The holidays are over. The worst January (in snowfall) since 1967 has finally come to an agonizing end. February is upon us and if any of us who do our daily dance to the snow gods have anything to say about it, snow is coming.
But as we sharpen our edges to rip some groomers, layer up to face the cold weather and wait for more snow, there is actually tons happening on the mountain these days. Last weekend’s killer Intermountain Freestyle Event on Roundhouse Slope’s Mogul course, Warms Springs’ Half Pipe and Dollar’s Terrain Park are evidence. So here, we put together a brief outline the kick ass on-mountain events happening in our valley that we will be sure not to miss.
THIS WEEKEND (February 3-6):
More freestyle competitions are heating up Sun Valley. Dollar and Baldy will host a USASA Intermountain Snowboard and Freeski series starting today. Boarder and Skier Cross will start on Dollar’s Cross Course at 10 am Thursday. The competition will continue Friday and Saturday starting at 10 am with a slopestyle contest in Dollar’s Medium Park. The event is completely sold out with the competitor count topped out at 125 athletes! Sunday will wrap it up at Warm Springs Half Pipe, with skiers and boarders starting at 10 am.
The Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series kicks off in conjunction with the FreeSki event on Saturday with skiers and boarders sessioning from 5-7 pm under the lights; with music, burgers and beer available at Dollar Lodge until 7 and some wicked features built by Sun Valley’s Park Crew. The Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series continues on February 19th and March 19th; the overall winner receiving a trip to Windell’s Camp in Mt. Hood. Stop by for a beer and check out some local and visiting athletes rip it up under the lights on a Saturday night.
Also starting up on Saturday is Sun Valley Tele’s oldest and boldest series the Tele Series with an all-terrain race encompassing all aspects of skiing including groomers, off-piste, moguls, gates, trees, jumps and a few surprises. Registration is open to free-heelers and snowboarders only and will take place in Warm Springs Lodge from 9-10 am with the race starting at 11 am and an après party at Lefty’s in Ketchum. The Tele Series will continue in April with the Hawaiian Nationals. Check out their website for more information.
FEBRUARY:
The Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series will continue with another installation on February 19th.
The Basolo/Monroe alpine races hosted by the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation will take place on Cozy and Hemingway on February 26-27.
Ketchum’s very own reggae fest and celebration of mountain niceness will take place in Ketchum and Sun Valley over Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 19-20. The event, organized by Danny Walton, will begin with the “Up Down-Get Down” classic up and down ski race on Saturday and a concert featuring Ethan Tucker and the Grass Roots All-Stars, Carlos Jones and the Plus Band, and Swagger will top the night off. Check out their website for more information and events.
Starting in late January and continuing through the season will also be plenty of locals crashing the gates on Warm Spring’s Greyhawk courses. NASTAR races take place every Tuesday and Thursday and are open to anyone hoping to test their skills and their edges. Every Wednesday is also “World Cup Wednesday” with teams of four competing for local bragging rights and to be first in line for each night’s keg. For more information check in with the Sun Valley Race Department.
MARCH
One of the oldest and most revered Sun Valley alpine races will take place on Sunday March 13. The Kindercup, the classic kid’s ski race that groomed some of Sun Valley’s most well-known and successful racers will take place again this year on Dollar.
The USCSA National Championships are coming to Sun Valley! March 8 through March 12, collegiate racers from all over the country will descend upon our valley to race in nighttime dual slaloms, huge skier and boarder cross races, Nordic races, GS races on Baldy’s famed slopes, mogul courses, and to compete in superpipe comps. For more information and schedules go to www.uscsa.com. The event will include over 178 college, 200 race events and almost 5,000 athletes. Definitely check it out.
Also in March, two of Sun Valley’s very own will be inducted into the ISHA and US Ski Hall of Fame with a celebration from March 28 to April 2. Sun Valley resort owner, Earl Holding and local athlete and Paralympic medalist Muffy Davis will be honored and celebrated throughout the week.
The final night of the Lunar Eclipse Rail Jam Series is March 19, stop by to take part or watch as a winner is crowned.
APRIL
The SVSEF will host the Hobson Memorial Dual GS race on Dollar Mountain on April 2nd as well as their annual fundraiser and local’s favorite ski race, the Janss Pro-Am Classic April 7-9.
Hoping to see guys in grass skirts and girls in bikinis parade down Baldy? Definitely don’t miss Sun Valley Tele’s Hawaiian Nationals on Saturday April 2nd.
Dollar’s last day for the 2010-2011 season will be Sunday April 3rd, so in order to go out with a bang, Dollar will host their 2nd Annual Dollar Daze celebration on Saturday, April 2nd with costumes, activities, bbq’s, and a pond skim.
As winter continues and the snow gods (hopefully) bless us with mountains of pow, we’ll be checking out all these events. We hope to see you there. Check back here at Slopestyle for more information as each event gets closer or for pictures and results. Also, give us a shout if we missed anything, we here at Slopestyle want to help spread the word.
