Utah Skier Online

Utah Skier’s 2009 Holiday Wish List: Wagner Custom Skis

 

By Bob Gonsalves

Strategically speaking, it’s probably not a good idea to start your Christmas wish list with the most expensive item, but time is short and we’re talking about custom skis.

Wagner Custom is the brainchild of former golf equipment engineer Pete Wagner, who founded the Placerville, Colorado company in 2006. Wagner Custom skis are the ultimate “one ski quiver” solution that can improve balance, comfort and control because each pair is "fitted" to the skier.

Every pair of Wagner Custom skis is unique because every skier is unique.

Wagner and his crew design and optimize every set according to length, sidecut radius, tail-waist-shovel width, camber, tip-tail shapes, flare angles and flex profile -- all to suite the skier’s goals, weight, body type, strength, ability, agility, and preferred terrain.

The heart of each Wagner ski is a hardwood core, laminated from straight-grain, aged and cured maple or ash. The structural layers are made of aerospace-grade fibers, and the bases are made from the finest Ptex with high-strength carbon steel edges. Aluminum reinforcement can be added when glide speed and crud-busting stability is important.

U.S. Ski Team's Ted Ligety Finishes 8th at World Cup Super G

LAKE LOUISE, AB - Olympic Champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) stepped up his status as an all around skier as he notched the third top-10 career result in a speed event Sunday as he finished eighth in the super G in the Audi FIS World Cup in Lake Louise.

"It's nice to come down like that. I'm pretty psyched about it especially since I've been so slow in the downhill training runs here, and even the training in Copper. So to get eighth is a surprise." Ligety said.

While his primary focus has been primarily with technical events, Ligety said he was able to put more emphasis on the super G because of its similarities to GS as well as its minimal time constraints.

"The last few years I have been working hard on the speed aspects, but I've been trying hard not to let it affect my GS and slalom so much," Ligety said. "So, super G is good because it only takes one day to do, but downhill is tough because it's four days, so I can't focus on it that much."

One thing working in Ligety's favor was a course set by Speed Head Coach Chris Brigham that incorporated both speed and turns.

U.S. Ski Team Women Shut Out at Aspen World Cup Slalom

ASPEN, CO  - The Czech Republic's Sarka Zahrobska took her first run lead and parlayed it into the second World Cup slalom win in as many years at the Aspen Winternational Sunday. Two-time overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn skied off-course in Sunday's first run. No U.S. Women qualified for the second run.

UPDATE: U.S. Ski Team's T. J. Lanning Injured During World Cup Downhill

CALGARY, AB -TJ Lanning (Park City, UT), who was injured Saturday during a crash in the opening downhill of the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season, is recovering in a Calgary hospital. According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Richard Quincy, Lanning suffered a dislocated left knee and non-displaced fracture of a vertebrae in his neck.

According to Quincy, Lanning will be transferred to the Vail Valley Medical Center, where he will be evaluated by the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic.

"These are serious injuries but the vertebrae fracture is not displaced and does not appear to require surgery at this time," said Quincy.

The U.S. Ski Team's international medical services provider Global Rescue is working with doctors in Calgary to facilitate the transfer to Vail.

Hoelzl Wins Aspen World Cup GS Race, Mancuso Leads U.S. Finishing 13th

ASPEN/SNOWMASS, CO - Kathrin Hoelzl of Germany bested the world’s top female skiers completing the course with a combined time of 2:09:63 (two minutes and nine point sixty-three seconds) to win the Giant Slalom in the 2009 Aspen Winternational Audi FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup. Hoelzl was twenty-four one hundreds of a second faster than the second place finisher.

Kathrin Zettel of Austria placed second with a combined time of 2:09:87 (two minutes and nine point eighty-seven seconds) and Federica Brignone from Italy was third in 2:10:76 (two minutes and ten point seventy-six seconds).

Julia Mancuso was the top American finishing thirteenth. Americans Sarah Schleper and Megan McJames also qualified for the second run. Schleper finished 23rd and McJames did not finish the second run.

U.S. Ski Team's T. J. Lanning Injured During World Cup Downhill Opener

LAKE LOUISE, AB - The U.S. Ski Team's T.J. Lanning (Park City, UT) was injured Saturday when he crashed during the opening downhill of the Audi FIS World Cup season in Lake Louise.

