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2012 Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame Inductees

Editor — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:02:14 +0000

Founded in 1976, the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum strives to maintain the legacy of snow sports in the region, specifically by preserving the history of the 10th Mountain Division which was the foundation upon which Colorado’s skiing community was built. The museum also maintains a comprehensive Olympics collection symbolizing the spirit and camaraderie of the snow sport community, and honors achievers by means of the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.

To qualify for the Hall of Fame, nominees must have made a significant contribution to the sport and industry of either snow skiing or snowboarding in Colorado. The accomplishments of individual nominees must have had a tangible benefit to Colorado, and have enhanced the image of Colorado as a source of skiing and snowboarding innovation. Hall of Fame inductees are voted in by eligible voting panel members.

After careful consideration, the 2012 inductees to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame were chosen, and are: Bill Bergman, Toby Dawson, Tom Jankovsky, Jerry Gart, John Meyer, Ralph Walton and Paul Testwuide. Bill Bergman is credited with laying the groundwork of resort management – including designing environmentally-friendly trails and initiating snowmaking measures – that are currently practiced in leading resorts. He is considered to be the driving force behind turning skiing into a corporate enterprise.

2006 Olympic bronze medalist freestyle skiing champion Toby Dawson joins Hall of Fame inductees. Among his achievements are 7 World Cup titles and 17 podium finishes during his time with the US Ski Team. South Korean by birth, Dawson is currently the South Korean National Ski Team Coach and helped with that country’s winning bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. As the marketing director for Ski Industries of America, Jerry Gart has played a major role in bringing affordable ski equipment to the residents of Colorado. He founded the Colorado Ski Country USA Ski Lift Program and established Denver/Post Gart Bros. Ski School.

Tom Jankovsky has worked as the General Manager of Sunlight Mountain Resort and has been on the Colorado Ski Country USA Board of Trustees. John Meyer has enjoyed a 25-year career writing for the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post, and has been recognized as “America’s Ski Writer” as well as being the dean of Olympic journalists in America. Paul Testquide started as a trail crew member back in 1963 and worked his way up to Vail’s Chief Operating Officer. He secured the water rights needed to facilitate snowmaking and managed the sustainable development of Blue Sky Basin, and the rebuild of Two Elks destroyed by arson. Ralph Walton bought Crested Butte Mountain Resort in 1970 and turned it around from bankruptcy to success. Among his achievements are being on the Board of Directors for Colorado Ski Country USA and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the NSAA. Certainly, these snow sport enthusiasts are all worthy recipients of being honored alongside existing Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame athletes and innovators.

Freestyle World Cup Events at Cardrona

Editor — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:24:15 +0000

The recent announcement that Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand will be hosting both the World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe and snowboard halfpipe in August this year has been greeted with much enthusiasm by the New Zealand snow sport community. Marty Toomey, CEO of Snow Sports New Zealand, was quoted as saying that the events will provide Kiwi athletes with a unique opportunity to compete against the world’s top snow sport athletes. The two events will also offer the first opportunities for athletes to qualify for the 2014 winter Olympics set to take place in Sochi, Japan.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) sanctioned freestyle ski halfpipe is scheduled for 22 August, with the freestyle snowboard halfpipe taking place on 25-26 August 2012. CEO of Winter Games New Zealand, Arthur Klap, noted that he expected up to 90 percent of the world’s best snow sport athletes to compete in the events as they lead up to the 2013 Winter Games to be held in New Zealand, as well as being qualifiers for the Sochi winter Olympics. Toomey noted that overseas competition was difficult to get into because of its limited available entries, and having the two World Cup events at Cardrona will present an opportunity for local athletes to break into overseas competition. He added that, due to its Olympic qualification status, the events will attract some of the world’s top riders, giving New Zealand “athletes a chance to benchmark themselves against the best on home turf.”

Located around midway between Queenstown and Wanaka on New Zealand’s north island, Cardrona Alpine Resort is set in spectacular surroundings with views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern New Zealand Alps. As a family-style resort, Cardrona offers beginners’ courses and tuition programs, while at the same time offering a host of exciting terrain options to challenge the most experienced of skiers and snowboarders. Spread over an area of more than 790 acres, the resort boasts state-of-the-art lifts to get skiers to the slopes with the minimum of delay. The terrain parks at Cardrona feature jibs, jumps, first-class pipes and a gravity cross course guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping.

The upcoming World Cup events at Cardrona fall right in the middle of the winter season, and competitors and spectators alike are assured of plenty of snow and plenty of world-class snow sport action.

The North Face Masters of Snowboarding Finals

Editor — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:32:13 +0000

The North Face Masters of Snowboarding series came to an end this weekend at Snowbird. Known as the biggest open, big mountain snowboarding competition in the USA, the event was rounded off with a thrilling day in challenging conditions. Shannan Yates and Sammy Luebke took home The North Face Masters of Snowboarding overall titles for the event’s fifth season.

