 mph). Located on the 1,200 member Club’s terrace on the Mall's top floor, skiers and snowboarders can now “slide forever” whilst enjoying views of the city below. “I should honestly say that it is not easy to snowboard for a beginner on this machine,” Muratcan Üner, the Sport and Operations Manager of Mars Athletic Club, told the Turkish Daily News, “But after training for six or eight sessions you can develop a perfect technique.” Two professional snowboard teachers from the Alps are currently training local Turkish instructors and Tuğhan Kırbaç, who has 20-years of snowboarding experience and was eight times Turkish National Snowboarding champion is also working at the Club to share his expertise.

www.kanyon.com.tr

New Zealand’s Snowplanet Offers Free Ski Tuition
To celebrate the launch of its all-new $49 (NZ) day pass, Snowplanet will be offering free group tuition to those that will try out the new day pass in May and June 2007.

Snowplanet General Manager Christian Dunnwald said: “During the last two years, we have established ourselves as the premier snowsport learning ground for Aucklanders. With our special offer of free tuition in May and June, there’s no better time to get into the thrill of skiing and snowboarding so you can hit the slopes in style this winter, armed with the skills to get the most from your time in the snow.”

To take advantage of this limited-time-only offer, all Aucklanders have to do is to check out Snowplanet’s lesson timetable on www.snowplanet.co.nz and book by either sending an email to bookings@snowplanet.co.nz or calling 09 427 0044.

Snowplanet’s Volkswagen Snow Academy offers a range of courses and private lessons, designed for both beginners and advanced snowsporters, all taught by fully qualified and certified instructors. Snowplanet is located just 20 minutes north of Auckland’s CBD, next to the Silverdale motorway interchange.
www.snowplanet.co.nz Patrick Thorne of www.snow365.com


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Cardrona Alpine Resort - New Zealand
New for the 2007 Winter season
A two million dollar investment into a new snowmaking system that will cover the main basin, terrain parks and halfpipes. This new technology will supplement Cardrona’s already renowned natural snowbase, ensuring key trails, rails, jumps and half pipes are open at the start of the season

Season Passes on sale now
www.cardrona.com


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Squaw Valley Institute Programs
Quest for the Pacific - Across the USA by Land
6:30 - 7:00 no Host Bar. Program begins at 7:00 p.m
PlumpJack Conference Center
This program covers the first crossing of America including the dramatic events leading up to the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1803-06. The program is one of a series of five - and appropriate for all ages - built around maps, routes, stories, people, and satellite images. Hosted by Steve Brandt who is a student of geographic history, a writer, and an experienced teacher. He is an Emeritus faculty member of Stanford University where he taught for 21 years.
General Admission is $10.00. Children and students with ID are FREE
Creating Architecture to Match the Sierra
6:30 - 7:00 No Host Bar - Program begins at 7:00 p.m.
Olympic Plaza - Bar One - Squaw Valley

Henrik Bull first designed a Squaw Valley home in 1955 and through his career has created a unique style of architecture suited to the climate, conditions and lifestyle of California's Sierra Nevada. This talk will explore the design of some of the most famous and recognizable structures in the Sierra.
General Admission $10. Children and students with ID are FREE
www.squawvalleyinstitute.org

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15% off Insoles,Valid through 5/7/07
Silicone Metatarsal Insoles, Pair Soothe burning and numbing sensation with Silicone Metatarsal Insoles Price: $29.99

A good time to replace or upgrade, Supports/Insoles

Superfeet® Active Blue™ Insoles, Pair

Superfeet® Active Blue™ Insoles for active shoes helps control overpronation & reduce foot shock impact.
Price: $34.99


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Earth day is coming !
Your favorite or home resort may be sponsoring events. A wonderful way to increase knowledge of resorts & neighboring communities interactivity with The Mountains.

Without revealing my position(s), I encourage seeing the movie "Inconvenient Truth"

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THE BEST RATES ARE AT HYATT.COM
It's easier than ever to get a great rate on a Hyatt room. If you find a lower published rate on another site, we'll not only match it, we'll discount it by 20% for your entire stay. It's that simple.
Hyatt Resorts



Check for late spring / summer lift opps!