According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Richard Quincy, Lanning suffered an injury to his left knee. He was evacuated by helicopter from on-course to a clinic at the base of the mountain for preliminary observation. It is anticipated he will be transported to a hospital in Banff for further evaluation.

Also from Lake Louise, U.S. Ski Team's Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) led the U.S. team, charging from the 62nd start position through heavy snow on the tricky Lake Louise downhill course to finish 12th in today's World Cup race. Switzerland's Didier Cuche won to mark his 11th World Cup victory.

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Watch the U.S. Ski Team Compete Live on Universal Sports this Weekend

ASPEN, CO - Fans can tune-in this weekend to watch the U.S. Ski Team live on Universal Sports as the Audi FIS World Cup comes to North America. The men are on the high-speed downhill in Lake Louise, AB, while the women race at the Aspen Winternational. All races will be carried live on UniversalSports.com, with men's events, and the women's slalom from Aspen also live on Universal Sports TV.

The action packed block begins at noon ET Saturday with the women's GS first run from Aspen, heading to Lake Louise between runs at 1:30 pm ET, then returning to Aspen for the finals at 3 pm ET. Sunday features a similar schedule, but with all events also live on Universal Sports TV.

The women's GS from Aspen will also be carried on NBC at 3 pm ET Sunday.

UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM
Saturday, Nov. 28
12 -1:20 pm ET - Aspen Winternational, Women's GS (1st run)
1:30-3:15 pm ET - Men's Downhill, Lake Louise
3 -3:50 pm ET - Aspen Winternational, Women's GS (2nd run)

Sunday, Nov. 29
12 -1:20 pm ET - Aspen Winternational, Women's SL (1st run)
1:15-3 pm ET - Men's Super G, Lake Louise
3 - 3:50 pm ET - Aspen Winternational, Women's SL (2nd run)

UNIVERSAL SPORTS TV
Saturday, Nov. 28
1:30-3:15 pm ET - Men's Downhill, Lake Louise

Sunday, Nov. 29
12 -1:20 pm ET - Aspen Winternational, Women's SL (1st run)
1:15 - 3 pm ET - Men's Super G, Lake Louise
3 - 3:50 pm ET - Aspen Winternational, Women's SL (2nd run)

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Mountain High Ski Area and Cory Cronk Unveil "Cronk" Bonk" on Dec. 5

WRIGHTWOOD, CA - Pro snowboarder Cory Cronk will be unveiling his new feature, the Cronk Bonk, on Dec. 5 at Mountain High ski area. 

This vertical jib is one of the more technical features ever built with two diagonal take offs popping up to a floating log stall.  Starting at 10 feet high, the jib hides two hydraulic lifts which can easily raise the top up to 12 feet high adding to the difficulty and the danger. 

Visitors will get a chance to ride the new Cronk Bonk, take home signed posters, get giveaways from Technine, Neff, Electric, DVS, and Rome, and, if they ride well enough, make the new video featured on mthigh.com.

Cronk will unveil the Cronk Bonk at 10 am.

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Colorado's Loveland Ski Area Hosts 2010 Alpine NorAm Cup Beginning Nov. 30

GEORGETOWN, CO - The 2010 Alpine NorAm Cup, a steppingstone tour for aspiring World Cup racers, opens at Loveland Ski Area with men's slalom races on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and women's slalom races on Dec. 2 and 3.

"The NorAm races, especially the ones at Loveland and Aspen, are a great opportunity for the young rising stars to compete near World Cup level and lower their world ranking," said Walt Evans, Competition Services Director for The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. "As the season progresses the athletes' ranking will continue to improve as they compete for a World Cup start.  Loveland and Aspen have done a great job in the past with the NorAms, this year should be no different."

Athletes winning discipline titles, as well as the runner-up, receive World Cup starts for the following season. This year's field is made up of many international racers as well as a strong contingent from The United States.

Utah's Deer Valley Ski Resort Opens Season with Celebrity Ski Fest

PARK CITY, UT - Utah's Deer Valley Resort kicks off its winter ski season again with its annual Deer Valley Celebrity SkiFest, Dec. 5-6. The invitational ski event pairs former Olympic ski legends with television and film celebrities for a weekend of skiing, live music and fundraising for the environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance, which supports and empowers Waterkeeper member organizations to protect communities, ecosystems and water quality.

