"Endless Winter Snow"

Snow Alert - Great Conditions for the NEW YEARS WEEKEND

Avalanche Advisory - Tetons, Cascade & Sierra Nevada Mtn ,
Near and above treeline, MODERATE avalanche danger exists on all aspects with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Below treeline, MODERATE danger exists on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects with pockets of MODERATE danger on S-SW-W aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.
http://www.avalanche.org/

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TAHOE CITY, Calif. — Placer County authorities say a military helicopter equipped with forward looking infrared technology was scheduled to join the search for a woman who disappeared while snowboarding at a Lake Tahoe-area resort.
Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Ausnow says the helicopter would have about 2 1/2 hours in the air once it began its search late Wednesday for 25-year-old Shawnte Marie Willis.
Ausnow says if the helicopter search fails to find Willis during the night, ground crews will resume searching in the morning.
Willis was reported missing Tuesday afternoon after she became separated from her friends at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort.
Willis was wearing a pink helmet, tan and camouflage jacket, and gray snowboard pants. She was a guest at the resort and was last seen snowboarding through ski boundary signs near the top of an advanced slope accessible by chair lifts
Willis' family in Humboldt County told the Sacramento Bee that she's a strong athlete who works as a ski instructor. But her cousin, Don Hubbs, says he's worried that Willis' epilepsy could be triggered by the extreme stress of being lost in the snow.
......Authorities say the snowboarder who went missing on Tuesday has been found. They have not released any details yet, but will have a press conference on Thursday afternoon

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National Ski areas Assn.
2011 Winter Conferences and Tradeshows
January 18-20, 2011
Alta/Snowbird, UT

www.nsaa.org/

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Sugarloaf - Maine
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — State inspectors are being sent to a ski lift that malfunction and sent people at a Maine resort plummeting as far as 30 feet to the snow.
Officials at the Sugarloaf resort say that there are about six injuries from Tuesday's accident and that patrols evacuated the lift. A state official says the lift was properly inspected and licensed.

Sugarloaf spokesman Ethan Austin says five chairs came down. The resort says none of the injuries appear to be life threatening

The SNOWPASS is a Winterseason ticket valid on 15 mountain areas throughout central Switzerland.

The ski-pass can be used at the following locations: Andermatt Sportbahnen, Sportbahnen Schwyz-Stoss-Fronalpstock, Sportbahnen Melchsee-Frutt, Skilift Mörlialp, Bergbahnen Klewenalp-Stockhütte, Bergbahnen Sörenberg, Sportbahnen Marbachegg, Sattel-Hochstuckli, Mythen, Sedrun, Rigibahnen, Meiringen-Hasliberg-Bahnen, Sportbahnen Hasliberg-Käserstatt, Brunni Bahnen and Titlis Rotair, Engelberg.

Prices
Adults CHF 999.-
Youth & Seniors CHF 749.-
Children CHF 499.-
Swiss Tourism

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Val Gardena - Dolomites Italy
Val Gardena used to be part of a territory called "Ladinia", and the traces of its two thousand year old history are still visible. "Ladin" is a Rhaeto-roman language that is still spoken in the four Ladinian valleys of the Dolomites. Ladin originated from a mix of Latin, spoken by the Roman conquerors, and Celtic (Rhaetian), the language of the territory's first inhabitants. This particular historical circumstance makes of Val Gardena the emblematic meeting point of many European cultures. The preservation of traditions and cultural patrimony and especially of the Ladin language are a bulwark of this people. "Bën unì" = "Welcome": by listening to this arcane language or watching a day of celebration with the Gardenesi dressed in their traditional costumes, it is possible, as if by magic, to rediscover all the shine and glamour of the past. Val Gardena is quickly becoming an important centre thanks to the many cultural projects that take place here. For example, in the last few years, it has hosted the Music FestiVal Gardena (in July and August), a series of classical music concerts by some of the most prestigious world orchestras. Thus, Val Gardena is becoming one of the major points of reference on the international music scene. In the same period, young musicians from all over the world come here to attend the International Music Masterclasses www.dolomitisuperski.com

