"Endless Winter Snow"

Snow Alert - NEw York & upper new England region
Avalanche Warnings Idaho Sawtooth National Forest-

***
Actress Natasha Richardson has died following a ski accident, a spokesman for her actor husband Liam Neeson said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha," said the statement issued by spokesman Alan Nierob in Los Angeles *The autopsy confirms that Richardson died from an epidural hematoma
How can it be possible for a healthy 45 year-old woman to take a spill on a "bunny hill" and end up brain dead within the day? That's the question that I posed to neurologist Dr. Dexter Sun, who practices at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell in New York City. First of all, rest assured he said: this is a highly unusual case. Normally, a tragedy like this occurs only after a very heavy impact accident, says Dr. Sun.
With that said, Dr. Sun explained that there are three particular possibilities that could account for Natasha Richardson's state:
1. "She may have a fairly rare underlying hematology condition called hypocoagulation, in which she lacks a blood clotting factor," says Dr.Sun. This could be a genetic factor which had gone unnoticed throughout her life until now. When the clotting factor is missing, a minor bleed can become a hemorrhage.
2. It's possible that Natasha could have been taking a blood thinner like coumadine, for another medical condition, that would have made it much more likely for her to bleed after any head injury, according to Dr. Sun.
3. Finally, and most likely, she did have a harder spill than what has been reported. Sometimes when this happens "you can have a high level cervical spine fracture or a fracture at the base of the skull," says Dr.Sun. When this occurs, and the injured person continues to move around as Natasha did -- not realizing that she was seriously hurt -- the spine can touch the brain stem and cause a severe brain injury.
A high impact fall on the head can also cause three different types of bleeding within the brain: 1) an intracranial hemorrhage, which begins as a microscopic rupture of a blood vessel deep within the brain, 2) a subdural hematoma, which is a bleed that occurs in the dura, which is the outer layer of the brain, or 3) an epidural hematoma, which is a hemorrhage, that takes place between the outer skull and the dura.*
As for why Natasha initially seemed perfectly fine after her spill, apparently the hemorrhage can begin in one small spot in the brain and then grow in intensity.
All of these types of bleeding and the cervical spine fracture, result in dramatic swelling of the brain and pressure in the skull, which also pushes down dangerously on the brain stem, which is the center of life, according to Dr. Sun.
Big question: Was there ever a chance to save Natasha Richardson's life? If she hadn't insisted that she was fine and walked back to her room, could prompt medical treatment have made a difference?
Since initially there was no indication that Natasha's life was in danger, it's unlikely that she could have been saved. She would have needed to be rushed into the hospital and into a CT scan in a matter of minutes, according to Dr. Sun.
"If she had gone to the hospital and a CT scan indicated that there was bleeding, her skull would have been opened to relieve pressure, and she would have been given medication to relieve the pressure in her brain," he says.
Only then, would there have been a chance that she could pull through. Tragic.
*The autopsy confirms that Richardson died from an epidural hematoma

What can we learn... wear a helmut

*

Kirkwood
NORTH AMERICAN FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday, March 19 … If forecasters are correct we should see a return to powder conditions sometime this weekend, with a foot or more of fresh snow on tap. This will be a great kick-off to spring, with five weeks of great skiing and riding to go, hugely deep snowpack, much deeper than the past two years. Conditions right now are classic spring – machine groomed and skier packed, softening nicely during the day - with sunshine, everything open, no lines at all. Skies are crystal clear this morning, temperature of 23, heading into the high 40s, no wind. Check out this site for a vast array of great specials, including SPRING BREAK LODGING SPECIALS INCLUDING LIFT TICKETS, COSTCO $10 BONUS COUPON, $69 LEARN-TO-SKI/RIDE, $99 SPRING PASS ON SALE NOW AND VALID 3/28-4/26. Lodging is available tonight and this weekend, call (800) 967-7500 for the latest specials. XC and Snowshoe Center is in great shape, 75K of trails, lanes and track. Also, we are only a few days away from announcing our 2010 SEASON PASSES. Today is the opening round of the NORTH AMERICAN FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS, featuring the top big mountain skiers from around the world in what most experienced contestants describe as “the best big mountain extreme contest in the world for spectators, bar none.” The semi-finals are Friday, and the Finals move to The Cirque on Saturday. Also, if you’re a college student, get ready for the EXPERTS ONLY SPRING BREAK BASH next Monday through Friday, March 23-27, featuring a giant snow bar, contests, music and more, plus $30 LIFT TICKETS WITH YOUR KIRKWOOD COLLEGE CARD, ONLY $10. We’ll see you on the mountain, enjoying great spring conditions and watching the big mountain event …

Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Championships & Freeskiing World Championships (USFS Stop #6) April 9, 2008 - April 13, 2008
Location: Alyeska Resort, AK Don't miss the inaugural Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Championships at the legendary Aleska Resort in Alaska

The North Face Masters April 2, 2008 - April 6, 2008 Location: Alyeska, AK This is the final stop on the newest Big Mountain Snowboarding series. Legendary Snowboarders from around the world compete for cold, hard cash and their shot at the title of The North Face Masters Champion

Burton series
Mar 21
Hoodoo -Oregon
www.hoodoo.com

Mar 22 Sun Mt. Rose- Nevada www.mtrose.com/

Mar 22 Sun
Mt Hood Meadows - Oregon
www.skihood.com

Sat Mar 28 2009
Crystal Mountain
www.skicrystal.com

Sun Mar 29 2009
Stevens Pass -Wa
www.stevenspass.com/

Thu Apr 30 2009
Zero-G
Chamonix, France

008 Collegiate Nationals-Ski/Snowboard Slopestyle
March 29, 2008
Colleges from all over the country send their best skiers and snowboarders to Keystone, Colorado. They gather to compete in slopestyle events for the coveted title of the Collegiate National Champion in each discipline.

2008 NASTAR Nationals
March 26, 2009
Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships brings over 1,300 top amateur skiers and snowboarders to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for exciting racing action as they chase celebrity pace-setters like Phil Mahre, Kristina Koznick, Chad Fleischer. Racers qualify from resorts nationwide for three days of racing, live music, product demos, and raffles

For other action events check out
//www.mtsports.com/

*
Whistler-Blackcomb
The Whistler Winter Arts Festival is a dynamic month of live music, aerial dance, theatre, snow sculpting, film screenings, art and photography exhibitions, and literary soirees, under the sun or under the stars. This year features free outdoor performances by famous Canadian musicians, storytelling events, original short films from BC filmmakers, an exhibition of regional art, and the return of the Canadian Snowsculpting Team in a showdown with teams from across the country!

And every April, it gets even hotter during the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival. It is a celebration of snow culture and all the gravity-defying thrills and adrenaline-fueled excitement that come along with it. Big name concerts , jaw-dropping half-pipe and big air competitions, legendary parties and enough action-packed excitement to make this festival a must for anyone who pledges to love skiing or snowboarding. www.whistlerblackcomb.com/

*
Solden -Austria
New state-of-the-art 8-person chair lift with wind protection shields will be in operation - replacing the old Giggijoch triple chair lift.

The hourly capacity of the new mountain lift amounts to 3,700 persons
www.soelden.com/

*
Alpine Meadows - Lake Tahoe
Sick & Twisted Big Air Festival
Sunday March 29, 2009
-Registration is normally from 8:30 am until 10:00 am. Practice is usually from 10:30am until 11:30am and the events are scheduled to start around noon each day.

Details:
-Helmets are required at all events!! Riders will not be allowed to participate without a helmet.
- Registration for Open Class (competing for cash!!) will be $20.
- Registration for Amateur Class (competing for gear!!) will be $10.
- Lift Tickets for participants are $54 (23-64), $39 (15-22), $8 (5-14)
-All skiers and snowboards competing in the Toyota Sick n' twisted Freestyle Tour must sign and complete all liability releases the day of the event during registration. (Anyone under the age of 18 wishing to compete must have a parent/guardian on hand at registration, the day of the event, to sign and complete all liability forms).
New This Year: The Alpine Club The all-new Alpine Resort Club is the fastest, most convenient way for skiers and riders to save at Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows Resort. The Alpine Club offers the best value available for day lift tickets, mountain shopping and amenities, ski & snowboard coaching and lessons, dining, and more. •Lift Tickets - Get lift ticket pricing and order lift tickets online. •Season Passes - Alpine Meadows Season Passes are now available for purchase with fantastic prices on full & midweek passes. NEW all full passes include Homewood! X X X X X Rejoice Alpine Club members! Starting March 28th through the end of the season, you can ski & ride on an Unlimited Ticket for just $159. You must be an Alpine Club member to purchase this unbelievable deal. If you are not a club member, join for only $10 X X X X X www.skialpine.com
Italy

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Sunny days, a lot of snow and all the lifts opened for an amount of 115km of slopes in perfect conditions.
www.cortina.dolomiti.org

***
Montafon - Austria
St. Anton im Montafon (650 m) lies at the entrance to the Montafon Valley and is popular with all holiday-makers. Here, within a radius of 2-6 km are all the requirements for an active winter holiday. The Skigebiet Golm ski area can be reached in approx 3-5 minutes free of charge and in comfort on the ski bus.

