About.com Skiing

Northstar at Tahoe

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:00:45 +0000

I've always felt something welcoming about the skating rink and warming area that are the centerpiece of Northstar-at-Tahoe's village. Skating is free, skate rentals are only $5, and the open fire pits in the warming area accent the family and friends feeling of the entire resort. In fact, SKI Magazine rated it the "best village at a resort in California."

The skiing is great at Northstar, too. The quality of the snow, the grooming the terrain parks and pipes, and the family-friendly atmosphere all over the mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe has gotten out to the ski world - as well it should. The terrain parks and the half and super pipes are high quality and nationally rated. In fact, Northstar is home to the first of the famous Burton designed parks known as "The Stash" of which there are only five worldwide.

Northstar-at-Tahoe is offering a variety of winter ski packages including Stay and Ski Free, Get the Fourth Night Free, and a Lodging Season pass which gives you 40% off for (any) seven nights booked.

For more on Northstar, check out my photos and read about our day at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

More: Skiing Northstar | Your Favorite Ski Resort?

_{Northstar-at-Tahoe View � Mike Doyle}

Northstar at Tahoe originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 01:00:45.

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100 Days and Counting Down to 2010 Vancouver Olympics

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:00:51 +0000

That's right, today, Wednesday, November 4th, marks the 100-day countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics,�on February 12, 2010. Visit Vancouver 2010, the official web site of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, and join in the Countdown.

You can also follow the interactive �2010 Olympic Torch Relay Route as the torch makes its way from Olympia, �Greece, around Canada, and into Vancouver for Opening Day on February 12th, 2010.

NBC, the official broadcasting network at NBCOlympics.com and Universal Sports (UniversalSports.com) are both�ramping up their pre-Olympic coverage and are planning some interesting�material�during the�100 day countdown.

Of course, my Olympic Skiing - 2010 Vancouver�Olympics section is ever growing in Olympic relevant content and will soon�be getting up close and personal as�I journey, next month,�to the Olympic skiing venues at Whistler Creekside, Whistler Olympic Park and Cypress Mountain. I'll be bringing you whatever great pre-Olympic photos�and info I can gather both on and off the snow.

While we are talking about the skiing at Whistler Blackcomb and Cypress Mountain let me say right now -�don't hesitate to head up there for skiing before, during or after the Winter Games. In fact check out some of the ski and stay deals available right now.

I'll tell you more about it later, but even during the Olympic competition 90% of Whistler Blackcomb terrain will be open for public skiing.

100 Days and Counting!

_{Countdown Logo copyright NBC}

100 Days and Counting Down to 2010 Vancouver Olympics originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 01:00:51.

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2010 Ski Jackets and Ski Pants

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Cathy and Lee Quaglia, owners of Aspen East Ski Shop in Killington, Vermont and their Manager Lisa Leimgruber, to discuss the fine art of selecting the right ski jacket and ski pants,� something I know all skiers take very seriously.

Cathy and Lee have operated Aspen East for 34 years and have been, since the beginning, seeking out the best ski apparel to pass on the skiing public. Not necessarily the most expensive and not necessarily the least expensive, but, as Cathy emphasizes, what is the best available in Features, Function and Fashion -� the 3Fs of shopping for skiing attire.

If you want to get the best ski jacket or ski pants, read more on how to shop for ski clothes using�Fashion, Function and Features. You can put the 3 Fs in any order you prefer, but by checking for these you can get the best that you personally want when shopping for ski clothes.

With that in mind here's a look at some of this season's top ski clothes:

_{Isis Diva Ski Jacket Courtesy Aspen East Ski Shop}

2010 Ski Jackets and Ski Pants originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 01:00:00.

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2010 Vancouver Olympics Freestyle Ski Competition Overview

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:00:14 +0000

While we still have a two week break in the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season, it's a good time to take a look at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Freestyle Ski Competition and the upcoming World Cup freestyle events.

The Freestyle World Cup 2010 competition season kicks off December 12 with Mogul events at Suomu, Finland. Then the FIS World Cup Calendar, both for Men and Women, holds 11 more stops before the 2010 Vancouver Olympics at the Cypress Mountain venue.

As I've said before, and this holds for freestyle as well as alpine racing, when you are looking at world class competition past performance can be a good indicator of what you might see in future competition.

Let me add the caveat - in any premier head-to-head sports competitions where the best of the best compete, there are favorites and "also competing," and on any given day a favorite can make the slightest misstep and a "dark horse," pumped up and coming out of the blue - can win. This may hold forth more�in freestyle competition, with all the nuances that our spectator eyes may miss, but which the judges see.

