NEWS AND DEALS
from ski and snowboard resorts around North America

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SKI/SNOWBOARD NEWS June 25, 2009
Edited by Steve Giordano

Wyoming's Red Lodge International Summer Ski and Snowboard Camp, elevation 10,900 feet, will stay open until July if the snow lasts that long. It's open for public skiing too, $45/day or $25/half-day. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Skiing and riding at Whistler Blackcomb is over, but Blackcomb opened for summer glacier skiing June 20.

A University of British Columbia student is unveiling the latest model of his ski and snowboard Landing Pad with the hopes of setting a new standard in safety for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The design simulates a perfectly shaped terrain park jump with a powder landing. At 15 meters by 27 meters, the Landing Pad features two independent air chambers to allow riders to continue movement downhill but cushions the fall in case the rider lands on anything other than their feet, making training safer. See a demo at http://www.katalinnovations.com/videos.html

The US Air Force is negotiating a deal with a private developer to build a ski resort for military members and the public on federal land near Park City, Utah. The year-round resort will include a 200- to 250-room hotel, a conference center, retail shops and a movie production studio. The Air Force has wanted to build the resort since “Hill House,” a military hotel that stood east of Hill Air Force Base, was closed as part of an expansion to a nearby ski mountain leading up to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Air Force and Park City officials have worked to pick a site since Congress approved the plan in 2002.

The Chacaltaya ski area in Bolivia, formerly the world's highest at 17,785 feet, has closed because its glacier melted. It was always an oddity, operating only during the Bolivian summer because the Southern Hemisphere's winter conditions are too icy, hard and dry. The world's highest ski area is now Jade Dragon Ski Mountain in Yunnan Province, China, where all skiing takes place above 14,816 feet. Oxygen bags and altitude sickness pills are available.

Next season Heavenly and Vail will require helmets on all on-duty employees while they're skiing or riding. Vail ski/snowboard school students 12 and under will also be required to wear helmets during group lessons.

If you need your tunes while skiing or snowboarding, and your tunes are on an iPod, the Kombi Sports iRib Glove may be just the deal for you. The back of the glove has a five-function joystick controller that "supervises" your iPod wirelessly. The transmitter is located in a waterproof pocket on the glove, and the wireless receiver plugs into the iPod's dock connector port. www.kombisports.com

Heli skiing/riding is truly a dream come true. Few heli operations do it as well as Mike Wiegle. Their 2-Day Heli Special includes: Bell 212 helicopter unlimited vertical lift; two professional guides per group; 10 guests per group, three groups per helicopter; handcrafted log chalet accommodation (double occupancy); three gourmet meals per day (with packed lunch); Atomic powder skis and poles, or Burton powder snowboards; full use of spa facilities, sauna, whirlpool & fitness center; and personal safety gear including ortovox transceiver, shovel pack & probe. Price? $2,000/pp. You must book by December 24, 2008, and some restrictions apply. Info: Mike Wiegle Specials.

The 320 Guest Ranch, an historic property set along the Montana’s Gallatin River, offers 87 sleeping rooms in 59 luxurious and modern cabins, log homes and a mountain chalet. Their Great Value Ski & Stay Package starts at $77 pp/pn and includes a full day lift ticket to either Big Sky Resort or Moonlight Basin, deluxe guest cabin accommodations, complimentary transportation to the free Big Sky ski shuttle, a hearty continental breakfast, and a roaring nightly bon fire to gather around at day’s end. Their Peak Pass Ski & Stay Package starts at $165 pp/pn/do, $363 pp/to and $462 pp/qo. It includes the Lone Peak Pass with a full day lift ticket to the slopes of both Big Sky and Moonlight Basin (with seamless skiing in between), plus the free ski shuttle, lodging in modern cabin accommodations, the nightly bonfire and a hearty continental breakfast each morning. With both packages, children 10 and under stay free and ski for free. Info: 406-995-4283, 800-243-0320, or www.320Ranch.com.

We know, it seems early to be thinking about next summer already, but if you book your Portillo, Chile vacation now, you can to guarantee your place—and if you buy Before Dec. 31, 2008, you’ll pay 2008 prices for the 2009 season, which runs from June 13 – Oct. 3, 2009. Portillo weeks include seven-nights’ accommodation, seven-day lift ticket, and four meals daily. Hotel Portillo prices begin at US$1,45/pp; Octagon Lodge prices begin at US$890/pp in accommodations with four bunk beds and a private bathroom; Inca Lodge prices begin at US$590/pp in a small room with four bunk beds and community bathrooms, plus meals in the self-service restaurant. Info: 800-829-5325 or email reservas@skiportillo.com or www.skiportillo.com.