"Endless Winter Snow"

Snow Alert - Beaver Creek, Vail, Steamboat

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Chamonix
Chamonix's skiing extends over 3 main areas : Brévent/Flégère, offering south-facing slopes and exceptional views of the Mont-Blanc chain, the Grands Montets, high altitude north-facing slopes which dominate the village of Argentière and the Balme area, wide open slopes at the top of the Chamonix valley, bordering on Switzerland. The sister resort of les Houches lies at the opposite end of the valley and is accessible with the Mont-Blanc Unlimited ski pass Photo: Chamonix tourism

If you ski or surf you will enjoy the tremendous variety of terrain that the Chamonix valley has to offer. Gentle family runs through the trees, immaculate cross country pistes, amusing snow parks or mythical glacier descents such as the Grands Montets and the Vallée Blanche (guide recommended). If you're looking for new sensations, the mountain professionals also offer their services for ski touring

The first Winter Olympic games were hosted by Chamonix in 1924 and consecrated the valley as a winter Mecca, with an important number of lifts being built in the ensuing years. First were the Glacier cable cars (no longer existing) and Planpraz, followed by the Brevent, the Aiguille du Midi and the Flégère. Chamonix today, is not only an important tourist destination, but it is also a strategic link with Italy via the Mont-Blanc tunnel. The town strives to maintain a healthy balance between tourist and transport demands and the preservation of an exceptional natural environment.
www.chamonix.com/

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FIS
Inawashiro (JPN)

Test events for 2009 Freestyle and Snowboard Worlds this weekend

The coming weekend will see the staging of the main test events for both the 2009 FIS Snowboard Championships at Sungwoo Resort, in the Gangwon province (KOR), and the 2009 FIS Freestyle Championships in Inawashiro (JPN).

As in 2005 and 2007, Sungwoo - located just two hours away from Seoul - will host the NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup parallel giant slalom, half-pipe and, for the first time, snowboard cross events for both the ladies and men. The events between Friday 15th February and Sunday 17th February 2008 will serve as a perfect test for the 8th FIS Snowboard World Championships which will be the first ones to take place in Asia in January 2009. The resort can presently boast excellent snow conditions and idyllic cold, clear winter weather and today's official training for the snowboard cross and in the halfpipe was appreciated by the teams. FIS Race Director Marcel Looze commented “We have already seen considerable progress with the preparations for this year's World Cup event and the Organizing Committee is highly motivated to gain more experience this week and work very hard to deliver first class championships next year”. For more information, visit www.gangwon2009.or.kr

At the same time in Japan, the test events for the 2009 Worlds will include moguls and aerials events at Listel Ski Fantasia on the weekend, 16th-17th February, while Friday's half-pipe competitions in Altz Bandai will kick off the activities already on Friday, 15th February.

In Japan, this winter has been colder than usual with much more snow than last year. Thanks to this, the course preparation has gone smoothly. The half-pipe competitions in Altz Bandai will be the first-ever Freestyle half-pipe events in Asia. Since 1988, when the first FIS World Cup event was held in Japan, it will be the 13th time for Listel Fantasia to host the world's best freestylers. Known as one of the most difficult courses of its kind in the world, the mogul course at Listel is in the final stages of preparation. By contrast, it will be the first time since 1992 for Listel to welcome back the aerialists. Altogether, 280 athletes and team officials from 19 nations will be visiting Japan during the 2009 test events. The community of Inawashiro has established a special “Supporters Club” that will be on site to cheer the athletes from around the world.

The FIS Freestyle World Championships are scheduled in Inawashiro from 2nd-8th March, 2009. The official event web site can be found at
www.inawashiro2009.jp/english

Calendar WORLDCUP 2008(KOR )

Date Discipline Gender
15.02.2008 Snowboardcross L
15.02.2008 Snowboardcross M
16.02.2008 Halfpipe L
16.02.2008 Halfpipe M
17.02.2008 Parallel L
17.02.2008 Parallel M

www.fis-ski.com

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White Pass - Wa
Pacific NW Freestyle Championships
February 16 & 17, 2008
Must compete in this event to qualify for any National Events
Saturday 2 – Single Moguls 1 – Slopestyle or Big Air
Sunday 2 – Single Moguls
1 – Dual Moguls Registration*

