President's weekend is a busy time

Sam Bauman

It's President's Weekend, so the slopes will be crowded. Last Saturday at Heavenly's California base the parking lot was full and the slopes crowded.

On days like that it's time to head for Mott's Canyon or Olympic, where the trees are nicely spaced and the packed runs almost empty. Reason is, of course, that the Olympic slope is serviced by an old two-seater chairlift. Thus, fewer people up, fewer people on the slope.

Something that is easily overlooked in skiing and riding these days is that with the high-speed quadchairs a lot more people are on the slopes. Best way to avoid the crowds is to head for the advanced runs. If you don't feel like that, stick to the sides of the trails. The snow is better and most snowsporters avoid the sides because of trees.

- Mike Iman is director of the Mountain Sports Learning Center at Sugar Bowl and has served on the national board of the Professional Skiers Association of America. He offers these free tips:

"Losing Balance: Skiers and snowboarders often get off balance as a result of slow movements from the finish of the turn when attempting to enter a new turn. Many times their hips fall back from being centered over the feet, so they are entering the new turn in the back seat. The lack of aggressive commitment in moving the upper body and hips forward and downhill over the feet results in a late transfer of weight to the outside foot.

"Achieving Balance: A great way of avoiding this mistake is to make sure you are constantly moving toward your next turn. Look ahead and not down at the snow. Watch the terrain and snow you are about to encounter, evaluate your balance, and take into consideration your skill in making quick adjustments to get balanced at the exit of the turn. Move aggressively forward and downhill from your feet by lengthening your legs so that your hips end up slightly ahead of your feet with the edge change.

"Now you are in the best position to shape your new turn because you are over your feet. Stay centered, continuing to move forward, pressing against the front of your boots. Bend your knees. Flex slowly and prepare for the turn exit by looking ahead. Repeat the movement process again. You will begin to have more control with less effort when dealing with changing snow conditions and terrain changes if you are constantly making body adjustments, staying balanced over both feet, and looking ahead."

- Sugar Bowl resort will host the second stop of the 2004 Paul Mitchell American FreeSki Tour. The event will feature the world's top freeskiers competing in Superpipe and Slopestyle disciplines. More than 100 competitors will be vying for prize money and a chance to pre-qualify for the 2005 Winter X-Games. Times: Saturday, Slopestyle Practice: Registration Opens 8:30 a.m., superpipe practice 10 a.m., superpipe qualifying, 2 Runs, 1:30 p.m., superpipe Finals. Sunday, 8:30 a.m. , slopestyle practice, 10 a.m. , slopestyle qualifying,1:30 p.m., Slopestyle Finals.

The 2004 Paul Mitchell American FreeSki Tour consists of three events visiting premier resorts across the country. Other AST events include X-qualifer at Breckenridge, Colo., held Jan. 9 Ð11, and Bear Mountain, Calif., Feb. 28-29.

- Season pass holders and employees of any ski resort can save up to $28 on a midweek lift ticket at Sierra or Northstar.

Here's how it works: Season pass holders from any ski resort may purchase a $30 lift ticket at Sierra or Northstar just by flashing their season pass at either resorts' season pass and ticket office. Also, Nordic enthusiasts may purchase a $10 trail pass (that's a $17 savings) for Northstar's Nordic Center. The offer is valid Monday through Friday, excluding this Monday.

Ski area employees can purchase a $25 lift ticket Monday through Friday or a $30 lift ticket on Sundays. The employee must present a letter of introduction from their human resources department and photo identification. Call Sierra-at-Tahoe's ticket office at (530) 659-7453, ext. 208 or Northstar's ticket office at (530) 562-2267.

- The Jeep King of the Mountain series returns to the Olympic slopes of Squaw Valley USA this weekend for the event championships.

Part dual giant slalom and part skier and boardercross, part world-class athlete, part amateur competitor, this uniquely formatted event combines the skills of former Olympic and World Cup downhill skiers and snowboarder racers with two wild card teams of local athletes as they compete in the newly created "Y" course for cash and prizes worth more than $500,000.

Twelve teams (six ski teams; six snowboard teams) are invited from around the world, representing the United States, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, and Sweden. The remaining teams are determined by the National Open Qualifier to be held Saturday February 14. The qualifier is open to top-notch amateur and professional racers from the Tahoe area and from across the country.

For the main event on Sunday, competitors begin on separate courses and must maneuver parallel giant slalom turns. Midway through the course, racers meet at the Y, the point where the two parallel courses merge into one. Here, skiers and snowboarders then negotiate a single set of banked turns, and a series of single and double rollers and table-top jumps leading to an exciting finish.

Skiers and snowboarders (age 18 and older) with racing experience that would like to participate in the Open Qualifier can register at the Resort at Squaw Creek from noon to 6 p.m. today, followed by a mandatory racer meeting at 7 p.m. The cost per team is $40 and up to 50 teams may register.

Sunday's schedule is a 10:30 a.m. start for qualifying with semifinals and finals from 2-3 p.m. An awards ceremony follows immediately after the race.

- Love is in the air and on the mountain this Valentine's Day when Squaw Valley USA hosts its fourth annual "Where's the Love?" Scavenger Hunt on Saturday.

The Scavenger Hunt offers guests the chance to find the love on the mountain and be rewarded with discounts on food and lift tickets. Squaw Valley's cupids will strategically place 20 magnetic hearts at locations around the resort. All guests need to do is find them. The hunt begins when the lifts open and lasts until the last heart is found.

- Almost all ski resorts are offering Valentine's Day specials. Enjoy the snow and the candy.

Sam Bauman is the Nevada Appeal Diversions Editor. Contact him at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.