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.
The weekend of March 19-20, Sun Valley Company will be hosting a fundraiser for disaster relief efforts in Haiti through the makeadifferencenow.org. (MAD) Foundation. Inspired to help in any possible way, racers and non-racers are encouraged to take part in the weekend’s events, coming together through our beloved sport and all for a common cause.
MAD Turns for Haiti will begin on Friday, March 19, with a silent auction at Whiskey Jacques at 6 pm. The event will continue Saturday with a NASTAR race on Lower Warm Springs organized by the Sun Valley Race Department. The race entry fee will be $25 with 100% of the entry proceeds going directly to makeadifferencenow.org. The race begins at 11am and will be followed by a BBQ and awards ceremony at Apple’s Bar and Grill at the base of Warm Springs. For more information go to www.makeadifferencenow.org or email madturns@gmail.com.
Founded in 1988 by Beverly Hay DeChevrieux and sponsored by Thomas Weisel Partners, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Fundraiser, the Janss Pro-Am is back this weekend! An all-weekend event with 22 registered teams, The Janss mixes a “Pro Racer” with four amateur racers, skiers or snowboarders. The teams then compete for racing titles and costume prizes throughout the weekend of parties and on-snow races. Rumors of costume themes from some of this year’s teams include Mardi Gras, School Spirit and White Trash Wedding. Last year’s champion team, the Community School, is back to defend their title. As is last year’s costume winner, Koth Sports. There has even been sightings of “Bad Cops” and “Indian Princesses”, so keep an eye out on the slopes this weekend for troublemakers in costumes zooming around Lower Warm Springs and around town!
2010 Janss Pro-Am events include tonight’s opening celebration Pro Party at Michel’s Christiana, Friday’s Apres-Ski party at Whiskey Jacques, and Saturday’s Award Banquet and Dinner at the Sun Valley Inn’s Limelight Room. Benefiting the SVSEF’s Nordic, Alpine, Freestyle and Snowboard teams, this weekend’s event is one of the Foundation’s biggest fundraisers of the year. Big thanks to all that participate and sponsor the fun!
The Sun Valley Town Series continued this week. This time it was a little cloudy with some snow falling as your favorite local racers competed on Lower Cozy. As Race Department head Mike Wrobel said, he must have set the course pretty fast because this week the racers killed it on the GS course. Dead Last Team member, Robin Sarchett continued his winning streak, grabbing first place and beating his nearest competition, Carlo Rixon (from Team Tekasoreass’s), by four tenths of a second. The top girl this week was speedy Erika Hogan (Team SVSEF) again, finishing fourth overall. The winners of the traditional fifth of tequila (the fifth place male and female) were John Campbell from Team Hide the Decline and birthday girl and Scott USA team member, Toby Arnett. Billy Cook (Team Pulling Out Is For Quitters) and Kevin Moss (Hores to Culture) were the two rabbits this week, finishing 51st and 52nd.
Six teams tied for first this week, each with zero points. They were Wood River Masonry, Tekasoreass’s, SVSEF, Ski Tek Trainwrecks, Scott USA and the blog.sunvalley.com Blog Chicks. And because the top place goes to the first alphabetically, your very own blog.sunvalley.com Blog Chicks were the winning team this week. Check back next Thursday to find out if the Blog Chicks can keep it up, or if any other shake ups happen for next week’s World Cup Wednesday. Thanks to Whiskey Jacques for hosting this week’s after-party!
The Sun Valley Race Department puts on quite a race.
Wednesday's lone tele-racer rips it up on Lower Cozy.
Two of the boys from team Pulling Out Is For Quitters (sponsored by Collared Greens) with a quarter of blog.sunvalley.com Blog Chicks.
The man himself, Race Department head Mike Wrobel, with everyone's favorite Race Dpt gals, Jen Helms and Candy Crane.
Your very own blog.sunvalley.com Blog Chicks and the Week Two first place team!
Christmas is only a week away and things around town are definitely starting to pick up. The mountain is busier. Drinks at the Duchin Room and at Averell’s Bar are flowing in a traditional holiday style. Dollar’s new terrain park and tubing park are opening this Saturday. The SuperPipe on Lower Warm Springs is set to open Saturday as well. Snow guns are running all over the mountain in hopes to open more terrain as soon as possible. Christmas trees are decorated, candles are lit, and everyone is preparing to eat at least one piece of Grandma’s fruitcake.
But in downtown Ketchum there is another event locals and tourists have been hotly anticipating… the reopening of the legendary Whiskey Jacques. After a fire raised the building over a year ago construction crews have been working hard on the bar’s rebuild and everyone in town, of any age and any dancing ability, has been chomping at the bit to get their favorite bar back. A staple in the Sun Valley nightlife for over 25 years, Whiskey’s is a classic wild western saloon right on Main Street in the classic ski town of Ketchum. Whiskey Jacques is reopening with a bang this Friday, December 18. They will be showcasing local band, The Bobo’s, on Friday and more live music will continue throughout the winter with acts like the Gourds, Mickey and the Motorcars, and New Year’s Eve guests, Marmalade Hill.
Other things happening this week around town, new bar and restaurant, Sego, is opening on Washington Street (928-7878 for reservations), at Dollar’s new terrain park on Friday morning some of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Freestyle and Snowboard teams will be testing the new features, and the nexStage and Laughing Stock Theatres are presenting “A Christmas Carol” on Friday and Saturday nights (726-4857 for more info). Also happening is Sun Valley’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival will take place in the Sun Valley Village on Saturday at 5:00 with performances by the Sun Valley Carolers and live music and drinks at the Boiler Room to follow.
So whether you are tearing it up on the slopes, strapping on your dancing shoes, or helping the community get ready for the Holidays, we’ll see you around town as the countdown to Christmas continues.
