Ski Independence Blog
Archive for ‘USA’
First 3D Ski Film
September 5th, 2010Teton Gravity Research is proud to announce the London premiere of their newest HD and 3D ski film, Light the Wick, which is hosted by snowusa.com.
TGR writes of the film:
“The award winning producers at Teton Gravity Research (TGR) present their newest ski film, Light The Wick. Shot using film, HD and 3D technology, Light The Wick is about sparking the flame and watching the world’s best athletes blast off. This year, the TGR crew of athletes and cinematographers were on a mission to capture the most jaw dropping footage to date and give the viewer an experience like no other. This pursuit led the team around the world to uncharted destinations, as well as some of their favorite stomping grounds. Follow the crew as they discover the completely unskiied big mountain mecca of Petersburg, AK, find the best snow Croatia has seen in fifty years, ski deep pillows in Italy, hit full throttle riding in British Columbia, and epic free-riding at Ripley Creek and North Cascades Heli. Don’t miss Sammy Carlson and the Stevens Pass 3D experiment, the first ever 3D snow sports segment. The groundbreaking dual RED One slow motion arial shots will make you want to reach out and touch the action. Light The Wick showcases the most talented and well-rounded athletes in the sport together in one must-see film.”
Light the Wick will premiere in the UK on the 30th September at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and as well as the film there will be talks, a prize raffle and the participation of many of TGR’s sponsors – as well as an after-film party. The event will be hosted by Snowusa.com – which respresents the resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
Doors open at 7:00pm and tickets are £12 - book here
There will be exclusive Ski Independence discountes available on the night for holidays to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
Vail Resorts Announce EpicMix
August 31st, 2010Vail Resorts have just announced the launch of EpicMix, a new online and mobile application which allows skiers and snowboarders to digitally capture their ski experience and will completely transform the holiday experience for skiers and snowboarders this year at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
An radio frequency-enabled chip embedded in Vail Resorts’ EPIC season passes will automatically track your lift rides, calculating vertical feet skied and days on the mountain and will recognize special achievements and accomplishments by granting you commemorative, collectible digital pins. EpicMix will have hundreds of available digital pins for a multitude of unique experiences available at each resort.
The EpicMix is the first of its kind online & mobile application.
EpicMix is a digital application that you can access online, at your computer or via a free mobile application that can be downloaded for the iPhone, Android or other smart phone. EpicMix will allow you to share your statistics and accomplishments through updates on Twitter and Facebook and you can create special EpicMix leader boards with your Facebook friends. The EpicMix mobile application will alert you when any of your Facebook friends are skiing and where they are on the mountain. The app will also allow guests to send messages to their private groups of Facebook friends on the mountain. The mobile application will also provide trail and grooming information, snow and weather reports, as well as resort news and traffic updates. It is worth noting that Epic Mix mobile application requires data roaming which is subject to charges by your mobile phone network, however many properties have access to WiFi which will allow you to avoid any data roaming charges.
Here is a video explaining the Epic Mix further:
EpicMix will also have a special website for kids under the age of 14, which will allow them to connect with their parents’ accounts, but will have content designed specifically for them and unique pins only kids can earn. The kids’ site also will have special privacy restrictions. Parents will also be able to use EpicMix to track the lift rides of their kids in real time.
EPIC Snow to end the season…
April 8th, 2010Annie & Graham, chalet hosts at the Ptarmigan & Waverly, our resort rep in Vail, can not believe their luck with the snow in Vail this week…
As we head towards the final week of the season it’s almost time to close up the chalet for another season here in Vail, but it’s been another fantastic winter right until the end.
In the last week alone we have had 4 feet of fresh snow, with another 19” of fresh powder today, as we experienced a spring storm. The slopes have been very quiet making it even better with very few people to share the bounty, no wonder they say “Vail – like nothing on earth”.
EPIC snow in Vail - where's my snorkel?!
On the shores of Lake Tahoe…
March 19th, 2010Last week I was lucky enough to visit South Lake Tahoe, compliments of our partners at Vail Resorts. If like me, you’ve never been to Lake Tahoe, it is quite unlike other ski resort you’ll have ever visited. Here’s an account of my trip which I hope will provide you with a good insight to what lies on the shores of Lake Tahoe…
There are a couple of travel options for Heavenly – you can either fly with United Airlines to Reno, via San Francisco and then take a 1 hour bus transfer to Heavenly or you can fly to San Francisco with British Airways, and hire a car. The drive from San Francisco to Heavenly is about 3 ½ hours. To allow for maximum flexibility when in resort I opted for the latter option and hired a car. The drive was much easier than I had anticipated. When you leave the airport, heading north on the 101, you aim for the Bay Bridge, then keep on the I-80 East and that is all there is to it. Just keep an eye out for the signs/lanes for South Lake Tahoe and there you are. It was a very easy, and an enjoyable drive.
