Utah Skier Online

Sun Valley Ski Resort Hosts "MAD Turns for Haiti" Race on March 19-20

SUN VALLEY, ID - Sun Valley ski resort is inviting local ski racers to turn out to support Haiti earthquake victims during a Nastar race on March 19-20.  MAD Turns For Haiti will begin with a silent auction at Whiskey Jacques at 6 pm Friday, March 19. The next day Nastar racing will start at 11 am on Baldy. The race will be followed by a BBQ celebration and awards ceremony at Apple’s Bar and Grill at 2 pm.

The race entry fee will be a minimum donation of $25 (does not include lift ticket) and 100 percent of the donation will go toward the relief effort through Make A Difference Now who will partner with an organization on the ground in Haiti. Their target will be construction materials for rebuilding schools and the needs of homeless children.

For more information or for non-skiers who would like to donate, call 208-720-6968.

Sun Valley Resort Offering College Students New Triple Play Ski Pass

SUN VALLEY, ID - Just in time for Spring Break, Sun Valley Resort is offering college students an all new Spring Triple-Play Ski Pass.

Beginning March 1 and continuing through the end of the ski season April 18, full-time college students can purchase three days of skiing for only $99. The three days do not have to be used consecutively and the pass may be renewed multiple times.

The Triple-Play Pass can be purchased at the Sun Valley River Run ticket office with proper college I.D. For more information, visit www.sunvalley.com.

Sun Valley Resort Kicks Off Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series

SUN VALLEY, Idaho - Sun Valley Resort’s first Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series will begin Saturday, February 20 at 5 pm on Dollar Mountain.

The Series will consist of a practice session at 5 pm followed by the Jam, 6-8 pm and awards at 8 pm. Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge will serve BBQ and drinks on the Lodge Terrace. A DJ will be on hand.

The Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series will continue Saturday, March 13 and Saturday, March 27. The winner of all three events will receive a trip to Windell’s Camp on Mt. Hood, OR. The $15 entry fee for each competition does not include lift ticket.  For more information, visit www.sunvalley.com.

Brundage Mountain’s “Diva Day” Returns Saturday

McCALL, ID – Superbowl Sunday may be a big deal in the man world, but at Brundage Mountain, it’s all about the ladies this weekend.

Saturday, Feb. 6 is the ski area’s 2nd Annual Diva Day. The event features half priced full-day lift tickets for women 18 & up.

The special treatment doesn’t end on the slopes. Chair massages and complementary yoga practice will be offered in the afternoon. Then, it’s time for happy hour in Smoky’s Pub where women can enter a drawing to win one of three spa packages provided by McCall’s Spa Del Sol.

“It’s pretty common to see groups of men on the mountain with their buddies or women up here skiing with their children,” said resort spokeswoman, April Russell. “But we want to encourage women to focus on themselves, spend time with their girlfriends and make it a true getaway.”

More than 100 women participated in last year’s Diva Day, and the resort would like to see that number get even bigger.

This year, Diva Day falls the same week as National Girls & Women in Sports Day, which is today.

Sun Valley Ski Patrol Responds to Buried Skier

SUN VALLEY, ID - The Sun Valley Ski Patrol responded to a report of a buried male skier on Bald Mountain this afternoon, according to Sun Valley Resort.

UPDATE: The Blaine County Coroner confirmed that the skier caught in an avalanche on Bald Mountain has died.

Avalanche rescue procedures were instituted and at 2:46 pm the ski patrol located the skier. He was found in a slide below Fire Trail Lane above Lower Broadway. CPR was started and the skier was transported to St. Luke’s Medical Center.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the skier and his family. We would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol and the Ketchum Fire Department,” said Tim Silva, General Manager, Sun Valley Resort.

Horizon Air Offering $99 Fare from L.A. to Sun Valley Beginning Thursday

SUN VALLEY, ID - Southern California skiers and riders taking a turn toward Sun Valley this winter can triple up on three special offers that will provide the best savings ever, according to the ski resort.

Beginning Thursday, Horizon Air will offer a $99 fare from Los Angeles to Sun Valley. This daily non-stop (one way) service is offered Monday through Thursday and leaves L.A. at 10:35 am, arriving in Sun Valley at 1:59 pm. Return flight will leave Sun Valley at 6:55 pm and arrive in L.A. at 8:25 pm.

Weekend travel, Friday through Sunday, also is heavily discounted at $119 each way. This special airfare must be booked seven days in advance and is available until March 21.

Sun Valley Resort’s new Winter Ski Free Special, available now through March 25, complements the special airfare with a $94.50 per person double occupancy package which includes a free daily lift ticket for each night’s lodging.  Added to that, Sun Valley Resort’s  Kids (under 13) Stay and Ski Free program is offered until Feb. 11 and then again Feb. 22 through the end of the ski season.

For more information, visit www.sunvalley.com.

Brundage Mountain Ski Area Opens All 1,500 Acres on Friday

MCCALL, ID – Brundage Mountain Resort announce d today that it will open for winter operations on Friday, Dec. 18.  Lifts will run 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and all mountain services will be available.