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La Plange - France
4 village resorts with access to the entire ski area :

Champagny en Vanoise alt1250m
Plagne Montalbert alt1350m
Montchavin alt1250m
Les Coches alt1450m
Opening of Villages resorts :

The French bumps team has become the best in the world after its incredible progress last winter.
www.la-plagne.com/en/

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Big Sky - Montana
Big Sky Resort was hit by a major winter storm that was dropping snow at a rate of nearly an inch an hour. Knee to waist deep turns have become common in the trees and on the peak. What a great way to say goodbye to 2010. bigskyresort.com

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Mt Hood Meadows - Oregon
PARTY IN THE PARK "Party in the Park". This event will be taking place at Shipyard Park and will have a live DJ playing from 8 until midnight. There will be contests and prizes for both riders and spectators. The crowd will go on a "Fire-works Wander" at 10 PM and the night will close out with a "Slow-down Throw-down" (helmet and release signed by parent or legal guardian required). Party in the Park is pen to everyone, but a great option for those not old enough to party with the Essentials in the lodge. Mt. Hood Meadows opened up a nice present Christmas Day - our 500 foot long in-ground SuperPipe. It's one of the only pipes in the country to be operating this early, featuring 18 foot walls and its night-lighted. Our grooming crew has been farming the available snow to amass the considerable amount of snow needed to build the SuperPipe. www.skihood.com

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FIS WORLD CUP EVENTS
29.-30.12.2010 Chamonix FRA FIS 2xSL
29.-30.12.2010 Chamrousse FRA FIS 2xSL Cancelled
29.-30.12.2010 Parpan SUI FIS 2xSL Check changes
30.12.2010 Sundsvall SWE FIS SL SL
1.-2.1.2011 Crested Butte, CO USA FIS 2xSL 2xSL
2.-4.1.2011 Winter Park, CO USA DAR GS
2.1.2011 Muenchen GER WC CE CE
2.-4.1.2011 Schweitzer, ID USA FIS GS
2.-3.1.2011 Petzen AUT FIS 2xSL
2.-6.1.2011 District du Chablais FRA FIS
3.-4.1.2011 Val St Come, QC CAN NAC 2xSL
3.-6.1.2011 Sunday River, ME USA NAC 2xSL
3.-4.1.2011 Gaellivare SWE FIS 2xGS 2xGS
3.-5.1.2011 Hoch-Ybrig SUI FIS
3.-5.1.2011 Champoluc (ITA) GBR NJR SL
4.-6.1.2011 Zagreb CRO WC SL SL
4.-5.1.2011 Lenggries GER NJR 2xSL

www.fis-ski.com

Hahnenkamm

The Streif and the Ganslernhang slopes will be the venue for the International Hahnenkamm Races again in January. When the referee counts down the start, for the athletes begins what is probably the most spectacular race in the alpine ski world cup. Countless fans from all over the world breathlessly watch the athletes as they fight with the world famous race courses. The athletes' passion for the Super G, Downhill and Slalom is fuelled by the enthusiasm of the fans in the finish area and along the course. You just have to experience the Hahnenkamm Races in Kitzbühel. Come to Kitzbühel when the 71st Hahnenkamm Races take place from 21st to 23rd January 2011.

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Saas Fee
Excellent powder snow right to the last swing at the edge of the village. Yes, in Saas-Fee the valley runs have opened, offering unadulterated ski run fun from the very top to the very bottom. Snowboarding and skiing have never been this much fun. And this pleasure can now be enjoyed for even longer, because thanks to the Lötschberg base tunnel, the Saas Valley is now one hour closer.

The Saas skiing and snowboarding schools are also celebrating 75 years of Swiss snowsports with a wealth of beautiful views: Great panorama views, powder snow, excellently-prepared slopes, countless sunny days, thrilling encounters

The tourist service providers in the destination of Saas-Fee/Saas Valley have been working together successfully for years. In this context, the marketing pool has been responsible for external marketing since 2002. Two becomes one: On 1st November 2007, the last stage was completed with the merger and founding of the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley tourist board
www.saastal.ch