"Endless Winter Snow"

12.27.2007

Snow Alert -Snowbird - Utah

Christmas skiiing around the globe.

Switzerland

Japan

Harbin Ice Festival China

Austria

KT-22 at Squaw Valley

FIS Skiing
In the ladies’ last Audi FIS Alpine World Cup races before the Holidays in St. Anton (AUT), Lindsey Vonn (USA) made it two for two and took her second season victory in downhill and her career-first victory in the super combined. It was the first time a ladies’ downhill was raced inArlberg since the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2001. The ladies competed on a shortened men’s downhill course including the feared “Eisfall.” Vonn’s teammate Julia Mancuso also had a great weekend, collecting two podiums, while Canada’s Kelly Vanderbeek posted her career-best finish in 2nd in the downhill. In the super combined, Maria Riesch of Germany finished 2nd, her third podium finish this season.

Benefiting from the DNF of many of the leaders, Vonn is now in control of the World Cup overall standings. After 12 of 38 races, she leads with 474 points ahead of Nicole Hosp (AUT) and Riesch, who rose to 3rd, as Marlies Schild (AUT) and Anja Paerson (SWE) share the 4th place.

The aerialists opened their season in China on 21st and 22nd December 2007. It was the third Freestyle FIS World Cup held at the Lianhuashan (Lotus Mountain) Ski Resort some 30 km northwest of the 7 million inhabitant city of Changchun.

FIS photo
Jacqui Cooper (AUS) took victory in both of the ladies’ back-to-back competitions. They were her 20th and 21st Freestyle FIS World Cup aerials victories, and her 4th and 5th in a row. At 34 years of age, she set yet another record for the highest number of aerial World Cup wins in the history of Freestyle FIS World Cup. Steve Omischl (CAN), last season’s aerials FIS World Cup champion, and Dmitri Dashinski of Belarus, the 2007 World Championships silver medalist, claimed the men’s victories. With a first and a 3rd place, Omischl retained his yellow World Cup leader’s bib. And, thanks to a total of five podium finishes, the Chinese team delivered a great performance on home turf.

Freestyle FIS World Cup in aerials will continue in Lake Placid (USA) in mid-January 2008.

The last of the ladies’ Audi FIS Alpine World Cup December races will take place in Lienz (AUT). The giant slalom and slalom races will be held on the re-modeled Dr Kurt Schlick course on the Hochstein on 28th-29th December. Besides an attractive side event program, the organizers have launched a new marketing concept focused on “Krampus,” known as a helper of St. Nicholas. They will also rely on some 15’000 spectators to create a magical atmosphere with the help of thousands of bells that are intended to help the athletes to top performances. For more information,
visit www.skiworldcup-lienz.at.
www.fis-ski.com

HOLIDAY STORM BRINGS GIFT OF POWDER CONDITIONS TO COLORADO SKI RESORTS

Storm Drops Up To 47 Inches In Parts Of State

DENVER, Colo. – Dec. 26, 2007– Colorado skiers and snowboarders received the perfect gift from Mother Nature this holiday season as another massive snow storm made its way across the state. From the southwest corner of the state to the northwest region, the snow started falling on Friday and piled up at resorts leaving as much as 46 inches at Powderhorn, 47 inches at Steamboat and 41 inches at Howelsen Hill.

Front Range and Summit County resorts also received a big powder gift from the holiday storm with 26 inches of snow left at Echo Mountain, 19 inches at Breckenridge and 17 inches at Winter Park. Copper Mountain received more than 14 inches of fresh snow and SolVista Basin, Keystone and Eldora received nearly a foot. The fresh powder also fell at Loveland, Ski Cooper and Arapahoe Basin leaving more than half a foot at each resort.

Photo: Steamboat - Larry Pierce
December’s record snowfall amounts continue to climb. The holiday storm added 31 inches to both Snowmass and Silverton Mountain and 23 inches to Aspen Mountain’s seven feet already accumulated this month. Wolf Creek received 21 inches of new snow adding to their season total of more than 16 feet. Beaver Creek, Vail and Buttermilk all received more than 20 inches of new snow from this latest storm.

The holiday weekend storm further evidenced Colorado’s consistent snowfall by leaving 19 inches on Aspen Highlands and nearly a foot and a half at Telluride and Sunlight. In the south central part of the state 15 inches fell on Monarch, Crested Butte received nearly a foot and Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort got 10 inches of newly fallen snow.

Wintery wonderland conditions are expected to continue throughout the week for Colorado’s resorts as another storm is expected. Many resorts are hosting New Year’s events and holiday activities, along with bountiful powder and packed powder conditions. For more details on Colorado’s 26 ski resorts,
www.coloradoski.com.