*Parent or guardian signature required on liability release if competitor is a minor 8:30 - 9:30 am Saturday & Sunday White Pass day lodge, top floor Sitzmark lounge Entry Fees USSA MEMBERS*

*Must show ussa membership card or proof of membership at registration USSA Members - $30.00 per event $150.00 for the weekend events Entry Fees Non-USSA Members*

*Non-USSA Members will not compete against ussa members. Competitions will begin once the sanctioned ussa competition is finished. Non-USSA Members - $30.00 per event $150.00 for the weekend events USSA membership is available at registration. Must have insurance information and parent or guardian signature on membership application. Check only, made out to USSA.

www.skiwhitepass.com

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Yuzawa - JPN HELI Ski Japan
With its huge amounts of snowfall and mountainous terrain, it was only natural that Yuzawa should become a mecca for winter sports. Snow clouds generated over Siberia pick up precipitation from the Sea of Japan, and Yuzawa is the first mountain range that such clouds meet. This leads to massive snowfalls averaging 11.7m over the past 10 years

Yuzawa is one of the main ski and snowboard towns in Japan, a snow paradise hosting over 6 million skiers and snowboarders per year. With 16 ski resorts in the Yuzawa area, the only problem is deciding which resort to visit each day. The sheer amount of ski resorts allows for a great variety that only Yuzawa can provide - beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers

Mitsumata area heli-ski tour. Held over 3 days in April, this is a chance to try out off-piste skiing and snowboarding for those of intermediate level and above. The views from Kagura-mine mountain are simply breathtaking, you feel like you are on top of the world!
www.e-yuzawa.gr.jp/english/

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Traci Max - Speed Ski
Tracie has continued her racing and has worked hard to achieve her goals. Her hard work paid off this season. She is now the overall FIS World Cup Champion
Events
Mar 5-8 Sun Peaks (Can) FIS World Cup (2 races)

Mar 26-28 Salla (Fin) FIS World Cup (2 races)

Mar 30 - Apr 1 Hundfjallet (SWE) FIS World Cup

Traci's home page
www.quickchick.com/
Speed Ski

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Red Lodge Mountain

Red Lodge Mountain Resort Backcountry Film Festival 7pm Join us at the Banquet Room of the Red Lodge Pizza Co. for the first annual Backcountry Film Festival. Door prizes will be drawn and proceeds benefit the Beartooth Recreation and Trails Association and the Winter Wildlands Alliance. Tickets are available at the door - $7 Adults and $4 Children.

February 23rd
Cardboard Racer Showcase 9am Bring up your Cardboard Racer to show off your creation before dragging it up to the top of Showoff Alley. You can register your cardboard racer at this time if you missed the parade. Register on-line (go to calendar of events and look for registration) or at the Info Booth at the Main Lodge from 9-11am.

The Fireman's Hose Race 12pm
Watch local and regional firefighters show off their hose skill and see who the fastest firefighting team on skis is! The race will take place before the Cardboard Classic Race. Open to all firefighters who are up to the challenge, but you must register as a team. Register on-line (go to calendar of events and look for registration) or at the Info Booth at the Main Lodge from 9-11am.

The Cardboard Classic Race 12:30pm
The ever popular and famous race down Showoff Alley. Speed, crashes and a good time are promised. Classes include 12 & Under, 13-18, and 19 & Up. Race for cash in The Jr. Unlimited and Unlimited Classes. (judge rulings, rules, and registration can be found at redlodgemountain.com)

Bogart's Jalapeño Eating Contest 2:30pm at the Bierstube
Think you can handle the heat? Chow down on as many jalapenos as you can and win big. $15 dollar entry fee includes T-shirt, need to be 18 or older to enter. Registration will be at the info booth on Saturday morning.

Viking Costume Contest Showcase 2:45pm at the Bierstube
Come strut your stuff in your Viking Costume and be judged to win big as the best dressed. Divisions of age groups and great prizes.

Torch Light Parade, Fireworks and Dinner A spaghetti dinner will start at 5pm at the Main Lodge. After dinner enjoy an incredible light show as the torch light skiers make their way down the mountain under the lights of an awesome fireworks show. Dinner is $5.50 per person and $4 for children 10 and under.

February 24th
King and Queen of the Mountain at 10am The ski bums of Red Lodge take to the course to see who the best overall and well rounded racer really is. They take runs on all three disciplines; snowboard, alpine, and telemark. Winner becomes the King and Queen of the Mountain. Entry is $15 per person. Registration is on-line (go to calendar of events and look for King & Queen registration) or at the info booth on Saturday or Sunday morning.

