Sun Valley Blog

Some of skiing’s greatest films will be shown for free at the Sun Valley Opera House in conjunction with Ski Heritage Week, Sunday, March 27- through Friday, April 1, 2011.

The schedule:
Sunday, March 27
8:30pm – Der Weisse Rausch

Monday, March 28
9:00am- Best of John Jay
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection: Sun Valley’s 50th & Union Pacific’s Sun Valley Skiing
2:00pm – Ski Time by Warren Miller
4:00pm- Ski The Outer Limits
4:30pm – The Performer
8:00pm – Ski Racer
8:30pm – Legends of American Skiing

Tuesday, March 29
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, It Happened In Sun Valley & Skifully Yours
2:00pm – Sun Valley Serenade
4:00pm- Last of the Ski Bums
9:00pm – Gliding Through Time

Wednesday, March 30
9:00am- Ski The Outer Limits
9:30am – Blizzard of Aahhhs
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, Union Pacific’s It’s On Ice & Moon Over Sun Valley
2:00pm – Ski Time by Warren Miller
4:30pm- Sun Valley Serenade
6:30pm – Roger Brown’s Freestyle (rough cut)
7:30pm – Barrymore Evening, The Performers & Last of the Ski Bums

Thursday, March 31
9:00am – Ski Racer
9:30am- Legends of American Skiing
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, Union Pacific’s It’s On Ice & Moon Over Sun Valley
2;00pm Der Weisse Rausch
7:30pm – Ski The Outer Limits
8:00pm – “Ski Time” Warren Miller

Friday, April 1
9:00am- Ski Race
9:30am- Legends of American Skiing
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, It Happened In Sun Valley & Skifully Yours
2:00pm – Best of John Jay
4:00pm- Sun Valley Serenade
6:00pm – The FIS 100 Years
7:30pm – Blizzard of Aahhs
9:00pm- Winter Equinox

“This festival is a celebration of the best ski films ever made. There are many different kinds of ski films so a real variety were nominated and became chosen for many different reasons. Some were innovative or influential leading the way, others captured people, events or times. But together I think they are our sport’s essentials and this week’s festival offers a rare moment to see them as they should be seen, on a big screen. It is interesting that all these were made on film, no video production was selected. Anyone who comes to the awards ceremony Tuesday will see a glimpse of each film, and hear from the filmmakers. From celebrating our sport’s storied past we gain the perspective to view its future.” Ric Moulton, chairman Film Institute Steering Committee, explained.

Ride the world class National Championship boarder cross course on Dollar Mountain! The Sun Valley Snowsports School will offer training clinics and open runs on the SPT built course.

Friday, March 18
Adult clinic will be offered from 10am -12pm.
Kid’s clinic (6-18 yrs.) will be held 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
Saturday, March 19
Open clinic for all ages from 10am – noon.
Saturday, March 26
Open clinic for all ages from 10am – noon.

Following completion of any one of the clinics skiers/boarders will be able to run the course as many times as they want from 1-3:30 pm Saturday.

To enter the course, all skiers/boarders must complete a clinic. Helmets are mandatory.
The clinics are $35 and may be reserved at the Dollar Mountain Lodge SnowSports School desk or, by calling 208-622-2289.

Preview and shop great deals on the new 2012 Men’s, Women’s & Kid’s sample ski apparel from SCOTT at Pete Lane’s Mountain Sports in the Sun Valley Village this Friday, March 11 from 4-8pm. Live music, hors d’oeuvres & beverages, great raffle & prizes including a Sun Valley Weekend Discount Pass.

Pete Lane’s is having a sale of up to 40% off on all 2011 & 2010 skiwear and sportswear in the store. For more information call (208) 622-2276.

Laissez les bon temps rouler! Baldy Gras at River Run and Warm Springs Lodge Saturday, March 5 through Fat Tuesday! Beignets, Shrimp Po-Boys, Seafood Jambalaya, Shrimp Gumbo, Hurricanes, Bourbon Street Lemonade and more! Grab your Mardi Gras beads and let the good times roll at Bald Mountain, Sun Valley Resort.