“This last storm system brought us nearly two feet of snow in just two days,” said resort spokesperson April Russell. “We already had a good base, and with this quantity of fresh snow, we’ll be able to enjoy the entire mountain on opening day.”

Brundage plans to open all 1,500 acres of terrain and to operate all five chairlifts. Early season slope conditions are expected, especially off-trail.

Brundage Mountain’s base measures about 33 inches at the 6,000 foot level and about 40 inches at the 7,640 foot summit. The latest forecast shows several more inches could fall Wednesday and Wednesday night.

More information on Brundage Mountain programs and pricing is available at www.brundage.com.

Idaho's Bogus Basin Ski Area Opens Thursday

BOISE, ID - Bogus Basin announced today that the ski area will open for the 2009-10 winter season on Thursday.  Recent storms have delivered enough snow for a “front side” opening.  Chairlifts 1, 2, 4, 7 and Easy Rider will run.

Operating hours for Thursday and Friday will be: 10 am-4:30 pm.  “We hope to add the Bitterroot Basin to the mix on Saturday,” said Steve Shake, V.P. Mountain Operations. “We’ll open more of the mountain, including night skiing and riding, as we receive more snow.”

The J.R. Simplot, Pioneer and Frontier Point lodges will be open. Bogus Basin Ski & Snowboard School will offer its full complement of lessons.

Lift ticket prices will be discounted until a full-mountain opening.  No other discounts (including the Jacksons Ski 4 Less discount program) will be valid during this early opening. For more information, visit www.bogusbasin.org.

Idaho's Sun Valley Resort Unveiling Major Upgrades to Terrain Parks

SUN VALLEY, ID - Sun Valley Resort is working with Snow Park Technologies to construct a world class terrain park on the ski area's Dollar Mountain.

With a new jump line located in Old Bowl on Dollar Mountain along with 12 new rails, boxes and jibs, the terrain park is sure to become a Number One contender, according to Sun Valley’s new Terrain Park Manager Brian Callahan.

Callahan comes to Sun Valley from Breckenridge, CO and has worked at terrain parks for the past eight years. He also has skied professionally for 15 years and was on the Pro Mogul Tour.

“Sun Valley is going quite legit with its partnership with SPT. My goal is to take Sun Valley to the top in three years,” Callahan said. He is partnered with Peter Columbo, Sun Valley Resort’s new terrain park builder. Columbo was most recently at Mammoth Mountain. His team will consist of four terrain park builders using three dedicated snow cats to build and maintain the park.

Sun Valley’s Half Pipe on Baldy’s Warm Springs also received a makeover this season. SPT has built a “perfect” world class 18-foot Super Pipe which will be cut nightly to ensure highest quality, according to Callahan.

Sun Valley’s new terrain park, the Progression Park and the Super Pipe will all open Saturday.

Sun Valley Ski Resort Extends Early Season Lift Ticket Pricing

SUN VALLEY, ID - Sun Valley ski resort announced today that early season lift ticket pricing will be extended through Dec. 17.

This will include the “Value Season”, the “Early” of the Early/Late season passes and the $20 discount to Idaho ski area pass holders.

Sun Valley also announced that Lookout Express high-speed quad will open Saturday. Dollar Mountain will also open for the season on Saturday.  For information, visit www.sunvalley.com.

Idaho's Sun Valley Ski Resort Opens 74th Season Thanksgiving Day

SUN VALLEY, ID - Sun Valley’s 74th winter season will open Thanksgiving Day with skiing on Baldy and Dollar Mountains.

Baldy will open with five lifts operating, offering skiing from top to bottom on the River Run side and the Warm Springs side of the mountain. Lifts open will be River Run #1, Roundhouse Gondola #2, Christmas #3, Challenger #10, and the Kinderspielplatz #15.

Open trails will include Upper College, Flying Squirrel, Lower Picabo, Lower Warm Springs, Roundhouse Lane, Lower and Mid River Run, 42nd Street, and the Kinderspielplatz. Lower River Run also will feature a progressive terrain park through Mid-December. Lower lifts will run  9 am to 4 pm and top lifts will operate 9 am to 3:45 pm.

Idaho's Brundage Mountain Nearing Opening Day With 9” of Fresh Snow

McCALL, ID - Brundage Mountain Resort in McCall, Idaho has seen more than nine inches of fresh snow in just over 24 hours.

Two inches of snowfall fell prior to 5 pm on Wednesday, with an additional 7 inches falling by Thursday morning. The resort now has a 9” base both at the summit and in the base area. The ski and snowboard resort needs at least twice that much to be in a position to open for the season.

“Generally, we need at least 18 inches in the base area and 24-36 inches of snow on the summit in order to be able to prep our slopes for opening,” said resort spokesperson, April Russell. “That said, we are very excited to see the beginnings of our base here on the mountain.”

Idaho skiers and boarders can follow Brundage Mountain’s snowfall totals closely at www.brundage.com or by following the resort on Facebook or Twitter.

