Sun Valley Blog

Local photographer and videoographer (aka camera phenom), Mark Oliver adds his video of the Monster Weekend action to the blog. Watch his video below and see all the nighttime action, big tricks, and beautiful shots.

In case you missed it, watch Jeff Page’s video of the Scott, Sun Valley Company and Monster Energy Big Air Jam on Dollar this past weekend featuring Tom Wallisch, Ian Cosco, and Justin Dorey.

Monster Weekend, sponsored by Sun Valley Company, Scott, and Monster Energy, is in full swing this Saturday afternoon under the bright Sun Valley sun. European Winter X-Game winner Tom Wallisch kicked off the action on Friday afternoon, flying 140 feet off the brand spanking-new Monster Feature on Dollar Mountain. The feature, shaped like the recognizable, neon green, Monster Energy “M” was built by the SPT and Dollar Mountain park crew and is bigger closer up than you can imagine.

Tonight, Scott and Monster Energy athletes Tom Wallisch, Justin Dorey and Ian Cosco will take part in a jump session and photoshoot with professional photographer Erik Seo and Freeskier Magazine editor, Shay Williams. Floodlights have been brought in to light up the night from 7-9pm. There will also be a DJ, BBQ, and beers for anybody that wants to stop by and see all the monster action. Then don’t miss the after-party, sponsored by Freeskier Mag, at Whiskey Jacques’ in Ketchum.

For more information, check out Shay William’s blog and video diary of the trip from Freeskier Mag’s website here: Monster Weekend Update One.

Jazz & Blues Siren Kim Nalley

Kim Nalley-
Recently named one of the “Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area,” Kim Nalley has an international reputation as one of world’s best jazz & blues vocalists. Known for her ability to turn a chattering cocktail-sipping crowd into a rapt audience of lifelong fans in minutes with a beguiling combination sass, soul and smarts, no trip to San Francisco is complete without hearing Kim Nalley perform.

Café Americain-
Standing at a musical crossroad of the world, the acoustic string group Café Americain draws from the bohemian sounds of European café music, romantic gypsy jazz, elegant Brazilian Choros and Bossa Novas, and, of course, the always hip Great American Song Book.
Café Americain is the brain-child of internationally respected guitarist Ned Boynton. He is joined by renowned musicians Jason Vanderford – guitar, and Michael Zisman – mandolin.

Paul Tillotson-
What separates Tillotson from many jazz pianists today is his ability to write and create his own beautiful music. When he performs live, the audience experiences his pleasure of sharing his music with them. For Tequila Time, he wrote seven original tracks. “My writing style is simple – I wake up with an idea in my head and I sing it. Sometimes I’m walking down the street in Manhattan or skiing down a double diamond slope in Sun Valley and a melody will come to me . . . I sing it over and over then I sit down at the piano (Margaret, his 1928 Mason & Hamlin) and fill it out. When it’s done I present it to the guys and we create a masterpiece together.”

The Sun Valley Race Department put on another great season of racing for this year’s Town Series. Seven weeks of racing finished up yesterday, with a festive and green finale on Lower Cozy and a St. Patty’s Day after-party that any Irishman would be proud of. Teams came out in costumes, like SVSEF’s green maiden dresses, Team Lip Service’s one-piece ski suits and Mardi Gras boas, the Flat Out Ridiculous Team’s neon green wigs, the Blog Chicks’ matching socks, shorts, and shamrock headbands, and Wood River Masonry even lit rockets on the back of their skis.

Robin Sarchett was the overall winner yet again, beating second and third placed Carlo Rixon and Nate Schwing by seven tenths of a second. The top female was speedy Erika Hogan, who finished seventh overall, beating the second placed woman, Sarah Mazzola, by half a second. The rabbits this week were Chris Key (in one of his best finishes of the season) and Chris Campbell. The fifth placed male and female, and winners of a fifth of tequila, were Wes Powell and Toby Arnett.

