It’s how we all should ski … and live, for that matter.
Like there’s no tomorrow.
The 62nd annual Warren Miller Entertainment film, “…Like There’s No Tomorrow,” will hit the big screen in Missoula on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Wilma Theatre. It’s narrated by Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley and shot on location on five continents.
Doors open at 7 p.m., movie starts at 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds go to the West Central Avalanche Center, and we all know the importance of back country avalanche information.
It sounds like there’s a ton of raffle prizes to give away. Tickets are $12 and are available at the Trail Head, Rockin’ Rudy’s and Backcountry Racks. PLUS, special guests will include professional skiers Lynsey Dyer and Andy Mahre who are featured in the flick. It’s going to be rad. After party is at the Top Hat. See you there!!
Snowy Big Sky Resort is trying to entice snow-deprived Colorado and Tahoe skiers and riders to Montana in January.
For the month of January, skiers with the Epic Pass from Vail Resorts in Colorado and California will ski for free at Big Sky. Rather than complain about the lack of snow, Big Sky is “spreading the love” by encouraging Epic Pass holders to come find the white stuff in Montana.
Big Sky has about twice the open acreage that Vail and Breckenridge do right now, plus we’ve had some great powder,” said Chad Jones, Big Sky Resort Public Relations Manager. “And with other Epic Pass resorts like Heavenly at under 200 acres, we decided to share the wealth. We’re a skier’s and rider’s mountain, and no one should miss out on good snow just because they live in Colorado or California.”
Montana Standard Reporter George Plaven talks with the parents of the 20-year-old snowmobiler killed in an avalanche in the Flint Range over the New Year’s weekend. Jasen Kellogg was an experienced snowmobiler and was wearing an avalanche beacon at the time of the slide. It took family members seven minutes to locate his body.
Two snowmobilers and a skier died in separate avalanches in Montana over the weekend.
David Lee Gaillard, 44, was skiing with his wife Saturday afternoon southeast of Cooke City when an avalanche occurred.
About two hours earlier, an avalanche north of Cooke City took the life of 46-year-old Jody Ray Verhasselt. He was buried for 12 minutes before two snowmobiling companions pulled him out.
The Western Montana Avalanche Center is reporting considerable avalanche danger on slopes above 6,000 feet, especially on north and south facing slopes 35 degrees or steeper.
Well, let me tell you what is sweeter: Skiing all 16 ski areas in the Treasure State in 16 days. WAY SWEEEEEEEETer!
That’s what Cory Birkenbuel, a 33-year-old University of Montana Western student, is about to do. Starting on Jan. 1 in Big Sky and ending Jan. 16 at Maverick Mountain, Birkenbuel and Montana State University film student Kevin Hilton will film their trip, producing a documentary film, which will promote skiing in Montana.
I, too, will be in Big Sky for New Years, so we’ll see if I can catch up with the dynamite duo for some runs. Check out the “Montana Sweet 16″ Facebook page for updates on their trip and their full itinerary. They are encouraging people in the local communities to meet them on the hill!
Also, in other news, Wed., Jan. 4 at the north side Kettle House is Community Pint Night benefiting the Missoula Freestyle Ski Team. Come support members of the MFST and meet U.S. Freestyle Ski Team member Landon Gardner at this weekly event from 5-8 p.m
I didn’t feel terrible leaving for the holidays to the Caribbean because it didn’t seem like there was much snow then. Now that I’m back, I’ve been getting good reports from the slopes and that makes me excited because I threw down for a new pair of fatty skis right before I left.
The Rossignol S7′s. They’re pink. Pretty. And fat — my first real pair of fat skis. Now, that seems ridiculous, right? You’re first pair? Well, I grew up with a heavy focus on carving. Tight small turns on groomed slopes, so it took awhile to reprogram my brain.
I spent hours on skinet.com ‘s gear guide, reading reviews and comparing different sticks. I looked seriously at the Armada VJJ, but couldn’t quite get over the name. Seriously? A women’s ski called the Vjj?
I chatted up store clerks and friends. One guy who looked no older than his early 20s actually laughed at me when I told him my Stockli Rotors were 76 centimeters under the foot. He laughed! I felt like an old person clinging to yesterday’s technology even though my Stocklis are only two years old! Well. I’ll show that stranger I’ve never met before and probably never will again! I have fat skis now. 110 cm under the foot.