With that said, before we analyze the individual events and past performances, here is a 2010 Winter Olympics Freestyle Ski Competition Overview with a little on the basic involved in freestyle events and competition standings.

More: 2010 Winter Olympics�| U.S. Freestyle Skiers�| International Freestyle Skiiers

_{Jeret Peterson photo Copyright Getty Images}

2010 Vancouver Olympics Freestyle Ski Competition Overview originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 01:00:14.

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Family Ski Resorts

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Are you thinking about a family ski vacation?�� When you're planning, it's important to select a ski resort that is geared towards families and children. Not all ski resorts are suitable for beginner skiers, though most areas roll out the welcome mat for new skiers.� There are some resorts where the terrain and services are geared towards advanced skiers, which is actually good for beginners, because it keeps the fast-moving, high-flying experts from scaring first-timers.

Look for a family ski resort that caters to beginners, and� has either on site activities to keep the family entertained or is close to a town with lots to do after skiing.

Park City is a great destination for family skiing.� This historic mining town has all the ski adventures, activities, eateries, and everyday necessities that make for a great family ski vacation.

Lake Tahoe is another wonderful family ski destination, both for skiers and for those who are interested in off-mountain activities.� When you stay in South Lake Tahoe for your family ski vacation, you are within an easy walk to the world class skiing at Heavenly and an easy ride to seven great ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe region.

More: Park City Mountain Resort | South Lake Tahoe |� Park City Photos | Lake Tahoe Photos

_{Park City Photo Copyright Mike Doyle}

Family Ski Resorts originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 01:00:00.

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2009 Ski and Snowboard Shows

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:00:10 +0000

Here is a look at some major ski and snowboard shows and expos that are scheduled around North America this fall.

These shows are in major metropolitan areas and there are some in smaller cities, as well, that I don't have the dates for. So, watch the Sports or Entertainment sections of your local paper for dates and times of local ski shows near you.

October

Los Angeles Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Los Angeles, CA October 29 - November 1
Edmonton Ski & Snowboard Show, Edmonton, AB, CAN, October 31 - November 1

November

Chicago Ski Show & Snowboard Expo, Chicago IL, November 6 - 8
Ski and Snowboard Expo, Albany, NY, November 6 - 8
Minnesota Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Minneapolis, MN, November 6 - 8
Portland SkiFever and Snowboard Show, Portland, OR, November 6 - 8
Calgary Snow Show, Calgary, AB, CAN, November 7 - 8
San Francisco Ski & Snowboard Festival, San Francisco, CA, November 7 - 8
Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo, Denver, CO, November 13 - 15
Bay Area Ski and Snowboard Show , San Jose, CA, November 13 - 15
SnowJam Ski and Snowboard Show, San Diego, CA, November 13 - 15
Silicon Valley Ski & Snowboard Festival, Santa Clara, CA, November 14 - 15
Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Boston, MA, November 19 - 22
SnowJam Ski and Snowboard Show, Las Vegas, NV, November 20-22
Seattle SkiFever and Snowboard Show, Seattle, WA, November 20 - 22
Sacramento Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Sacramento, CA, November 21 - 22

_{Boston Ski Show Photo Copyright Mike Doyle}

2009 Ski and Snowboard Shows originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 01:00:10.

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Mammoth Mountain, California

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:10 +0000

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort is located in Mammoth Lakes, California. Mammoth has 150 trails and 28 chair lifts that can transport 50,000 skiers uphill per hour.

With about 400" of annual snowfall and�thousands of acres of terrain, Mammoth is known for a ski season that keeps on going into summer. It's not uncommon to unload from the gondola on to 20' of snow - in May!

In addition to Mammoth, there are a variety of lower peaks to ski including Lincoln Mountain, Gold Hill, and Hemlock Ridge. Mammoth's ski season is one of the longest in the United States. For cross country skiers, Tamarack Ski Center has miles of groomed cross country trails.

Mammoth Mountain has plenty of deals available including four nights for the price of three and stay two nights and get free lift ticket packages.

More: Top Ski Resorts | Share Your Favorite Ski Resort

_{Photo � Mammoth Mountain Ski Area}

Mammoth Mountain, California originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 06:00:10.

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Cuche First, Ligety Second at S�lden Men's GS

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:24:22 +0000

Didier Cuche of Switzerland and U.S. racer Ted Ligety each took a step up the podium after the S�lden, Austria, World Cup Giant Slalom. Cuche�claimed first place with a combined time of 2:21.45 followed in second place by Ligety who was�.40 seconds behind in total time.

Cuche and Ligety were second and third respectively in last year's S�lden GS. This year, Carlo Janka of Switzerland filled the third spot on the S�lden Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup podium.