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Kimberley
Kimberley Alpine Resort, scheduled to open December 16th, 2006.
Summer Glading – Kimberley Alpine Resort strives to provide the most consistent snow surface. Work done in the summer makes for velvety smooth groomers and challenging bump runs in the winter. During the summer, 15 runs on the Easter (North Bowl) side of the resort will get attention as crews clean up in the trees and on the runs. (Notre Dame, Full House, Tramway, Geneva, Dean Left & Right, Twixt, Comet, Magma, Jackpot, Twist, Maverick, Flush, Fuzzy & Flapper). As well, the front side of the mountain will see significant work performed as Rosa, Buckhorn, Mambo, Utopia, Stemwinder and Twilight have all seen brush crews. Also check around the mountain for some new unnamed glades. After all, we can’t tell you everything! Front side work will please skiers and riders who love glades – look for 7-metre spacing throughout the entire front side of the mountain

NEW Trails – For those who want to explore a little before you reach the base area, or for those staying on the mountain, the North Star Trail will take you from below the skier bridge amongst a tree lined, low angle trail to your destination in the Resort plaza. Moe’s Trail – A new intermediate trail to the skiers’ right of Boundary Run. Nate’s Way – A new access trail from the Top of the Tamarack Chair to the Stemwinder Run. New designated FIS Homologated run as part of the Kimberley Paralympic program
Top Elevation: 6,500 ft / 1,982 m
Base Elevation: 4,035 ft / 1,230 m
Vertical Rise: 2,465 ft / 751 m
Skiable Acres: 1,800 acres / 729 hect
Longest Run: 3.97 mi/6.4 km

Number of Lifts: 5
1 High Speed Quad (North Star Express),
1 Triple Chair (Easter),
1 Double Chair (Tamarack),
1 T-Bar (Owl),

www.skikimberley
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Snow Basin - Utah
Just got Dusted !
Ski Season Dates: Thanksgiving Day to mid-April (conditions permitting)
Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Daily (some upper elevation lifts start closing at 3:30 p.m. daily)
Mountain Report Hotline: (801) 620-1100
Average Yearly Snowfall: 400 inches
Total Lifts: 12 (1 Tram, 2 Gondolas, 1 Quad, 4 Triples, 1 Double, 1 Magic carpet, 2 Handle Tows)
Skiable Acreage: 2,820
Vertical Rise: 2,959 feet

>> The ridge off of Mt Allen Tram don't miss it!
www.snowbasin.com

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Solden -Austria
Sölden's high-altitude ski area boasts 34 ski lifts and gondolas plus 146km of immaculate ski runs. Therefore it ranks among the most renowned Austrian ski resorts. But Sölden offers further unique highlights: two glacier ski areas and three skiable mountain peaks higher than 3,000 meters-
SNOW IS ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED From now through May thanks to the ski area's high-Alpine location (1,350 - 3,250 m) 2 glacier ski areas at Rettenbach & Tiefenbach snow making systems covering all slopes lower than 2,200 m.
BIG3
Sölden has the marvelous BIG 3 vantage points - Therefore it is Austria's only ski area with 3 mountains higher than 3,000 meters which are accessible by lifts or gondolas. And the » BIG 3 Rally ranks among the most beautfiul ski trails across the entire ski region, comprising also a visit to all BIG 3 platforms

New dimensions are added to the Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski area, investing no less than 25 million Euros for three new single-rope mountain gondolas and a new restaurant on top of the Hohe Mut peak, plus a new ski run down from Hohe Mut

www.soelden.com/

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Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series
Stop 1: Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open, Feb 7-10
Stop 2: Subaru Squaw Valley Freeskiing Open, Feb 14-17
Stop 3: Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open, March 13-16
Stop 4: Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals, Snowbird, UT, March 18-23
Stop 5: Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships, Kirkwood, CA, March 25-30
Stop 6: Subaru Freeskiing World Championships, Alyeska, AK, April 9-13
-Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Finals

Marker

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Dolomite powder -northern Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo - Italy

36 prepared slopes for a total of 65 km
all the Faloria slopes are opened(with the possibility to reach the area by Faloria cablecar and Rio Gere chairlift);
Rio Gere, Creste Bianche and Padeon slopes in Cristallo area;
Olimpia (Stra e Rumerlo) and Roncato (Socrepes) slopes in Tofana area;
Pian de Ra Valles (dal 14/12) in Ra Valles area;
Cinque Torri, Potor and Averau(only during the week-end) slopes in 5 Torri;
all the Col Gallina slopes opened.

Snow depth from 50cm in Faloria to 75cm in Tofana.
Opened slopes
Info: www.dolomitisuperski.com

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Spyder

Tecnica

Kirkwood
Kirkwood opens Chair 10 "The Wall" and the Backside Chair 4 "Sunrise" Kirkwood is 100% open! From the beginner area at Timber Creek, to the off-piste of Chairs 4, 6 and 10, to the Playground and Stomping Ground terrain parks - Kirkwood has it all! Now is a great time to take a lesson, or sign up for a clinic or camp from Expedition: Kirkwood. Whether you're looking to improve your turns, or get some air under your feet, we have the best in the business ready to guide you. Call Kirkwood Ski or Board School at 209.258.7754 to reserve a lesson, or contact Expedition: Kirkwood at 209.258.7360 to reserve a clinic or camp.

The Kirkwood Cup Series Kicks Off Sunday, December 30th with a High Energy Rail Jam Event

The Rail Jam Event will be the first of seven events that comprise the Kirkwood Cup Series, a perennial favorite with both athletes and spectators alike. The format will be free flowing and reward competitors who put it all on the line. Athletes will accumulate points over the course of the season and we will crown 4 overall champions (Men's Ski, Men's Snowboard, Women's Ski, Women's Snowboard) at the end of the series. Registration will take place the day of the event with a $30 entry fee for passholders and a $55 entry fee that includes a lift ticket.
kirkwood.com