I needed a lighter pair of skis to take into the back country. My Stockli Rotors were not cutting it.
So, now comes another tough, and expensive, decision. Bindings. I realize I’m behind the ball in regards to buying gear, but I already have a good set up, so I don’t feel a need to rush. I have Marker Barons on my Stocklis. I like them except they’re not as light as other brands, but they are durable when I use them on area. And it’s kind of a pain in the butt taking off my skis to transfer them from trekking to ski mode.
Marker came out with the Tour bindings, a plastic version of the Barons, which makes them lighter. Here’s the catch: On a powder day at the Bowl, It’s likely I’ll be packing my S7s. So, I need a durable, yet light weight binding that I can, if necessary, ski on area really hard.
I want the best of all worlds! I just don’t know if that’s possible. Suggestions and opinions welcome.
I’m heading to Big Sky this weekend for New Years. I’m embarrassed to say it’s my first time out this season, but I’m excited. Pray for powder!
As snow begins to blanket the mountains across the state, Governor Brian Schweitzer is pleased to announce the latest Montana Department of Commerce Office of Tourism marketing campaign to entice travelers to Montana. “Montana provides a truly unique winter travel experience and we needed a winter campaign as compelling and memorable as a Montana winter vacation,” said Governor Schweitzer.
A prominent element of this year’s campaign features renowned skier and cinematographer Warren Miller. In acknowledging Montana’s partnership with Miller, Governor Schweitzer said, “Warren Miller is known the world over for his dedicated promotion of the sport of snow skiing. His iconic ski films have entertained and inspired generations of skiers for over 60 years. We are honored to have Warren Miller choose to endorse and promote Montana’s winter ski experience. It is also a powerful testament to the incomparable quality of skiing that Montana offers.” To view the campaign materials featuring Warren Miller including radio spots and magazine advertising, visit: http://j.mp/rIIg4y.
Another principal piece of the winter campaign involves sharing stories through the lenses of well-known Montanans who have been inspired and shaped by their experiences living and recreating in Montana. By integrating these personal stories, potential visitors to the state are shown how the full spectrum of experiences Montana offers can transform and influence a person for years to come. Two of the personalities involved in the winter campaign include Olympic mogul skier Heather McPhie and X-Games medalist/author/photographer Kevin Connolly. They are joined by others whose work and lives have also been shaped by Montana – photographers, naturalists, historians – to tell the story of Montana in the wintertime. To take a tour of their favorite places and hear their perspective of what makes Montana so special, visit: http://visitmt.com/montana-stories.
Additional campaign elements include national print advertising, online banner advertising and key market out-of-home advertising such as bus and train wraps, billboards and taxi toppers. For a full overview of the 2011-2012 Winter Campaign along with creative, visit http://j.mp/rIIg4y.
Research shows that skiing and wildlife watching are the leading motivators for Montana’s winter travelers, and this campaign is designed to keep Montana top-of-mind with those prospective travelers. Targeting both national audiences and key feeder markets for non-resident winter visitors, the campaign will leverage the success from complementary warm season campaigns (in 2010 and 2011) to build awareness of and intent to travel to Montana in its secret season—winter.
While the majority of Montana’s 10.5 million annual visitors travel during the summer months, tourism is a year-round economic driver for the state. Visitors to Montana spend $2.5 billion in our state annually. They contribute $180 million in tax revenue and support over 28,000 jobs. Visitor expenditures provide over $785 million in earnings for Montana workers with 30 cents of every visitor dollar going towards wage and salary income for Montana residents. Plus, each Montana household saves $480 in taxes annually due to the tax revenue generated through visitor spending.
In addition, tourism provides a diversity of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities with Montana’s small businesses serving as the backbone of the industry. By offering a wealth of quality travel experiences year-round, the tourism industry helps ensure that job opportunities exist for hardworking Montanans.
Whitefish Mountain Resort will open for the 2011-2012 Winter Season this Saturday, December 10 with 5 lifts and 8 runs and reduced pricing. The price of a daily ticket will be $39 for ages 13-69 and $25 for ages 7-12. Super seniors 70 & over and children 6 & under are free.
“We’re excited to get the season started and celebrate the coming winter,” Whitefish Mountain Resort President Dan Graves said. “Our snowmaking and grooming crews have done an amazing job preparing the slopes for what should be a wonderful opening weekend.”