The United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association is the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing and snowboarding in America. In excess of 178 colleges from coast to coast, field some 4,700 men and women, alpine, cross country and snowboarding athletes in over 200 race events annually.
Competition takes place across three progressive tiers. Conference qualifiers determine the participants at the six USCSA Regional Championships. The Regionals are the last step on the road to the annual U.S. Collegiate Skiing and Snowboard Championships, the showcase event in college ski and snowboard competition.
The 33rd annual National Championships in Sun Valley will be the the culmination of all that hard work. Events will include Nordic, Alpine Slalom and GS, Snowboard GS, Freestyle and Super-pipe competitions.
It will be an exciting week for the spectators but not half as exciting as it will be for the athletes who make it to Nationals this March. Best of success to all.

Want to be a part of the action and volunteer at the race events? All volunteers get a one-day lift ticket for a day of skiing on Baldy. Please contact Marshall McInnis via email at: mmcinnis@sunvalley.com

Click here for downloadable pdf schedule of events. Schedule is subject to change.

Check out the following link for all the event results.

http://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=26210&u=10&maxr=10

You can also check out live streaming video coverage at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/uscsa-national-championships-2011

Both links are also on the home page of our website: http://www.sunvalley.com/

For more information visit: www.USCSA.com

“Her Turn” 2011 Women’s Clinics
• Winter Session- Friday, Saturday & Sunday, February 4-6
• Spring Session- Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 4-6
Women Alpine skiers who want to take their technique to the next level should not miss this program.
We are pleased to announce the return of our “Her Turn” Women’s Clinic. This program is designed for women and taught by women. Our guest coach for the February Clinic will be Carol Levine, past National Alpine Team member, and current Rocky Mountain Examiner. Carol was the original organizer of the National Women’s Seminars, and pioneered the integration of women’s issues at the national level for many years. She created and hosted her own women’s program for the Vail Ski & Snowboard Schools called “Her Turn,” as well as developing their successful “Focused Learning” ski immersion program. Currently a Masters Racer, Carol now works with the Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen, and continues to work with women instructors.

Feb Guest Coach Carol Levine

• The total cost for each Her Turn Clinic is $575.00 per 3-day session
• Daily lift pass discounts available for participants.
• Classes will meet daily at 8:30am inside River Run Lodge.
• Class sizes are limited. Sign up early at the Sun Valley SnowSports School (208) 622-2289 to insure your space.

Sun Valley Resort wants to show off the region’s best new Terrain Park with the 2011 Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series Saturday, February 5, February 19 and March 19. The overall winner of the three-date series will win a trip to Windells Camp in Mt. Hood, Oregon.

With bright spot lights, music, great food, beverages and a name like the Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series, this is sure to be an event not to be missed. Huge spotlights will light up the area and athletes can practice from 3-5pm with the contest running from 5-7pm. Great schwag prizes for the winners of each series, but only one person with the most points will win the trip to Windells Camp at the end of the series.
Participants can sign-up the day of the event at Dollar Mountain. Registration fee is $15.

Dollar Mountain’s Snow Park Technologies-designed Terrain Park has been packed all season. Dollar Mountain now boasts over 40 Terrain Park features including 15 progression park features, 10 medium features, 19 large features and a new cross-course, quickly making claim as one of the best parks in the Northwest.