"It's natural for us to kick our ski season off with a celebration," says Deer Valley Marketing Director Coleen Reardon. "We celebrate the arrival of great snow, the start of a new ski season, the excitement of hosting celebrity guests and television crews to experience our mountains, and the satisfaction of helping out a non-profit organization we feel strongly about: the Waterkeeper Alliance."

Burton Snowboards Offering Free Resort Lift Tickets with Purchase

ST. PAUL, MN - To help get snowboarders fired up for the season, Burton is hooking customers up with a free lift ticket to one of over 80 ski resorts with the purchase of almost any 2010 men’s or women’s Burton board.

Just a few of the men’s Burton snowboards that qualify include the Custom V-Rocker, Joystick, Vapor and the Easy Livin Flying V, which all happen to be TransWorld Good Wood winners. Some of the women’s Burton snowboards included in this offer are the Lipstick, which is a Good Wood winner, the Super Model, the Feelgood and the Blender.

Utah's Alta Ski Resort Opens Tomorrow for Its 71st Season

ALTA, UT - Utah's Alta Ski Resort opens tomorrow, turning 71 this winter.  Bolstered by the 10” weekend storm and good snowmaking weather, Alta will open tomorrow at 9:15 am.

Alta will open with their Collins detachable quad, offering top (10,400') to bottom (8,530') intermediate and expert skiing, and their Sunnyside detachable triple, opening up beginner and intermediate skiing. Other lifts will open as conditions allow.  Alta continues to offer a ski-only experience.

New at Alta this season:

Alta Embraces Technology to Make Skiing Friendlier
This will be the fourth year at Alta using a hands-free ticketing system. All ski lift passes are loaded on the Alta Card, which has an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip embedded in it to allow access through entry gates to the lifts.

Alta’s general manager, Onno Wieringa, remarks, “For those of you familiar with similar systems, you'll be glad to hear that our system will have two antennas for each gate for optimal reading and authorization. Also, instead of a turnstile entrance, we have chosen to install a gate entrance, which is engineered to open outward, away from the skier, allowing a wide entry for skiers to proceed.”

FIS Gives Aspen the Thumbs Up for World Cup Ski Racing this Weekend

ASPEN,CO - The International Ski Federation Saturday confirmed the Aspen Winternational Audi FIS World Cup for next weekend, after a favorable on-course snow inspection Thursday on Aspen Mountain. Up to two feet of new snow also fell on the Aspen resort region over the weekend. The women's giant slalom is set for Saturday with the slalom on Sunday. NBC, Universal Sports and Versus will broadcast the races from Aspen.

Snowmaking is in full effect at Aspen (Aspen Skiing Company)

Crews at Aspen have been working 24/7 preparing the course and setting up safety fencing. Weather has cooperated with cold temperatures making for good snowmaking conditions.

Horizon Air Adds Flights From L.A. to Idaho's Sun Valley Beginning Dec. 19

SUN VALLEY, ID - Horizon Air is bringing back direct service from Los Angeles to Sun Valley for the 2009/10 winter season and adding flights from Los Angeles for the 2010 summer season. The airline will also operate flights between Boise and Sun Valley during these periods. Currently, Horizon serves Sun Valley from Seattle only.

Horizon will operate one daily direct flight from Los Angeles (LAX), Boise and Seattle to Sun Valley during the ski season from Dec. 19 through March 21, and the summer season from May 28 (Seattle) and June 26 (Los Angeles/Boise) through Sept. 6.

Here’s the schedule:

Depart Los Angeles Arrive Sun Valley Freq. Service Period
10:35 am - 1:59 pm Daily Dec. 19, 2009 – March 21, 2010
10:35 am - 1:59 pm Daily June 26, 2010 – Sept. 6, 2010

Depart Sun Valley Arrive Los Angeles Freq. Service Periods
6:40 pm - 8:10 pm Daily Dec. 19, 2009 – March 21, 2010
6:40 pm - 8:10 pm Daily June 26, 2010 – Sept. 6, 2010

Oregon's Mt. Hood Meadows Begins Night Skiing on Friday

MT. HOOD, OR - Night skiing operations at Mt. Hood Meadows begins Friday in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Meadows will extend lift operations until 9 pm five nights a week, Wednesdays – Sundays.

"Meadows After Dark" also offers affordable lift tickets and "learn to ski and snowboard" packages, as well as discounts for families. Weekends and holidays live entertainment is presented in the Finish Line from 3 - 7 pm.

An evening lift ticket from 3 - 9 pm is $25. A 5-Time Night Pass is available for $75 (individual picture pass good for five evenings).