Regards from snowy Steamboat
February 26th, 2010Today’s 5am Steamboat snow report indicated a small but welcome 5cm/2″ at mid-mountain and 10cm/4″ at the summit. However, when I was shoveling my driveway at 7am and fighting a losing battle against Mother Nature, trying to clear my way out before she erased my hard work, I knew that a lot had happened since the snow stake was checked pre-dawn. And I was right!
Finding myself in a generous and selfless frame of mind and with meetings on my midday schedule, I decided to check out Steamboat snow conditions on the first gondola so that I could provide detailed information to my esteemed friends and colleagues. I rode up the gondola with some nice folks from Fort Collins, CO who were up for a long weekend, and together we planned a ski itinerary for them. Good thing, too. It is definitely a day to have local knowledge or a local buddy, as visibility is as limited as the snow is fabulous. We’re talking superlatives here, folks!
Another great winter in Vail!
February 19th, 2010Annie & Graham, chalet hosts at the Ptarmigan & Waverly, our resort rep in Vail, reflect on the season so far in Vail…
Graham enjoying the fresh snow in Vail
As we head towards the second half of February and past the half way point of the season it’s a good time to reflect on the season so far. Although we got off to a slow start with snow we are certainly catching up now, with 27” of fresh powder over the last week alone and more predicted throughout the week, it certainly feels like we are back on track. Ptarmigan has been busier than ever (our third season) with so many friends returning to see us and many more “new friends” that have found Vail’s hidden gem.
With March almost upon us we are excited about the possibility of heavy snow falls as this is the biggest month of our season generally but already we have had 174” and the mountain is in great condition, but I don’t think we’d complain if we had an EPIC March to take us above last season’s end of season total snowfall which was 437” but if you want to catch up with the latest weather, conditions, and lifts/terrain open before you get here (along with a few top tips) then check out our video report for the Ski Club GB which is updated each Tuesday and Friday at http://www.snoveo.com/resorts/vail/102/, also available on an iphone app.
Waverly & Annie enjoying Vail's apres ski
Town is great at the moment, we are currently in Carnivail week which is great fun with live bands, Mardi Gras and beads and we have large screens in public areas to follow the progress of the Vail locals representing the USA in the Olympics (Lindsay Vonn), it really is a great place to be.
If you haven’t booked to come to the Ptarmigan so far there are only a limited number of spaces left with great deals, so don’t wait – grab them while you can!
See you on the slopes.
Annie, Graham & Waverly
On The Edge in Steamboat
January 28th, 2010Today I was riding on the edge! That would be on the edge of some otherwise lovely groomed runs that my companion was enjoying, but I was in the mood for some deeper, fluffier messier snow. And fortunately for both of us and all of you, too, in Steamboat there’s no need to compromise!
The noontime view from my south-facing office window showed colorless sky with just a bit of sun brightening the horizon, but when we got out to the Gondola, we found a bluebird day over our mountain. We started out down Rudi’s to Blizzard to the Storm Peak Express, and just as I suspected from my two driveway shovels in the last 24 hours, the snow was just right. It’s soft and loose, but it has just enough weight to it to offer some resistance to my sharp snowboard, and it’s a really fun ride.
On the edge!
Once up at 3000m on Storm Peak, I bounced my way over the loving and giving bumps in the steep Triangle 3 Trees and down through the meadow above Cyclone, and finally down skier’s right on Cyclone itself to catch some more of those overgrown push piles. We then rode up Bar UE and crossed over to Sunshine Peak to cut down through the top of Three O’clock and then sneak over High Noon through the trees to Sunshine Lift Line and down through the Wally World trees just off Flintlock. Just gorgeous! Then it was back up Southpeak and down precipitous Rolex, and although it was rolled last night, the generous groomers left me a roller coaster ride line down my favorite side of the run.
What a day!
Finally, we rode Elkhead back out of Sunshine and then found our way down Valley View from top to bottom, with me carving up the messy edge and my friend making rhythmic telemark turns down the smoothly groomed piste. I could have done this all day, but duty called, and there’s more snow in the forecast for the coming days. Come and see for yourself – you’ll like it!