Competition organizers did not have the easy time this year due to low snowfall throughout western USA. Two events were rescheduled and they had to make use of weather days at some events. Even though they faced these difficulties, each stop enjoyed ideal snow conditions, making for an exciting competition. The morning of the final day of the tour at Snowbird started off with a spring storm, but this didn’t affect the mood and the day went off superbly.

The one-run final of The North Face Masters of Snowboarding consisted of a field of thirty-five top big-mountain snowboarders. Shannan Yates of Utah took on North Baldy with boldness, taking a top score of 80.17. Familiar with her home mountain, Yates hit several features down the run. The victory at Snowbird on Saturday, made Yates winner of the overall tour title for the second time. Coming in second place was Beth Weissman, who scored 72.83. She was followed in third place by Cindi Lou Grant with 72.00.

The men’s section of the event was held off for a while due to fog and poor weather. However, things did get underway and talented Sammy Luebke from Squaw Valley won with 85.83, claiming both the Snowbird even and overall title. Luebke’s run consisted of some classy airs, fast powder turns and a final technical drop. In second place was Jamie Rizzuto with 83.33 and in third was Brian Bozack with 78.17.

Another highlight of the day was The North Face Young Gun Overall Series Award, which was presented to nineteen-year-old Blake Paul who won on Day One of the tour. The award is conferred upon riders who show their talent and are headed for greatness in big-mountain snowboarding.

2012 North Face Masters Overall Tour Winners – Men

1st – Sammy Luebke

2nd – Jamie Rizzuto

3rd – Alex Yoder

2012 North Face Masters Over Tour Winners – Women

1st – Shannan Yates

2nd – Casey Lucas

3rd – Laura Dewey

Kingdom Days at Breckenridge

Editor — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:02:59 +0000

The Fifth edition of Kingdom Days is a fantastic celebration of Breckenridge town’s heritage. The town was established back in 1859. It was then known as Colorado’s Kingdom as it was accidentally excluded from some US maps until 1936 when it was incorporated. This weekend is dedicated to the exploration and mining history of the town, and is an unforgettable adventure!

Dates: 16 to 17 June 2012
Location: Breckenridge
State: Colorado
Country: United States of America

Ruckus in the Rockies 2012

Editor — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:04:47 +0000

Ruckus in the Rockies is a Snowboard Team Battle featuring a unique Jam format. Building on the success of the 2011 event, Ruckus in the Rockies will take place at Lake Louise, Alberta. Join in the party that is headed for legendary status and challenge your skills on an awesome course. Cash prizes will be up for grabs throughout the day for feats such as the best frontside and backside spin, biggest air and more. Two teams will go head-to-head for a spot on the superfinal, where team members will battle each other for the title of Overall Champion and the Grand Prize. For more information visit the Ruckus in the Rockies 2012 Website.

Event Dates: 5-6 May 2012
Venue: Lake Louise
State: Alberta
Country: Canada

North American Ski Season Draws to a Close

Editor — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:22:18 +0000

With weather patterns disrupted around the world, many snow skiing destinations are faced with making the decision on whether to remain open, or close early as the northern hemisphere snow sport season draws to a close. With the month of April not yet a week old, only seven ski resorts in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont were open for business – Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Saddleback, Loon, Wildcat, Killington and Jay Peak. Sugarbush will reportedly be reassessing their snow coverage during this week with a view to opening for skiing on the weekend.

While snowfall has been scant, these resorts still have much to offer. Sunday River resort has its popular Parrothead Festival coming on 6-8 April. Promoted as one of the biggest spring parties in snow country, the Parrothead Festival has become an annual tradition at Sunday River. The weekend program includes outdoor concerts, parties, the annual pond-skimming contest, and plenty of margaritas. While other resorts may be slowing down, Sunday River is looking forward to plenty of action this weekend.

The four ski areas run by the Aspen Skiing Co will stick to their scheduled closing dates despite the dry conditions and relatively high temperatures being experienced in the area. While Buttermilk will be closing on Sunday, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are set to close on 15 April, with Aspen Highlands staying open through 22 April. Steamboat Ski Area has already closed 77 of its trails, leaving around 33 percent of its skiable terrain still open. Vail Mountain’s skiable terrain has been reduced from 5,289 acres to around 1,476 acres. While skiable terrain has been reduced, the sunny days have attracted more skiers to the slopes as they enjoy the mild weather. The lower skiing regions may have some bare patches, but higher up the snow cover is still good.

According to state trade association Colorado Ski Country USA, Telluride and Crested Butte are among the resorts planning to close Sunday. Arapahoe Basin and Wolf Creek have not yet confirmed their closing dates, while Loveland is scheduled to close on 6 May. Buttermilk’s closing weekend celebrations will include a rail jam, as well as a concert featuring DJ Naka, followed by DJ Z Trip.

