Don't give up on springtime skiing

Seems that our editorial cartoonist is a bit ahead of the times with a recent drawing showing two skiers waist deep in slushy snow. The caption was along the lines of time to give up on skiing.

That's the kind of comment non-skiers or boarders make when springtime brings the famous California cement into play. Every experienced snowsporter knows that in the spring time you simply adjust your clock, like Daylight Saving Time. You hit the slopes as early as possible, the moment the lifts open. The snow will be firm, even icy, but it will quickly soften as the sun does its thing. Along about 10 a.m. the ice will melt and corn snow - pellets of ice that become individual after the freeze and thaw of the night - forms.

Corn snow requires a little different technique than winter snow. It's much like skiing powder. You have to extend and flex, just like on the steeps, and keep the speed up. Go too slow and the mounds of snow will kick you around. Stay upright and you'll have a hard time making turns.

But too many such conditions are the best to be found. The weather is nice, the sun beaming and you can dress as light as you like. It's so different from the Christmas holidays or the holiday weekends in January and February when the flatlanders flock to the hills, jamming lifts and runs. It's the time when a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine are good friends on the slopes, where there are still patches in the trees that are untouched.

So don't give up too soon. Heavenly closes this weekend, but Squaw and Alpine Meadows are still running. Of course, there's Mammoth out west open until July 4, the operators say. And there's lots of back country up at Kit Carson Pass that is a jewel.

But when you do hang it up for the season, don't forget to back off the bindings, keeping note of the DIN setting. It's also a good idea to add some wax on the bases. P-tex does dry out and wax keeps it in shape for next season. If you're storing your boots, don't forget to buckle them up. Helps keep the form.

LAKE CUSHING CLASSIC

Date change for this one. It's this Saturday the entertaining snow and water competition returns to the waters of Lake Cushing at Squaw Valley.

The annual event features more than 50 contestants and hundreds of spectators turning out to watch local lunatics and adventurous guests attempt to cross Lake Cushing. The goal is to get enough speed down the snow ramp and make it to the opposite side of the lake without falling. This contest is notorious for cannonball-sized crashes, hilarious costumes and ultra-creative pond skimming contraptions. Judging is based on style, grace, flair and of course, successfully crossing the lake.

Registration takes place on the Bar One sundeck at noon with the competition starting at 2 p.m. The cost to participate is $15. All entrants MUST have a life preserver and a helmet, and sign a release of liability. Participants must be age 18 or older.

SWEET AT SUGAR BOWL

The Bowl reopens Saturday, and Sunday. The Bowl offers legendary spring skiing and you can't miss out. You'd be lax not to ride a crop of fresh spring corn and some corduroy. Lift tickets are $39!

DOUBLE WHAMMY DEADLINE

Lake Tahoe's original dual mountain season pass is back for 2005/06 and with prices beginning as low as $299. The Double Whammy is the passport to ski/ride some of Tahoe's finest terrain spread more than 4,480 acres, 115 runs, 28 lifts (including 10 high-speed quads) nine award-winning freestyle terrain parks, three halfpipes, snowshoeing trails at both resorts - plus 50 kilometers of Nordic trails at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

The $299 Value Season Pass, the most popular Double Whammy product, allows adults to ski/ride any day excluding blackout dates at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Sunday through Friday excluding blackout dates at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

A limited season pass, valid any day at Sierra and any day excluding blackout dates at Northstar, is priced at $459 for adults and $249 for young adults (ages 13-22). An unlimited season pass, valid at both resorts with no restrictions, is available for $689 for adults and $379 for young adults.

Sierra-at-Tahoe will offer its Sunday-Friday pass for $199, which excludes blackout dates and a Sierra-only limited pass for $259 that is valid any day, excluding blackouts. To purchase their 2005/06 Double Whammy Pass go to www.DoubleWhammyPass.com or call (530) 659-7453.

ALPINE MEADOWS

Alpine Meadows will extend its season all the way to Memorial Day Weekend. Theresort announced its scheduled closing date will be Monday, May 30, conditions permitting.

Look for festivities at Alpine Meadows all the way 'til the end of May, including live music (plus a last-day live band), the Snow Golf Tournament, the Mad Cow Downhill, and the Gates & Wakes Challenge. To purchase a $99 Spring Pass, visit www.skialpine.com or call (530)583-4232.

RIM TRAIL AT WORK

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association has partnered with Leave No Trace's traveling trainers to present a Leave No Trace Awareness Course on May 12. The 2-1/2 hour course (5:30 Ð8 p.m.) is at Incline Village's Parasol Community Non-Profit Center and is targeted at volunteers, educators and other interested persons who have some outdoor experience.

The course will be facilitated by Leave No Trace's traveling trainers. Students will learn to demonstrate and teach state of the art minimum impact techniques and outdoor ethics to scout groups, family, friends and other community groups. The course is free to participants; however the group is limited to 30 and registration is required.

Please contact Daniella Hirschfeld at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for registration forms and information at daniellah@tahoerimtrail.org or call (775) 298-0231.

The Rim Trail folks will also join Nevada State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service to present a hike leader training course May 19. The two-hour course (4Ð6 p.m.) will be at Nevada State Park's new facility and is targeted at volunteers, educators and other interested persons who have some outdoor experience.

The course will be facilitated by TRT Executive Director, Mark Kimbrough, TRT Board Members Tim Hauserman (our guide book author) and Steve Hale (Forest Service recreation specialist) and TRT volunteer Audra Mansfield. Students will learn about how to lead group hikes. This course is ideal for people wishing to guide student groups, families, friends and other community groups in the natural environment. The course is free to participants; however the group is limited to 30 and registration is required.

Contact same as above.

Rim Trail is presenting the ambassador training for 2005 on May 14 (8-2 p.m.) and 15 (9-4 p.m.) at the Parasol Building in Incline Village. Comprised of volunteers, ambassadors will be out on the TRT educating, informing and assisting trail users.

The first day of training will provide and in depth approach to search and rescue techniques, topo map and GPS instruction, and Leave No Trace Ethics, as well as proper hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trail etiquette. A CPR/First Aid (required) certification class will be offered on the next day at a minimum cost to ambassadors. Local professionals, volunteers and TRTA board members will make up some of the instructors for the weekend. The Ambassador Program is focused on people with a love for the outdoors and helping other TRT users.

Contact Dakota Casserly as above.