Very best regards-
Jenny
First turns of the season in Steamboat
December 21st, 2009Here is the first of our reports straight from Steamboat, Colorado. Jenny O’Farrell, Steamboat’s International Sales Manager, will be bringing you regular updates during the course of the season on what’s what on and off the slopes in Steamboat.
Saturday 19 Dec.
19/12/2009 | Bluebird days over Steamboat | Photographer: George Danellis
“Today I finally put away the golf clubs and acknowledged winter’s obvious intention to stick around for a few months, and boy, am I glad I did! My first turns on the mountain this year were so much fun! As we spoiled rotten long-time locals often do, I’ve been waiting for that first epic dump of Champagne Powder snow for my season debut, but a text from my pal Tele Kelly this morning inviting me out for a few runs changed my timeline. The 64 inches/162cm of natural snow that have fallen so far, the excellent work of our very talented Steamboat snowmaking crew, and the sustained sub-freezing temperatures have combined just perfectly for some great early season skiing and riding conditions.
After having checked to make sure I had remembered all of my gear, we headed up the Gondola. I was thinking of heading down Vagabond to confirm muscle memory from last April, but Kelly convinced me to head down Rudi’s Run to Blizzard to the Storm Peak lift to head up the mountain instead. And right she was! My first turns on Rudi’s had me hooked all over again, and we enjoyed some fabulous runs. Buddy’s Run is smoothly groomed with about 1 inch /2.5cm of soft frosting from the flurries that have been falling all morning. Cyclone, on the other hand, is a challenging mogul field, but I was connecting my turns quite well mostly, with one gentle face plant about halfway down.
Mogul training on Voo Doo for the Olympic Trials this week. | Photographer: Larry Pierce
Even Tornado Lane, known to be a bit firm on the best of days, had perfectly adequate coverage and some loose snow for carving on the flatter bits. We rode Storm Peak lift again to cross over to Sunshine Peak, where we enjoyed a fast descent down High Noon and across Rendezvous Saddle to Rolex. Rolex was a bit messy, with quite a few pine saplings showing their tips, but the snow was sweet. Next we rode Elkhead up and made our way down Heavenly Daze, which is in great shape, and on to See Me, where we stopped to admire the jumps being built on the moguls course for the Olympic Trails coming to Steamboat December 23-24. They’re huge! Then it was down Stampede and back to my desk to tell you all about my day.
Steamboat is ready for you – come check us out!
Happy Winter – Happy Holidays!
Jenny!
Fresh tracks in Vail following storm
October 28th, 2009The Rockies are currently getting pounded with snow. Here is a photo fresh from the top of Vail mountain, thanks to Pat Barrett. Talk about getting turns in before work – it’s still dark!
”I live in Vail and skied this morning on Golden Peak! We had a few inches of fresh snow last night and are expecting more today and tomorrow. We had to hike up of course, as the mountain does not open until Nov. 20, but it was fun to be skiing in October! We’re hoping for another hike tomorrow morning with more powder!”
Fresh tracks and man's best friend - happy days!
Epic Skiing With Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass
October 26th, 2009Ski 5 resorts in 5 days across two states… is it possible? The answer is yes – as I found out in back in March when I hit the slopes with Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass.
Back for winter 2009/10, the Epic Season Pass is valid for unlimited skiing all season at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, as well as Heavenly in California; perfect for long stays, or for people visiting the States twice during the 2009/10 season.
Epic Pass Adventure
Day 1
There’s nothing better than waking up on the first morning of your trip to over 12 inches of fresh powder, and that’s exactly what we got on day one of our Epic adventure – welcome to Vail!
BBQ at Belles Camp in Blue Sky Basin
After a mammoth breakfast at the Arrabelle in Lionshead we made our way to Blue Sky Basin – the skiing here is unbelievable, with over 600 acres of wilderness-like terrain at your ski tips you will not be short of fresh tracks & tree runs. After a morning’s hard skiing it was on to a fantastic barbeque lunch at Belles Camp – an on mountain restaurant equipped with large outdoor grills where you bring your own ingredients and can grill up your own creations.
To make the most of your holiday in Vail, there are free Mountain Host tours available for intermediate skiers and above, including a tour of Blue Sky Basin. This tour is available for strong intermediate and above skiers only with the aim of familiarizing guests with the natural and gladed terrain of Blue Sky Basin. Offered Daily at 11:00am at the yurt located next to Patrol Headquarters (Henry’s Hut).