Ski & Golf World Championships 2012

Editor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:39:47 +0000

The exciting Ski and Golf World Championship 2012 will involve a giant slalom ski race followed by two days of golfing on two courses. Individuals, teams and mixed pairs are welcome. Those taking part must have a handicap of -18 or better and must be members of a golf club or association.

Date: 9 to 13 May 2012
Venue: Zell am See
Country: Austria

Hirscher and Vonn Overall World Cup Champions

Editor — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:21:34 +0000

With her closest rival – Tina Maze of Slovenia – almost 600 points behind her, Lindsey Vonn has claimed the prestigious World Cup overall title, proving that she has the determination, skill and endurance that set champions apart from the crowd. Having claimed a total of four World Cup trophies – overall, downhill, super-G and super combined – Vonn’s crystal globe collection stands at 16, with four of them being overalls. Vonn also set the women’s record for most points accumulated in a single season, her 1,980 points just falling short of her 2,000-point goal to match the overall record set by Austrian champion Hermann Maier. In a post-race interview Vonn expressed her disappointment in missing her points goal, noting that she would be trying hard to beat the record next year.

The 2011/2012 season has brought a string of successes for Lindsey Vonn, as she notched up 12 race victories and 97 podium finishes. Her wins currently stand at a total of 53 out of 305 World Cup starts. This is the second time that Vonn has claimed four titles, the first time being in 2010. Among Vonn’s goals for the future are to beat the 62 World Cup wins and six overall trophies held by Annemarie Moser-Proell of Austria.

The women’s World Cup trophies in the past season were claimed by experienced skiers, such as the slalom World Cup claimed by Austria’s Marlies Schild with her six wins out of ten races. In the men’s World Cup events, 23-year-old Marcel Hirscher claimed the overall World Cup trophy, with five slalom and four giant slalom victories this season. Beat Fuez pulling out of the last race was a contributing factor in Hirscher’s overall win, but the new reigning champion has proven that he is championship material.

Among the skiers retiring from World Cup events are Didier Chuche of Switzerland and seven-time world champion Anja Paerson of Sweden. Newcomers include Alexis Pinturault of France, who claimed six podium places in four disciplines, and Marcel Mathis of Austria who made it to the podium twice in 12 World Cup races.

World Cup Slalom Victory for Canada

Editor — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:18:54 +0000

The World Cup slalom event held on Sunday at Ofterschwang in Germany was certainly a memorable one, as Erin Mielzynski became the first Canadian woman to win the event in 41 years. This was also the young 21-year-old skier’s first World Cup victory.

Erin Mielzynski seems to excel at skiing both in water and on the snow. She was a silver medalist in the 2006 World Waterskiing Junior Championships. She launched her snow skiing World Cup career in 2009, going on to ski for Canada in the 2010 Olympics. Mielzynski has enjoyed a number of top 20 finishes and now has this fantastic victory to her name.

The last Canadian woman to win a slalom race was Betsy Clifford, who did so in 1971. Mielzynski managed to capture first place in a combined time of 1:53.59, just .05 ahead of Resi Stiegler from America. In third place was Marlies Schild of Austria, at .07 behind Mielzynski. Conditions on Sunday were challenging with the snow becoming rather soft and slushy due to warmer weather. Mielzynski’s first run gave her the fifth-fastest time, while her second was 18. But she did better than the others on the deteriorating snow, to lead them in combined time. Slovenian Tina Maze, who came in top position in the first run, crashed out on the second run.

Other Canadians who competed on the day were Marie-Michèle Gagnon and Anna Goodman. Gagnon came in fifth overall with a time of 1:53.80. Goodman took 17th place, which was her fourth top-30 finish for this season. Canada’s alpine women’s team had been facing difficulties, particularly after the retirements of Allison Forsyth, Emily Brydon, Genevieve Simar and Britt Janyk. The team needed some encouragement, and that is exactly what Mielzynski’s win has done. She expressed that she is sure that there will be many more podiums now that the ice has been broken.

It has been a good season for Marlies Schild from Austria so far. Along with this third place finish, she has won six slaloms. She is 299 points ahead of Tina Maze, and there are just two races left. Schild is looking forward to enjoying the skiing at Schladming without any worries, having secured the World Cup before reaching the finals.

17th Annual TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Editor — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:10:10 +0000

The 17th Annual TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival will combine sport, music and art for ten magical days on the snow. The schedule includes a massive concert, snow sport competitions, fashion shows, photography, film screenings, a dog parade and live painting. The TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival includes the Association of Freeskiing Professionals World Championships with Big Air, Slopestyle and Superpipe events. The Demo Park gives visitors the chance to test out the latest in ski gear by top manufacturers. Other items to look forward to include Mascot Mayhem, The Shred Show and more.

Dates: 13 to 22 April 2012
Venue: Whistler
State: British Columbia
Country: Canada