February 5 Jam Top Scores:
Cody Ellison- 600
Rachel Wheeler- 600
Tyler Fielding- 600
Cameron St. Pierre- 500
Paige Michael-500
Kolton Smith- 500
Hunter Butler- 450
Alissa Finn- 450
Brandon Farr- 450

Intermountain Snowboard Series 
Sun Valley Slopestyle – Friday & Saturday, February 4 & 5, 2011
Dollar Mountain

7:30 AM On-site Registration Opens (Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge)
9:00 AM Registration closes
9:15 AM Slopestyle practice opens
10:15 AM Riders meeting (Top of course)
10:30 AM Heat 1 Run 1
 Heat 1 Run 2
 
Heat 2 Practice (1/2 hour)
 Heat 2 Run 1
 Heat 2 Run 2
 
Heat 3 Practice (1/2 hour)
 Heat 3 Run 1
 Heat 3 USASA Run 2
Awards 1 hour after last run (outside on the deck of Dollar Mountain Lodge)
 
Intermountain Snowboard Series- Bald Mountain / Warm Springs Side
Sun Valley Halfpipe Event Sunday, February 6, 2011
 
7:30 AM On-site Registration Opens (Apples Bar and Grill)
9:00 AM Registration closes
9:15 AM Halfpipe practice opens
10:15 AM Riders meeting (Top of pipe)
10:30 AM Heat 1 Run 1
  Heat 1 Run 2
 
Heat 2 Practice (1/2 hour)
Heat 2 Run 1
Heat 2 Run 2

Heat 3 Practice (1/2 hour)
 Heat 3 Run 1
 Heat 3 Run 2
Awards 1 hout after last run at Apples Bar & Grill, Warm Springs

Sun Valley Cross Course photo by Mark Oliver

Sun Valley’s first world class Cross Course has opened on Dollar Mountain’s Half Dollar Face. The Sun Valley Cross Course, one of only a handful in the country, features rollers, jumps and berms all linked together for an exhilarating ride for skiers, boarders and telemarkers. This new Terrain Park feature is sure to challenge all ages and all levels of skiers and riders.

“Dollar Mountain now has more than 40 Terrain Park features including 15 progression park features, 10 medium features and 19 large features quickly making claim as one of the best parks in the Northwest,” Brian Callahan, Sun Valley’s Terrain Park Manager said. Use of all the Terrain Park features are included in the cost of a lift ticket.

The Sun Valley SnowSports School is also offering a new clinic for skiers and boarders who want to take their Terrain Park skills to the next level:
The 360′ Freestyle Camps on January 15 & 16, Feb. 26 & 27 and March 26 & 27. Call (208) 622-2289 for SnowSports School information.

I was thinking about Warren Miller today. Ever since I was a kid, each year at his shows he would say, “…you’ll just be one year older when you do.” Today, about 40 years later, I finally did take his advice and went skiing with the great folks at Sun Valley Heli-Guides. Why did I wait so long? What a great day!

The day began early with a great breakfast at the Sun Valley Lobby Lounge that could hardly be called ‘Continental. Eggs, fresh pasties, a selection of meats and fresh fruit were laid out in culinary splendor.

The guides for the day were Bozo Cardoza and Pat Deal – each long-time locals. The groups were pretty small with only four people per guide. I definitely felt like I was getting the personal attention that I was hoping for. Even after sucking some big air after a couple of head-over-heel tumbles, Pat was vary patient and encouraging for an old guy who had put off his dream for way too long.  We skied the high peaks of the Boulder Range, topping out at 10,600 feet and dropping in for over 3,000 blissful and uninterrupted vertical. Knife-ridged summits fell away on both sides of the landing zones. Big lines and steeps. I had to ask myself the question, “Am I really going to ski that?” Oh yeah, and it was great! Skiing knee-deep, untracked snow one week after the last big dump was a real treat.

Afterwards, I told my wife, Jana, that it was one of the top five days of my life. She asked, “What were the other four?” Quickly, I explained that the birth of our two children, the day we got married and the day I met her. Luckily, that satisfied her curiosity or I might’ve spent the night on the couch.

I went back to re-living the day’s adventures both above and within the mountains surrounding Sun Valley.  In short, Sun Valley Heli-Guides – a division of Epic Quest – know how to take care of people and put on a good show. After 35 years skiing here and relishing Warren Miller’s commentary, I finally put everything aside to take advantage of the experience of a lifetime. And so should all of us or, simply put, we’ll just be one year older when we do.