Idaho Ski Resorts Complete Major Upgrades for the 2009-2010 Season

Idaho’s winter hit quickly, foreshadowing a powder-filled season with ski areas seeing snow before falling leaves. Ski Idaho, the state’s voice for the Idaho skiing and snowboarding experience, has the overview of what awaits skiers and riders for the 2009/ 2010 season, from additional snowmaking capabilities to brand new ski lodges and terrain parks.

Brundage Mountain Resort remodeled their base lodge with sustainability in mind. The lodge has a new roof, new windows, fresh paint, and a new layout for Smoky’s Pub. On the mountain, the run Engen now connects with 45th Parallel directly, eliminating traversing on any cat tracks.

Lookout Pass focused on safety during the summer, adding a new ski patrol and first aid lodge at the base area. For visitors’ convenience, Lookout Pass also added an additional acre of parking and a new 500 square-foot outside patio.

Shuttle Service from Boise Airport to Sun Valley Ski Resort Increased

SUN VALLEY, Idaho - Beginning Dec. 19, Sun Valley Stages will increase its shuttle service between Sun Valley and Boise, ID. The schedule will offer three daily trips, departing from the Sun Valley Lodge at 6 am, 9 am and noon. 

The shuttle will depart the Boise Airport at noon, 4 pm, and 6:45 pm. Destinations will be Sun Valley Lodge and the Wood River Inn in Hailey. Fares will be $50 one-way for adults and $10 for children (3-10). Youngsters under three travel for free. 

Special charter service may be arranged. For reservations please call 800-574-8661 or visit www.sunvalleystages.com. 

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Sun Valley Makes Golf Digest's List of Top 75 Golf Resorts

SUN VALLEY, ID - Sun Valley Resort has once again placed in GOLF DIGEST’S prestigious listing, “The 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America.”

GOLF DIGEST’S 900-plus course-rating panelists rated hundreds of U.S., Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean golf resorts on a scale of 1 to 10.  Positives impacting the ratings included resorts moving forward with new development, and not “waiting out the recession.”

Sun Valley Resort was noted for the new nine-hole White Clouds Course, a 25-acre practice facility and the 58,000-sq.ft. Sun Valley Clubhouse opening last summer.

The resort earning top ratings was Pebble Beach Resort/Inn at Spanish Bay.

Mt. Baldy Summer Lift Operations Close On Labor Day

SUN VALLEY, ID - Although hiking and biking trails will remain open on Baldy, summer lift service will close Monday.

Monday is also the last day to purchase season lift passes at the River Run Ticket Office. Season lift pass sales will continue daily from 9 am to 6 pm in the Sun Valley Village at the Recreation Center.

On Oct. 19, all season passes, including Nordic and the Sun Valley/BCRD Combined pass, will go on sale at both locations, River Run Ticket Office and the Recreation Center Sun Valley Village.

For more information please call (208) 622-2248.

Sun Valley Makes List of Top 20 Family Ski Resorts

SUN VALLEY, ID - For the third consecutive year, Sun Valley Resort has been selected for Family Ski Hub's Top 20 Family Ski Resorts.

“The list recognizes those resorts who promise a complete and memorable family skiing experience for families of all skiing abilities. These ski resorts are a cut above from a family perspective... it takes extra effort, planning, and organization to create an environment that maximizes the family ski experience,” said Paul Johnson, editor, FamilySkiHub."

Several criteria were used in the selection, quality kids programs, variety of lodging, options for non-skiers and variety of ski terrain.

Save $500 on Sun Valley Season Ski Pass through July

SUN VALLEY, ID - Buy your Sun Valley season ski pass in July and you'll save a whopping $500.

For the first time in more than 10 years, a Sun Valley 2009-10 season lift pass will cost $1,499.  This offer goes on sale Friday and will continue through July 31.

The new value-added year-round pass is called Sun Plus  and also carries additional benefits including six days of skiing in Snowbasin, and a 10% discount at Pete Lane’s Demo & Tuning, Sun Valley Village restaurants, Sun Valley retail shops and a Sun Valley Heli Ski base day rate.

BALDY’S SUMMER LIFT OPERATIONS BEGIN JUNE 27

SUN VALLEY, ID - Sun Valley Summer lift operations begin this Saturday, June 27.  Lower River Run #1 and Lookout Express #5 will open at 9 am Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday, June 29, Baldy lift operations will close and re-open for the season, Friday, July 3. Mountain biking begins Friday, July 3. The temporary closure is due to construction on the Roundhouse Gondola.

Prices, which will remain the same as last year, are $15 for adults and $7 for children. All day rides will be $20 for adults and $10 for children.

For updated Bald Mountain  summer reports, visit www.sunvalley.com.

Brundage Mountain kicks off summer season with free chairlift rides

McCALL, ID -- Brundage Mountain Resort is offering free chairlift rides on Thursday, July 2 as the resort stages a special celebration to kick off the 2009 summer chairlift season.

The celebration begins Thursday, July 2 at noon to 5 pm. Visitors can stop by the Bike Shop to get their free scenic lift or mountain bike tickets for a ride up the Blue Bird High Speed Quad to Brundage Mountain’s 7,640 foot summit. Brundage Mountain has a new fleet of mountain bikes available for rent.