Runs that will be open this weekend include Hope Slope, Chipmunk, Magic Carpet, Caribou, Goat Haunt, Silvertip, Whitetail and Gray Wolf. Lifts include Chair 3, Chair 6, Chair 1, Chair 7 and the Magic Carpet. A few terrain park features will be available in the Chair 3 area. Downloading on Chair 1 will be required for guests wishing to access terrain in the Chair 7 area.
The Summit House, Base Lodge Café and Base Lodge Bar will be open for food & beverage services. Ed & Mully’s will serve soup and chili and the bar will be open. Additional services available include the Base Lodge Rental Shop, Village Equipment Rentals as well as Base Lodge Traders, Snow Ghost Outfitters and Summit House Gifts. The Kids Center & Daycare will also be open as well as the Ski & Ride School on limited terrain, the Learn to Ski/Ride program will be available.
Whitefish Mountain Resort is offering a special early season package, “Ski a Day, Get a Day,” buy one day of skiing and one night of lodging and get one day and one night free. The offer is valid through December 18, 2011 and based on availability and not valid with other promotions, offers or specials. Two-night minimum and double occupancy required.
A variety of Ski & Stay packages are available at Whitefish Mountain Resort throughout the 2011-2012 Winter Season. Learn more about special deals and stay up-to-date on Whitefish Mountain Resort’s snow conditions and mountain operations visit www.skiwhitefish.com.
Tonight is the Backwoods Project’s fall fundraiser and they are showing two much-anticipated winter flicks: “After Dark,” a ski film by Level 1, and “Ransack Rebellion,” an epic snowboard film by Think Thank.
Here’s a note from Backwoods Project founder Gregg Janecky on why he picked these movies.
I show Think Thank every year because not only is the film maker a huge fan of Backwoods but it is one of the most creative films out there and is split about 50/50 rails and powder. We show Level 1 because it is super creative and one of the biggest Ski Production Companies working these days.
The Backwoods Project is a Missoula-based nonprofit organization that promotes accessible and affordable public freestyle skiing and snowboard in the area. Using all volunteers, the Backwoods Project creates temporary, short-term freestyle parks and advocates for the installation of freestyle terrain at local ski areas. The entire program operates on donations.
Doors tonight open at 7:30 p.m. “Ransack Rebellion” begins at 8 p.m. “After Dark” begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at our Sponsor Backcountry Racks in Missoula or in the online fundraiser store
I write a lot about epic snow days. Those mornings when there’s a foot of new snow in the mountains, and suddenly, Missoula is hit by a flu outbreak because everyone is calling in sick to work. Well, if I’m writing about these blissful snow dumps, it’s because I’m at work. Not in the mountains. Not skiing. And that kinda makes me churn. So I apologize in advance. It’s only because I love skiing.
That said, I know a lot of people ringing in the winter snow season on Friday at Lookout Pass Ski area. It’s the first mountain in this area to officially open, offering skiers and snowboarders a minimum of 10 slopes to play on. Lift tickets are reduced! Chairlifts open at 9 a.m. (remember the time difference!) Also, they have a fancy new website to check out.
Also, in case you missed it, Discovery Ski Area has exciting news about its upcoming ski season. A new triple chairlift for intermediate skiers will make loading and unloading easier. We all remember how scary getting off the chairlift used to be! Plus, the ski area is making progress on their plans to build a road from Philipsburg to a second base area on the northwest side of the mountain. Stay tuned for more news about that in future months as the Environmental Assessment is complete.
TOM BAUER/Missoulian Robert Burton works on the bottom terminal of Discovery Ski Area's new Jubilee chairlift recently. The lift replaces the original Jubilee lift and will have easier on- and off-ramps for skiers accessing novice and intermediate runs.
TGIF!! Send back reports from Lookout Pass. Twitter, Facebook, email pictures. Don’t keep it yourself. Let us rejoice with you.
Jaime Pierre, of Big Sky, died in an avalanche at Snowbird Ski Resort in northern Utah on Sunday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.
Pierre, who has a wife and two children, was a professional skier who appeared in ski films and set a world record cliff jump in 2006 for jumping 255 feet and landing on his head in the snow.
Pierre was skiing with a friend when the incident occurred. The ski resort doesn’t open until Saturday, so there was no avalanche control in the area. For more details on the slide, check out reports from Deseret News.
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