The season’s top team, Scott USA, celebrated in style, breaking out the champagne on Apple’s sunny deck. Congrats to John Reagle, Toby Arnett, John Zuck, and Jeff Page. The four teams who rounded out the top five, and had their names in the drawing for three season-passes from Sun Valley Resort, were Casino Dancing Bears, Wood River Masonry, the Drunken Blumkens, and the Rainbow Warriors.The celebrating continued throughout the beautiful St. Patrick’s Day afternoon on Apple’s Bar and Grill’s packed patio with delicious corned beef and hash and tons of green beer.

Congrats to all the racers on another great season of World Cup Wednesdays! A big thanks goes out to Mike Wrobel and the rest of the Sun Valley Race Department. Another thanks goes out to the Valley bars and restaurants who sponsored the 2010 Town Series parties!

See some of the action below and check back later for the full results.

Lizzy Brown, Team Lip Service, sets up for a run.

Mollie Parker and Abby Seibert show how cool science really is!

Janet Appleton rocks the one-piece and the boa.

The blog.sunvalley.com Blog Chicks get ready to race.

Ash Higgins, Tine Cordeau, Pete Stevenson and other racers show their Irish spirit at the race start.

A dapper Billy Cook suits up for the after-party.

The crowd peers over the balcony at Apple's to check out all the Award's Ceremony action.

SCOTT, Monster Energy and Sun Valley Resort are putting together a monster of all weekends in Sun Valley March 19-20. The weekend will include appearances by SCOTT and X-Game athletes, a Freeskier-hosted party, a brand new Monster-themed and SPT-designed feature, a photo shoot, and a preview of SCOTT;s 2010/2011 Wintersport product line.

The weekend kicks off on Friday, March 19 6-8pm, at Scott’s Ketchum headquarters (110 Lindsay Circle) with team athletes Ian Cosco, Tom Wallisch, and Justin Dorey greeting fans and signing autographs. Then SCOTT will give everyone a preview of next winter’s wintersport product line.

The Monster Weekend continues Saturday, March 20 in Dollar Mountain’s Terrain Park. The athletes will be hitting the park throughout the day, with the park open to the public as well. It is everybody’s chance to ski with some of the country’s best pro skiers. Saturday night there will be a photo shoot with Ian Cosco, Tom Wallisch, and Justin Dorey on Dollar Mountain, showcasing a brand-new, awesome Monster-themed feature designed by Snow Park Technologies. The shoot will take place from 7-9 pm and it is open to the public, with a DJ providing a killer soundtrack for the shoot. After the shoot, Freeskier Magazine will host a wrap-up party at Whiskey Jacques. Don’t miss all the Monster action March 19-20!

Local favorite band, the Damphools will play the Boiler Room Saturday, March 13. Doors open at 9pm after the comedy series. Cover is $7, but the first 10 people at the door get in Free.

The Damphools are a country music combo hailing from the Wood River Valley in Idaho. The Damphools live shows are the band’s shining pride. Ranging from manic honky tonk originals, twang boogie, and subtle renditions of classic country and bluegrass songs, The Damphools keep the shows interesting and diverse. Playing over 120 shows a year, just in Idaho, the band looks forward to traveling the country with their honky tonk revue. So as the tale unfolds; The Damphools will be keeping biscuits in their bellies, their wheels in between the lines and their amps on 11. “God willin’ and if the creeks don’t rise”- The Damphools will see ya down the road.

The third and final installment of Dollar’s Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam comes to an end Saturday, March 27. This will be the final event of three nights which include the Smith Limo Rail, flood lights lighting up the base of Dollar, BBQ, beer, fire pits and a DJ. Last time we had over 50 participants and tons of fans and supporters coming out despite the cold temperatures. This edition of the Rail Jam will include a few surprises, including a rail set up for the little tykes, the extended hours of the tubing park and more. Don’t miss it! It should be quite a show with competitors vying for an all-expense paid trip to Windell’s Camp at Mt. Hood. Sign-up from 4-6pm. Entry fee is $15. Practice is from 5-6pm, with the main event taking place from 6-8pm, and awards following.
There will also be a Free Rail Exhibition for kids age 15 & under from 3:30-5pm. See you guys there!