Squaw Valley to Offer $25 Lift Tickets to Local Merchants

SQUAW VALLEY, USA - Squaw Valley Ski Resort is thanking local business owners and employees who help make Tahoe such a spectacular ski and ride destination by offering $25 lift tickets to everyone who lives and works in the Reno-Tahoe area on Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, and April 1.

Dec. 3 is the first of five Merchant Days in which all local merchants and employees in the Reno area and the Tahoe basin, including South Lake Tahoe and Truckee, can ski and ride at Squaw Valley for only $25. To purchase this special $25 lift ticket, local area merchants and employees should bring a recent local pay stub (dated after Nov. 15, 2009) and a valid photo ID to Squaw Valley’s “D” ticket booth (next to adult ski school), between 8:30 am and 11 am.

Squaw Valley opens for skiing and riding today, beginning its 60th season.  For up-to-date resort conditions, operation schedules, events and live mountain cams, visit www.squaw.com.

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Oregon's Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Receives Foot of New Snow Overnight

MT. HOOD, OR - A major winter storm which arrived Friday has dropped a foot of new snow on Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, bringing the base area snow depth to 4 feet. Resort officials report accumulations of five feet and more higher up on the mountain.

The resort has been operating daily since Nov. 11 and has been delighting skiers and snowboarders with extraordinary early season conditions. Seven lifts are scheduled for 9 am - 4 pm operation today, and additional lift openings are anticipated thanks to the phenomenal November snow.

NORDIC CENTER OPENS
The Hood River Meadows Nordic Center will be open from 9 am - 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. It is rare that the Nordic Center operates in November, but with the early snowpack has allowed the resort to set track and open. The Nordic Center is scheduled to operate weekends and holiday time frames.

For more information visit the resort web site www.SkiHood.com.

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U.S. Ski Team's Resi Stiegler Fractures Leg, Out for the Season

VAIL, CO - U.S. Ski Team's Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) will be out for the season as a result of an injury in giant slalom training Thursday at Copper Mountain, CO. According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Richard Quincy, Stiegler suffered a serious complex injury to her left leg, which will keep her out for the rest of the season.

Quincy stated that Stiegler suffered fractures of the tibia and femur, which required surgical intervention. She was treated at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic at the Vail Valley Medical Center where she was hospitalized following surgery Thursday.

"This was a serious injury for Resi, but her spirit is strong," said Quincy. "One of the first things she asked was if she could be ready for on-snow camp in New Zealand next summer."

Stiegler made a comeback from a series of injuries to start in the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships last February, before breaking her foot. Her training this fall had been strong and she was  back in action returning to the Audi FIS World Cup in Austria last month.  She had been scheduled to start in the Aspen Winternational Nov. 28-29.

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Summit at Snoqualmie Increases Lift Operations Saturday

SNOQUALMIE PASS, WA - Thanks to the abundance of new snow at Snoqualmie Pass that has fallen the last several days, The Summit at Snoqualmie announced today the opening of Summit Central tomorrow, operating from 9 am to 4 pm.

Summit Central's opening will also include operating the Silver Fir quad-chair. The Summit Central base area will remain open seven days a week for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the Summit Tubing Center will also operate this weekend.

The Summit West base area will be operating from 9 am to 4pm, both Saturday and Sunday. With Summit Central going to a seven day a week operating schedule, Summit West will be closed after Sunday, and will re-open Friday, Nov. 27.

For information visit www.summitatsnoqualmie.com.

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Tahoe's Sugar Bowl Ski Resort to Open Wednesday

DONNER SUMMIT, CA - Sugar Bowl ski resort announced that opening day for the 2009/10 ski season, the resort’s 70th, will be Wednesday, Nov. 25. Both the White Pine and Jerome Hill chairlifts will be running, and the Judah Lodge will be open to accommodate all lift ticket, season pass, food & beverage, rental and lesson needs.

According to Sugar Bowl, resort management intends to closely monitor both weather and snow-making temperatures over the coming week to take advantage of any potential for additional lift and trail openings for the holiday weekend.

“One thing is certain,” said Sugar Bowl’s director of sales and marketing John Monson, “with seven inches falling late last week, quality snowmaking temperatures on the mountain and a storm forecasting 10 to 16 inches more moving in over the weekend, opening day for the 2009/10 season should be great."

Visit www.sugarbowl.com for opening day announcements and promotions.

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