This marks Ted Ligety's third consecutive medal win at S�lden, having finished third in�2009 and second in 2008 and, as I said earlier, you can look for him on more podiums this year and I'm saying he'll be taking another step up the podium ladder in some upcoming venues.

You might take note and keep an eye on two Canadian racers - Jean-Philippe Roy and Robbie Dixon. Roy, still rather new at the World Cup level finished 9th wearing Bib #24 and Dixon,� hot off a few really good South American GS finishes and also getting his WC legs, was 16th with Bib #36. In fact, Dixon�clocked the second fastest time on Run 2 - beating Didier Cuche's second run by 1 one-hundredth of a second!

Complete results of the Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom at S�lden, Austria.

Next on the Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup racing schedule finds both the Men and Women at Levi, Finland,� November 14-15 for slalom racing. Check the 2010 season�Men's calendar and the Women's calendar for future venues.

_{S�lden Men's GS podium copyright Getty Images}

Cuche First, Ligety Second at S�lden Men's GS originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 11:24:22.

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Poutiainen, Zettel 1-2 in S�lden Women's GS

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:44:53 +0000

As Yogi Berra would say - "It's deja vu all over again" with Tanja Poutiainen of Finland, the 09 GS event champion, and Kathrin Zettel of Austria, last year's S�lden winner and GS event�runnerup, battling for podium slots at the Solden, Austria, World Cup�Giant Slalom. This year Tanja takes the gold but only by 1 one-hundredth of a second over Kathrin. Hey, the average person blinks an eye in 3 to 4 tenths of a second!

Denise Karbon of Italy, 08 GS champ, took third and Lindsey Vonn led the U.S. women finishing 9th - the�same as last year.� A nice mix of veterans and�young racers in �the top slots. Take note of Camile Alfieri of Italy�with the fastest top ten second run by better than a second and 20 year old German racer Viktoria Rebensburg coming in 8th.

Complete results of the Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup Women's Giant Slalom at S�lden, Austria.

_{S�lden Women's GS podium copyright Getty Images}

Poutiainen, Zettel 1-2 in S�lden Women's GS originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 09:44:53.

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World Cup Alpine Ski Racing - S�lden, Austria

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:20:21 +0000

This Saturday, October 24, marks the start of the 2010 Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup racing season as the women contest a Giant Slalom high above S�lden, Austria on the Rettenbach Glacier where the men will also race a GS on Sunday. This is the first of the World Cup races leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter�Olympic alpine races at Whistler/Blackcomb�Resort.

The S�lden glacier course usually starts above 3000m (9842') to ensure good snow conditions although a hard icy surface defines it better. In recent years S�lden has become the traditional kick-off race and only in 2006 were the conditions deemed unacceptable by FIS officials and the races cancelled. This year the FIS gave the formal green light last week and all preparations were on.

Last year at S�lden, Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland won the Men's GS followed by fellow countryman Didier Cuche and Ted Ligety of the U.S. in third. For the Women Austrian Kathrin Zettel took the gold, Tanja Poutiainen of Finland, silver and another Austrian, Andrea Fischbacher was the bronze medal winner.

Some things to keep in mind going into this season opener are Lara Gut of Switzerland (5th in 09) and Peter Fill of Italy are out for injury, Hermann Maier, Austrian hero and 3 time winner here, has retired. Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. will be racing on Head skis, Bode Miller, back with the U.S. Team will not be ready to race here.

An interesting fact about the S�lden Giant Slalom races on the Rettenbach Glacier is that the first ever�three racer Deat Heat in Alpine race history happened here in 2002. In the Women's GS, Andrine Flemmen of Norway, Austrian Nicle Hosp and Tina Maze of Slovenia all clocked an identical 2 run combined time� - to the hundredths of a second - of 1 minute 49.91 seconds. Amazing!

Here's an analysis of the top�15 order of the 2009 season S�lden Giant� Slalom races and a summary review of the all the 2009 Men's�GS races and the 2009 Women's GS Races. Also, Universal Sports TV will show the races at 10 a.m. ET Saturday and Sunday and�same day coverage is on UniversalSports.com.��Live timing will be available Saturday and Sunday at www.fis-ski.com starting at 3:45 a.m. ET followed by the second run at 7:45 a.m. ET.

Have look at the recently named�racers the U.S. Ski Team�has in the starting lineup for this weekend at S�lden, which will include�Resi Stiegler,� Jessica Kelley, and Warner Nickerson among others.

Photo �Kathrin Zettel �copyright Getty Images

World Cup Alpine Ski Racing - S�lden, Austria originally appeared on About.com Skiing on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 08:20:21.

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