Mountain Scavenger Race, starts at 10:00 am at the Main Lodge Get the entire family together and try to find your clues. The first team or individual to find each item wins. Tons of fun for young skiers or families who want to get some skiing in together. Registration will be at the info booth Saturday and Sunday mornings.

www.redlodgemountain.com

The North Face
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Patscherkofel - Austria - previous 1976 Olympic site
Innsbruck hosted the Olympic Winter Games twice and Igls as the venue for the men’s downhill was the focus of the world’s interest. Not only the Olympic winners Franz Klammer and Egon Zimmermann love the runs on the Patscherkofel, also beginners and advanced skiers are fascinated by this beautiful mountain.

Already in the year 1910 one wanted to establish an aerial ropeway of Igls on the Innsbrucker "house mountain" to Patscherkofel. As main backers the owner of the Adolf room, the planning company Heckel from Saarbruecken, the electricity company Nuernberg and the city Innsbruck drew hotel "Iglerhof". Although the route was fixed and the financial means were available, the execution bureaucracy dragging at that time, following Balkans confusions 1912/13 and that finally fell 1. World war to the victim. Individual attempts at revival of the building after the war failed however and only the establishment of an action committee in the year 1926 with seat in Igls meant the genuine stimulus for the entgueltigen building of this aerial ropeway. The action committee, in the special one the already aforementioned KR room, Leo Handl, Franz Eiler, the municipality Igls, and the municipality Schwaz, procured the necessary capital of 1.7 million Schilling (? 123.000, -) and the establishment of the "Patscherkofel Drahtseilbahn AG" followed.

The route was again specified. Original valley station variants were among other things the stations Igls and Lansersee, the Schwellerkapellle, the meadow beside the nursing center u.a.m. On 15 May 1927 the first cut of the spade took place for the building of the necessary material express course and on 14 April 1928 could the Patscherkofel - aerial ropeway already solemnly be opened. During the building arisen unexpected difficulties foundation digging, basic separations, high voltage underpasses etc. caused finally an increase of the building sum on more than the double (approx. S 3.6 millions /? 260.000, -). The increased capital requirement, for which 10-12% interest had to be paid already at that time, and which brought decreasing/going back person frequency due to the worsening economic situation, the society into large financial difficulties and finally into the bankruptcy. The country Tirol took over the majority of the shares and 1931 also the line and administration of the enterprise. The municipality Schwaz had to carry out to 1978 repayments, which enstanden from the obligations entered at that time were. By in the year 1938 in strength the stepped other legal regulations the Patscherkofelbahn had to 31.12.1940 from the national possession to be sold. Thus enstand the pool with the Innsbrucker transporting enterprises AG, up to then "local railway Innsbruck i.T. AG ". Until 1938 could be mastered traffic with the original plant without larger waiting periods. And the tourism increasing using then after the war required however in the course of the years several small Umbauten.Das time-consuming transferring in the central station "holy water" could by in the year 1962 the large change taken place to 4 cars (before 2) connected with extensive technical verb eating runes and changes, be strongly reduced. With the olympic one winter plays 1964 and 1976 the gentleman departures at the Patscherkofel were delivered. With 01.12.1996 the Patscherkofelbahn got again a private operator. In the same year at large expenditure the Patscherkofel was technically converted - to-and-from system aerial ropeway. All four cabs were reorganized 2002 and provided with a new Logo. TECHNICAL DATA OF THE PATSCHERKOFELBAHN:
Valley station Igls sea-height 904 m central station holy water 1136 m mountain station Patscherkofel 1951 m (sea-height is related to the carrying rope) Table (2 stages) 3800 m (secondarylongest aerial ropeway route in Austria)

www.patscherkofelbahnen.at

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Paul Mitchell Tour
Feb 1-3 Burton Demo Tour Bear or Northstar, CA 8-10 Burton Demo Tour Bear or Northstar, CA 9-10 USSA Snowboard Chevy Grand Prix Paul Mitchell Progression Session Tamarack, ID 9-10 Jeep Mountain Tour Skiercross & Boardercross Squaw Valley, CA Feb 16-18 Burton Demo Tour Bear or Northstar, CA 22-24 Burton Demo Tour Boyne, MI Mar 2 Burton Demo Tour Stratton, VT or Mt Creek, NJ 1-2 USSA Snowboard World Cup Lake Placid, NY 7-9 Burton Demo Tour Waterville, NH 14-16 Burton Demo Tour Stratton, VT or Mt Creek, NJ 15-16 USSA Snowboard Chevy Grand Prix Paul Mitchell Progression Session Killington, VT 21-23 USSA Freestyle National Championships TBD www.paulmitchell.com
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Photo: The good, bad and ugly off of broken arrow at Squaw Valley- endlesswintersnow
Squaw Valley Lifts , Lesson and more