The Hochjoch, Silvretta Nova and Schafberg ski areas can also be reached in a very short time free of charge and in comfort on public transport. The athletically inclined can, depending on the snow conditions, also reach Schruns on trail-marked cross-country ski runs. St. Anton im Montafon and the parishes of Bartholomäberg and Silbertal are considered the “THREE CHARMERS

Events
Climb the Mountain - European Splitboardfestival am Hochjoch - 8./9.03.08

Schneehasenfestival am Golm - 9.03.08

"Swinging Spring" in der Silvretta Nova - 15./16.03.08

Musikfinale in der Silvretta Nova - 22.03.08

"King of the Water" in Gargellen & Hochjoch difrfernt dates - 29.03.08
A 20 m long pool - 2 skiers or snowboarders start at the same time and on their descent to the water have to pass through gates or over jumps. The one who arrives first on the far side of the pool goes into the next round. The event promises to provide an exciting day in Gargellen.

Großes Saisonfinale am Golm - 06.04.08

www.montafon.at/

***
Kvitfjell- Norway
Kvitfjell
Kvitfjell is not the largest ski destination in the world, but many people declare that it is one of the best. The reason is probably the variation of the slopes skiers will find here. For the youngest as well as for beginners we have small bunny hills and for the more advanced skiers we can offer steeper slopes where the skies really catches wind. Skiers at all levels will find their own challenge in Kvitfjell that is why so many ski enthusiasts return to our destination.
Quality is our motto. Everything that has been and is being build here in Kvitfjell is of the highest quality, and that includes the destination as a whole. More than NOK 200 millions has been invested into different projects, which results in that Kvitfjell is one of the most modern state-of-the-arch destinations in Norway. Kvitfjell is able to cover approximately 80% of all slopes with artificial snow and due to this we are one of the first destinations to open every year. Number of lifts: 7
Lift capacity: 8100 p/h
Longest run: 3500 m
Vertical drop: 840 m
Highest mountain: 1044m

There are many reasons why you should visit us in Kvitfjell this winter. From Kvitfjell you have access to more than 600 km of cross-country trails, a snowboard/terrain park, great ski instructors who will teach you to enjoy skiing, one of Norway’s most luxurious hotels in the mountains, etc. Kvitfjell
***

Burton
***

Chamonix - France
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.

Sunny spells forecast for this morning, clouding over this afternoon. 1 cm of fresh snow at 2000 meters! Good snow conditions - snow depths between 110cm and 140cm at 2000 metres

Chamonix, the resort already has a well established summer season and an international mountaineering reputation, and it is now becoming a great winter sports resort, thanks to the enthusiasm generated by the International Ski Competition. It is the second major winter sports event organised in France by the French Alpine Club (after Montgenèvre in 1907. The organisation was entrusted to Dr Michel Payot, president of the Alpine Sports Club in Chamonix, local president of the French Alpine Club and the first to initiate the famous Chamonix - Zermatt "Haute Route" in 1903. The exhibition pays tribute to Dr Payot and retraces the programme of events for this International Concours where the Norwegian, Swiss and French troups distinguish themselves, aswell as amature teams of mountain guides. Even a female team of elegant skieurs are allowed to partake and they set the scene for the beginning of the 20th century... The considerable success of this cometition launches Chamonix decisively as a winter sports resort, thus fulfulling Dr Payot's dream. This tremendous sportsman and doctor, died prematurely on the 30th January of the same year.

www.chamonix.com

***

***
Crystal Mountain - Wa
Check out our new camps and clinics offered at Crystal Mountain throughout the season. To be the best you have to ski with the best! Check out the new Freeride Camps and more. Our coaches are eager to share their secrets for big mountain skills and success. Registration is now open - Space is limited so sign up now. Click here for more info.

Base Temperature: 31 degrees
Base Snow Depth: 91 inches
Base New Snow Fall: Overnight: 6" 24hrs: 9" 48hrs: 15"
Summit Temperature: 24 degrees
Summit Snow Depth: 101 inches
Summit New Snow Fall: Overnight: 6" 24hrs: 9" 48hrs: 16"
Total Season Snow Fall: 244 inches

The Express Bus is the hassle free way to Crystal Mountain! Relax on a delux video equipped coach and you’ll be dropped off right at the lift with your full day lift ticket in hand. It doesn't get much better than that! Busses run Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays only (Holidays periods include Dec. 26-28, MLK Day Jan. 21 & President's Day Feb. 18). Service runs until mid March 9th, 2009. Call (800) 665-2122 to reserve your seat today!

www.skicrystal.com

***
Snow Basin - Utah
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

www.snowbasin.com

*
Squaw Valley