Presiden't s weekend - time to head to Santa Cruz

It's Presidents' Weekend so like all veteran snowsporters I'll flee the overcrowded slopes after a Friday stopover at Sierra-at-Tahoe to see how the recent back malfunction is holding up -or should I say out?

A massage did wonders for the pain after my doctor prescribed pain pills. Before the massage, two pills a day. Since the massage no pain pills. Thanks, Robin!

Plan is to hike the Ulva Preserve in Santa Cruz County, where waterfalls abound. Have been there before but only in dry season. Should be lush this rainy times.

Sierra-at-Tahoe has a program of regrooming busy runs on high-traffic weekends now. Four snowcat Bombardiers line up and do the job in 30 minutes or less, and the 'cats always draw a crowd of onlookers as they go through their mechanized ballet.

Jibbers challenge

Sierra-at-Tahoe has set out to find local superstars in its new American Jibber Rail Jam Series, a weekly après ski competition that uses Sierra's slopes after hours.

The rail jam courses include the most challenging rails in a unique setting that includes laser lights, signature fire drums, a live remote by Sacramento's KWOD 106.5, a live DJ and an MC. For this weekend's event, competitors will have the chance to jib a rail on top of a four-wheel drive Lincoln Town Car limo, sponsored by Smith Sport Optics.

The competition is held Saturdays through February at 3 p.m. The top three finishers in each division advance to the series final that will be held on March 5. The winners snag prizes from Flow, Smith, Vans, Skull Candy, Spy and other sponsors each week, along with cash purses for the top finisher in each category.

Top finishers will advance to the final, where they will vie for a one-time gear and clothing sponsorship from Salomon, a 2005/06 Double Whammy season pass and the chance to compete in the Vans Tahoe Cup Rail Jam. The series is open to amateur skiers and snowboarders and is in men's and women's divisions.

The entry fee is $5; however, no lift ticket or season pass is required to enter. Registration is held from 3 to 4 p.m. with the competition immediately following. The rail jams are held on Lower Broadway which is visible from the base area, making the event ideal for spectators. The best vantage point is the Cheeseburger in Paradise deck or the Sierra Pub.

Call (530) 659-7453.

Telemark freestyle event

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort and Tough Guy Productions host the Alpine Meadows Telemark Freeskiing Championships Feb. 25-27. Open to all telemark skiers, this championship event will host some of the world's most talented athletes.

The three-day event will include all aspects of telemark skiing, including Friday's superpipe jam, and Saturday's big-mountain qualifying run and Sunday's big-mountain finals. Both slopes offer challenging chutes, mandatory airs, and steep technical lines, all of which will be skied during the competition. Spectators can enjoy the event.

Winners receive a cash purse, prize gear from Atomic Skis and Black Diamond. Sloppy seconds will have to drown their sorrows in Red Bull, of which plenty will be on hand.

Call (530) 581-8321 or (970) 476-0159.

Northstar dressing up

The new Village at Northstar, with its first phase slated for completion in December 2005, will usher in a new era of fun at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Guests will stroll through the quaint streets and discover cafés and restaurants, an abundance of shopping and vibrant art galleries.

Phase I of the Village will contain 60,000 square feet of commercial space and bring together a blend of specialty retailers. The retail core of the Village will feature prominent brands, including a flagship store from The North Face, an Oakley "O" concept store, Starbucks Coffee, Keva Juice, Sports Tahoe luxury ski wear, and True North, a retail store with a large variety of top ski outerwear and equipment brands.

The resort itself is in the midst of a number of on-mountain projects aimed at improving uphill capacity, flow of skiers on the mountain and added convenience. The resort plans to make better use of underutilized terrain, add additional beginner areas, and widen and reconfigure a number of runs to spread out mountain usage more evenly.

Improvements began this year by replacing the Echo fixed-grip chairlift with a new high-speed quad chairlift. With the existing gondola and new chairlift both serving the base area, guests can now get to mid-mountain faster than ever. Plans call for a new chairlift from the Big Springs neighborhood for ski-in/ski-out capability and a new run and snowmaking development will happen in conjunction with realigning and replacing the Pioneer chairlift with a high-speed quad chairlift.

The resort plans to ultimately add a third lift from the base area to mid-mountain as well.

Teachers get a break

Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe recognize how much teachers make a difference. In an effort to show their appreciation, both resorts are offering discounted lift tickets and lesson packages to all teachers and their families on Teacher's Ski and Snowboard Day Sunday, Feb. 27.

Teachers simply need to bring their current school employee ID or California Teacher's Association membership card to any ticket window to receive great deals on adult, young adult and child lift tickets at Northstar and Sierra. Savings amount to as much as $17 off adult lift tickets, $16 off young adult and $7 off a child lift ticket at Northstar and $2 off a child lift ticket at Sierra.

For those teachers looking for a little instruction themselves, Northstar and Sierra are offering deals on first time/learn-to-ski and snowboard packages. Cost for a First Time Ski/Snowboard Package will be $65 at Northstar, a savings of $18, and $59 at Sierra, an added savings of $19.