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Cardrona - New Zealand
New Chairlift at Cardrona’s Captains Basin

Cardrona today announced the purchase of a high speed detachable quad chairlift in Captains Basin. The new Poma chairlift will be ready to ride at the start of the 2008 season.

The Captains Express chairlift’s speed will be two and a half times quicker than the existing quad with a journey only taking 3 ½ minutes versus the existing 9 minutes. Assuming no queue, a person who skied 11 runs at Captains Basin would ski them one hour faster due to faster chairlifts.

“This chairlift is one of the fastest chairlifts on the market and will mean an average Cardrona family will get lots more skiing and snowboarding on an average day”, say Gary Husband, Field Manager.

“The chairs are also more comfortable with padded seats and footrests, and the stations are covered just like our other high speed chairlift, the Whitestar”, says Husband.
Chairlift Details
Run time: 3.5 minutes; Speed 5.08 m/sec
Capacity: 2400 people / hour
Towers: 15; Chairs: 75
Length: 1069m; Vertical: 262m; 25% average grade

Additional Quotes “The Captains Basin is the top intermediate basin in New Zealand with kilometres of blue runs across varied terrain. The new high speed chairlift means less time on a chair and more time building confidence on the slopes”, says Bruce McGechan, Sales and Marketing Manager.

“By the time the 2008 season starts Cardrona would have invested over $12 million in new developments over the last four years.
www.ropeways.net

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National Ski Areas Association
The National Ski Areas Association is the trade association for ski area owners and operators. It represents 326 alpine resorts that account for more than 90 percent of the skier/snowboarder visits nationwide. Additionally, it has 400 supplier members who provide equipment, goods and services to the mountain resort industry.

NSAA analyzes and distributes ski industry statistics; produces annual conferences and trade shows; produces a bimonthly industry publication and is active in state and federal government affairs. The association also provides educational programs and employee training materials on industry issues including OSHA, ADA and NEPA regulations and compliance; environmental laws and regulations; state regulatory requirements; aerial tramway safety; and resort operations and guest service.

NSAA was established in 1962 and was headquartered in Springfield, Mass. In 1989 NSAA merged with SIA (SnowSports Industries America) and moved to McLean, Va. The merger was dissolved in 1992 and NSAA was relocated to Lakewood, Colo., because of its central geographic location. NSAA is located in the same office building as the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the National Ski Patrol in Lakewood, Colo., a suburb west of Denver.
EVENT
National Convention & Trade Show May 28-31, 2008

www.nsaa.org/

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Jackson Hole
Not a single cloud disrupted the perfectly serene, bright blue sky, as sunshine poured abundantly over all of Jackson yesterday.

Photo: Jackson Hole sunrise marketing

Snow Depth
100" @ Upper-Mountain
88" @ Mid-Mountain

Lifts Open: 11 of 11
Trails Open: 116 of 116
Groomed Trails: 40 of 48
Advanced Terrain Park: NOW OPEN!

www.jacksonhole.com

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Kirkwood Kirkwood is Rolling out the Corduroy Carpet along with Sunshine, Live Music and Slopestyle Events

Taking advantage of the most snow in Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood is showcasing its high angle grooming capabilities to flatten the entire upper mountain and lay out a fresh carpet of corduroy across the lower mountain. In addition, our three terrain parks, halfpipe and Skier/Boarder X courses have been given a little extra "TLC" to insure they are in top condition. The sunny skies and springtime temperatures forecasted for the weekend will provide perfect conditions for Live Music from "Delta Nove" in the Mountain Village Plaza on Saturday and the Kirkwood Cup Slopestyle Event on Sunday. Check out our Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Center offering over 80km of groomed trails along with a Full Moon Snowshoe Trek this Saturday, Feb. 16th. www.kirkwood.com